Father Peter is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in the parish of Ss. Constantine and Helen G. O. Church. He is married to Presbytera Katherine and they have a daughter Sophia.  Father holds his Bachelor’s of Science degree in biology from the University of Maryland at College Park(1995) and his Masters of Divinity from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (2002) in Brookline Massachusetts. Father started his ministry in the Church as a pastoral assistant at the Annunciation Cathedral in Baltimore, Maryland. After two years of lay ministry Fr. Peter was ordained to the Deaconate in November of 2004 and to the Holy Priesthood in June of 2005. On October 1, 2006 Fr. Peter was assigned as the Proistamenos (head priest) of the Saint Sophia Community. Upon the opening of the new house of worship in April of 2012 Fr. was given the rank of Economos. Father Peter serves as the interim Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Metropolis of New Jersey as well as the Assistant Commissioner for the Delaware Valley Youth Commission. He also holds the office of Metropolis of New Jersey Clergy Brotherhood  to the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council.

Elaine Piligian has been our Church Office Manager since November of 2006 and she is responsible for handling all the administrative tasks that keep the church running smoothly. A native Long Island girl, Elaine grew up attending St. Paraskevi Greek Orthodox Church in Greenlawn, NY. She was a medical secretary, working in both private physician practices and at a Queens, NY medical center. She has been married to her husband Aram since 1985, and in 1989 they came to Pennsylvania and raised three children -- Aram Christopher, Georgeanne and Thomas. Since coming to St. Sophia in 2006, Elaine has embraced her role of assisting Fr. Peter with day-to-day duties and even occasionally chanting for a weekday liturgy. She runs the Parish office, maintains the operation of the church and Cultural Center, and coordinates and schedules church sacraments. “My duties vary greatly day by day, but it is very important to me to create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the office while also maintaining a high level of integrity, confidentiality, and commitment as I carry out my duties.”

Shown left to right:

Matt Bannon - Parish Council Vice President

David Poloway

Alexander Nikas - Parish Council Treasurer

John Pogas - Parish Council President

Tom Cox - Stewardship Chairman

Reverend Economos Peter J Thornberg - Proistamenos

Lucy Pappas Kline - Philoptochos President

Chris Altum

George Coutavas - Parish Council Secretary

Maria Richie

Alex Tsioulfaides

Nikolaos Tsouros

John Papadimitriou - Festival Chairman

Not shown - Elias Christou