Rev. Economos Luke Melacrkinos

    Presiding Priest

    Voice: (712)255-5559
    Email: frlukem@gmail.com

Fr. Luke Melackrinos was born to Murphy (Morfopos) and Fontaine Melackrinos in Des Plaines, IL.  He married Marusia (Podhurec) in 1995.  Presbytera Marusia and Fr. Luke are parents to three beautiful young ladies: Eleni who is a dental assistant, Magdalena who is a student, and Mia, an ice hockey goalie and student.

Fr. Luke was ordained to the Diaconate in 2001 by His Eminence, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco.  He served as a deacon in his last two years of Seminary where he served as Ecclesiarch and graduated with distinction with a Masters of Divinity.

In 2003, Fr. Luke was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of St. Paul in Hempstead, New York, by Metropolitan Gerasimos.  He began his service there as the third priest, assisting Fr. Nicholas Magoulias and Fr. Joakim Valasiadis, both of blessed memory. 

Many new/revitalized youth ministries thrived under the guidance of Fr. Luke at the Cathedral of St. Paul, and in 2006 he was appointed Proistamenos (Dean) of the Cathedral.  He was also elevated to the rank of Economos.  Fr. Luke served with distinction and began many new ministries, including a nursery school, a program that still feeds the needy in Hempstead, and a thorough pre-marital counseling program.  While serving at the Cathedral of St. Paul for thirteen years, Fr. Luke celebrated countless services, sacraments, and helped continue the beautiful legacy of one of the largest parishes in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.  Fr. Luke was also entrusted with instructing several, young assistant priests to help them be ready to serve parishes on their own.

In 2017, Fr. Luke and his family started to serve the community of Holy Trinity in Sioux City, Iowa.  Under Fr. Luke’s guidance, the parish grew and expanded some of her ministries, re-opening their Greek Language education programs for youth and adults, and continuing to be a vital part of the Siouxland Community through philanthropy and service to all.  It is during this assignment that Fr. Luke became a hospice chaplain and still serves actively in end of life ministry.

Fr. Luke considers himself blessed to be serving Holy Trinity, especially with the support of his family and amazing parishioners.