Father Dean Kokanos was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended college and graduate school, earning a Master of Music Degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  After pursuing a career in classical music, Fr. Dean attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology where he earned the Master of Divinity degree with High Distinction.

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Following seminary Father Dean was ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan SAVAS of Pittsburgh and assigned to be the Assistant Priest at the Annunciation Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio.

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In 2017, Father Dean was assigned to be the Parish Priest of the Presentation of Christ Church in East Pittsburgh.  Under Father Dean’s leadership, the parish founded an outreach ministry which included an on-site, year-round food pantry, hot meal distribution, and clothing pantry, as well as various seasonal outreach events and thousands of dollars a year for emergency relief.  The parish also completed a major iconography project in the Altar and Narthex. 

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In September of 2022 Father Dean was assigned to be the Presiding Priest of The Annunciation.  Since then, and by God's grace, the parish has increased its monthly on-site food distribution program to include three monthly food pantries/meal distribution events, a clothing pantry, a monthly laundry assistance program, a weekly off-site feeding program, seasonal outreach events including an annual Thanksgiving Meal that feeds over 1200, a Christmas toy drive, and various programs in cooperation with local charities and agencies.​

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​In addition to his studies at Holy Cross, Fr. Dean is a Board-Certified Chaplain and holds an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University. 

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Father Dean serves as the Spiritual Advisor to the Metropolis of Pittsburgh parishes of the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (MEFGOX) and as the President (2024-2026) of the St. John Chrysostom Clergy Brotherhood of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh.

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Father Dean is married to Presbytera Gabrielle, also of Pittsburgh.  They have two children.  In his free time, Father Dean enjoys sailing his “super snark” boat on the lakes of Northeastern Ohio and watching Pittsburgh Steelers football.

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​To donate to the Annunciation's philanthropic and outreach work, click here.

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To email Fr. Dean, click here.

Emmanuel Salem
Pastoral Assistant

Emmanuel was born into and raised in our community of The Annunciation. It was in our church in Akron where he first experienced the love and presence of Christ.

After high school, he went to Akron University for college, where he studied Philosophy and Psychology. He always yearned to serve others who had lacked his opportunities in life, and his studies inspired him to do this through the church.  This led him to seminary. His greatest debt to God and Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology was meeting the love of his life there, Ivy, a fellow student, whom he married January 16th of this year.

During seminary, Emmanuel had many pastoral experiences that led him here. He worked for a summer at the Neighborhood Resilience Project- an inner-city non-profit based out of an Orthodox church in Pittsburgh that shaped his understanding of our church and its role in suffering communities. He also worked as a Pastoral Assistant at Saints Constantine and Helen church for two years in Webster, MA. There he wrote and taught the Sunday School curriculum, led the youth group, planned events, and offered sermons regularly. His time there was blessed and the encounters with parishioners in a pastoral capacity taught him countless lessons.  Also in seminary Emmanuel deepened the passion for a conviction that began in our church community; to serve those suffering in the city around The Annunciation in Christ's name.

Emmanuel is blessed to be called back to his home, to live, worship, and serve with all of you. It is truly a blessing, and he could not be more honored.