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HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to honor Reverend Father 
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Panagiotis K. Malamis, who has lovingly served
the Greek 
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Orthodox Church of Saint Demetrios parish for 35 years; he will 
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also commemorate the 40th
anniversary of his ordination to the 
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priesthood; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, Father Panagiotis Malamis was born in 1935 to 
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Konstantinos and Demetra Malamis and grew up in Sigouni, 
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Kalavryta; later, he was introduced to Presvytera Theodora, who 
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hailed from nearby
Tourlada, Kalavryta; he proposed marriage, 
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and soon after she went to Montreal,
Canada; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, She  invited
him to join her in 1962 and they 
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married; with great love and pride, he and Presvytera
would 
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welcome nine children into the world: three daughters and six 
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sons; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In 1966, he enrolled in the Holy Cross Theological 
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School, and the family moved to
Boston; in Connecticut in May 
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1968, he was ordained a deacon by His Grace Bishop
Demetrios of 
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Olymbou, who also ordained him into the Holy Priesthood in May 
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1969; by July of 1969, he was assigned to his first parish, 
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Assumption Greek Orthodox
Church in Chicago; after two years, 
 


 






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he was transferred to Saint Demetrios Church in
Chicago for a 
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three-year assignment; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, In September of 1974, Father Panagiotis would join 
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the parish where he would spend the
remainder of his life,  
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Saint Demetrios in Elmhurst; in the early days there was no

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church or school, the services and afternoon school classes 
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were held in a former
junior high school building; as 
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Proistamenos, Father Panagiotis actively led the parish in its 
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efforts to
construct a school and community center in 1976, and 
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a church in 1978; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, When he celebrated his 25th year in the 
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priesthood, the
late Archbishop Iakovos of North and South 
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America granted Father Panagiotis the title,
"Protopresbyter," 
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the highest rank and distinction that a married priest may 
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attain; Father became the first
priest in the area to celebrate 
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the 40-day liturgies during the Christmas fast;  Father

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Panagiotis embraced the Epiphany tradition of blessing the 
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parishioners' homes each
year, even as the parish grew; today, 
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the church also includes the parochial day school, Pythagoras 
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Children’s
Academy, with classes from pre-school through the 
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first grade, the
Pythagoras Greek Afternoon School, and two

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chapels were erected, the Holy Anargyroi Chapel and the Saint 
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John Chapel; and
  
 
 


 






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    WHEREAS,  Father Panagiotis retired in
2006; among his 
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proudest achievements is seeing his son, Father Sotirios, 
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follow in his footsteps; he currently serves as Assistant 
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Priest at Holy Trinity Church in Chicago; and
  
 
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    WHEREAS, On November 1, 2009 a celebration will be held 
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honoring Father Panagiotis Malamis for his years of service; 
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therefore, be it
  
 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Father Panagiotis Malamis and wish him continued 
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good health and happiness; and be it further
  
 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Father Panagiotis Malamis as a symbol of our 
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respect and esteem.