Instead of film career, man answered higher calling
By Claire Vereczky Malis Special to the Camarillo Acorn

Father Gary Kyriacou

Gary Kyriacou dreamed of one day becoming a successful film writer and director when he received his bachelor of arts in film production from California State University at Northridge.

But God had another "story line" in mind for Kyriacou.

Kyriacou, a California native, would soon meet his future wife, Christie Platis, a young Christian of Greek heritage, and he quickly found himself setting aside feature scripts for Biblical scriptures.

"Christie has played a big part in my calling," Kyriacou said.

As the couple studied the Bible and shared the Scriptures, Kyriacou began to have a more intense desire to be in God's service. The young man soon came to realize that his mission in life would be to do more for the church than possible as a lay person.

Today, Kyriacou is the pastor of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Camarillo. He said he is very happy in his service to God.

Kyriacou was active in church while growing up in Burbank. He attended St. Sophia's Cathedral in Los Angeles and assisted in the priestly ministries, receiving spiritual help and counseling about entering the priesthood from Father Michael Kourmetis.

A month after he and Christie were married in July 1997, Gary entered the Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., and earned his master of divinity in May 2001.

Kyriacou was assistant priest at the Ascension Greek Orthodox Church in Oakland, Calif., from June 2001 until August 2004, when he became pastor of St. Demetrios.

He serves a growing congregation of 155 families at the local church, originally the chapel for the Oxnard Air Force Base.

Members of the church are seeking to expand the facilities by purchasing four acres of land at Santa Rosa and Woodcreek roads in Camarillo. Kyriacou said a committee of dedicated parishioners is "hard at work" conducting a huge fundraising campaign to pay off the land.

Afterward, construction will begin on a classic Byzantinestyle building to house the remarkable icons, paintings and artifacts which are standard in most Greek Orthodox churches. Dedication of the new church, now in its planning stages, is set for 2008.

Assisting Kyriacou in his ministry is his wife, Christie, who's a first-grade teacher in Camarillo. Their two sons are Harrison, 8, a kindergartner, and Jakob, a pre-schooler.

Kyriacou said everyone is welcome at his church at 400 Skyway Drive at the Camarillo Airport. Its doctrine is "universal," with belief in one God and his son, Jesus Christ, the Holy Trinity and the Ten Commandments.

Members will observe Holy Week with nightly worship services beginning at 7 p.m. on Sun., April 16.

The Greek Orthodox Easter, observed on Sun., April 23 instead of April 16, will begin with a service at noon, followed with a picnic at the church's new property on Santa Rosa Road.

An all-you-can-eat barbecue lunch will be served, followed by traditional Greek dancing. There will be pony rides and a moon bounce for children. Tickets are $25 per person and may be obtained by calling the church office at (805) 482-1273.

Those who would like to assist in the church's fundraising campaign for the new land are asked to make donations to the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Building Fund, 400 Skyway Drive, Camarillo, CA 93010.