Biography

Rev. John Bakas holds an M.A. in Theology from Loyola Marymount University and an M.A. in Philosophy from University of New Mexico. After training with the Archdiocesan Program as Priest with Lay Profession supervised at The Holy Cross Seminary, Father Bakas was ordained to priesthood in 1979. After serving in several parishes, Fr. Bakas became the Dean of Saint Sophia Cathedral and Greek Orthodox Community of Los Angeles in 1995. Along with his leadership of the Cathedral, he spearheaded the drive for the major renovation of the Cathedral grounds and adjacent buildings. This renovation and renewal had spawned the redevelopment of the surrounding area into what is now the Byzantine-Latino Quarter of Los Angeles. He is the founder of the Diocesan Camp AGAPE, "Kids 'n Cancer" program, the founder of Camp Axios, a camping program for Los Angeles at risk inner city youth, of the Rotary House Children's Hospice in Fresno, CA, and Project Nino-Mexico that offers free medical care for poor children in Mexico through Rotary International.
He is the Co-Chairman of the Police-Clergy Forum of the Los Angeles Police Department and serves as Commissioner of the Los Angeles Commission on Children, Youth and Families.
Father Bakas is tri-lingual: he speaks English, Greek, and Spanish.

Education (2)

Loyola Marymount University: M.A., Theology

University of New Mexico: M.A., Philosophy

Areas of Expertise (1)

Greek Orthodox Religion and Spirituality

Affiliations (1)

• Dean of Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral Los Angeles

Links (1)

• Saint Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Languages (2)

• Greek
• Spanish