The Very Reverend Polycarp Rameas was born on the Pittsburgh’s North Side on August 21, 1944, the only son of Kyriakos and Vasiliki (Bessie) Rameas. Christened Dionysios at the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Pittsburgh’s North Side, Father along with his sisters Elpida (Hope), Eleni (Elaine) and Zoe (Joy) were raised in a typical Greek-American home environment

Upon his graduation from High School, Father’s life-long commitment to serve the Church was made and he attended the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts as well as the University of Athens, Greece, successfully training to become a Greek Orthodox Priest. Father has also earned degrees from Duquesne University of Pittsburgh and Christ the Savior Orthodox Seminary, in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, rounding out his education background.

Tonsured in the monastic life in 1965 by His Grace Bishop Theodosios of Ancona, he was given the name Polycarp. In 1968, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Grace Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos at the St Photios Diocesan Chapel at the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Pittsburgh and shortly thereafter was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1968 by His Grace Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in Erie, Pennsylvania.

In October 1975 he was assigned to serve the faithful at the Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church of Oakmont, Pennsylvania. In the 30 years Father has been at the Dormition Church, he has overseen the doubling of the membership of the parish and has encouraged the faithful in our successful efforts to double the size of the Church Hall and to build a Library and Classrooms for the religious education and Greek culture and language classes. Father has also inspired the parish to decorate the interior of our Church with traditional Byzantine Iconography and has encouraged the establishment of a strong Byzantine musical tradition at all of our services. During Father’s tenure at the Dormition, he also has overseen the acquisition of the Hunt Marina Property for our parish as well as the establishment of an additional Social Hall for the use of the parish and our friends.

Patient, gentile and kind, Father’s easygoing manner and love are among his great virtues, and represent a wonderful source of strength and inspiration for the entire Dormition Family