Parish Clergy
Our Priest
Fr. Gigi-Marius Buzatelu was born and raised in Romania. He grew up in Focsani in the Community of St. Nicholas where he served as an altar boy starting at the age of 5 years old under the watchful eye of Fr. Oceanu Nicolae and Fr. Marin Tudor.
Upon completion of the Church Senior High School “Bishop Chesarie” in Buzau, Fr. Marius graduated from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, the University of Bucharest, Romania with the grade “Excellent”. While studying at the University he was a church chanter at several orthodox churches of Archdiocese of Bucharest, and editor of the religious column at several major newspapers in Bucharest. He also has experience as Religion teacher, having taught at “Virgil Madgearu” High School, Ploiesti, Romania.
From 2007 Fr. Marius was admitted at the Postgraduate program of studies of the Faculty of Theology at the Aristotle University Thessaloniki as scholar of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was evaluated and assessed in the field of Practical Theology with a specialization in Service, graded “Excellent” for the topic “The Service books in the Orthodox Church of Romania and Greece” and guided by Professor Panagiotis Skaltsis.
He also graduated from the State Conservatory of Thessaloniki, the department of Byzantine Music in 2013.
His Eminence Metropolitan John of Lagada, Letis and Redinis called him to stand worthy of the great mission and work of the priesthood.
Fr. Marius was ordained deacon on July 5th in the Metropolitan Church of Saint Paraskevi in Lagadas and presbyter on September 14th in the Church of Timios Stavros in Lofiskos, in Saint Metropolis of Lagadas, Liti and Redina and elevated to “oikonomos”. Fr. Marius was given the Offikion (office) of Protopresbyter on December 25th, 2017 by His Eminence Metropolitan John of Lagada, Letis and Redinis.
Before coming to the Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene, Palm Harbor, Florida, in the Metropolis of Atlanta, Fr. Marius served as assistant parish priest in the Church of Saint Paraskevi of Kolchiko, Lagadas.
He and his wife, Presbytera Catalina, have two lovely children, a son Dimitrios and a newborn babygirl, Lidia.