Father John, the son of Demetrios Protopapas and Panagiota Katsaris was born in Pano  Zodhia, Cyprus, on January 23, 1927. Having finished elementary school in his village, he attended the high school of Morphou for two years, followed by one year of attendance at the English School of Sylvestros.  Then he completed his high school at Paphos College and graduated in 1946.

In 1952 he graduated from Holy Cross Theological Seminary.  In 1954, he earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from the Andover Newton Theological School, and in 1955 earned a Master of Sacred Theology degree, majoring in pastoral clinical psychology.

On June 5, 1955, he married Catherine Lianides of Worcester, MA, who had attended St. Basil Academy for two years, and later studied vocal music privately.  They have three children:  Christopher, Paula, and Mira, and six grandchildren: Rebecca, Derek, Elizabeth, Sarah, Andrew, and Nathaniel.

On June 26, 1955, Fr. John was ordained to the Dioconate, and on July 9, 1955, to the priesthood by Bishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis.  Fr. John served at St. George in Bangor, Maine, for 10 years and oversaw the Greek Schools of Maine for 9 years.  He served for two years as secretary to Bishop Theodosios of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, while serving the parishes of Oakmont and Aliquippa. 

He was Priest of the Annunciation in Cleveland, Ohio for 30 years until his retirement on March 13, 1973.  During his time there, the Greek School was recognized by the Greek Ministry of Education.  Several patients from Greece were sponsored by the parish there and received open heart surgery at local hospitals.  Presvytera Catherine was active in many areas of church life, serving as choir director, Sunday school teacher, byzantine cantor, and director of hellenic dancers.  The parish of the Annunciation honored them with banquets on their 10th, 25th and 30th Anniversary, the latter of which also marked their retirement.

Fr. John served in various roles on a national level during his priesthood.  He was president of the St. Chrysostom Clergy Synthesmos of the Pittsburg Diocese, chairman of the Diocesan Greek Education Committee, chairman and secretary of the Diocesan Ecclesiastical Court of Ohio, and member of the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council and Diocesan Council.

Fr. John has received various honors and awards including the Offikion of Economos (1970), and the Offikion of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1977) awarded by Archbishop Iakovos.  He was the principal speaker at the 25th Anniversary and 50th Anniversary of his graduating class of 1952 at Holy Cross Seminary.  In 1982, Patriarch Diodoros of Jerusalem vested Fr. John with the small cross of the Holy Sepulcher.  In 1982, the Mayor of Cleveland, George V. Voinovich appointed and commissioned Fr. John as Honorary Mayor of the city.  The Chios Societies of America, Inc. and the Hellenic Preservation Society of Northeastern Ohio awarded Fr. John with plaques for his service.

After his retirement in 1997, Fr. John and Presvytera Catherine moved to Clearwater, Florida.  He accepted temporary assignments throughout Florida as well as in Montgomery, Alabama for 15 months, commuting by plane every weekend.

In 2000, Fr. John started a mission church in Palm Harbor, Florida, in honor of Saints Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene.  He celebrated his first Divine Liturgy at the Palm Harbor Public Library with a handful of worshippers in attendance.  He served this mission church for 13 years during which time the parish grew and the church established its own house of worship.  In 2012, he celebrated his last Divine Liturgy with about 250 worshippers in attendance.  A surprise program was presented by the parish council and the Sunday school department followed by a farewell luncheon.

Fr. John and Presvytera Catherine have now moved into their second retirement season, residing in Clearwater, Florida, with God leading the way.

Glory be to God Who leads our footsteps.