Father Solon S. Tsandikos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on November 27, 1958 at St. Spyridon Church in Worcester, MA. One week before, he became a deacon at Holy Trinity Church in Lowell, MA. His Eminence Archbishop Elaias Athenagoras, of Blessed Memory, officiated at both ordinations. In the years following, Archbishop lakovos of North and South America, of Blessed Memory, bestowed the titles of Economos in 1964 and Protopresbyter in 1972.

Father Solon was born in Lowell, MA on December 22, 1930 to Anthe and Stephanos Tsandikos. He was raised in Lowell with his two brothers, Peter and Hermes. After graduating from Lowell High School in 1948, he entered Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline from where he graduated in 1953. Thereafter, he entered Andover Newton Theological School where he received his bachelor of divinity degree in 1955.

In June of 1955, Father Solon married the former Joanna Tsagarelis of Worcester, MA. Shortly after their marriage, they moved to Athens, Greece where Father entered the University of Athens, graduating in 1958 with a divinity degree. Upon returning from Greece, Father once again entered Andover Newton where he earned his master's degree in social theology together with a certification in caring for the aged.

Father Solon served as pastor at the following three Massachusetts Churches:

• Holy Trinity, Fitchburg; 1958-1963
• Saint Spyridon, Worcester; 1963-1974
• Saint Nicholas, Clinton 1975-1995

While in Worcester, Father Solon was responsible for building and the dedication of the adjoining Church Community Center. The new structure included offices, a library, reception rooms, classrooms for Sunday School and Greek education and the Cotsidas Auditorium.

In addition to his parish ministry, Father Solon was a pioneer in the ecumenical movement. Beginning in the 1960s, Father was responsible for the initiation of an inter-faith dialogue that culminated in the historic meeting between Archbishop lakovos and the late Bishop Bernard Flanagan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester. Father was a founding member and served for many years on the First Inter-Faith Council in Worcester, MA.

Father Solon has served as a trustee of Hellenic College/Holy Cross Seminary, served on the Spiritual Council of Orthodox Churches in the New England Diocese, was a member of the Human Rights Commission in Worcester, served as Chaplain to Orthodox patients at Worcester State Hospital, and also served on the Welfare Board in Worcester.

Father Solon and Presvytera Joanna have three children, Kathryn Kelleher of Worcester, MA, George S. Tsandikos of Greenwich, CT, and Dr. Stephanie Tsandikos Niles of Canaan, NY. They are the proud grandparents of Miss Alexis M.J. Kelleher and Mr. Solon Reed Kelleher, both of Worcester, MA. Father and Presvytera reside in Holden, MA in addition to West Harwich, MA.