How did the Rev. David Eynon, a non-Greek, become the leader of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Decatur?

He grew up in Fort Collins, Colo., as a Presbyterian.

He came to Decatur in August after graduating from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass.

"He's the first non-Greek we've had as priest," said Bess Greanias, church historian. The church was established in Decatur in 1927.

The church at 570 N. Union St. was in need of a leader after the departure of the Rev. Theodore Vaggalis after about 14 years.

"My wife, Diana, had performed at Millikin University as a musician," Eynon said, "So I had some knowledge of Decatur, even though I had never visited Decatur.

"This is a precious little church, the first one in Central Illinois. I'll try to maintain it to be sure it's here for years to come," he said.

"Ever since I was a child, I was interested in religion, a spiritual life. I was particularly interested in saints and the monastic life style. Maybe the turning point was when I was in college and studying modern Soviet history.

"I went to Russia in January 1991, just before the Soviet Union collapsed. I was impressed by seeing the Nativity season celebrated for the first time in 70 years."

During the next 10 years, Eynon said he had an Orthodoxy experience. "I got married, we had three children, daughters Miruna and Mildred, and a son, Gedrych, and my wife is of Orthodox faith. I came to realize that I wanted Orthodoxy, it was the place for me.

"My wife's grandfather was a priest in Romania," Eynon said. "I realized I had a calling. I decided to go to the seminary."

A graduate of Doane College in Crete, Neb., Eynon has a newspaper background; he was a graphic artist at the Champaign News-Gazette, his father was a journalism professor, and his uncle was editor of the Detroit News.

"One of my goals is outreach - let people know we're here."

Dino Balamos, a longtime member of the church, applauds Eynon.

"I'm very inspired by him. He goes all out with children," Balamos said. "We're getting some new people coming to church and some people who are returning after an absence."

Paul Chiligiris, president of the congregation, said Eynon has "reinvigorated the younger members and brought a spiritual aspect to the church."

"We loved Father Vaggalis," Chiligiris said. "Father Eynon is young, he has a family, and he has a knack of tying everyday life and problems to the gospel.

"This is a multicultural church. On a recent Sunday, we had a congregation including people from Egypt, Ethiopia, Romania, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, South Africa, Greece and the U.S."

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