His quest for the priesthood, inspired by the spiritual direction of His Eminence Ezekiel, Archbishop of Australia and New Zealand, brought him to the United States, where, in 1960, he entered Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, MA.  During this time, he completed his field education assignments at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Quincy, MA.  He holds a B.Th. in History and an MA in Byzantine Studies from Hellenic College-Holy Cross School of Theology.

While at St. Catherine’s, Fr. George met Elaine Hagiperos, daughter of the late Anastasios and Alice Hagiperos from Milton, MA.  They were married on May 16, 1965 upon his graduation from Holy Cross Seminary.

In September, 1965, he enrolled in the Masters in Religious Education Program at the Boston University School of Theology and on September 14, 1966, Fr. George was ordained to the Holy Deaconate by the Archbishop of Australia, His Eminence Ezekiel (of blessed memory).  On October 8, 1966 Fr. George was ordained to the Holy Priesthood at St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church by His Eminence Iakovos (of blessed memory), Archbishop of North and South America.  In November, he was assigned to his first parish, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Chicago IL and the following September to the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Manchester, NH.  In August 1971, Fr. George and his family returned to Chicago once again, where he was assigned to the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Fr. George worked as a clinical therapist at a private psychiatric facility in Brookline, MA in August 1972, and enrolled for graduate and post graduate work at Andover Newton Theological School, graduating in 1979 with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Psychology and Pastoral Counseling.  During these years he served as assistant priest at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody, MA, the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Newburyport, MA, and assisted weekends at other Orthodox parishes.  From January to September 1980, he served as chaplain and priest at the Evangelismos Hospital in Athens, Greece where he worked with patients in crisis-intervention and in the Transplant and Cancer units.

Fr. George was assigned to St. Catherine Greek Orthodox Church in Quincy in October 1980 and served there until June 1991.  He then embarked on a three-month sabbatical, and, with the blessing of His Eminence, established the mission parish in Norwood MA in May 1992.  He was later assigned to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Fall River, followed by his assignment as Dean of the Cathedral of St. Sophia in Miami, FL.  From 1994 until his recent retirement in September 2008, Fr. George lovingly served the Parish of the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Pawtucket, RI.

From 1982 to 1993 and from 1995 to 1998, he served as Professor of Pastoral Theology at Holy Cross Theological School and Director-Supervisor for seminarians.  Fr. George was very active in the St. Andrew Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood Association, serving both as its past President as well as a member of its Board.  He also remains active in the RI Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood, serving at one point as its Vice President.

Fr. George and Presvytera Elaine have one daughter Anastasia Purcell and are the proud grandparents to Ronald George Purcell.

In November 2008 (after an extended retirement of two months!), the Reverend Dr. Economou was assigned by his Eminence Metropolitan Methodios to serve our beloved parish of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church on a part-time basis.  Our Parish family had already come to know him since Father George had been celebrating Sunday liturgies as well as Holy Sacraments in Newport for several months prior to this assignment.  Fr. George offers all of us the benefit of his experience as well as the opportunity to learn and grow in our spiritual faith by being our guide and teacher.  As with his previous assignments, it is certain that Fr. George will enrich our parish life

Major Portions taken with permission from Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, Assumption, Pawtucket, RI