Father Dean Kokanos was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he attended college and graduate school, earning a Master of Music Degree from Carnegie Mellon University.  After pursuing a career in classical music, Fr. Dean attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts .  In 2013, Father Dean earned the Master of Divinity degree with High Distinction. Following seminary Father Dean was ordained to the Diaconate and Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan SAVAS of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Pittsburgh and assigned to be the Assistant Priest at the Annunciation Cathedral in Columbus, Ohio where he oversaw the parish's youth and young adult ministries

In 2017, Father Dean was assigned to be the Parish Priest of the Presentation of Christ Church in East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Under Father Dean’s leadership, the parish founded an outreach ministry which included an on-site food pantry, hot meal distribution, and clothing pantry, as well as various seasonal outreach events and thousands of dollars a year for emergency relief.

In September of 2022 Father Dean was assigned to be the Presiding Priest of the Annunciation Church of Akron, Ohio.  Since then, the parish has increased its monthly on-site food distribution program to include a second monthly food pantry, twice-monthly hot meals, a clothing pantry, a weekly off-site feeding program, a program offering assistance with laundry services, seasonal outreach events including an annual Thanksgiving Meal that feeds over 1000, and various programs in cooperation with local charities and agencies.

In addition to his responsibilities at the Annunciation, Father Dean serves as the Spiritual Advisor to the Metropolis of Pittsburgh parishes of the Mid-Eastern Federation of Greek Orthodox Church Musicians (MEFGOX).

Since graduating from Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, Father Dean has earned four units of Clinical Pastoral Education as well as an Executive Certificate in Religious Fundraising from the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving at Indiana University.

Father Dean is married to Presbytera Gabrielle, also of Pittsburgh.  They have two children.  In his free time, Father Dean enjoys sailing his “super snark” boat on the lakes of Northeastern Ohio and watching football.