Deacon Elias Hamaty

Fr. Ely was born and raised in Boston's South End.  His parents, Mousa and Nour Hamaty were among the early founders of St. George parish.  The Hamaty family came from the village of ElKhat near the Bellamand where Mousa worked as a chef at the boarding school.  After arriving in Boston, Fr. Eli's parents operated a family owned restaurant in the South End.  Fr. Ely entered the family business and operated the restaurant before opening his own electronics firm.  ELCO Electronics specialized in marine electronics and communications. 

Growing up, Fr. Ely attended St. George Church where his uncle, Archimandrite Elias Hamaty served as pastor.  Fr. Ely assisted his uncle as an acolyte and was active in the parish youth organization.  Father served on several parish committees and was president of the parish council.  In 1988 he was ordained a sub-deacon and in the early 1990's he enrolled in the St. Stephens Course of Studies.  His Eminence, Metropolitan Philip, ordained Fr. Ely to the Deaconate in 1995. As a deacon, Fr. Ely developed a regular visitation ministry to the elderly and shut-ins as well as to hospitalized parishioners.  Father also developed an effective outreach ministry for the bereaved.

Fr. Ely and his wife Millie have two children, Richard and Deborah [Galambos], their son David passed away in 1992.  Father and Millie winter in Punta Gorda, Florida where he serves at St. Paul's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Naples.  Fr. Ely is an avid sports angler who has fished the waters from Alaska to the Caribbean.