Daytona Beach, Florida - Nov. 22, 2011 - The Greek Orthodox faith lost a Pioneer of their Church. The Very Reverend Father George Papadeas, was born in Altoona, Pennsylvania to Greek Immigrants in 1918, and died at the age of 93 from complications of congestive heart failure on Friday morning, November 18, 2011.

He was the very first American Born Clergyman to be Ordained into the Greek Orthodox Church.

Prior to 1937, Greek Priests in America were imported from Europe to serve their Greek American faithful, but World War II changed that, and the Greek Orthodox Church in America realized that they needed to school and produce their own priests to serve the growing Church communities in America.

George Papadeas enrolled in the Charter class of the newly formed Greek Theological Seminary in Pomfret, Connecticut, graduating valedictorian in 1942, and became as it turned out, the longest actively serving priest in the Greek Church with over 69 Years of continual service.

Throughout his career, Father Papadeas was instrumental to the growth of the Greek Church in America. He broke new ground initiating many firsts and created many programs used in parishes across the entire country. Father Papadeas was passionate and driven, truly a “Jack of all trades”, but also a Master of Many. He could perform Services on Sunday and soon after swing a hammer like a seasoned carpenter… he actually did so in the construction of the altar of his new Church on Long Island in 1950.

In the late 50’s, Father Papadeas generated the keyboard layout for Greek language typewriters to make it easier for American typists. He gave it to the Smith-Corona Typewriter Company for use in the construction of typewriters for the Greek speaking community everywhere.

In 1960, while at the St. Paul’s Cathedral on Long Island which he founded only years earlier, implored the Archbishop of North & South America, to preside over an Icon of the Virgin Mary, which began to shed tears in the middle of the night, at the home of his parishioner, Pagona Catsounis. It was consequently named the "Weeping Madonna" and gained Worldwide attention.

Vice President Nixon summoned him to the Whitehouse to hear the firsthand account of what had transpired, and in 1990, on the 40th Anniversary of this Spiritual Manifestation, Father Papadeas wrote his accounts in a book aptly titled, “Why Did She Cry?”. Hundreds of thousands from all faiths witnessed that happening and in 1990, was named by the New York Newsday Newspaper, as one of the most significant events of the last 50 years.

In 1963, Father Papadeas was the first to translate the Orthodox Holy Week Easter Services from Greek into English and subsequently published the book "Holy Week
Easter" that has been used in communities Worldwide and considered the “gold standard”. The Retired Greek Clergy of America stated in their newsletter recently “This Book saved Holy Week for our Orthodox Churches in America”

Father Papadeas went on to become the Dean of the Archdiocesan Cathedral in New York City and then continued his service in Greece and finally moved to Florida.

His positions and accomplishments are too many to list but a partial history can be seen at the website www.FatherGeorgePapadeas.com where anyone whose life he touched is welcomed to leave their comments.

Amongst countless recognition, he received the Order of Phoenix medal from the King of Greece in 1966 and was given the singular title of Head Protopresbyter, an honor given to only one Priest per lifetime, by The Archbishop of North and South America.

Father Papadeas’ impact on the Greek Orthodox Religion and its followers was far reaching. He never retired, starting yet another New Greek Orthodox Community in Ocala at age 86 to which he drove the 4-hour round trip himself until just a few months ago.

Although not his native tongue, Father George Papadeas spoke and typed the Greek language more eloquently than most native born Greeks. He could easily address Heads of State as he often did.

When "Father George" set out to do something, he accomplished it with perfection. He would always say to his five children, in Greek, “Meeha,keh Kallo” which translated meant “Do it once and Do it well”. He lived his life by this teaching, accomplishing more than can be imagined of one individual who took pride in everything that he did. Father George was a "young" 93.

Viewing and Trisagion services will be held at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 129 N. Halifax Avenue, Daytona Beach on Monday 5 pm-8 pm. Services on Tuesday include Divine Liturgy 10 am with the Funeral Service at 1 pm. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Mark’s Greek Orthodox Church, PO Box 5871, Ocala, FL 33478
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For further information and additional photos,
Contact: Tim Papadeas
787-D Center Avenue
Daytona Beach, FL 32117
Phone (386) 290-6528
Fax (386) 255-8444
www. http://www.PatmosPress.com

Photo of Father George at 92: http://goo.gl/kYkM1

Newsreel Video Links: http://youtu.be/2gwK1WeMTgY and http://youtu.be/Gpx1w_4llpA

http://www.FatherGeorgePapadeas.com