With deep emotion and profound human sorrow, the Holy Archdiocese of Australia announces the falling asleep in the Lord of the Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, Nicolaos Bozikis, on Tuesday, 13 February 2024.
The late clergyman was born in Zakynthos in the year 1944 and was educated at the Ecclesiastical School of the Holy Monastery of Saint Anastasia Pharmakolytria, in Vasilika Thessaloniki.
He immigrated to Australia in 1964 and initially settled in Melbourne. In 1970, following the invitation of the late Archbishop Ezekiel of Australia, he moved to Sydney where he received the first and second degrees of the priesthood. From May of the same year, he undertook to serve as Parish Priest at the Parish – Community of the Holy Cross in the city of Wollongong.
After eighteen consecutive years of sacrificial ministry in Wollongong, in 1988 he returned to Sydney and served, for about five years, in the Parish of Saint Spyridon in Kingsford. In 1993 he was transferred to Saint Stephanos’ Parish in Hurlston Park, Sydney, where he served as Parish Priest until 2011. Although in that year the decline of his health obliged him to interrupt his priestly ministry, he soon returned to the holy altar, responding with willingness and holy zeal to the needs of the local Church. He served for a further six and a half years in the church where he had been ordained a Priest, the Church of Saint Nicholas in Marrickville, as well as in other Parishes in New South Wales.
For his devotion to the Holy Archdiocese of Australia and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, in 2021 he was honoured with the award of the office of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
The late Father Nicolaos had created a blessed priestly family with his Presvytera, Chryse, while one of the greatest joys of his life was the entry into the priesthood, in 2019, of his grandson, Father Terry Gerovasilis.
After being informed of the falling asleep of the venerable clergyman, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia expressed his condolences to Presvytera Chryse and their five children, conveying to the family of the late Father Nicolaos the feelings of gratitude that the entire plenitude of the local Church has for his many years of service.
In his statement, Archbishop Makarios emphasises that: “Words are poor to describe the greatness of the personality, but also the magnitude of Father Nicolaos’ contribution to the Orthodox Church and Hellenism of the fifth continent. It is enough to reflect that this year completes a century since the establishment of our Holy Archdiocese and more than half of this historical course is identified with the priestly course of the highly respected Zakynthian clergyman, in whose blessed stole rested countless souls of our expatriate compatriots. Countless indeed were those who found comfort in his words in difficult moments of their personal lives and in difficult times for the expatriate Greeks. Countless people gained courage and hope thanks to his advice. Countless from his hands received the Body and Blood of Christ and countless with the blessing of Father Nicolaos received Holy Baptism or were united with the sacred bonds of Marriage. It is inevitable today, because of our human nature, to be overwhelmed by feelings of sadness and sorrow. But our soul is soothed by the firm belief that the charismatic man and clergyman, whom God blessed us to know and connect with him, will rest eternally in the tents of the righteous”.
Regarding the funeral service for the late Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, a further announcement will follow in due time.
