The Holy Archdiocese of Australia, with deep sadness, announces the falling asleep in the Lord of Father George Athanasiadis, who passed away on Thursday, 2 March 2023.
The late Father George was born in Xylokastro, Corinth, in the year 1945. Having emigrated to Australia, he served for a number of years in Parishes of the Holy Archdiocese of Australia in Melbourne, such as of the Holy Trinity, Saint Dimitrios and Saint Eleftherios, while until his passing away he served the Parish-Community of Saint Spyridon, in Clayton, Melbourne, as Parish Priest.
In his statement on the passing away of the blessed priest, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios stated: “The news of the loss of Fr. George caused us feelings of deep human sorrow and sadness. And I say “humanly”, because as Orthodox Christians we believe and expect eternal life, in which I dare to express the certainty that Father George will also participate. I had the chance to meet him in the first few weeks after arriving in Australia in 2019. With his decisive contribution, a few months later we were found worthy to experience the grace of the Holy Spirit, acting to restore the Community of Saint Spyridon Clayton to ecclesiastical canonicity. A miracle had now been accomplished, the miracle of unity. The presence and contribution of the Late Father George has been recorded in ‘golden letters’ and will remain indelible in the history of our local Church. May God rest his soul with the Saints and the Righteous.”
The body of the Late Father George will lay in state for public veneration on Tuesday, 7 March 2023, at 6:00 p.m., at the Holy Church of Saint Spyridon (40 Bevan Av, South Clayton).
On Wednesday, 8 March 2023, at 12:00pm Midday, the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts will be conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia, at the Church of Saint Spyridon, and following this, at 2:00pm, the Funeral Service for the Late Father George will take place, presided over by our Shepherd, His Eminence Archbishop Makarios.
The Burial Service will take place at Northern Memorial Park (56 Box Forest Road, Glenroy), while a wake will be held following this, at the Parish Hall of the Holy Church of the Presentation of Our Lord (23-29 Victoria St, Coburg).
