ANANIADIS, Reverend Father Apostolos - Greek Orthodox Priest, fell asleep in the Lord peacefully at his home on Friday, March 13, 2020, in his 90th year, surrounded by family.
For 58 years, he faithfully served in the Greek Orthodox Church, living a life of love and devotion to Jesus Christ, and serving the faithful parishioners in the Greek Orthodox Communities of Vancouver, BC, London, ON, Toronto, ON, Kitchener, ON, Guelph, ON and the Communities of Southern Ontario.
Born March 1st, 1930 in Volos, Greece, Father Apostolos was initially drawn to fulfilling his love and service to God through monastic life. In 1951, he was a young scholarship student and follower of Jesus Christ in the ‘Zoe Movement’ (Αδελφότητα Θεολόγων Zωή) in Greece, leading to his strong call to priesthood.
Married in 1962 to his beloved wife, Presbytera Kalliopi, they departed Greece to embark on a spiritual journey overseas to serve in the Greek Orthodox parishes of North America.
Called first to serve in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Vancouver, BC, they later relocated their young family to The Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in London, ON, then to St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto, ON, and finally to The Dormition of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church in West Toronto.
Father Apostolos continued his service as an educator and spiritual father to Canada’s new priests at the Greek Orthodox Theological Academy of Toronto. He subsequently served as Chancellor for His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios in the 1980s at the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto. He went on to serve the various communities in Southern Ontario as a retired priest, including the Greek Orthodox Communities of Sts. Peter and Paul in Kitchener, ON, and St. George in Guelph, ON.
Loving father of John (Sophia) Ananiadis, Maria (Shannon) Ananiadis-McWatters, and Helen (Apostolos) Vogiatzis.
Proud Pappou of 8 grandchildren: Anastasios (predeceased – July 29, 1994), Apostolos, Maria, Christina, Apostolos, Theodora, Dimitrios Apostolos, and Kalliopi.
Predeceased by parents, Ioannis and Eleni, and brothers, Elias (1944) and Panagiotis ‘Taki’ (March 13, 2015).
Father Apostolos is survived by relatives, cousins, nieces and nephews, and will be remembered fondly by his many close friends in Greece, Canada and the United States. May his memory be eternal.
The family of Father Apostolos will receive relatives and friends from 4:00 – 9:00 pm (Trisagion at 6:30 pm) on Sunday, March 15th, 2020 at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Chapel – Metropolis, (1 Bartholomew Way) 86 Overlea Boulevard, East York, ON. The Funeral Service will be held at the Chapel – Metropolis, on Monday, March 16th, 2020 at 10:00 am. Officiated by His Eminence Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios.
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