Protopresbyter Nicholas and Presbytera Efrosini Salamis

Protopresbyter Nicholas Constantine Salamis (1897-2005)

and

Presbytera Efrosini Salamis (born Vergou) (1903-1985)

Nicholas may be spelt Nicolas, Nikolaos.

Constantinou may be spelt Konstantinou.

Efrosini may be spelt Evfrosini, Euphrosyne.

Basil may be spelt Vasilios, Basilius.

Early life of Nikolaos Salamis

On 13 August, 1897, Nikolaos (Nicholas) Constantinou Salamis was born to the son of Constantine and Marigo Salamis in Leka, on the Greek island of Samos, in the Principality of Samos, at that time in the Ottoman Empire (now Greece). When he was 5 years of age, his father reposed in the Lord, thus leaving the family destitute.

Nevertheless, Nicholas and his siblings were raised as Orthodox Christians in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church. They participated in the local Holy Forerunner John the Baptist Orthodox Church in Leka. Its Altar Feast-day is 29 August.

Marigo, his mother, raised her 2 sons and 1 daughter on money earned by renting out to local villagers a mule for conveyance.

Nicholas’ mother was determined to educate her sons. When they completed their primary education locally, she enrolled both her boys in the gymnasium (high school) on the other side of the island. There, Nicholas received his training in commerce.

Emigration to Canada, 1919

Seventeen years old and armed with his certificate, Nicholas first emigrated to America (USA) (see Greek Americans), after which he settled in the Greek community of Montréal, Québec, Canada (see Greek Canadians), in 1919.

His brother Basil (Vasilios) had emigrated before him, and he had settled in Montréal.

Following World War I, the Greek community in Montréal had a population of 2,000 Greek-speakers, and 500 Greek-owned businesses.

It was not long before Nicholas Salamis became the bookkeeper for the whole community. Despite this supportive community and the prospect of continued success, Nicholas felt something lacking in his life.

Nicholas Salamis as a young man

Higher education

In 1932, at age 35, Nicholas Salamis returned to Greece, and he went to Athens in order to study theology. He had earlier come to understand that he was being called to become an Orthodox priest.

He began his studies towards that end, and he graduated from the Theological Faculty of the University of Athens.

Marriage

In 1938, Nicholas Salamis was married to Efrosini Vergou in 1938.

In time, the couple received from the Lord 2 children : Marika (1939-2011) and Constantine (1941-2004).

Soon, it was agreed that he would be ordained.

Ordinations, 1938

On 25 September, 1938, Nicholas Salamis was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

On 26 September, 1938, Deacon Nicholas Salamis was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Priest Nicholas Salamis

Pastoral service

Toronto, 1938

Immediately, Priest Nicholas Salamis was assigned to serve at Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (October, 1938 to March, 1945). Very soon after the ordination, Priest Nicholas Salamis and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario. It was in Toronto and at the Saint George parish that the 2 children were born and baptised.

The pastoral situation in Canada had begun to change with immigration, and the responsibilities of the pastors were increasing. This was especially the case following the end of World War II, during which people in Greece had suffered greatly. In this context, Father Nicholas travelled across Ontario at that time, and he visited various Greek Orthodox communities large and small.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto, Ontario

Transfer to Montréal, 1945

In April, 1945, Father Nicholas was transferred to serve in Montréal, Québec.

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church

Priest Nicholas Salamis was assigned to serve at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Montréal.

Father Nicholas served the parish of Holy Trinity for the next 16 years.

Group of youth at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Montréal, 1945

As was written by the Hellenic Greek Orthodox Community of Montréal’s article,

 The Eastern Orthodox Church is vital to any Greek-speaking Hellenic community.  
 In part, it serves as a link to the past, and the glue that binds the various 
 factions of a Greek community often divided by political beliefs and opinions. 
 
 [Father] Salamis arrived in Montréal just before a great change took place in the Greek 
 community.  Towards the end of the 1940s, over 100,000 Greeks immigrated 
 to Canada.  They were largely uneducated, unskilled, with little or no
 knowledge of either official language of Canada.   
 
 They fled to Canada to escape the horrors that had plagued Greece for the 
 better part of the century : war, oppression, and economic collapse.  [Father] Salamis 
 not only administered to their spiritual needs with baptisms, weddings, and
  funerals, he also eased the frictions which developed between the established 
 Greek community and the new immigrants, who were referred to as ‘Displaced Persons’ 
 (see Greek Diaspora).
 
 [Father] Salamis became the rock of the community over the next 40 years, 
 watching over his flock from the time they arrived as desperate new
 immigrants, scared, and clinging to the safety of their community.  He
 shepherded the children of these immigrants as they became members of the 
 greater Canadian society, learning the official languages [(English and French)], 
 getting the education that their parents so desperately wished for them.

As with other Greek Orthodox pastors, Father Nicholas was active not only in specific pastoral and sacramental activities, but also in the many social activities which were and are part of the para-parochial community.

These begin with the “Philoptochos” (Lovers of the Poor) society, which is concerned with supporting the sacramental and spiritual activities of the parish Temple ; with developing Christian/Greek Education in the community ; with caring for the ill ; for those who suffer (both within the parish community, and outside it) ; for those who are in need. Typically, the “Philoptochos” society nurtures dance groups and other cultural expressions. Historically, this society has consisted mostly of the women of the community.

There is a secular group which is frequently present and active in association with parishes, the “A.H.E.P.A” (“American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association”). There is also its parallel branch, the “Daughters of Penelope”. These are fraternal organisations that focus on philanthropy.

Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church, 1961

In June, 1961, Priest Nicholas Salamis was transferred from Holy Trinity Church to Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Montréal.

It was in 1961 that the new Temple of Saint George was sanctified, and Father Nicholas Salamis was assigned to serve as the first rector of the parish.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Montréal, 1965

For the next 29 years, he led and nurtured the rational flock of Christ in this parish, just as he had been doing from the beginning. The Lord blessed his pastoral service, the Faithful benefitted, and the Orthodox Christian Church of Christ grew in Montréal.

Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

Bereavement, 1985

On 28 August, 1985, Presbytera Efrosini Salamis (born Verzou) fell asleep in the Lord in Montréal, Quebec. She and Father Nicholas had been married for 47 years.

The Memorial Services and the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered in Saint George’s Cathedral in Montréal.

Following the completion of the funeral obsequies, the body of Presbytera Efrosini Salamis was interred at the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montréal, Québec.

Continuing pastoral work

Despite the pain of bereavement, Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis forged on in love and hope in Christ. Strengthened by the Grace of God, Father Nicholas persevered.

As previously, by his own example, he continued to show the Greek Orthodox Christians of Montréal how to live as an Orthodox Christian, and how to be a true human being (“anthropos”).

Retirement, 1990

In 1990, at the age of 93, Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis retired from active service. He had served faithfully and pastorally in the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Toronto (Canada) for 52 years by this time.

At some time after his retirement, Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis gave 40 boxes of his personal papers and records to the library of Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis

Bereavement, 2004

On Tuesday, 25 May, 2004, Constantine Salamis, son of Father Nicholas and Presbytera Efrosyni Salamis, fell asleep in the Lord.

On Thursday, 27 May, 2004, there was visitation with prayers at the Urgel Bourgie Funeral Complex in the Town of Mount Royal, Montréal.

On Friday, 28 May, 2004, at 11:00 a.m., at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Montréal, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered by the clergy.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Constantine Salamis was interred at the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montréal.

Repose, 2005

On Saturday, 15 October, 2005, Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis fell asleep in the Lord at his home in Montréal, Québec, at the age of 108.

After his repose, the Trisagion for the Dead service was offered several times, and especially at Saint George’s Cathedral.

On Wednesday and Thursday, 19-20 October, 2005, the body of Father Nicholas Salamis lay in his coffin in Saint George’s Cathedral (2455 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road).

On Friday, 21 October, 2005, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Presbyter was offered at Saint George’s Cathedral in Montréal.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Protopresbyter Nicholas Salamis was interred at the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montréal.

Repose, 2011

On 12 August, 2011, Marika Asimakopouls (born Salamis), daughter of Father Nicholas and Presbytera Efrosyni Salamis, fell asleep in the Lord in Montréal, Québec.

On Monday, 15 August, 2011, there was a visitation time at the Urgel Bougie Funeral Home (1255 Beaumont), with a Trisagion for the Dead service.

On Tuesday, 16 August, 2011, at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral (2455 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Road), the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Marika Asmimakopoulos (born Salamis) was interred at the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montréal.

Reflections

The life of Father Nicholas Salamis was simply one of service, and in imitation of Christ Himself.

During his long pastoral service, he touched many lives. His love for the Greek community and its people was boundless. The way in which he lived as a Greek Orthodox Christian together with his wife, Presbytera Efrosini, kept their children and their descendants close to the Church and to Christ. Similarly, his example and that of the family nurtured the Faithful of the parishes in which they lived and served.

Upon the repose in Christ of Protopresbyter Nicholas, very many expressions of condolence were sent to the family. There was a repeated theme of the warm pastoral care that both he and Presbytera Efrosini had provided to the 2 parishes he had serve in Montréal in particular.

The Hellenic Community of Montreal seems to have intended to construct a Residence Reverend Salamis, in his honour, but there is no present evidence that the project came to fruition.