Protopresbyter Panagiotis (Peter), Presbytera Hara Avgeropoulos

Protopresbyter Panagiotis (Peter) (1959-____)

and

Presbytera Hara (born Ioannou) Avgeropoulos (1963-____)

Panagiotis is sometimes written as Peter.

Presvytera may be spelt Presbytera.

Early life of Panatiotis Avgeropoulos

In 1959, Panagiotis (Peter) Ioanou Avgeropoulos was born in Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), Ontario, Canada, to Greek immigrant parents John and Georgia (born Saitis) Avgeropoulos.

In 1957, they had emigrated from Krokylion, Phokidos,Central Greece ; and they had arrived first through Halifax, Nova Scotia, whence they travelled to Port Arthur, Ontario. They arrived with 4 children aged 8 to 14 years.

They had arrived at Port Arthur because of Demetrios Saitis (father of Georgia), who had previously emigrated there with some friends in 1930. He had gone first to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for work, and then moved to Port Arthur.

When he arrived in Canada, Demetrios had left his wife Demetroula (with 3 daughters and a yet-unborn child) in Greece, and he was never able to return because of the Great Depression (1929-1939), World War II (1939-1945), and the Greek Civil War 1946-1949). Of course, he sent funds to his family in Greece for their support, and he funded their travel to Canada when it became possible.

After the civil war, his wife emigrated with 2 unmarried daughters, as yet unmarried. Her eldest daughter had been killed (with others) by the communist rebels in 1948). Her husband had paid for the cost of their travel. Their second daughter, Georgia, had been already married, and her family could not emigrate until later.

Demetrios Avgeropoulos reposed in the Lord in 1958. Demetroula Avgeropoulos reposed in the Lord in 1966.

At that time, there was only 1 Greek Orthodox Church, Holy Trinity Church, in which they worshipped and where the children received their Greek Orthodox formation.

At its establishment (1918), this parish had become the third-oldest Greek Orthodox parish in Canada.

All the family’s social life was focussed on the spiritual life of the parish. The parishioners were to one another like extended family. The Greek-speakers of the Port Arthur-Fort William area naturally celebrated important feast-days and Greek national occasions all together, as they would in their villages in Greece.

Panagiotis received his primary education in Port Arthur.

Bereavement

In 1968, the brother of Panagiotis, Avgeros, reposed suddenly in the Lord at age 18.

This bereavement, and his mother’s consolation in the Lord in the Church brought Panagiotis closer to the Church, and he was very much helped by Priest Christos Kavadas. It was then that he invited Panagiotis to serve in the Altar. Later, he was taken to the parish choir, where he learned to sing.

They had moved to London in 1974, and Paagiotis began to be part of the spiritual and social life of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church there.

Panatiotis received his and his secondary and post-secondary education in London, Ontario. It was at this time that Panagiotis began playing key-board in a Greek band. He had already been playing the accordion, and he had learnt to play many Greek folk-melodies, especially from his father’s home region. He played in this band for 10 years, and his colleagues in the band were all honourable young men. The group played at special occasions in various places between Windsor and Toronto.

Higher education

He attended the University of Western Ontario, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree (Honours History). He had taken courses in history, philosophy, classical history, and Byzantine studies, as he reflected on the meaning of life.

He later commented that one influential person in his future life had been Professor William (Vasilios) Bush. Professor Bush introduced him also to Professor Dmitry Pospielovsky.

While he was a student, Panagiotis sometimes visited the English-language Antiochian Mission of the Holy Transfiguration in London, where both these professors attended, and which mission they had founded.

His post-graduate studies were done in the United States of America.

First, from 1984, he studied at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

He graduated in 1987, when he received a Master of Divinity degree. He was the Valedictorian for his graduating class. His thesis title was "Preparation of Holy Chrism", and his readers were Professors John Meyendorff, and John Erickson.

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

During the following summer in 1987, Panagiotis participated in a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and the Holy Land of parishioners from Holy Trinity Church in London, Ontario. It was led by the rector, Priest Evstathios Kontoravdis.

Meeting Hara (Joy)

It was on this pilgrimage that he met his future wife Hara Ioannou. She had been born in London, Ontario, and had been raised in Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church there. They became friends during that pilgrimage, and they continued their friendship while Panagiotis concluded his studies in the USA. Her family came from near Ioannina, Northern Greece, and the family is very devoted to Saint John the Forerunner.

Hara had been a student also at the University of Western Ontario, where she had studied in the Faculty of Arts, and then of Education.

She received the Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, in 1984.

She received the Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Western Ontario, in London, Ontario, in 1985.

Following her graduation, she began her long career in teaching (mostly in the Greater Toronto Area) in 1985.

Because of his high marks, Panagiotis qualified for a scholarship to pursue further post-graduate studies at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He finished his Master of Theology degree studies there in 1988.

Marriage

In 1988, Panagiotis I Avgeropoloulos was married to his now good friend Hara at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in London, Ontario.

In time, Father Panagiotis and Presvytera Hara received by the mercy of the Lord, 3 sons, John, Gregory, and Theodore.

Diaconal and presbyteral ordinations

In 1989, on the Feast of Pentecost, his life-long hope to serve the Church was realised when he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

On 25 July, 1989, Deacon Panagiotis Averopoloulos was ordained to the Holy Priesthood (on the Feast of the Dormition of Saint Anna) in the Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. He has the distinction of being the first Canadian-born priest to have remained in and to serve in the Greek Orthodox Metropolitanate (now Archdiocese) of Toronto (Canada) (any other Canadian-born priests left to serve elsewhere).

Pastoral service

Priest Panagiotis Avgeropoulos was assigned to serve as the founding pastor of Saints Panteleimon, Anna, and Paraskeva Greek Orthodox Church in Markham, Ontario, where he served from 1989 until 1995.

Saints Panteleimon, Anna, and Paraskeva, Markham, Ontario (present day)

Bereavement

In 1991, Demetrios Avgeropoulos, brother of Father Panagiotis, fell asleep in the Lord.

Continued pastoral service

In 1995, Father Panagiotis was transferred to Hamilton, Ontario, where he served at the Dormition of the Virgin Mary Church, which he served for 1 ½ years.

Holy Dormition of the Theotokos Church, Hamilton

On 1 November,1996, Father Panagiotis was transferred to Toronto, Ontario, where he was assigned to serve as rector of the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral.

Holy Annunciation to the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto

Over the several decades of his pastorate, he became a spiritual father to the parishioners, and he baptised several generations of the Faithful in the parish.

When asked, he commented on the continuing and increasing tensions between Canadian society and the Orthodox Christian Way of Life. With the passage of time, the ways of Canadian society have increasingly contrasted and conflicted with that of the Orthodox.

Upon his arrival, the parish council asked for the increase of English in services for the sake of the children. This process took time, and it bore fruit. He emphasised that language alone is not the concern. Rather, the primary concern is having a living and lively relationship with the Lord. Patriarch Bartholomew

In 1998, Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople made a pastoral visit for 8 days to the Metropolis of Toronto (Canada), and he visited various Greek Orthodox and Ukrainian Orthodox communities in Canada. During this visit, Father Panagiotis had been given the obedience by Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassopoulos) of Toronto to serve on the organising committee, and to translate most of the homilies and speeches of the patriarch from Greek into English, as well as other materials. This labour began 3 weeks before the visit, and continued while the visitation was in progress.

For this, the patriarch awarded him the Patriarchal Cross.

Fire

On 3 April, 2000, there was a catastrophic fire in the Temple, in the very early morning.

As a consequence, Father Panagiotis had to learn about construction. For the next 2 years, intense labour was involved (on his part, and on the part of the parishioners) in re-constructing and repairing the Temple, while services were offered in the parish hall. The parishioners and their friends committed themselves with energy under his pastoral leadership to the immense work of reconstruction.

A video was produced to record the events – “Rising from the ashes : The Restoration of the Church of Panagia” Most significantly, this event enabled first the moving of the Altar-area to the east side of the building ; and then the renewing of the rest of the Temple in Eastern Orthodox (“Byzantine”) style.

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Iconostas and Solea of the rebuilt Annunciation (Panagia) Cathedral

Platytera, Royal Doors, Holy Table, Ambo of the rebuilt Annunciation Cathedral

Bereavement

On 23 October, 2002, Ioannis Avgeropoulos, father of Father Panagiotis, fell asleep in the Lord in London, Ontario.

Following his repose, the body of Ioannis Avgeropoulos was taken to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in London for visitation, and the serving of the Trisagion Memorial Service.

Then, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in London, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Following the funeral obsequies, his body was interred in the Woodland Cemetery of London, Ontario.

Grave-marker

Bereavement

On Monday, 6 June, 2011, Georgia (born Saites) Avgeropoulos, mother of Father Panagiotis, fell asleep in the Lord in Toronto, Ontario, where she lived in a seniors' residence.

On Tuesday, 7 June, 2011, from 6-9 p.m., visitation was held at the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary Greek Orthodox Cathedral (136, Sorauren Avenue, Toronto), including a Trisagion Memorial Service.

On Wednesday, 8 June, 2011, from 6-9 p.m., at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, London, Ontario (133 Southdale Road West) the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was chanted.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Georgia Avgeropoulos was interred in the Woodland Cemetery of London, Ontario.

She was predeceased by her beloved husband Ioannis in 2002, and her two sons : Avgeros in 1968, and Demetrios in 1991, in Thunder Bay. Mourning her loss are her children : Alexander (Tina), Martha (Peter), and Father Peter (Presvytera Hara) ; 9 grandchildren : Georgette, Nicole, John, Marie, Constantine, John, Yianni, Gregory, and Theodore ; 6 great-grandchildren : Sierra, Mitchell, Victoria, Dylan, Markella, and Nicholas ; and her sisters Efthimia, and Virginia, and their families.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Father Panagiotis spoke in an interview about the difficulties associated with the closures resulting from the pandemic closures.

Because of the resources available in this community, Panagia Cathedral was the first Greek Orthodox Parish to be able to offer live-streamed services, Bible-studies, youth-group communication, and others.

It was during this time that the trust of people in the Lord was very much tested, and it required a great deal of pastoral patience to pass through this test (as was the case everywhere). He did his best by his example to show that there is no need to fear receiving Holy Communion, but to have confidence in the Lord and His life-giving Love.

Illnesses

Especially from the 1990s, there were many particular challenges that faced Father Panagiotis and Presvytera Hara. Presvytera Hara, who had been very active in teaching children in the parish, and in many other activities, was discovered to be suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. In time, this required her to retire from teaching. Nevertheless, the Lord enabled her to persevere in hope. Father Panagiotis required surgeries to replace painful leg joints ; and then, later on, he encountered a life-threating infection (sepsis), during which he was hospitalised in intensive care for some time. His recovery, by God’s mercy, was complete, and he was enabled to return to his family and to his parishioners (his spiritual family).

Presvytera Hara's activity

Since their marriage, Presvytera Hara has worked in harmony with her husband in caring for the Flock of Rational Sheep (in every place they were assigned). Between her personal and practical example, she has encouraged Orthodox Christians to grow in the daily practice of their Orthodox Christian Faith.

"Presvytera is a wonderful lady" wrote one person who knows her. She had met Presvytera in 1994, when she had organised the Orthodox Educators Seminar in Toronto. She noted that at that time, she and Father Peter were offering a Summer Camp for Orthodox Children.

Through the course of her own life-formation, and through her life with her husband, Presvytera Hara became well-grounded in the Orthodox Christian Faith and Theology. She was a professional teacher. She coordinated (and still coordinates) the Church School of the parish. She maintains contact with the teachers (there are 6 classes for the children and youth). She continues to post material suitable for the school-age students and their families).

Presvytera Hara has organised the text for the Pageants for the Feast of the Nativity, and Church School Retreats. She works hard, and successfully, for the integration of the children and youth in the life of the Church.

Other pastoral service

In the context of his very active pastoral service, Father Panatiotis has, for many years, offered every 2 weeks the "Orthodox Religious Education for Adults". This programme covers the Bible, the Feast Days, the life of the Saints, the Services and Christian life. During the Pandemics, Father Peter continued to offer this "class" by livestreaming, and he maintained the connection with the people, and those searching for the Faith.

In loving obedience, and as a servant of Christ, Father Panagiotis fulfilled many obediences given to him from time to time by Metropolitan (later Archbishop) Sotirios (Athanassopoloulos).

From 1990, Father Panagiotis served as the Director of Inter-Church Relations for the Greek Orthodox Church in Canada, serving as his Church’s representative to the Canadian Council of Churches since 1990.

From 1998, Father Panagiotis served as Professor of Patristics and Orthodox Pastoral Ministry at the Patriarchal Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy since 1998.

Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, site of the Academy

Father Panagiotis and one other person have been teaching in the Academy from the beginning. His students have generally loved and respected their esteemed teacher, not only for his teaching, but perhaps mostly for his loving example.

Father Peter

Reflections

An important perception of the pastorate of Father Peter is this : As a priest and pastor to a large community, he is always available and approachable. He serves with joy and love to God and His People.

Father Peter has worked very hard, but he has avoided calling attention to himself. He considers himself simply to be a servant of the Lord, and he constantly refers to the Lord and to the Theotokos with gratitude and love. As a servant of the King of Kings, he takes seriously his responsibility to nourish the Lord's flock of Rational Sheep (human beings) with the substantial spiritual food of the Orthodox Christian Faith.