April 11, 1932 – March 6, 2025

Rev. Dr. George C. Papademetriou passed into eternal life on March 6, 2025 at the age of 92. He passed away peacefully, leaving behind a profound legacy that influenced countless lives. Father George is survived by his beloved wife Presbytera Athanasia, his children Dean Papademetriou, Jane and Nicholas Kourtis, and Tom and Dorrie Papademetriou, his grandchildren Stacey and Alex Kurkuvelos, George Papademetriou, Susan Athanasia and James Metropol, and Roman Papademetriou, and two great-grandchildren, who brought much joy to his later years.

Father George was predeceased by his parents, Father Constantine and Presbytera Ourania Papademetriou, his sister Olga Marudas and her husband Steve, and his brothers Father Spyridon and his wife Presbytera Metaxia, John, Evangelos, and Alkiviades and his wife Persephone Papademetriou. Father George is also survived by his sister-in-law Loukia Papademetriou and many relatives in the United States and Greece.

Father George was a devoted Greek Orthodox priest, a dedicated scholar and academic librarian, and an inspiring teacher who nurtured students with wisdom and compassion to become priests and lay leaders within the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. With his gentle and quiet spirit, Father George's life was one of humility, service, and unwavering commitment to his Orthodox Christian faith, the Church, his family, and the larger community.

Born in 1932, in Petralona, Evrytania, Greece, Father George was the fourth of six children in a devout family. He was inspired by his father, Father Constantine, a priest and educator, and his mother, Presbytera Ourania, whose deep faith, humility, and compassion for others shaped his life. Father George came to the U.S. in 1947 to reunite with his father in Moline, Illinois, after seven years of wartime separation. Following high school, he graduated from Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts, where he later taught for many years.

Father George was the devoted husband of Presbytera Athanasia, daughter of devout parents, Anastasios and Evangelia Antoniou, of Tanagra, Greece and Clinton, Iowa. Father George and Presbytera Athanasia were married on June 26, 1960. For 64 years, they shared a lifetime of ministry. Father George was ordained a deacon by Bishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis on July 17, 1960 at St. Spyridon Church in Newport, Rhode Island, and one week later, on July 24, 1960 Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America ordained Father George to the holy priesthood at St. Paraskevi Church in Greenlawn, NY.

Father George served parishes across the U.S., including St. Demetrios Church, Fort Worth, TX, Evangelismos Church, Elkins Park, PA, Sts. Constantine and Helen Church, Annapolis, MD, and St. Nicholas Church, Lexington, MA, playing a key role in their growth and ministering to his parishioners with love and care. He also ministered to mission churches in Waco and Wichita Falls, TX, and planted the seeds for  a new parish in southern Maryland, bringing many to Orthodoxy.

With a Master of Theology from Texas Christian University and a Ph.D. from Temple University, Father George became a respected theologian and professor at Hellenic College Holy Cross, mentoring students and preparing future priests of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. A prolific author, he wrote extensively on Orthodox theology, world religions, St. Gregory Palamas and hesychasm, drawing inspiration from his professor, Father Georges Florovsky. Father George's life mission was to make Orthodox theology accessible and meaningful for the modern world.

Father George's ministry was shaped by his commitment to dialogue within the Orthodox Church and with other faiths. With the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, Father George traveled worldwide to engage in interfaith discussions. As President of the Orthodox Theological Society of America, he helped establish the Florovsky Lecture and promoted understanding among Christians, Muslims, and Jews through organizations including the World Council of Churches and the National Conference of Christians and Jews. His ecumenical efforts included a fellowship in Judeo-Christian relations in Jerusalem, which earned him recognition in the New York Times.

Father George received a Master of Library Science from Simmons University and served as Director of the Hellenic College Holy Cross library for over twenty years. He led the computerization and reclassification of the collection to the Library of Congress system. The library also achieved accreditation during Father George's tenure. As a member of the American Theological Library Association, he integrated the library into the Boston Theological Institute's consortium. Father George envisioned and launched the design, organization, and building of the new Archbishop Iakovos Library and Learning Resource Center.

Father George and Presbytera Athanasia, also an academic librarian, traveled to Albania at the invitation of His Eminence Metropolitan Ilia Katre to help modernize and computerize the collection of the Resurrection of Christ Theological Academy's library in the post-communist period. Father George shared his knowledge by donating his and Presbytera Athanasia's collection of over 4,000 English books to St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary in South Bound Brook, NJ and over 1,000 Greek books to the Orthodox seminary in Karditsa, Greece.

While a professor at Holy Cross, Father George also served Metropolis of Boston parishes. Father George crisscrossed New England, serving parishes in need of a priest on Sundays, including for many years at St. George Church, Lynn, MA, St. George Church, Southbridge, MA, and Holy Trinity Albanian Orthodox Church, South Boston, MA.

The family wishes to thank His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew for his enduring love and friendship. The family wishes to thank His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America, His Eminence Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, clergy, family, and friends for their love and prayers. Furthermore, they wish to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff of Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston and Needham for their tremendous care and compassion for Father George. They also express special gratitude to Dr. David Gomolin, who was Father George's physician and cardiologist for forty years.

A visitation will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 from 1:00 – 4:00 pm at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, 57 Brown Street, Weston, MA 02493. The funeral service will be held on Monday, March 17, 2025 at 11:00 am at Holy Cross Chapel at Hellenic College Holy Cross, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445. The funeral service will be preceded by a Presanctified Liturgy at 9:00 am. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Gardens Cemetery, 670 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132. For online guestbook please visit www.Faggas.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hellenic College Holy Cross for the "Rev. Dr. George C. and Presbytera  Athanasia Papademetriou Scholarship Fund," care of Hellenic College Holy Cross, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline, MA 02445, Attn: Development Office.

May his memory be eternal.