Father Nicholas Bozikis, a revered figure in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, has passed away at 79.
His death is deeply felt within the Greek Orthodox community in Australia, where he was cherished for his dedication and service.
Born in 1944 on the Greek island of Zakynthos, Father Nicholas devoted more than five decades of his life to serving the Orthodox community in Sydney.
He received his Orthodox education at the Ecclesiastical School of the Holy Monastery of Saint Anastasia the Pharmacolytria in Vasilika, Thessaloniki.
In 1964, Father Nicholas immigrated to Australia, initially settling in Melbourne before moving to Sydney in 1970 at the invitation of the late Archbishop Ezekiel of Australia.
There, he was ordained to the priesthood and began his long and devoted service.
For 18 years, Father Nicholas served at the Parish – Community of the Holy Cross in Wollongong before returning to Sydney in 1988.
He then served as a parish priest at St Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in Kingsford from 1989 to 1994, followed by a tenure at St Stephanos in Hurlstone Park until 2011.
Even though he faced serious health challenges in 2011, Father Nicholas resumed his priestly duties and served for an additional six and a half years in various parishes in New South Wales.
In 2021, in recognition of his dedication to Greek Orthodoxy, Father Nicholas was honoured with the Offikion of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.
Father Nicholas is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
His Eminence Archbishop of Australia Makarios expressed his condolences to Father Nicholas’s family, highlighting his immense contribution to the Orthodox Church and the Greek community.
Funeral arrangements for Father Nicholas Bozikis will be announced at a later date.
