[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 94 (Monday, June 3, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING FATHER NICHOLAS PETROPOULAKOS' RETIREMENT AFTER 50 YEARS OF 
                                SERVICE

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. NICOLE MALLIOTAKIS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, June 3, 2024

  Ms. MALLIOTAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I proudly join the Greek-Orthodox 
community of Staten Island to honor the service of Father Nicholas 
Petropoulakos and celebrate his retirement this month after 50 years of 
service to the Greek Orthodox Church of America. Therefore, I include 
in the Record the following Proclamation:

       Whereas Father Nicholas Petropoulakos was born in Lowell, 
     Massachusetts, and entered Hellenic College Holy Cross School 
     of Theology in 1967 to fulfill his calling of becoming an 
     Orthodox priest;
       Whereas Father Nicholas was ordained to the Holy Diaconate 
     in 1973 at Holy Cross Chapel on the campus of our seminary by 
     His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, and was named 
     assistant to the Pastor of Annunciation Church in Woburn, 
     Massachusetts;
       Whereas on June 1, 1974, he was ordained to the Holy 
     Priesthood at his home Parish, Holy Trinity in Lowell, 
     Massachusetts, again by His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos. 
     In 1987, Father Nick received a M.A. in Biblical Theology 
     from the University of Notre Dame;
       Whereas since accepting the pastorate of Holy Trinity--St. 
     Nicholas in August of 1996, Father Nick has been heavily 
     involved in education ministries, leading Bible study 
     sessions, and teaching in youth ministries. He helped develop 
     the parish website further to bring the community together 
     and introduced the Junior Hellenic Dancers as well as a dance 
     ministry for 3- to 6-year-olds;
       Whereas Father Nicholas established the ELEOS Ministry for 
     illness support, organized monthly healing services, and 
     initiated THARROS for divorced Orthodox Christians. He 
     oversaw the completion of the Community Center building 
     program and led the renovation of the church, which was 
     adorned with iconography for its consecration on June 3, 
     2013, conducted by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of 
     America.

  On behalf of the Greek-Orthodox community of Staten Island, I want to 
thank Father Nicholas for his years of devotion, dedication, 
commitment, and spiritual guidance.

                          ____________________