Mavroneri, Boeotia, Greece, August 2, 2023
Photo: imtl.gr
Several hierarchs and a sea of clergy and people attended the funeral of Fr. Nikolaos Tassios at the Church of St. George in Mavroneri, Boeotia, Greece, on Saturday.
The newly departed priest, 72, is fondly remembered as a spiritual child of the recently canonized St. Bessarion of Agathonos and the spiritual father of hundreds throughout Greece.
“Everyone with a flower in their hand and with tears in their eyes waited patiently in line to enter the church to say goodbye to Fr. Nikolaos and express their appreciation, gratitude, and love towards him and receive his blessing for the last time,” writes the Metropolis of Thebes.
Photo: imtl.gr
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Saturday morning, then the funeral of Fr. Nikolaos was served by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece and Metropolitans Georgios of Karpenisi and Georgios of Thebes.
Met. Georgios of Thebes spoke about the spiritual labors of Papa Nikolaos and his personal relationship with holy men:
Fr. Nikolaos, through his daily toil, with his personal quiet sacrifice, which he never wanted others to advertise, had made his parish church a spiritual cell and a center of attraction for many troubled souls, who found comfort and support in his kind words and the smile on his cheerful face in the circumstances and needs of this present life…
Fr. Nikolaos was indeed gifted. He had many spiritual gifts, but they can be summarized in one important quality: holy simplicity. This quality provided solace to those seeking comfort in his presence. Those who attended the celebration of the Sacraments by the blessed departed left feeling comforted by his fatherly love and his sincere and unassuming demeanor…
Photo: orthodoxianewsagency.gr
The late Fr. Nikolaos, guided by unwavering Greek Orthodox principles, created a beautiful traditional family. He married a distinguished presbytera who was rich in faith and love and together they had children who bear the seal of their good parents…
A milestone in his spiritual journey was his acquaintance and connection with two sanctified figures of our Church, who loved him paternally and supported him substantially. The first was the now officially canonized Elder Bessarion the Agathonos, and the second was the blessed Metropolitan Peter of Christopolis…
May the Lord of life and death grant him rest with His chosen ones, the Elder Bessarion, whose intercession he always invoked, and the blessed Metropolitan Peter, whom he loved deeply and always sought for advice.
Photo: imtl.gr
And addressing the priests present at the funeral, Met. Georgios urged them to imitate the holy labors of Fr. Nikolaos.
Then the departed priest was buried next to the Church of St. George, where he had served from 1997 until his repose, and the people sang, “Christ is Risen!”
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