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In a climate of deep devotion and intense emotion, we celebrate today the fourth annual memorial service for the repose of the soul of the former Archbishop of Thyatira and Great Britain Gregory.
The iconic Cypriot, religious father from Marathovounos, who, when as of November 2019 he passed away and went to Kyrios, the great void he left behind is confirmed every day.
We therefore honour, with reverence, shivers of emotion and unlimited respect, the unquenchable memory of the blessed prelate, who identified his life with unadulterated selfless love for the Christian faith and doctrine and the unceasing offer to his fellow man.
His God-given work, the love with which he treated his neighbour and the unselfish selflessness of his actions indelibly adorn his venerable image.
The true dimension of the blessed Archbishop's contribution, personality and work is captured with immense respect and love by Elder Savas - David Vassiliadis in Harry Mettis' book "The Spirit of Thyatira - The thirty-year service of the charismatic Archbishop of Thyatira and Great Britain", published in Britain and released in 2018.
"[...] The ministry of an Archbishop in one of the most important provinces of the Ecumenical Throne is not something that any Cleric bearing the third degree of the Priesthood could undertake. Great Britain, full of harsh conditions and a particular profile of Greek immigrants, from Greece and Cyprus, but also full of Orthodox of all nations, is a field of ministry full of challenges and opportunities for meaningful service. But to achieve all these feats, plus the Pastoral Ministry of a large and diverse flock, a strong spirit was needed, a figure of leadership, charismatic and above all full of the Love of Christ and the Grace of the Holy Spirit. A figure of a High Priest who would patiently and diligently praise and upgrade the work of his predecessors, repair the imperfections and lead with virtue, boldness and, if I may use the term, holiness, this Province into a perpetual and evergreen future [...] writes very aptly, among others, Elder Savvas - David Vassiliadis in the preface of the book, accurately depicting the exuberant physiognomy and praising the oversized work that Blessed Gregory offered to his flock.
It is evident that he was a charismatic leader. He developed to the highest degree all the leadership qualities and skills with which God endowed him, and for 31 consecutive years he led the Greek Orthodox community of Great Britain tirelessly and with paternal affection.
Gregorios was born on 28 October 1928 in the now occupied Marathovounos, in the poor rural family of Theocharis Hatzitofis and Maria Koroni.
At the tender age of three, he experienced unbearable pain and sorrow after losing his father. The upbringing of the family went through many hardships and intractable problems.
After completing his education at the primary school of his village, he was forced to work as a shoemaker for eight years to support his family financially due to severe financial difficulties. His desire to learn led him in 1949 to enroll in the second grade at the Commercial School of Lefkoniko, from which two years later, in 1951, he transferred to the Pancyprian High School in Nicosia to attend the fourth grade.
Because school regulations allowed only clergy to enroll at an older age, in order to be accepted he was made a monk by Archbishop Makarios and later, on June 24, 1953, he was ordained a deacon.
In 1954, after his graduation, he went to study at the Theological School of the University of Athens while serving the church as a deacon in the church of Agia Sophia in Neos Psychiko.
In 1959 he accepted a transfer to London, where on 19 April he was ordained an elder of the Church of All Saints, where he served for several years, first as parish priest and then as priestly superior. During his ministry Gregory came into contact with hundreds of expatriate immigrants arriving in Britain, offering his unstinting help to them.
In 1964 the late Archbishop Athenagoras Kokkinakis appointed him Protosynagogue of the Archdiocese. In addition to his priestly duties, he taught in the evenings at the Greek School that operated in the Church of All Saints and later at various schools that operated in other parishes.
In 1969 he was admitted to higher studies at the University of Cambridge and on 26 November 1970 he was elected by the Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as Bishop of Tropea, at the same time taking over the administration of the community of St Barnabas the Apostle in Wood Green, North London.
He worked zealously, humbly, quietly and co-ordinately for the progress of his flock. He pioneered the prosperity of the Greek and Cypriot community, the improvement of the living conditions of young immigrants, the help of the elderly, the establishment of schools and churches, the better organization and consolidation of parishes, clubs and associations and the progress of the Greek Orthodox community, which continues to this day to flourish in Great Britain.
He personally undertook to help young people who wished to become priests by catechizing and training them in the doctrine of Christ, by sending young students to the theological schools of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and Apostle Barnabas in Cyprus. He proceeded to establish the School of Byzantine Music, the Institute for Teacher Training and the Unified Body for Greek Parochial Education, with the aim of better organising and staffing the parochial schools. At the same time, it developed excellent and constructive relations with churches of other denominations and religions, of which their representatives to this day speak highly of them.
Recognizing his apostolic work and his undoubted abilities, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on 16 April 1988 unanimously elected him Archbishop of Thyatira and Great Britain. In its Encyclical the Synod stated, among other things, that "the Most Reverend Bishop Gregory of Tropea, a man of dignity and priestliness, well-versed in the divine arts, was qualified and elected unanimously, with an ecclesiastical and ecclesiastical education, with wisdom and skill, and with no little experience of ecclesiastical matters and affairs from his long, tried and tested ministry in the church".
The enthronement took place on 29 May at St Sophia's Cathedral in London in the presence of thousands of worshippers. I reflect, therefore, with the fear of God and humility, on my responsibility as Pastor for the present Orthodox Church and for the modern Patria of Greece and Cyprus. And we pray that the efforts of the political leadership of the modern nation to ensure peace and reconciliation with the neighbouring peoples will be crowned with complete and permanent success, with the return of refugees and the missing to their ancestral homes, and the peaceful coexistence of all, in a spirit of justice, love, mutual understanding and mutual respect and trust", the charismatic prelate said, among other things, in his speech.
Archbishop Gregory passed away on November 20, 2019 at the age of 91, leaving as a legacy his admirable and God-given work, which is universally recognized both by the Orthodox Church and by the Orthodox faithful around the world.
On 5 December 2019, I had the honour, as a representative of the House of Representatives, to attend the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Wood Green, London, at the celebration of the Beatitude of the late Archbishop.
Everyone's eyes were dumbfounded. The emotion was pervasive. Everyone had a good word to say about the Hierarch who was always by their side, meek, prominent, meek, gentle, modest, bold and tireless. To ease their pain, to banish sad thoughts from their minds, to bring peace and optimism to their souls.
Enlightened by God, the pastor honoured his origin, Marathovouno.
With his life and work he deservedly honoured Hellenism and his homeland, Cyprus.
With his life and work he deservedly honoured Hellenism and his homeland, Cyprus.
With his presence he brightened the work of the Church.
During the years of his pastorate he served Orthodoxy with passion and left behind worthy descendants and a multifaceted theological, social, patriotic and religious work.
He was and still is a symbol of spiritual unity for Hellenism in Britain.
He was and still is a symbol of spiritual unity for Hellenism in Britain.
A refuge and an oasis for all of us who will walk faithfully on the path he blazed with the deeds and teachings he left as a legacy for us.
Today, bowing before his sacred figure, we draw strength and courage.
His greatness and generosity of character, his insouciant and unselfish charity, his generosity and indomitability will be unforgettable and will be a beacon to light our way.
Eternal be the memory of our beloved Hierarch.
(ΕΠ/EΑθ)
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