Falling Asleep of Reverend Father Theophilos P Theophilos

“All you who have walked the hard and narrow way of life,
who took up the Cross as a yoke and followed Me faithfully,
come receive heavenly crowns, the rewards I have prepared for you.”
Evlogitaria from the Funeral Service for a Priest

The Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco has announced the passing of the Reverend Father Theophilos P. Theophilos, age 89, on December 16, 2011, following a brief illness.  Father Theophilos fell asleep in the Lord peacefully, in the presence of his beloved family.

“We are saddened by the passing of Father Theophilos P. Theophilos (Theophilopoulos),” stated His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, as he presided over the a memorial service on Sunday, December 18, 2011 at the Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco, where Father Theophilos served, with distinction, as its Dean, from 1971 until his retirement in 1987. “Father Theo has truly been a gift from God, to this community and to all the communities where he served, radiating the love of the newborn Christ for his people, for his family and, in a special way, for our young people, encouraging and leading them by example. I recall his beautiful smile, his devotion, and his humility,” His Eminence went on to say, recounting his first meeting with Father Theo in his home parish of the Holy Trinity, in Montreal, Quebec. His Eminence concluded by saying, “Father Theo was especially devoted to his family, with his Presbytera Zoe always at his side, along with his beautiful children, Peggy, Peter, Ioanna and Constantine, his 11 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren, who were gathered around him, chanting the Paraklesis Service, just before he fell asleep in the Lord. Our heartfelt sympathy is extended to them and to all who are mourning the passing of their loving husband, father, and grandfather, our fellow-celebrant and cherished friend. May he rest among the saints, among all those whom we recalled in the Gospel Reading for this Sunday before Christmas.” 

Father Theophilos P. Theophilos was born in Montreal Canada on January 19, 1922.  He was the first born son of Panayiotis and Panayiota Theophilos, from the village of Longaniko, Greece, near Sparta.  He graduated from Baron Byng High School in 1938 at the age of 16.  At 17, he was the youngest student to enroll in the newly established Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, then located in Pomfret, CT.  Father Theo was placed in charge of the infirmary, due to his background in first aid with the Boy Scouts of Canada. He was awarded a Bachelor of Divinity degree in 1943.

Father Theo’s first assignment was as a lay assistant and youth coordinator at St. Spyridon Church in New York City.  There he met his future wife, Zoe Geotas, who was involved in the youth activities of the parish.  They were married in a ceremony involving the entire parish and over 20 clergymen, on September 24, 1944.  Father Theo was ordained to the Deaconate in his home parish of the Holy Trinity in Montreal, Quebec and to the Holy Priesthood at the St. Spyridon Church in New York City, both by the late Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras, who at the time was the Archbishop of North and South America. He was assigned to the St. Spyridon Church in New York for the next five years.  In 1949, he was assigned to the St. Haralambos Church in Canton, Ohio, where he served for eight years. From 1957 until 1966, Father Theo served in his home parish, in Montreal, as assistant to Father Salamis.  In addition to his numerous liturgical duties, he was very involved in the Ecumenical Movement.  He served two terms as President of the Greater Montreal Council of Churches.  He also served as Orthodox Chaplain of Sir George Williams University and of Douglas Psychiatric Hospital.  He was instrumental in building the St. Panteleimon Orthodox Chapel for the spiritual needs of the patients and staff of that hospital.  In addition, he served as President of the Eastern Orthodox Clergymen’s Association in the Greater Montreal area, and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Canadian Bible Society of Montreal.  He was named National Chairman and Commissioner of the Eastern Orthodox Catholic Boy Scouts Association of Canada.

In 1966 Father Theophilos was appointed Dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles, where he served until 1971.  While there, he organized the Southern California Council of Orthodox Clergy, and served as Vicar General for the Southern California parishes.  He worked with the Guadalupe Homes for Children (now Trinity Homes), serving as a director and, for several years, as Secretary of the Board.

In 1971 Father Theophilos was named Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco.  There, he established the first Greek Orthodox Youth Camp in Yosemite National Park.  In 1973 he organized the first Greek Orthodox Boy Scout Troop the Cathedral and also served the community via his weekly radio broadcasts.  Until his retirement in 1987 he served as Archdiocesan Vicar of the then Diocese of San Francisco.

Father Theophilos moved to Palm Desert in 1987 and, while there, helped establish the St. George Greek Orthodox Church, where he served until 1990.  In 1993 Father Theo was called to fill a temporary vacancy at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Vallejo, and ended up staying there for three years.  Active his whole life, Father Theophilos continued to serve with youthful vigor and enthusiasm, with love of God, and love for His Church.

A Trisagion Service will be chanted on Wednesday, December 21, at 7 p.m. On Thursday, December 22, the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. with the Funeral Service to follow at 11:00 a.m. All services will take place at the Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, 3459 Manchester Avenue, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, California. Father Theophilos will be interred in the Greek Section of the El Camino Cemetery, Cardiff-by-the-Sea.

May the memory of this exemplary priest and his labors for our Holy Orthodox Church be eternal!