CHICAGO, IL –
The Hierarchs, clergy, laity, and friends of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago deeply mourn the memory of Fr. Nicholas I. Nikokavouras, who fell asleep in the Lord on March 1, 2024. He was 86 years-old.
“Incredibly outgoing and always bearing a kind smile, Fr. Nicholas had a big personality. He genuinely enjoyed getting to know his parishioners and all people from the surrounding neighborhood. Having continuously served as Proistamenos of Annunciation Cathedral of Chicago for 41 years, Fr. Nick was a generational priest having touched the lives of tens of thousands of people and would regularly baptize newborns, marry them as adults, and later baptize their children. An educator at heart, Fr. Nick served as a teacher for Greek Schools across the Chicago area for more than 25 years and loved teaching children the Greek language and the Orthodox faith. Believing deeply in philanthropy and outreach, Fr. Nick played a key role in instituting the Feed the Hungry ministry at Annunciation was regularly seen attending to the needs of the poor and vulnerable whether at the Cathedral, on the street, or at home”, reads a press announcement by the Metropolis of Chicago.
Fr. Nicholas is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 61 years, Presvytera Kalliopi [Frantzeskaki], Nikokavouras; his two children, Erasmia Memmos (Stamatis) and Iraklis (Debbie) Nikokavouras; devoted Pappou of six, Andreas, Niko, Elena, Spiro, Kalliopi and Evgenia.
Funeral service was officiated by Metropolitan Nathanael on March 7 at the Annunciation Cathedral in Chicago.
Born to Fr. Iraklis and Erasmia Nikokavouras (née Kapodistrias) in 1937 in Sfakera, on the island of Corfu in Greece, Fr. Nicholas began his primary school education in his home village school, and in 1951 continued his studies at the Ecclesiastical School of Corinth finishing it in 1958.
He received a degree in theology from the Theological School of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and later received a Master’s Degree of Arts in Sociology from Northeastern Illinois University in 1984.
During his studies in Thessaloniki he had the chance to meet Archbishop Iakovos who invited him to serve as a priest in the United States.
On December 25, 1964, Fr. Nicholas was ordained a Deacon at the Cathedral Church of Corfu. On January 1, 1965, a week later, he was ordained a priest by Metropolitan Methodios of Corfu, and he was assigned to the Church of St. Eleftherios. In addition to his pastoral duties, he initiated a Catechism program for the children and youth of Corfu. Furthermore, he was appointed to serve the spiritual needs of the service men of the military units stationed on the island.
He settled in Chicago in 1973 with Presbytera and his two children after accepting the invitation from Archbishop Iakovos and he was appointed Proistamenos at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral. In 1974, the Greek government appointed Fr. Nicholas a Teacher of the Greek Language and Culture at the Greek Schools of Chicago. He dutifully served the Greek schools of Chicago as a Teacher for over 25 years. For many years during this time, Fr. Nicholas presented a regular weekly religious radio program at Hellenic Radio of Chicago.
