Home Church & Religion Rev. Protopresbyter Dennis Strouzas Is Mourned

Rev. Protopresbyter Dennis Strouzas Is Mourned

Fr. Dennis Strouzas during the Thyranoixia of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, NY December 8th, 2012. © PHOTOS: GANP/Dimitrios Panagos

NEW YORK, NY – Greek News USA

The family of the Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, NY, is mourning the passing of their beloved spiritual father and Pastor Emeritus Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. Dionysios (Dennis) Strouzas, 79, who fell asleep in the Lord surrounded by his immediate family on Sunday, January 12, 2025, in New York.  

Fr. Dennis diligently served Archangel Michael Church from 1984 and for over thirty years. He retired in August 2016, passing the torch on to Rev. Protopresbyter Fr. John Lardas, and he continued to be a part of the vibrant AMC Community.

His love, faith and compassion have touched everyone at the AMC Community and not only.  

Fr. Dennis Strouzas during the Thyranoixia of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, NY December 8th, 2012.
© PHOTOS: GANP/Dimitrios Panagos

Fr. Dennis (Dionysios) was born in Chicago, Illinois to Peter and Mary Strouzas. He spent most of his early years in Chicago among family and friends. He graduated from Lane Tech, attended the University of Illinois and worked for Continental Airlines. He loved playing basketball and listening to music.

He served in the altar at St. George Greek Orthodox Church where his grandparents, parents, brother, aunts, uncles and cousins were active members. His true love for Christ and the Church was nurtured from a very young age by his family and Fr. Rexinis, his parish priest.

In some mystical way, he was drawn to Hellenic College and Holy Cross Theological School where he continued his education and received his Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Divinity degrees. While at Holy Cross Seminary he did field work with Fr. Kallistos Samaras (the late Bishop Kallistos of Blessed Memory) at St. Catherine’s Greek Orthodox Church in Quincy, Massachusetts. Fr. Kallistos became his spiritual father and mentor.

Fr. Dennis Strouzas with Archbishop Demetrios during the Thyranoixia of Archangel Michael Greek Orthodox Church in Port Washington, NY December 8th, 2012.
© PHOTOS: GANP/Dimitrios Panagos

Fr. Dennis and Presvetera Paula met at St. Catherine’s Church and were married at Holy Cross Chapel. Fr. Dennis was ordained to the deaconate at St. Catherine’s Church on July 1, 1973, and to the priesthood at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oaklawn, Illinois, on July 29, 1973.

He served St. Nicholas in Oaklawn for four and a half years and St. Nektarios in Palatine, Illinois for six years. He also served as Youth Director and Camp Fanari Co-director for the Chicago Diocese.

On March 1, 1984, Fr. Dennis Strouzas was appointed as the third full time priest at the Archangel Michael Church, a then small parish in the Roslyn Heights area of Long Island.  

After more than twenty-five years, the Archangel Michael community under his spiritual leadership had outgrown its original home. On August 6, 2004 plans for a new church were realized with the purchase of 100 Fairway Drive in Port Washington. On September 25, 2006, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios broke ground for the church to be built, and, on December 22, 2012 the entire community celebrated along with His Eminence the “Thyranoixia” of the new sanctuary, ushering in a new era for the community.

Fr. Dennis was elevated to the rank of Protopresbyter on April 24, 2015, on the eve of the Consecration of the Archangel Michael Church by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios.

He celebrated his final Divine Liturgy as Proistamenos on June 30, 2016 and retired as of August 31, 2016.

On July 1, 2023 he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the deaconate, and to the priesthood on July 29, 2023.

His golden anniversary was celebrated at the Archangel Michael’s Annual Nameday Gala on Nov. 3, 2023.

May His Memory Be Eternal!

[With information from AMC’s website]

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