A Community Mourns as our Friend Joins his Parish in Heaven, Reverend Fr. Demetrios Kavadas has Fallen Asleep with our Lord


Malista's Tribute

Father Demetrios Kavadas, the Priest
by Contributing Writer Elena Kerasiotis

Malista has been struggling to finish a profile of the late Father Demetrios Kavadas, the priest, for the past few weeks. While reviewing obituaries and biographies about Father, the one thing that seems to have been missed by most tributes, were his contribution to music, and the Greek Orthodox Liturgy. His ability to blend with the choir and make it appear that they had rehearsed entries and releases for hours was nothing short of genius. His voice could be heard soaring through every golden corner of Assumption, often leaving the parishioners breathlessly moved. No other community will ever again be able to possess or observe such pure musical passion. Here was a humble priest, who painted his icons with his voice. The spirit moved through him, to his congregation, uplifting all in attendance. Anyone who has had the pleasure to share an Anastasi Service with Father would be treated to a rare and emotional experience. Standing before the closed sealed doors of Assumption, eagerly anticipating the Lord's resurrection, and then his voice lifting our of the darkness "Xristos Anesti" as each face became illuminated with their candles glow, made the ceremony rapturous, and left each and everyone certain that "Truly He had Risen!"

At his funeral ceremony despite the 30 or so clergy in attendance, there seemed an overwhelming hollowness, due to the missing harmonies of Father Kavadas. This was one of the biggest losses, the "giant voice" described by Father Varlamos had been forever silenced and would be desperately missed by so many.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, movingly shared Father's obvious love of family and for his Presvitera who had stood by him for 49 years. "When I visited Presvitera would gently state, the Metropolitan is here to see you, and his gaze never parted from her face." It was as if he wanted to depart this world with her face as his last vision.

Grandson, George Pappas, represented the grieving family, and said that he would most miss Papou's warmth and "his open arms." "He always made us feel like everything would be alright."

Having had the opportunity to spend several relaxed evenings in his company at small private gatherings, joining with his musically inclined parishioners for impromptu songfests, sitting around the fireplace with guitar and bouzouki, harmony would abound singing the songs dear of his beloved island, "Thalassaki Mou", Chios. His warmth, talent and zest for life were most prevalent at these moments and it was a rare and precious gift to those in attendance to be included in his circle.

In Father's own words "My last advice," excerpted from the Assumption Epistle, June 1987, Father quotes from St. Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians: "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire, do not treat proficiencies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. Brothers, Pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (1 Th 5:14-28)

At the upcoming Easter Services, when the choir's voices are raised to heaven, believe that he will be there among his beloved angels, singing the harmony and not only filling St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe with his voice but now filling even the firmament. "He truly fought the good fight." May his memory remain eternal in all of the hearts of those that knew him.

Those who were unable to attend his funeral services may wish to join with his Windsor Holy Cross Congregation on Saturday, April 21, 2007, where a memorial service has been scheduled in his memory.

Malista!

A Message to Friends and Readers...

Assumption (Koimisis) of the Theotokos
Greek Orthodox Church
www.goassumption.org
eNews

Assumption Church Pays Tribute
To the Life of Father Demetrios Kavadas

It is with great sadness, that His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas of Detroit and the Rev. Father Michael Varlamos, senior priest of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church, announced the falling asleep in the Lord of the Rev.Father Demetrios Kavadas, on February 26th at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Father Kavadas is survived by his beloved wife Presvytera Rodothea and their children, Iphigenia Kavadas Pappas and John Kavadas. He was the loving grandfather of George, Thea, Demetri, and Vasilia. He was preceded in death by his two sons, Stephen, and Basil.

In July, Father Kavadas would have celebrated 50 years as a priest of the Greek Orthodox Church. For 39 of those years, he left an indelible mark on the over one thousand families of the Assumption Parish. Since 1962, his spiritual guidance, love, dedication and vision served as an inspiration to people of all ages. He provided invaluable leadership in the move of the church from Detroit to its present location on Marter Road in the communities of St. Clair Shores and Grosse Pointe Woods.

Fr Kavadas, a native of Chios, Greece, had a distinguished education. He received many prestigious degrees and awards from well known universities such as Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological Seminary, Tufts University, Harvard University, Boston
University and the College of the City of New York. He was a Fulbright Scholar, Scholar of the Taylor Foundation, and Scholar of the Panchian Society of America.

Father Kavadas received citations for community work from the cities of St. Clair Shores, Grosse Pointe Woods and the Michigan House of Representatives. He was the former director of the Voice of Orthodoxy Radio Hour, and a recognized lecturer and writer for the past 50 years. Most recent, he was recognized as the March of Dimes, Man of the Year.

After his retirement in 2001, Father Kavadas continued to serve the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Detroit in many parishes. In August of 2003, he began serving as the Priest of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church in Windsor, Ontario until August of 2006.

A letter from the Windsor Holy Cross Parish Council

Reverend Father Demetrios S. Kavadas

The President of the Council of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Windsor, asked me to write this account of our relationship with Father Kavadas. I have just finished organizing his vestments and papers and am filled with memories and emotions that well-up inside my throat as I try to put these thoughts into my fingers so that we can share the love and devotion this man brought to yet another parish.

He graciously answered the call of the Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios of Toronto Canada when Windsor was in need of a cleric in 2003 and made the thirty minute trip across the border.

This wasn't the first time we met Fr. Kavadas, for he had shared many memorable moments with us in years past. We knew the man who appeared on local television stations and weekly radio programs that reached across the Detroit River. This was the young man who came to be with our first priest, Rev. Fr. George Stathis, who came to us in 1962, a mentor and friend. Fr. Kavadas visited for illustrious occasions such as the Consecration and Opening of the Doors of Holy Cross Windsor, celebrated by the late Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America. We remember Fr. Kavadas chanting "Axios" during that ceremony in his "boomer" of a voice and being duly impressed hearing it for the first time. What a privilege celebrating the Divine Liturgy hymns with him so many years later.

His explanation of prayer and lighting of candles stays with us in our thoughts every time we look into the Altar to see if the candles are still burning….the flames like tongues wagging their prayers to the heavens…to God and all the holy saints.

He was an innovative leader as well as teacher, musician, psychologist, author. We benefited as a Community the richness of his talents, education and life experience. He gently tried to assist the Councils and their executive with statistics, ideas, and most of all his support. He argued with them, laughed with them and cried with them. He brought forth groups of people and showed them how they could benefit the Community of Holy Cross. Fr. Kavadas reached the young people, he spoke their language, he penetrated their psyche and gave them the words to use. They came in large numbers to be close to him and to baptize their children and to get married so that their spouses who spoke the language of this country could understand the mysteries of the Orthodox Church.

He was our priest and he was compassionate and sometimes strict with us, but he also confessed his pain and anxiety to the congregation on many occasions. We shared his tears and laughter week after week.

August 13th 2006 was the last time he came in his official capacity. He couldn't bring himself to share the fear and terror in his heart knowing his diagnosis. There were some visits after that with explanations and announcements but the distances grew greater and the 30 minute trip became too long. His greatest accomplishment for Windsor was to create a strong system of communication in the written word, telephone and emails. We came into the 21st Century as a parish, but now those systems were providing us with our link to the man who grew to love Windsor.

With much respect from the President, Board of Directors and the Parish of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church Windsor,

Jennifer Vrionis, Parish Secretary
Athanasios Athanasopoulos, Council President

02/26/07

"Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality." (I Corinthians 15:50-53)

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

We are saddened to inform you that Fr. Demetrios Kavadas has passed away this morning, February 26, 2007 at Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. Our deepest condolences to Fr. Kavadas' family, friends and to all who were blessed to have known him. Please pray for the repose of his soul, and for the family he leaves in our care.

Funeral announcements will be made as soon as arrangements are finalized.

May Father's memory be eternal.

In Christ,

Fr. Michael Varlamos

Details to follow...

2/27/07

Funeral arrangements for Father Kavadas will take place at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church,
21800 Marter Rd, St Clair Shores, Michigan.

* Father Kavadas will lie in state at the Church on Thursday, March 1 from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
*Trisagion Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.
* On Friday, March 2, a Presanctified Liturgy will take place in the Church at 9:00 a.m.
* Father Kavadas will lie in state from 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
* Funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m.

Biography - as seen on http://www.goarch.org

Father Demetrios was born on the Island of Chios, Greece on May 3rd 1932. He arrived in the USA fifty five years ago on the first of March. He attended High School in Greece, University of Athens School of Medicine, Tufts University, Holy Cross Seminary (Class of 1956), Harvard University, Boston University and received a: B.A., B.D. and S.T.M. (Major in Religious Education)

He married Rodothea Palaiologou in 1957 and had four children. Iphigenia Pappas, Stefanos (slept in the Lord), John and Basil (slept with the Lord). He has been blessed with four grandchildren.

Presently he is a Member of the Board of RCA. and serving full-time Proistamenos of Holy Cross Parish of Windsor, Ontario Canada. In the past he has served Saint George Cathedral, Manchester NH (1957-1962), Assumption Church of Detroit. He was honored as the "Man of the year in 2003" and by the March of Dimes and " Man of the year 2004" by Mental Illness Research Association".