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Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church 3109 Scio Church Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103 Telephone (734) 332-8200 Fax: (734) 332-8201 web: www.stnickaa.org e-mail: Church Office (office@stnickaa.org) |
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Excerpt from "Legends and Legacies" (memories) about Rev. Father John Paul Copyright Pearl Kastran Ahnen 1995 Published by Legna, Press P.O. Box 94, Glenn, Michigan, 49416, Second Printing 1999:
This year the Ann Arbor community of Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church will celebrate 30 years of spiritual growth under the leadership of Father John Paul. The spiritual growth under he has encouraged in this House of the Lord had its inception many years ago in another house in Binghamton, New York, where Father john was born the youngest of four children. He grew up to the sound of music and in an environment of Orthodox Christianity and Greek Culture. Music, religion and Hellenic sounds filtered through the living room, dining room, kitchen and various rooms of the house. They found their way into the ears and the hearts of the children.
“My father loved music and all instruments,” says Ester
Conomikes, Father John’s sister. “We sang as he played the violin, mandolin
or banjo. He was self-taught. He even taught himself to read the Byzantine
musical notes, which are notes unlike ordinary notes. My brother developed
his singing voice at this time, and also learned to play the mandolin.”
After high school he thought about joining the Navy. “They
didn’t take me, because I was overweight for the Navy at that time,” he
adds. But always at the forefront of his mind was the priesthood. “I had
been drawn to the church for a long time. Why, even as a kid, I always
played the priest,” he says. Father John began his schooling the following year at Holy Cross Seminary. He said, “It was six years of hard work. It wasn’t easy. The seminary in those days had many restrictions – much fasting, no radio or English newspapers or magazines, etc.” His class numbered thirty-three at the beginning of the first school year. Only eight of the original class remained after the second year. Father John’s class was the first to go through a six-year program, which also earned him a Bachelor of Arts degree in theology. He graduated in 1956. That same summer, he assumed duties of lay assistant to the priest at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte, North Carolina. He served as Greek School teacher, choir director, youth advisor, religious education director, and psaltis, and preached the sermon in English from time to time (the priest preached only in Greek). One of the people he met in Charlotte was Eva Miller, who was a Sunday School teacher. She is the only daughter of John and Paraskeve Miller (Maroulis) sister of George and Nick Miller. Father John cities a coincidence or maybe it was forecast of things to come, but Presvytera Eva’s father, John of Aleas, Tegea, Arcadia and Father John’s mother, Georgia of the neighboring town of Stadion, Tegea, Arcadia were on the same ship in 1914 headed for America. In 1962, Father John assumed similar duties at Saint John Church in Des Plaines, Illinois. “Then God brought me back to Charlotte,” says Father John. Presvytera Eva says in her soft southern accent, “Can you imagine I married a Yankee? At that time, Father John had black curly hair.” Father John was ordained a deacon on September 25, 1971 at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte and ordained a priest the following day on September 26th by Bishop Aimilanos. He remained in Charlotte as the Second Priest. Father John and Presvytera arrived in Ann Arbor on September 6, 1973 to serve the Saint Nicholas Parish. Presvytera adds, “We found a very friendly community here in Ann Arbor. And the weather wasn’t half as bad as they told us.”
In spite of the cold winters, Father John notes that the church
extends a warm welcome to everyone – visitors and university students. In
fact, Father says, “We receive many notes and letters and comments from
various people, who say how warm and friendly our Saint Nicholas Parish
is.” Presvytera Eva, who has served as the
Philoptochos Society President
for a few years always welcomes visitors. Throughout his years at Saint Nicholas, he has dedicated himself to the church employing values he learned as a child from his parents. His sisters are Callope Romanos of New York City, Ester Conomikes, and Irene Connell of Binghamton, New York. Father John’s parents, Frank and Georgia Paul, were married in November 1920, in Johnstown, New York. Frank Paul, a native of Nisyros, one of the Dodecanese Islands in the Southeast Aegean Sea came to America alone at the age of eleven and with determination taught himself English. He struggled as so many others, to earn a living in a strange land. His faith, religion and culture sustained him during trying years. He passed on his faith, religion and culture to his son. When asked about his work philosophy, Father John says, “A parish priest is a spiritual father. That is what I try to be. I try to be myself – I have not tried to be someone else. I try to do my priestly duties and carry out my responsibilities to the best of my ability.”
On Sunday, July 1st,
our beloved Father John was transferred to a hospice care facility (Arbor
Hospice) for the continuation of the care that he needs. Presvytera
Eva and their family have expressed to me all of the wonderful and uplifting
words and deeds of support that the Saint Nicholas community and others have
offered to them these past months, and in particular these past few days.
They are especially thankful for all of the prayers that everyone has
offered on behalf of Father John and their family.
May His Memory Be Eternal
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).
He has been a New York Yankees fan ever since he can remember.
