Rev. Spyridon C. Papademetriou
The Rev. Spyridon C. Papademetriou of Wyomissing, PA, age 89, died on May 22, 2015 at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.
He was the former pastor of St. Matthew's Greek Orthodox Church in Reading, PA from 1974-1998 and during his retirement he served as an assistant pastor at the Saints Constantine and Helen Church also in Reading.
Rev. Papademetriou was born on September 25, 1925 in the Petralona region of Karpenision Greece to Rev. Constantine and Ourania Papademetriou and moved to the Unites States in 1945 at the invitation of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America to study at the Holy Cross School of Theology where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Bachelor in Divinity. He served as pastor of the Annunciation Church in Newburyport, MA for 8 years and of the St. Spyridon's Church in Newport, RI for 15 years before moving to Reading.
He was honored in 1971 with the highest rank of the Greek Orthodox priesthood, Proto-Presbyter, and was named Priest of the Year of the Pittsburg Diocese in 1991. He has been involved with many religious and civic organizations throughout his ministry. He was invited to offer the Invocation to both the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives as well as to many other governmental and civic organizations.
He was pre-deceased by his spouse of 59 years, Metaxia (Zerveas) Papademetriou and his son, Constantine. He is survived by his daughter Ourania and her husband Jon Belisonzi and his son Stylianos-John and his wife Diane (Innis) and also by his beloved grandchildren Eleni and her husband William, Spyridon Alex and his wife Jacqueline, Lisa, Metaxia and Cassandra and by his adored great-granddaughter Lola. He is also survived by his sister Olga Marudas and his brothers Rev. George, Evanagelos and Alkiviades and pre-deceased by his brother John. In addition he leaves behind many cherished nieces and nephews and cousins both here in the United States and in Greece.
A viewing will be held from 6-8pm on Monday May 25th with a Trisagion Prayer at 7pm. On Tuesday May 26th a Divine Liturgy will be held at 8:30am with a viewing to follow at 10am. Funeral services will be held at 11am with interment following at the Charles Evans Cemetery. All services will be held at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church Greek Orthodox Church, 1001 E. Wyomissing Blvd, Reading, PA.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Rev. Spyridon and Presvytera Metaxia Memorial Scholarship at Hellenic College Holy Cross, 50 Goddard Avenue, Brookline MA 02445.
Henninger Funeral Home, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.
www.henningerfuneralhome.com