Nicholas Salamis (Greek: Νικόλαος Σαλάμης; August 13, 1897 – October 15, 2005)[1] was a Greek Orthodox priest of the Eastern Orthodox faith who witnessed almost a century of Greek emigration into Canada.
Nicholas Salamis | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 13, 1897 |
| Died | October 15, 2005 (aged 108) |
| Church | Greek Orthodox |
| Ordained | Deaconate: September 25, 1938 Priesthood: September 26, 1938 |
Early life
editSalamis was born on the Greek island of Samos.[1] When he was five, his father died,[citation needed] leaving the family destitute.[citation needed] His mother raised her two sons and one daughter on money earned by renting out a mule for conveyance to local villagers.[citation needed]
Salamis' mother enrolled both her sons in a high school, where Nicholas would receive training in commerce.[citation needed]
Nicholas first immigrated to America (see Greek American), then settled in the Greek community of Montréal in 1919, where he would go on to become a bookkeeper for his community, though Salamis would become dissatisfied with this position.[2]
Study
editAt 35, Salamis returned to Athens to study theology,[citation needed] with the intention to become an Orthodox priest.
In October of 1938, Salamis returned to Montréal to begin his priesthood at St. George Greek Orthodox Church parish,[1] spending seven years there until joining the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, eventually leaving in June of 1961,[1] joining the St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto, where he would remain until December of 1968.[1]
Return to Canada
editSalamis' return to Montréal coincided with over 100,000 Greeks immigrating to Canada, who were largely uneducated, unskilled, with little or no knowledge of either official language of Canada,[2] many of whom Salamis would go on to provide with baptisms, weddings, and funerals, easing the frictions which developed between the established Greek community and the new immigrants, who were referred to as "displaced persons" (see Greek Diaspora).[2]
Pastoral work
editBy his own count, Salamis performed over 10,000 religious ceremonies during his service to the Greek Orthodox community of Canada.[2]
Over the next forty years, Salami would assist many immigrants and their children to become members of the greater Canadian society as they would learn the official languages and receive some general education.[2]
Salamis died at the age of 108 on October 15, 2005.[3][4]
Dates of Ordination:[1]
- Deaconate: September 25, 1938
- Priesthood: September 26, 1938
Communities Served:[1]
- June 1961 – 1990: St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Montréal, Québec
- April 1945 – May 1961: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Montréal, Québec
- October 1938 – March 1945: St. George Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto, Ontario
See also
editReferences
edit- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Very Rev. Fr. Nicholas Salamis". Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "Century Man: The Father Salamis Story". A Scattering of Seeds. The Creation of Canada. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ↑ "Statement from Hon. Eleni Bakopanos (Ahuntsic, Lib.) on the death of Father Salamis". 38th Parliament of Canada, 1st Session; Number 137; Wednesday, October 19, 2005. Retrieved 2010-04-02.
- ↑ "Greek Orthodox 'shining light' dies at 108". CBC News. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
Further reading
edit- Paré, Olivier (2 June 2017). "Nicholas Salamis, un prêtre au service de sa communauté". Encyclopédie du MEM (in French). Retrieved 17 April 2026.
- "Montreal Greeks celebrate priest's 105th". CBC News. 14 August 2002. Retrieved 17 April 2026.