Some days are simply lucky, blessed, fortunate, special, memorable or auspicious.  That’s why 4 September 2025 was indeed such a day …..

Because 25 years ago on 4 September 2000 our beloved Reverend Father Nikolaos Giamouridis , his awesome wife Maria and their charming family arrived in Cape Town as he was to be our new Parish Priest at St George’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Woodstock.

Oh happy day for the Greek community and all Orthodox Christians in Cape Town!

Protopresbyter Father Nikolaos ( a clerical title of honour given to non-monastic priests) and Presbytera Maria with their three children Chrysoula , Stratos and Anastasia, came to us from their parish in Vereeniging and we have to say their loss was our gain.

Pater(Father) as he is fondly known is not only our spiritual father but also an incredible powerful presence in our lives, enriching every event , occasion or moment he shares with us, inside and outside the church .

He is a man of many talents which go way beyond his pastoral duties, including being able to hold forth on any subject you care to mention with a lot more knowledge than most people amass in a lifetime, a wry but endearing sense of humour and a definite feel for fun plus he is loaded with that Greek joie de vivre we call “ kefi”.

And what about this – Pater makes the best pita breads and souvlakia this side of Piraeus and his baklava rivals that of many a Greek domestic goddess!

Pater Nikolaos was born and bred in Athens and ordained there as a priest but who would have thought that one day he would end up chanting God’s praises on the farthest tip of Africa!

Some people are born to be who they ultimately turn out to be and Pater is one of them. Being a priest is in his DNA and he just lives it and loves it – he exudes a special kind of joy and serenity when he goes about his priestly duties and when you hear his voice richly booming in church you know you are in the right place !

He has to be so sick that he lands up in hospital before he gives in and not being able to open the church during the hard days of lockdown were sheer torture for him.

He is a walking talking computer of all things religion-related ( and not just Orthodox, mind you!) and he conducts services in Greek, English and on some occasions Slavic. He knows every member of the congregation by name, number and rank ( for us Greeks that’s name, family ties and where in Greece or Cyprus your parents come from!)

He absolutely adores children and all our little ones know that our church is truly home to them because of his loving indulgent ways with them. And what could be more fitting than Pater and Maria becoming doting Pappou ( grandpa) and Yia yia ( grandma) to their own two gorgeous grandkids Maria and Kostandinos.

He also loves animals and he has the most fun blessing all our dogs and cats and ponies and mice and gerbils and you-name-it on our annual St Mamas Pets Blessing Day!

Pater’s selfless determination to keep our spirits up with calming and comforting rituals and services we all love and know has led to the introduction of monthly all-English Holy Liturgy services held at the beautiful chapel of Saints Raphael, Nicholas and Irene at the Bishopric in Rondebosch under the auspices of our Archbishop His Eminence Sergios.

Pater has been very involved in welcoming, teaching and guiding non-Greek converts to Orthodoxy and has carried out multiple baptisms in our cathedral that have brought us treasured new congregants.

At this time there is another group he is preparing for baptism so we look forward to new faces in the long queues for Holy Communion on Sundays.

Right now Pater is on a very well-deserved holiday in Greece with Presbytera Maria and we look forward to their return in October and of course, a busy diary filled with special high and holy days and community events.

Suffice to say he is always there when you need him and with a parish as big and spread out as ours and a church calendar as full as ours, his workload is anything but easy, yet he always manages to remember or mention little things that mean a lot to you personally.

But beware he is pretty strict but fair and that’s one of his best attributes plus the fact that nothing fazes him – he has heard it ,and worse, all before , so he always tries to find a workable solution.

Congratulations Pater Nikolaos on your 25th anniversary in Cape Town!

We are truly blessed to have you and Presbytera Maria, who is also a very treasured and hard-working member of our Church Ladies Group, and your family with us and we are grateful for your passion and dedication.

Ευχαριστώ παρά πολύ /Efgaristo para poli / Thank you very much just doesn’t cut it …..

So we can only ask the Holy Theotokos to protect you and God bless you and Maria and all your family and keep you happy, healthy, safe and with us for many more anniversaries!

Χρόνια Πολλά! Χronia Polla! Many happy years! XXX

P.S. I make no excuses – picking pictures was a nightmare from the millions stashed away in my albums so please indulge me by enjoying these 25 to mark 25 years!

(Text and photos: Pepe Sofianos)