RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou has been called to eternal life by the wisdom of God at the age of 81; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of his passing by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou was one of the longest-serving Greek Orthodox priests in the nation and the loving husband of Presbytera, nee Kassos; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou was the much-adored father of Sultana, Evans and Aristotle and the grandfather of six; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou served with holiness and compassion for 55 years at Saints Constantine and Helen Church in Palos Heights; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of his ministry, the Reverend Byron Papanikolaou presided over 903 weddings, 3,748 baptisms and 1,947 funerals and made an astounding 65,000 hospital visits to care for the sick; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou immigrated with his parents from Greece in 1952 and completed his religious training at Holy Cross, the Brookline, Massachusetts Greek Orthodox Seminary for the United States; and
WHEREAS, In 1960 the Reverend Byron Papanikolaou was married and then ordained; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou came to Chicago with his wife and was named in 1964 to head Saints Constantine and Helen which was "the first Greek Orthodox church built by Greeks in Chicago"; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou played an instrumental role in teaching Greek to the children of his parish and the values of patience and perseverance; and
WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of the Reverend Byron Papanikolaou serve as an example to all; and
WHEREAS, The Reverend Byron Papanikolaou will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his many relatives, friends and admirers; and
WHEREAS, To his beloved family, the Reverend Byron Papanikolaou imparts a legacy of faithfulness, service and dignity; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the ...
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