Georgia Zolotas, a friend of our parish, fell asleep in the Lord on the second day of the feast of the Transfiguration, August 7, 2022. +Georgia had been residing at a nursing facility which Fr. John would visit weekly to bring communion to one of our parishioners (Reader John – known to many as “Jay”). During one of these visits, Fr. John ran into +Georgia’s family, who recognized him as an Orthodox priest and asked him to visit their beloved yiayia. Thus, for several years, Fr. John ministered to +Georgia on Sunday afternoons, bringing her the Holy Eucharist and antidoron, blessing her room at Theophany, and red eggs at Pascha – and simply spending some time with her.
(Pictured above: singing “Christos Anesti” on the radiant day of Holy Pascha in 2019.)
Georgia was always elated to see Fr. John walk through the door, and received the divine mysteries with seriousness, awe, and deep gratitude. As her condition worsened, she might only say a few words in Greek: ευχαριστώ (thank you) became a profound statement not just of her thanks, but of her connection with us through the Eucharist. And of course, a visitor would be hard-pressed to leave without a few koulourakia cookies in their pocket.
Spending time with +Georgia was truly a blessing. She was an authentic, living connection to the life of the Church in Greece, in particular Patras, and a vehicle of the holiness of that place. She was filled with grace, and shared this grace freely with those who she encountered. Those of us who met her will be forever thankful to have received this blessing.
A wake will be held at Doyle B. Shaffer Funeral Home in Little Neck, NY on Wednesday August 10, from 3:00 – 8:00 PM.
The funeral will be held at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Flushing, NY, on Thursday August 11, at 9:00 AM.
May the memory of the newly-departed servant of God +Georgia be eternal!
In lieu of flowers, at the family’s request, you may make a donation to our parish’s ministry. If you would like to make a donation in memory of +Georgia, please click here.
Most saddened to only now learning of the passing of Georgia Zolotas. Zois se sas Kai Zois se logos.
I shall never the many times we visited Georgia where she always extended a warm welcome & gracious Greek Hospitality. Have fond memories of the spoonfuls of Greek Jams and Preserves back in Richmond Hill. Again, my sincerest & heartfelt sympathy and condolences. PS: Who could ever forget about ‘TA XANIA MAS’?