Father Apostolos (Paul) Panos was born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 25, 1959. His parents, Peter and Georgia Panos were from Arkadia, Peloponnesos, Greece, near Tripolis.

As a child, Father Paul worshiped at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Oak Lawn, Illinois, and graduated from Homer Greek Language School. Upon graduating from a Chicago public high school, he enrolled in a technical school and was later employed by General Motors. Father Paul found the Holy Orthodox Faith increasingly fascinating as a counselor at the Diocese of Chicago’s Camp Fanari. In September of 1982, with the Blessings of Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, Father Paul pursued his religious studies at Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in 1986. He then began graduate studies at Holy Cross Seminary while working for the Massachusetts Department of Youth Services System as a counselor to juvenile offenders.

On January 1, 1989, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the Church of Saint Basil by Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. Father Paul first served the Lord as a Deacon at the historic Annunciation Cathedral of Boston under the pastorship of Father Al Demos. After graduating from Holy Cross in 1989, he was immediately assigned to the Holy Diocese of Toronto and Canada and later ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Metropolitan Soterios of Canada on June 11, 1989. Subsequently, he served the mission Parishes of Saint Nicholas in Sudbury, Ontario, and Saint George in North Bay, Ontario. After two years, he was assigned to the Church of the 12 Holy Apostles in Duluth, Minnesota.

Father Paul’s next call was to serve the Cathedral of Saints Constantine & Helen in Brooklyn, New York. Father Paul’s mission there was to oversee the restoration of the Cathedral severely damaged by fire and make preparations for the rededication. Archbishop Iakovos then assigned him to Saint Demetrios Church in Jamaica, New York, to assist Father Nicholas Soteropoulos. Father Paul assumed the duties of Spiritual Director of Youth Ministries and religious instructor for their schools. In addition, he was a Spiritual Advisor for many youth programs such as the Metropolitan Basketball League, New York GOYA Olympics, and Ionian Village in Greece. On January 1, 1997, Archbishop Spyridon appointed Father Paul to the Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey, to assist the Cathedral Dean, Father Ernest Blougouras, in assisting in Pastoral duties and assume the role of Coordinator of Youth Programs. During his tenure at the Cathedral, he re-established the Scouting Program and actively sponsored the Diocese Youth Programs. Furthermore, he was elevated to the Priestly Rank of Economos by Archbishop Spyridon and became a Naval Chaplain in the Reserves holding the rank of Lieutenant.

In May of 1999, the late Bishop George of New Jersey assigned Father Paul to Saint Athanasios Church in Paramus, New Jersey. While at St. Athanasios, Fr. Paul saw the completion of the church’s interior, new stained glass windows, the paying off of the mortgages of the community center and the church building. In addition, several programs were established, the senior citizen prescription drug plan, the GOYA scholarship for graduating high school seniors from St. Athanasios GOYA, and the Hellenic Cultural Fund, which is for the youth of the community to have the opportunity to embrace and experience Hellenic artistic, historical and spiritual events, programs and lectures. Father Paul was also a “First Responder” as a Chaplain at Ground Zero after the attack of the Terrorists on the World Trade Center.

On May 1, 2004, Father was assigned by His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, temporarily to the historic church of Saint Demetrios in Union, NJ. On April 20, 2005, Father was assigned to the Church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou, Panagia of Island Park, NY.

In August of 2007, Father was then assigned to the Church of Saint George in Schenectady, NY. He was active in many programs, including Chaplain of the City Council of Schenectady and Chaplain of the Capital District Red Knights, consultant to the Mayor of Schenectady for the Annual September 11, City-wide Memorial Events, among other activities.
On June 1 of 2014, with the Blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, Father Paul was assigned permanently to the community upon the request of the Saint Anthony’s Community.

In the last years, Father Paul served many parishes throughout the Direct Archdiocesan District and the Metropolis of New Jersey, assisting parishes in need.

May his Memory be ever Eternal.

Viewing

Thursday, August 19, 2021, 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church
11-05 150th Street, Whitestone, NY

Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service

Friday, August 20, 8:00 am &  9:30 am.