HIS LIFE STORY:
Father Theophanis Kolyvas arrived in Nassau on July 1st, 1953, expectant wife and child in tow, to a Greek Orthodox community in need of some unique care. One evening, Father Kolyvas, with the help of his son added two words to the little Church’s iconostas, Agapate Allilous – “Love One Another”, - a living statement of his constant mission as witnessed in the lives of those he touched both knowingly and otherwise.
George Kolyvas was born on the small island of Kalymnos, in the Italian occupied Dodecanese Islands on the Aegean Sea, on October 23rd, 1916. The son of a seaman, an early life of poverty allowed only for intermittent work, leaving George and his family to struggle for the basic necessities. George’s father set an early example being known, despite tall economic challenges as a good hearted man.
Young George had a love for learning, excelling in mathematics and languages – having learned ancient and modern Greek, Italian, and French in high school. At 19, he was already a long-time student of Byzantine chant, guided and mentored by his uncle George Tsoukalas. After finishing high school, he traveled to Athens on the promise of his uncle that he would attend university to study Theology. Unable to financially support the education of their young student, George had to withdraw from school and refocus his efforts on learning a trade which could better help his family.
He became an apprentice in a printing shop in Athens, where he carefully studied and practiced the trade for two years, before returning to his home on the island of Kalymnos, in 1937. Upon his return, he found limited work with his cousin, an already established printer.
The few printing jobs available paid little and George was forced to look for work elsewhere. He found employment as a labourer with a mason named Emanuel Skandaliaris, a relationship that would, with time and patience, develop from that of employee to son-in-law.
With the build up to the second world war at full steam, work became increasingly scarce. The difficulties were yet furthered by the struggle to escape starvation. George saw a posting by the Italian government for a job opening as a meter reader with the electrical utility company. Between his academic ability and his training as a tradesman, he surpassed the job requirements and was awarded the position. After proving himself to be a capable manager combined with an unquestioning loyalty to his superiors, he was promoted to director of the electrical utility.
Despite his now well paying job, the fog of war had made food desperately scarce. George’s own father died of starvation in 1942. The fast deteriorating living conditions saw the Kolyvas and Skandaliaris families, now joined by George’s engagement to Emanuel Skandaliaris’ daughter Maria, flee Kalymnos early one morning.
The family worked their way to Turkey by boat. They then boarded the boxcar of a refugee train that would carry them to the camps in Gaza, Palestine. The family remained in the camps until the end of the war, and George volunteered for the Greek armed forces.
Although he volunteered for the army, he was assigned to a position in the Greek navy. While in Alexandria, Egypt, training as a telegraphist with the British forces, where he also began to learn English, he continued to serve as a chanter at a local parish whenever the opportunity presented itself.
After the war, George returned to Kalymnos, now under British administration. The island was in dire need of someone to reorganize the electrical utility that had been run down after several years of neglect. Being the only one familiar and experienced enough to run the utility, he was reappointed as director.
He continued to excel in his duties as director, and was subsequently promoted to general secretary to the mayor of Kalymnos. In addition to his civic duties, he found the time to begin his own printing business while also engaged as lead chanter of his neighbourhood parish, teaching Byzantine music to young men aspiring to an active life in the Church.
Married in 1947, with his first child born in the late summer of 1948, and a life full of blessings, George and his family prospered.
In 1951, the Greek Orthodox community in Nassau began the process of seeking a suitable replacement for their aging pastor. The community had largely emigrated from Kalymnos, so naturally the search would return to their little island. As a result of the Italian occupation of Kalymnos and the Italian attempt and Kalymnian revolt against the drive to convert the Orthodox communities to Byzantine Rite Catholicism, Kalymnos had been left only with a population of aging priests.
While trying to sort out the dilemma of finding a suitable priest, it became clear that the person that should be asked was their own George Kolyvas. After initially refusing their offer, continued persistence helped him realize that he was being called to serve God in a way he had never imagined.
He was ordained in May of 1953 and given the name Theophanis. Father Theophanis gave up everything and made the long voyage by train and boat, with his young family, to arrive in Nassau on July 1st, of the same year.
Father Theophanis realized that his great challenge would be to unite the community he had been called to serve. Over the next 53 years as parish priest, school teacher, choir director, teacher of Byzantine chant, with his four children and limited financial resources of a small parish, he remained and example of humility, obedience, and dedication as he struggled to fulfill Christ’s commandment to “love one another, as I have love you.”
