Pericles Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis, presbyter economos of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church of Flushing, passed away on Monday evening, January 16. His funeral was held at St. Nicholas Church, and he was interred on January 20 at Flushing Cemetery.
Diakovasilis was born in Nisyros, a beautiful Aegean island off the coast of Asia Minor on Feb. 29, 1936. He lived through the horror of World War II. His beloved older brother lost his life in the mountains of Albany, in Greece’s historic victory against the Axis Powers. Heroism and patriotism imprinted itself on Diakovasilis’ childhood mind. He attended Nysiros H.S., where his outstanding talent for singing was noticed.
All these factors contributed to his decision to attend the ecclesiastical seminary in Rhodes for four years. He graduated with honors. He then attended Richard Bland College in Virginia where he studied psychology.
Diakovasilis has been honored on numerous occasions during the course of his ministry. On Dec. 23, 1984 he was bestowed the title of sakellarios and exomologos. On Feb. 1, 1992, the P.T.A. of the Greek Language Institute of St. Nicholas Church presented him with a plaque for “his dedication, guidance and leadership to the children of our school, and for the perpetuation of the ideals of Greek Orthodoxy”.
On June 5, 1996, he was recognized for “outstanding spiritual guidance, untiring efforts, and unselfish dedication to academic excellence in Hellenic Education and the beliefs of the Greek Orthodox Church”.
Diakovasilis had a unique gift in composing poetry. His works have been published in Greek-American newspapers and periodicals in the United States and Greece. His poetry reflects his faith in God and commemorates unique events in the life of his congregation.
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