Meet Father George Nikas

 Father George Nikas

On Jan. 6, 2008, the Very Rev. Archimandrite George Nikas, pastor of The Greek Orthodox Parish of Hunterdon County in the Annandale section, was appointed chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey.

Biography of the Very Reverend Archimandrite George Nikas

Father George Nikas was born on August 25, 1969, in Athens, Greece, to the Rev. Protopresbyter Prokopios and Presvytera Golfo Nikas, also of Athens, Greece. Within a year's time, Fr. George was brought to Schenectady, New York, where the family was living at the time.

Fr. George was raised within a Christian and Church-oriented environment. Born into a Clergy family, Fr. George experienced a variety of social and educational challenges and opportunities as his family was assigned to different communities along the East Coast. 

As the call to serve Christ as one of His Priests intensified, Fr. George transferred from the University of Maryland at College Park, where he was majoring in Biology, to Hellenic College in Brookline, Massachusetts. He received his BA in Religious Studies in 1996 from Hellenic College with High Distinction. Fr. George then continued on to Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology where he received his Masters of Divinity degree in 1999. 

Fr. George was fully active in the life of the Seminary and involved in many organizations: Teaching Assistant for Modern Greek, Student Representative to the Faculty, Student Government Representative, Class President, Disciplinary Representative, Student Activities Coordinator for the Office of Student Life. Father George also assisted in escorting the Senior Class in the summer of 1999 as they visited Athens, Thessalonike, Mt. Athos, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and Milan as part of their annual trip. 

Fr. George was ordained, as a celibate, to the Holy Diaconate on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (Sept. 14, 1999) at the Holy Cross Chapel by his Grace, the late Bishop George of New Jersey of blessed memory. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on the Feastday of St. Savvas the Sanctified (Dec. 5, 1999) at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tenafly, New Jersey, by his Grace Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, representing His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America. Fr. George Nikas was assigned as the Assistant Priest to Metropolitan Cathedral of St. John the Theologian in Tenafly, New Jersey, effective November 1, 1999. 

Fr. George served the Cathedral with zeal, passion and much devotion. His dedication to the people, especially the youth, was well received and evident in the progress achieved. Utilizing his wonderful sense of humor, Fr. George was also instrumental in fostering a sense of community in this large Parish by ministering to the needs of young and old alike. 

Having served two years as an Assistant, Fr. George was assigned by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America as Pastor of St. Barbara Greek Orthodox Church in Toms River, New Jersey, effective November 1, 2001, becoming one of the Community's youngest Priests ever. During his three-year ministry at St. Barbara, Fr. George, with the excellent cooperation of the Parish Council and dedication of the pious Stewards, helped bring about the revitalization of the Community's Religious and Social Programs. Furthermore, much progress was realized in the internal and external beautification of the Church, including the installation of a New Iconostasis and Pantocratora. 

In recognition of his dedication and service to the Church, His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, elevated Fr. George to the rank of Economos during the Feast Day Divine Liturgy of St. Barbara on December 4, 2003. His Eminence then elevated Fr. George to the highest rank of a celibate Clergyman, to the Office of Archimandrite, at the Great Vespers Service of the Annunciation to the Theotokos on March 24, 2004, at the Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. 

On September 1, 2004, Archimandrite George Nikas was assigned by His Eminence, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey Headquarters in Kenilworth, New Jersey, where he assumed the duties of Chief Secretary and Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries. Simultaneously, he was also assigned as the Interim Pastor of the Greek Orthodox Church of Hunterdon County in Flemington, New Jersey. Fr. George has continued in these positions to the present with much passion and enthusiasm. 

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