Reverend Soterios Alexopoulos, 95 years old, a man of God, the retired priest of St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church and a long time Nashua resident, passed away on Monday, September 30th. Father Soterios was dedicated to serving our Lord, his parishes, and his family with love and compassion. His deep faith in God was an inspiration to all, and he was a Spiritual Father to many. He was born on February 13, 1929 in the village of Kerasia, Karditsa, Thessaly, Greece, the son of the late Konstantinos and Eleni Alexopoulos. After his grammar school studies in Kerasia, and graduation from high school in Thessaloniki, he served in the Greek Army in the Communications Department for two years. He then immigrated to the United States as a college student in 1956 to begin his journey to become a priest, a calling which started when he was 7 years old. Father Soterios graduated from the Holy Cross Theological School in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1962. He then pursued further studies at Boston University and Andover Newton Theological School. In 1964, Father Soterios married Eleni Chronopoulos in a double wedding ceremony with her sister and brother-in-law. It was also the very first wedding at the Holy Cross Chapel on the Holy Hill. Father was then ordained as a Deacon at St. Demetrios in Fall River, Massachusetts, and then as a Priest at St. George in Manchester, New Hampshire by his spiritual father, the late Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos. Father Soterios was assigned to Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston, Maine. One of his first duties was to reorganize the Sunday and Greek Schools with Presvytera Eleni, who also directed both schools. A new choir was also formed under the direction of Presvytera. Father Soterios also organized the Youth and the Philoptochos Ladies Society. In 1968, Father Soterios and Presvytera Eleni visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate where Father was honored by the late Patriarch Athenagoras with the Medal of Saint Andrew. Father Soterios was also an instructor and examiner of the Greek language at Bates College, served as Chaplain at Togus Veterans Hospital, and served on the Maine Governor’s Council of the Alliance and the Elderly. He organized the Building Fund Drive for the new church that was later built. In 1973, he received his Master’s Degree from the New York Theological School. At the end of 1972, Father was transferred to Nashua, New Hampshire where he was instrumental in uniting the two former Nashua communities and building the brand-new St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church and Community Center at 500 West Hollis Street. During his ministry at St. Philip, the community grew from 250 to 450 families. He and Presvytera worked tirelessly to grow all the ministries: the Altar boys, Bible Study, The Guest Speakers Series, Outreach to our Elderly, the Greek School, the Sunday School, the GOYA, the Junior Choir, the Greek Dance Group, the Basketball Team, the Cheerleading Team and many more. They organized the Ladies Society AGAPE (the philanthropic arm of our Church) with 98 ladies at their first meeting. Father and Presvytera also hosted many dignitaries, Archbishops, Bishops, priests, civic leaders, Greek government officials, and many more, at their home, when they would visit Nashua. After serving for almost 22 years at St. Philip, Father Soterios retired from the active duties in 1994. The community honored him and Presvytera with a testimonial dinner, attended by over 450 parishioners, family and friends. During this time in Nashua, Father served on the Board of Directors of the New England Clergy Brotherhood as secretary, and was elected by the New England Clergy to serve on the Archdiocesan Presbyters Council, an advisory board to His Eminence, for a four- year term. He was appointed to the newly established Diocesan Council and was the Chairman of the Interfaith Commission in 1979. During the Consecration of St. Philip in 1982, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos bestowed upon Father Soterios the offikion of Economos, and His Eminence presented Father with a gold cross on behalf of the community for his devotion and service to the parishioners of Nashua. In 1987, His Eminence bestowed upon Father Soterios the offikion of Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne, the highest honor for a married priest, for his devout service to the community. In addition, Father Soterios was an active member of the Council of Churches in Nashua, along with serving on the Mayor’s Council of Elderly Affairs. He was the treasurer of the Holy Cross Greek Theological School Alumni Association. He was a member of the Spiritual Court of the Diocese, as well as a member of the Commission of the Greek Education, Diocese of Boston. In late 1995, Metropolitan Methodios asked Father Soterios to come out of retirement and assigned him to serve St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Clinton, Massachusetts as a part time priest. He gladly agreed to do it, and he and Presvytera revitalized the Sunday School and the Altar Boys. Sixteen years later at the age of 83 in 2012, he had his “second” retirement with a beautiful dinner honoring him and Presvytera Eleni. Father Soterios was honored with the Metropolis of Boston Award in 2005 for faithful and dedicated service during his retirement years at St. Philip. Father Soterios had always said that God had blessed him with the best partner to be his Presvytera for their active 48-year ministry. They did it together, and he would have never been able to do it without her. They devoted their energy, talent and their life for all their parishioners, and it was their honor and privilege to serve these three wonderful parishes. Both were very thankful to all who helped them along the way with the ministries. They appreciated everyone’s love, respect, understanding, and support for so many years. All their parishioners were considered an extension of their own family. Presvytera Eleni passed away in 2020. They are reunited again. Together, they left a tremendous legacy, teaching our Greek Orthodox faith to thousands of parishioners. Father celebrated his 60 years of ordination just this past month. He was very grateful to have reached this milestone and would always give “All Glory to God” for the wonderful life he had. Father Soterios absolutely loved visiting and getting to know his parishioners in their homes and at their place of business, he enjoyed listening to Byzantine chanting and Greek Dimotika, vegetable gardening, walking, going to the beach, going to get an ice cream, traveling to his native Greece, but most of all he loved being with his family and his five grandchildren. Father Soterios is survived by his daughter Vasiliki, and her husband Jimmy; his daughter, Tina and her husband Aleko; his grandchildren Thanasi, Maria, Sotiri, Christo and Peter; brother and sister-in-law, George and Katerina Alexopoulos; sister-in-law, Ifigenia Alexopoulos; his only first cousin in the United States, Anastasia Kalogiannis; sister-in-law, Theodora Chronopoulos; brother-in-law, Elias Vasilopoulos, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins here and in Greece. In addition to his Presvytera, he was predeceased by his brother, Theofilos Alexopoulos and his sister, Katina Ropotos. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church in Nashua, NH or to Hellenic College/Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, MA. SERVICES: All services at will be held at St. Philip Greek Orthodox Church, 500 West Hollis Street, Nashua, NH 03062. Friday, October 4th – Calling Hours 5-8pm with Trisagion Service at 7pm. Saturday, October 5th – Divine Liturgy 9am; Calling Hours 10am-11am; Funeral 11am. Livestream: https://www.youtube.com/@StPhilipNashua. To view Rev. Alexopoulos’s Online Tribute, send condolences to the family, or for more information, visit www.phaneuf.net.
