Born: October 11, 1931
Died: June 6, 2011

The Reverend Nicholas J. Magoulias was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on October 11, 1931. The youngest of ten children, he is the son of the (late) Reverend John Efstratios and the (late) Constantina (Dounias) Magoulias. His early schooling was in Cincinnati, Ohio and Decatur, Illinois where he excelled in football and basketball. Summer employment during those years was splitting rails for the Wabash Railroad. Father Magoulias completed his higher education at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Theological School in Brookline, MA and graduated in June, 1957 with a Bachelor of Divinity Degree. He was a member and later served as coach of the basketball team at the seminary. While pursuing further studies at Wayne State University in Detroit, MI, he was also employed as the Assistant Superintendent of the Sleeping and Dining Car Department of the New York Central Railroad System.

On January 16, 1960 he married the former Marilyn J. Contas of Chestnut Hill, MA. He and Presvytera Marilyn, a retired kindergarten .. first grade public school teacher, are blessed with two adult children: Jonathan Peter, a writer; and Carolyn Contas, a kindergarten teacher. In April 1960, three months following their wedding, His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos summoned Father Magoulias to prepare for immediate ordination. Four days later, on April 24, 1960, he was ordained into the diaconate in Manchester, NH; and on the following Sunday, May 1, 1960, he was ordained into the priesthood at the Church of Saint Paul, Hempstead, NY amid the frenzy of countless pilgrims who had come from near and far to venerate the weeping icons.

Upon his ordination into the priesthood, Father Magoulias was immediately given the responsibility of assistant priest at Saint Paul and the youth programs. During those years membership in the Junior GOYA increased immensely; and multi-faceted programs and activities were organized. Father Magoulias was responsible for trips to Holy Cross Seminary, Saint Basil's Academy, Saint Michael's Home for the Aged, Radio City Music Hall, Broadway plays and sports events.

In 1963, Father Magoulias was delegated to be transferred and assume pastoral duties at the newly formed parish of Saint Luke in Broomall, PA. However, the assignment was not meant to be! After being tendered many farewell dinners and receptions, in the early hours of the designated day of departure, he was informed that he was to remain at his beloved Church of Saint Paul and assume the pastorship. In 1988, the Church of Saint Paul was proclaimed the Cathedral of Long Island and he was elevated to the office of Dean. He also was given the title, with distinction, of "Prothierefs" , first among priests.

Father Magoulias spent many years in research and travel to select the very best in Byzantine mosaic art, stained glass windows, chandeliers and marble furnishings for the Cathedral of Saint Paul. From its inception, he was Project-Research Director and carefully scrutinized all decorations before installation. He has been called upon to offer his expertise in the decoration projects of many Orthodox churches.

During his ministry at Saint Paul, Father Magoulias was appointed to the Youth Committee of the Archdiocese. He organized and hosted the first District GOY A Retreat at Saint Paul with over six hundred youth in attendance. In the 1960's, the Senior GOY A of the parish was cited as the best and most active in the country. Because of the vast expansion of these programs, Father Magoulias organized the Youth Committee which continues to this day to oversee the youth activities of the parish.

Father Magoulias came to Saint Paul at a time when the Boy Scouts were newly formulated. During their retreats, he would go to their camp sites at six a.m. on Sunday mornings and offer prayer services. He then would return to church for the Divine Liturgy and sacraments. He soon organized the Cub Scouts and helped establish an Explorer Group.

Appointed by the Metropolitan Council, he served on a committee of three that laid the foundation for the Metropolitan Basketball League. A senior basketball league was also formed and was renamed the George D. Pamas Memorial Basketball League in 1975.

In the 1970's, Father Magoulias formed the Twogether Club which brought young married couples into the activities of the Community. At that time a third Divine Liturgy was instituted to fit the needs of the parish.

Father Magoulias inaugurated pilgrimages to the Holy Land and the Monastery of Saint Catherine at Mount Sinai. Countless parishioners joined him to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

Father Magoulias also instituted various programs within the parish that had never been part of any Greek Orthodox Community. He organized a Widows, Widowers and Singles Club. Membership was over two hundred. He helped to organize the Grief and Bereavement Group within the parish which has served as a model program for countless communities throughout the country. He also served as the spiritual advisor to the Outreach Program of the Cathedral.

For forty-six years Father Magoulias served the Cathedral of Saint Paul with honor and distinction. He has the distinct honor of being the only Greek Orthodox Priest serving the Archdiocese to be ordained and serve in the same parish throughout his entire ministry. Due to his long tenure at the Cathedral of Saint Paul, he had the opportunity to baptize and marry more than one generation of the same family.

He was Editor-in-Chief of the periodical "The Epistle" which was cited by the Archdiocese as one of the best church periodicals in the country. Father Magoulias has appeared on ABC Channel Seven where he has offered morning and evening prayers. His articles and sermons have often appeared in various periodicals and on the Archdiocese Website.

Father Magoulias has been honored by local, state and national political leaders and has received numerous citations and proclamations in recognition of his work. He was tendered a dinner by the parish of Saint Paul in 1980 in recognition of his twenty years of service to the Community; and among the citations he received that evening was the Apostolic Blessing granted to him by His Holiness John Paul II. He was also given a Testimonial Luncheon for his forty years of dedicated service to the parish and community. His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos and His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios honored him with their presence. That same year, 2000, the Constantine Cassis Chapter # 170 - Order of AHEP A honored him with a dinner for his forty years of uninterrupted service to the Cathedral of Saint Paul. At the Fiftieth anniversary celebration of the parish, Father Magoulias was presented with a magnificent gold and silver icon of the feast days from the personal collection of His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos. In May 2005 he was feted by the School of Religious Education at its annual dinner. On Sunday, January 29,2006, Father Magoulias officiated at his last Divine Liturgy as Dean of the Cathedral of Saint Paul.