Members who have Fallen Asleep

Fr. Sophocles M. Sophocles

Rev. Dr. Sophocles M. Sophocles was a native of Cyprus, born on December 20, 1920. He came to the United States with his family in 1933. He was the son of the late Rev. Michael S. Sophocles, pastor of the St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Chester, Pennsylvania for 16 years, who died in 1962 and Presvytera Despina Sophocles, who died in 1979.

Dr. Sophocles M. Sophocles began his college education at Holy Cross Seminary at Pomfret in 1939. He graduated in 1944, was ordained Deacon on September 14th and Priest on October 24, 1944.

Later, he completed studies in philosophy and history at the University of Michigan where he earned a Masters and a Doctorate in 1949 while he was assigned priest of Saint Nicholas Church in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

A frequent lecturer in religion, history and philosophy, he published a History of Greece, the Rites of the Byzantine and Religions of Greece. He became pastor of the Church of Annunciation in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1952 and he officiated at several churches in Ohio. He was a lecturer at Western Reserve University and at Case Institute where he was an assistant professor, until 1959.

Upon moving to Pennsylvania in 1959, Dr. Sophocles helped to organize the parishes of Saint Thomas of Cherry Hill, New Jersey and Saint Demetrios in Baltimore, Maryland and he officiated at many parishes, including Saint Demetrios in North Wildwood, New Jersey. In 1959, he joined the faculty of Widener University as professor of philosophy, history and religion.

While at Case Western Reserve, Dr. Sophocles was awarded the Gregory Taylor grant and Nomikos grant for academic excellence, a Fulbright Research Grant and a fellowship to the Institute of Balkan Studies in Athens and served as a United States State Department Scholar and to the Ecumenical Movement of Christian Theologians. He was elevated to Protopresbyter in 1969.

Sophocles married Hrisafie Mamatsos on September 10, 1944. Their eldest child, Michael, married Dorothy Bacopoulos and they have four children, Sophocles, Alexandra, George and Nicholas Sophocles.

Daughter Anna married Nicholas Hadgis from Manchester, New Hampshire and they have three children, Demetrios, Hrisafie and Michael Hadgis.

Sophocles was an avid reader, gardener and artist. He left his family and friends hundreds of landscapes in oil and water colors. His memory continues to live through the endowed chair at Widener University and a scholarship at Holy Cross Seminary in his name.

Members