Members who have Fallen Asleep

Fr. Spyros Mourikis

Born: 1921
Died: 2005

On April 2, Father Mourikis passed away at the age of 84, leaving a legacy of devotion, kindness and faith. His absence within his family, church and community will be deeply felt.

Father Mourikis was born in 1921 on the island of Corfu, Greece, also known as Kerkyra, to parents Chrlstodoulos and Maria. It was here that his journey into faith began. As a child, Father Mourikis was deeply influenced by his Sunday School teacher and his parish priest. He was psalmist and Sunday School Leader, quickly becoming known to clergy on the little island, earning the nickname "Papa" or priest, although he was a layman.

While on the island Father Mouri­kis was inspired by the relics of Saint Spyridon, for whom he is named, and the Byzantine empress, Saint Theo­dora, through which he claimed to witness many miracle. It was such miracles that led him to priesthood.

In 1945 Father Mourikis was offered the opportunity to be ordained and become chancellor of the island dio­cese. Though honored, Father Mourikis wanted more. He wanted to serve people directly.

A year later, Father Mourikis re­ceived his call to serve. Althenagoraa Cavadas, the first dean of Holy Cross Seminary (then in Connecticut), selected Father Mourikis to study in America. Although it meant leaving his cherished family, Father Mourikis accepted, arriving in New York on New Year's Day of 1947.

In July of that year Father Mourikis met Mary Masteralexis over coffee af­ter a service in Boston. They were mar­ried on August 24. Of their brief court­ship, Father Mourikis explained that although he only knew his wife a short time before marrying, he found in her a partner who possessed good character who had the spirit of God within.

It was the love of his wife and their three daughters that provided Father Mourikis with the foundation he needed to conduct the work he did throughout his years on Cape Cod.

When he arrived in 1949 there were about 50 members of the Greek Or­thodox Church scattered throughout the Cape. Because there was no parish on-Cape, they traveled to services in New Bedford.

Father Mourikis originally set up space in the old Grange Hall in Hyannis where his flock worshiped and grew. In 1981, they found a home when Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church was built In Centerville.

While the building itself was and remains impressive, for Father Mourikis it was always about his people. Every morning he arrived at Cape Cod Hospital to visit patients. If people needed transportation, he would take them in his well·known blue car. "It a kid needed a ride to Greek school, he would pick them up." recalled daugh­ter Deborah Tasoulas of Connecticut.

While he wasn't known for being the best drive, he was well traveled. "He was one of the worst drivers I ever knew,” said a smiling state Rep. Demetrius Atsalis who visited church members with Mourikis as an altar boy. "It was always a little hairy sitting in that front seat."

His daughters. Loukia, Deborah and Sophia, recall trips from Hyannis to Provincetown taking an entire day as their father happily stopped at each and every venue where he knew someone. "We'd stop at every restau­rant and pizza place just to say hi," said Loukia. "He used to say in Greek that 'even the rocks on Cape Cod know me."

Sophia remembers her father touch­ing many lives during his 42 years in the priesthood. "He was a very humble man, a man of principle," she said. "He never asked for anything in return."

Atsalis recalled a man of generous spirit who had an aura of kindness about him. "It was a sad day in the community when he passed away," he said. "He was the driving force for what you see here (in our church) today."

Ever-present by Father Mourikis' side was his wife and Presvytera, Mary, who supported his enthusiastic dedication to his work wholeheartedly. Proud, even in grief she shows visitors portraits of her husband, noting his accomplishments. "He helped immigrants new to this country, translating at the hospital," she recalled. "When they had a death, he would help plan the funeral."

All four women remember traveling to Corfu with him and learning about his childhood. "He showed me where he grew up," recounted Deborah. "The church, all the people, the houses. It is an experience I wish everyone had a chance to share with him."

Although his health declined in recent years due to Parkinson's he remained active and was a fixture in the lives of his five grandchildren and one great-grandchild who adored their Papou. "Your home is a home of agape (love) not only for us but for everyone who comes in the door," said his granddaughter, Chris Sarhanis of Centerville.

He also remained special in the hearts of those whose church he helped found on Cape Cod, members who filled it to overflowing yesterday when Mourikis' life was celebrated before he was laid to rest at Mosswood Cemetery in Cotuit.

Upon his retirement many years ago a letter appeared in a local publica­tion that still echoes the sentiments of all whom Mourikis touched: "You travel your pariah from Provincetown to Wareham to comfort the sick and the dying, to help the needy and the elderly. You saw us enter the world, you saw us grow, you taught us the Greek language, you schooled us in our faith, you married us, you baptized our children and you buried us.

"Now your job is done and you have earned your rest, your day in the sun. We can never forget you."

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