Tribute to Father Spencer T. Kezios

TRIBUTE TO FATHER SPENCER T. KEZIOS -- (Extensions of Remarks - November 16, 2004)

SPEECH OF
HON. BRAD SHERMAN
OF CALIFORNIA
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2004

Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Father Spencer T. Kezios for his leadership and service to the community. The San Fernando Valley, and indeed the entire world community, is truly fortunate to benefit from his unyielding dedication to promoting education, religious tolerance, and peace. Father Kezios has consistently demonstrated selfless devotion to his countrymen and his faith for over forty years at the Parish of Saint Nicholas in Northridge, California.

In his years of service, Father Kezios has been at the forefront of many community service organizations and efforts. Under Father Kezios's guidance, the Parish of Saint Nicholas has grown from a mission parish to a community institution offering spiritual and community-based services for over 1,200 families. Father Kezios founded the Saint Nicholas Parochial School in 1977, and over time oversaw the expansion of the school which now boasts an enrollment of almost 400 students. He was also one of the three original incorporators of the Guadalupe Home for Boys and he established the first two Greek Orthodox senior citizens housing developments in the Archdiocese. He was also assigned as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Police Department.

Father Kezios had the foresight to bring several liturgical services to the English speaking community. In 1994, he translated the complete Orthros services from Greek into contemporary English and made it available for wide publication. He continues to provide liturgical translation of these texts for English speaking congregations through the Narthex Press.

Some of Father Kezios's greatest achievements were attained by educating and influencing local and international communities on issues of global importance, such as religious and cultural tolerance. Archbishop Iakovos tapped Father Kezios to assist with the efforts of the Greek Orthodox Church in Albania shortly after the fall of communism in that country. Here in the United States, and at the direction of Archbishop Iakovos, Father Kezios also produced a series of five educational films, including "A Boy Named Panatiotis," which exposed the American public to the hardship and suffering of the people of Cyprus after the Turkish invasion. He also produced and directed a Cyprian cultural program of music and dance that toured the United States, donating all net proceeds from these performances to refugees from Cyprus.

Mr. Speaker, please join me in recognizing Father Spencer T. Kezios for dedicating his life to spreading knowledge and compassion. He is an example to us all.