Pater Georgios Tsiftsis Memorial Fund

Jesus replied... 'I tell you the truth, unless a (seed) falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds."
John 12:23-24

In the early hours of Friday, January 22, 2021, our beloved Pater Georgo's suffering ended, and his soul was called to rest by his Creator, whom he served loyally, all his life. He served as a teacher, a priest, a son, a husband, a father, a friend. In everything he was and did, he served.

In a world that has become virtual, he stood for everything that was real. The real earth in which he sowed his beloved plants, the real bear hugs he crushed us with, the real kisses he planted firmly on our cheeks, the real smiles and belly laughs, the real mischievous twinkle in his eyes before a joke...and the very real tears, when he was moved by life...and he was often moved.

How could a man, filled with so much love, so much compassion, so much kindness, so much charity and grace, not be moved? Our troubles troubled him, as did our anguish. He reveled in our victories. He felt our joy and our pain. He was, empathy incarnate. Jesus instructed him to love his neighbor, but he did so much more. He made each of us family...a brother, sister, father and mother. He had no friends...just a very, very large family. And as he loved us, we loved him. Until now, many of us did not realize quite how much we did. Grief is temporary, the memories with him, eternal.

He never turned down an opportunity to help someone in need, a chance for a genuine act of kindness...he gave, and gave and gave, and when he was exhausted by all the giving, he gave some more. He was a true servant of God, placed very little value in earthly possessions, and so he gave unconditionally.

Now we get a chance to return the favour. For his family, that was so generous in sharing him with us for more than 2 decades, we realize there was a price. Holidays and birthdays missed, time spent apart, separated by continents. Varvara, Vivi, Christina and Asterio, we thank you and honour you, for sharing him with us. God reached multitudes through him.

Thank you for 55 beautiful years of touching lives.

Rest in Peace, until we meet again. We love you dearly. Eonia i Mnimi. Memory Eternal.