Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis Presents Poetry Reading at Holy Cross Church

by Catherine Tsounis

“Greek blood is not shed aimlessly, it irrigates holy soil and remains glorious,” recited Rev. Anastasios Diakovasilis from his second book “Poietiki Anthologia” (Poetic Anthology). The poetry reading was held at Holy Cross Church in Whitestone. The Eastern Queens community attended with enthusiasm to listen poems depicting Greek-American life in Modern Greek.

Father Anastasios, who is retired priest emeritus from St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in flushing, has lived in America since the early 1960’s. Spiritually, he lives in Greece. The poet exists in a world of poetic imagination that draws its inspiration from his memories of his birthplace, Nisyros in the Dodecanese islands. He remains loyal to the Greek Orthodox faith, Hellenic culture and ethics. His first book “Poietika Stachiologimata” (Poetry Collections) and “Poietiki Anthologia” (Poetic Anthology) was derived from his joys, sorrows, struggles, hopes and love of God.

The “Poetic Anthology” is dedicated to his friends: Stefanos Cherpelis, dikaiophylax (guardian) of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople; John Tsolis; Renos Georgiou; George Toulaveras and Dimitris Tsoulos. The book is divided into seven sections: ecclesiastical personalities; religious patriotism; community leaders; community events; Cyprus and invasion; and those who are now deceased.


Father Anastasio DiakovasilisRev. Anastasias Diakovasilis and Presvitera Maria are one of the finest examples of the traditional Greek Orthodox family. He lives a humble, frugal life with a lack of interest in financial gain. He says the truth. Father Anastasios is unique and a role model to younger members of his ministry. He plans to donate his services to his local church in Nicea, Nysiros.

Father Anastasios Diacovasilis was born on the Island of Nisyros, one of the Dodecanese Islands on February 29, 1936. He finished the elementary and middle school in Nissyros and graduated high school in Rhodes. He was the son of Paschal is and Eleni Diacovasilis. He served in Greek Royal air force for twenty seven months. In 1959 he enrolled in the ecclesiastical Seminary and graduated with arrista. He served as cantor at Saint John Church on island of Rhodes. Also he served as educator of the Boys Orphanage Institution in Rhodes. In 1960 he married his Presvytera Maria Hartofilis and they have three children Eugenia, presently Presvytera of Father Nicholas Samaras, Helen Serchiou married to Michael and Paschalis married to Myrofora Georgiou. He arrived in America on April 9, 1963 and immediately undertook the duties of cantor and Sexton at the parish of St. Demetrios in Astoria. On March 9, 1975, upon the request of Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America, he was ordained to the Deaconate by His Grace Philotheos of Meloa. The following Sunday Father Anastasios was ordained Presbyter at the church of Saint Elpis, Hope Well, Virginia by His Grace Bishop Aimilianos of Harioupolis where he served for 2½ years. In September 1977 he was transfer to the Cathedral of Saint Sophia in Washington D.C as Assistant Priest. He served for seven consecutive years and captured the love of all the parishioners, who to this day express their esteem in many ways. In January 1984, Fr. Anastasios was transferred to the Saint Nicholas Shrine Church in Flushing NY, where he is working as retired priest. During his 35 years as priest received the titles as pneumatikos, Sakellarios and Economos from His late Archbishop Iakovos of North and South America. When it comes to poetry he has a natural talent. He has published two books of poetry, Piitika Stahiologimata and Piitiki Antholo­gy. Today he resides in Bayside, New York with his Presvytera Maria. They enjoy their six grand children and one of his Sons-in-law who is a priest at Saint Constantine and Helen Church, West Nyack, N.Y.