9/20/07

V Rev Fr Nicolai Zelea Fallen Asleep in the Lord

Hamilton ON [ROEA Chancery]  –  The Very Reverend Father Nicolai Zelea, retired priest of The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, fell asleep in the Lord on Thursday, 20 September 2007, in Hamilton, Ontario.

Father Zelea was born on 8 January 1916 in Boian, Bucovina, Romania.  He was educated in Romania where he attended the Faculty of Theology in Cernauţi.  He was ordained into the Holy Priesthood on 20 June 1954 by Archbishop VITALIE (Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia) on behalf of Metropolitan VISARION (Puiu) in Paris.  Fr Nicolai faithfully served the St George Parish in Toronto, Ontario from 1954 until 1981.  He continued to serve the parishes in Kitchener, London and Ottawa, Ontario as needed until 1991.  In 1991, he was elevated to the rank of Archpriest and continued to faithfully participate in various church functions as he was able.

A Saracusta Memorial Service will be held in Hamilton, Ontario, on Friday, 21 September at 7:30pm at the Friscolanti Funeral Chapel (43 Barton St E).  On Sunday afternoon, 23 September Fr Zelea's body will be taken to St George Church in Toronto where a Saracusta Memorial Service will take place at 5:00pm.  The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated there on Monday morning, 24 September and will be followed by the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest at 12:00 noon.  He will then be laid to rest at the Glen Oaks Cemetery in Oakville, Ontario.

Fr Nicolai is survived by his wife, Preoteasa Florica (Faur), whom he married in 1951, and sons Michael and Gabriel.

Condolences may be sent to the family at:
Psa Florica Zelea & Family
156 Sanford S
Hamilton ON L8M 2G9

May his memory be eternal!