Vasilios Thanos

For many years he felt the call to the priesthood, and in December, 1954, he answered that call and entered the Seminary in Kalamata, Greece. Upon graduation from the Seminary in 1957, he was drafted and served in the Greek Army for two years.

Sophia Costopoulos was one of ten children and was born in Paliohounia, a village near the Thanos’ home in Daphni. In 1956, she emigrated from Greece to the United States and took up residence in the San Fernando Valley. She was an active parishioner of St. Nicholas Church, which at that time was located in Granada Hills.

In 1959, Sophia returned to Greece for a visit. While there, she met Vasilios, and on August 30, 1959, they were married in her village, in the Church of the Ascension. Shortly thereafter Sophia returned to the United States, expecting that very soon she would be joined by her husband. However, immigration complications resulted in a two year delay before Vasilios was able to join Sophia in Sylmar, California.

For the next two years Vasilios worked for the Exxon Oil Company. He worked under the tutelage of a parishioner, Andy Marianos, head of Paleontology for Exxon. A lasting friendship developed between Andy and the Thanos family. This experience gave Vasilios the opportunity to become acquainted with his new country, America, and provided the opportunity to learn the English language, a prerequisite for his ordination in our Archdiocese. As the needs of St. Nicholas Parish increased, Vasilios Thanos was brought into the St. Nicholas family as a lay person, working as Sexton of the Church and later as a teacher of Greek to the young children of the parish.

Later our Church property in Northridge was purchased, and we were vigorously growing. Our Pastor, Fr. Spencer Kezios, requested the Archbishop to consent to the ordination of Vasilios Thanos and to assign him as Assistant to St. Nicholas Church.

On February 13, 1966, Vasilios was ordained a Deacon by Bishop Demetrios, and on March 13 of the same year, Bishop Demetrios ordained Vasilios Thanos to the Priesthood. Although this assignment was to be for three years, we had been blessed to retain him at our Church.

Father Thanos was preceded in death by his beloved Presbytera Sophia in 2015. Vasilios is survived by two daughters, Connie and Nikki, both of whom have been a great source of comfort to Father since the passing of his dear Presbytera.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the St. Nicholas School or the St. Nicholas Church Altar Fund.

Arrangements under the direction of Bastian & Perrott, Oswald Mortuary, Northridge, CA.