Fr. Peter Nicholas Murtos

Father Peter Nicholas Murtos passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017 at the age of 94. Father Peter was born in Amaliada, Greece and fought with the underground communist resistance during World War II and the Greek Army during the Greek civil war. He also served as a member of the Athens police force during which time he enrolled at the University of Athens as a student of Theology. He later moved to the United States and graduated from Union Theological Seminary in New York and also received his Masters in Theology in the History of Religions. He married Ann Zikas in February 1953.

He served as a Greek Orthodox priest for many years in parishes in Sheboygan Wisconsin, Reading, Pennsylvania, and at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. He acted as an interim priest and main Chantor to St. Barbara's Greek Orthodox Church in Durham, North Carolina. He served as a long time substitute priest for the Greek Orthodox communities of Billings, Montana, Lubbock, Texas and Fort Worth, Texas.

Father Peter was an avid runner and completed the New York Marathon three times as well as the Los Angeles and San Francisco Marathons. His favorite running partner was his beloved nephew Nikos Mourtos. He ran his final race in Athens at the age of 85.

Father Peter is survived by his wife, Ann Zikas Murtos of Cary, North Carolina; their daughter Alice Murtos of Atlanta, Georgia; and his cherished nieces and nephews, Nick and Louis Zikas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and their families, Nikos Mourtos of Half Moon Bay, California and his family, Vasili Mourtos of Athens, Greece and Yiota Mourtos of Corfu, Greece.

The Murtos and Zikas families would like to express special appreciation to Cindy and Doug Finan, friends of many years, who made the final years of his life so enjoyable.

A visitation will be held Wednesday, January 25, 2017 from 5-7 pm, with Trisagion Prayers beginning at 6:00 pm, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 5000 Lead Mine Rd., Raleigh. Liturgy will be held Thursday, January 26, 2017 at 10:00 am , followed by the funeral service at 11:00 am at Holy Trinity. Burial will be held at Raleigh Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to either Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 5000 Lead Mine Rd. Raleigh, NC 27612, or Saint Barbara Greek Orthodox Church, 8306 NC-751, Durham, NC 27713.

Arrangements by Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, Saint Mary's St., Raleigh, NC.