With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the falling asleep of Archpriest Gregory Ofiesh, the pastor emeritus of St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church in San Francisco, CA. Father Gregory, an alumnus of St. Vladimir's Seminary, reposed in our Lord on the morning of August 11, 2021. His parishioners will remember him for his ministry to youth, warmth, and dynamic sermons.
The Very Rev. Gregory Ofiesh received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and classics from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. He later attended Holy Cross Orthodox Theological Seminary in Brookline, MA and completed his theological training at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1967. Father Gregory received a master’s degree in Religious Education from Union Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh.
From 1959 to 1964, he served as pastor of St. Elijah Church in Oklahoma City, OK. In 1964, he became pastor of St. Nicholas Church in San Francisco, where he served until his retirement in 2000. Father Gregory was once chairman of the Antiochian Archdiocese's Dept. of SOYO and Inter-Orthodox Youth Relations and spiritual advisor for the North American Council of SOYO (now the Depts. of Young Adult Ministry and Youth and Parish Ministries).
His Eminence, Metropolitan Joseph asks that the clergy and laity pray the Trisagion Prayers of Mercy for Fr. Gregory for the next forty days, and also asks for prayers to Almighty God for comfort for Kh. Mary Jane and the Ofiesh family.
May the memory of Archpriest Gregory be eternal!
