From the sorrow of the Bucks’ elimination by the Pacers to the joy of welcoming his second daughter, Giannis Antetokounmpo experienced a whirlwind of emotions in just a few days. On Friday morning, he became a father for the fourth time, as his wife Mariah shared the first photo of their new baby girl on Instagram.
To the Faithful of the St. Nicholas Community,
Christ is Risen
With faith in the uncreated Light that shines forth from the Life-Giving Tomb of our Risen Lord Jesus Christ, and in the certain hope of the Resurrection, I write to inform you of the falling asleep in the Lord of Marika Vafiadis, the beloved mother of our own Archon and devoted parishioner, Dr. Dean Vafiadis.
Marika reposed peacefully in the Lord on May 6, 2025, at the age of 92. Born on August 3, 1932, in the village of Vessa on the island of Chios, Greece, she immigrated to North America after meeting her husband, Nick Vafiadis. Together they built a life rooted in family, faith, and hard work — first in Montreal, Canada, and later in Bayside, Queens, New York.
Marika was a woman of radiant faith, humble strength, and deep love. A longtime friend of the Church, she offered her talents as a dressmaker and countless acts of service to St. Nicholas in Flushing and St. Basil Academy. Her voice graced the choir, her hospitality welcomed many, and her famous loukoumades became symbols of her generosity and joy. Her life bore witness to the living Christ through action, compassion, and steadfast devotion to her Orthodox faith.
She is survived by her son Dr. Dean Vafiadis, his wife Helen, and their children Krystina, Nicholas, Natasha, and Peter; and by her late son Peter’s wife, Christine Jennings, and their sons Kyle, Ryan, and Sean. Marika is also survived by her brothers Mike and Alex Koutsoubis, along with numerous nieces, nephews, godchildren, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her husband Nick, her son Peter, and her brothers George, Bill, and John.
As we commend her soul to the mercy and love of our Risen Lord, we remember Marika as a model of Orthodox womanhood — rooted in prayer, charity and quiet faithfulness.
We pray the Lord grants rest to her soul in the place of the righteous, where there is no pain, no sorrow, no sighing, but life everlasting.
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St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church
353 East Clinton Ave, Tenafly, NJ 07670
Sunday, May 11, 2025 | 6:00–9:00 PM
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Funeral Service
St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church, Tenafly, NJ
Monday, May 12, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
In lieu of flowers, donations in her blessed memory may be offered to:
St. Basil Academy for Children, Garrison, NY
Greece and Egypt have signed a “strategic partnership” agreement aiming to step up political coordination to safeguard stability in the Eastern Mediterranean region amid the ongoing war in Gaza.
The strange case unfolding sunce the early hours of Thursday (8/5) in Pagrati is still ongoing, when a man was found dead inside a burning jeep on Markou Mousourou Street, a short distance from the Mets indoor basketball court.
The Fire Department received a call shortly before 1:00 in the morning for a vehicle engulfed in flames. Immediately, eight firefighters rushed to the scene with two vehicles and during the extinguishing of the fire, the charred body of an unidentified man was found in the passenger seat.
Authorities are examining all possibilities
The shocking discovery immediately mobilized the Immediate Action and the Security Department, with police officers launching investigations into the circumstances of the incident. The authorities are now examining footage from security cameras in the area, trying to complete the puzzle pieces of the case. According to police sources, all possibilities remain open, even that of criminal activity.
It is noted that the fire that broke out in the jeep on Markou Mousourou Street also caused significant damage to a second vehicle that was nearby.
Information that the victim had broken limbs
Other information indicates that the victim had broken limbs, however, the medical examiner who arrived at the scene was unable to say anything about the cause of death from the first macroscopic examination and the authorities are now awaiting the results of the autopsy. According to police sources, the medical examiner's picture is confusing.
According to testimonies, the jeep - red in color, with foreign license plates, probably Belgian - had been parked at the scene since midday on Wednesday (7/5), something that the police authorities have also taken into account. A mobile phone found outside the car is also being examined.