A Tribute of Appreciation for the late Xenophon Protopapas

From our Simvoulio Council and the community of this our Church.

Xenophon Protopapas sadly passed away on 2 November 2021. We are devastated and sad to lose a great man of our times. A man who was also one my closest and dearest friends.

We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences and sinlipitiria to his beloved wife Zoe, his sons Socrates and Chryssis his mother kyria Andriani and all his siblings relatives and family. 

We respectfully acknowledge and thank you, the Protopapas family for your long benevolent association with our Church which I know goes back over 50 years.

Today we are proud to acknowledge and pay tribute to the dearly departed Xenophon Protopapas for his magnanimous contribution to our church and for the power of his example.

Born in Cyprus in 1947. He studied Business Administration and Law and was an eminent lawyer in the Supreme Courts of England and Wales. He was one of the most distinguished and respected Solicitors of our Greek and Cypriot UK communities.

At the same time for some 40 years has also served us as an active member of our Church community. 

He has been a member of the Church Council of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Cross and Archangel Michael since 1982. Like his father before him he was also a member of the Greek Orthodox Community of Barnet Trust.

He was the Honorary Secretary of the Church Council for many years and has served as President since 2002.

He devoted an enormous amount of time and energy and worked tirelessly for this Church community, and he always strived to make the Church a welcoming place for Orthodox Christians and to extend the Orthodox family in London. 

His invaluable leadership and achievements include the successful raising of funds to pay for the rebuilding of the Church Hall after it burnt down some years ago and then successfully let it out to tenants.

When I joined the Council in 2005 the Church owed over £300,000 in loans and overdrafts. Under his stewardship this rental income along with his Council’s fund raising events have resulted in the Church having paid off all its loans and it is today financially sound and stable. 

Only the Council members and Father Vasileios know the volume of administrative work he carried out, from Insurance, Safety compliance, leases, tenancy agreements, and much more.

All of which he did gratuitously, without any financial reward.

In addition to all this he also made time to ensure he kept excellent contact with our Archdiocese attending regular meetings with His Eminence the late Archbishop Gregorios and now His Eminence the Archbishop Nikitas, and also with our local Barnet councillors with MPs, and with our Cyprus and Greek High Commissioners to ensure the interests of our Church community were never overlooked.

He was an exemplary  Chairman and President who knew how to get the best out of all of us Council members.

We worked hard on the Council but we laughed as well, because we enjoyed what we did. But none worked harder than him, whilst still running his very busy Legal Practice and finding time to enjoy his family and friends.

He was unphased by all the challenges that he faced and always had that loving smile and humour that made people very happy to know him and serve with him.

He was a successful and powerful man in every respect. 

Someone said : “ Lead not merely by the example of your power but by the power of your example.”

Xenophon did exactly that. His Christianity was evident not by his words but by his actions all of which were for the benefit of others.

This is why he was re-elected to stay as Chairman and President again and again.

He will be impossible to replace. He will be sorely missed.

He will always be remembered with affection love and genuine respect.

On behalf of all the members of our Church Council, our congregation, our Greek Orthodox community and you the body of this esteemed Cathedral , I voice this tribute to Xenophon Protopapas our beloved friend for his  benevolence and for the power of his example .

Eonia tou imnimi.

Achilleas Constantinou

Vice Chairman, Church Council – 11 December 2021