JOHNSTOWN, PA -    With great sorrow, the Diocesan Chancery announces the falling asleep in the Lord of  Very Rev. Protopresbyter Elias Kozar, Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary's Orthodox Church of Yonkers, NY.  early this morning (Sunday June 11, 2017).

Father Elias was born on January 19, 1926 in Dickson City, Pennsylvania, the son of Elias, Sr. and Anna Kozar. On January 25, 1948 he was married to Anna Yanoscik and he was ordained  to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan Orestes Chornock on February 1, 1948 in Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church on 10th Street in New York City. He was elevated to Protopresbyter in October, 1976 by His Grace, +Bishop John Martin.

Father Elias served as Dean of the Eastern Seaboard Deanery which consisted of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut and President of the Westchester, NY Orthodox Clergy Fellowship. Father Elias’ service to our Diocese included being a Consultor to the Bishop, a memberof the Consistory and the Board of Trustees. For many years Father Elias also served as Orthodox chaplain to Yonkers General Hospital and Saint John’s Riverside Hospital.

Father Elias was also a pioneer in the Orthodox Christian Scouting movement.  In the 1950's Fr. Elias was instrumental in establishing the coveted Orthodox Christian Scouting Award known as the Alpha Omega Award, which is still awarded to this day.

Upon his retirement on Sunday, August 28, 1996, Father Elias was named Pastor Emeritus of  St. Mary Church in Yonkers, NY which he faithfully served for forty five years,  by His Eminence,+ Metropolitan Nicholas. He served most of his priesthood at St. Mary's in Yonkers and led and guided the construction of their beautiful church and parish facilities

While retiring from active parish ministry,  Fr. Elias continued to serve for many years as needed in parishes of our Diocese and other jurisdictions.  With his linguistic skills and proficiency in Liturgical Greek, he was of great assistance to parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Fr Elias is survived by his beloved wife of 69 years, Pani Anna, sons  Paul (Joan) of Harwich, Massachusetts, Russell (Kathleen) of Naples, Florida and Rhinebeck, NY, and Lawrence (Patricia) of Congers, NY. He is also survived by his grandchildren Matthew Kozar, Sarah (Jason) Thorpe, Michael Kozar, Ryan Kozar, Kelly Kozar and his great granddaughter Emily Thorpe. He was predeceased by his grandson Douglas James Kozar and his brothers John, Daniel, and  Deacon Michael Kozar, and his sisters Mary VanDurick and Ann Solomon. 

On Thursday, June 15 at 2:00 pm, Fr. Elias's body will be received into St. Mary's Orthodox Church, 485 North Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701 where a Panachida will be served. Friends will be received at the Church  from 2-7 PM. The Priest’s Parastas will be sung at 7 PM.  The Funeral Divine Liturgy will take place on Friday June 16, 2017 at 11:00 am. Internment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery, Hastings-on-Hudson, New York.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be made to the Douglas James Kozar Endowment Scholarship c/o The University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd. Tampa, Florida 33606.

May our good God grant blessed repose and rest eternal to His faithful servant, the newly-departed servant, The Protopresbyter Elias and render eternal  his memory, Vicnaja Jemu Pamjat!,