Archpriest George Nedelkoff, retired pastor of Saint Nicholas Church here and former Chancellor of the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America, fell asleep in the Lord in Sydney, OH on Thursday, December 30, 2010.
Born in Varna, Bulgaria, on August 16, 1926, he studied for five years at Saint John of Rila Seminary, Sofia, Bulgaria, but emigrated to Vienna, Austria, before the Red Army entered his homeland. He continued studies at the Catholic seminary in Saltzburg for one semester. With the end of World War II and the events that followed, his studies were interrupted. He later studied at the Ukrainian Husbandry University, Regensburg, Germany, before emigrating to England, where he continued studies at the University of Nottingham while working.
After arriving in the United States, he married the former Maria Theodoroff of Youngstown, OH on December 18, 1949. In June and July of the following year, he was ordained to the diaconate and priesthood by His Eminence, Metropolitan Andrey of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. He served Holy Ghost Church, Youngstown, OH; Saint Elia the Prophet Church, Akron, OH; and Saint Nedelia Church, Pittsburgh, PA before assignment to Saint Nicholas Church, Fort Wayne, IN, where he served for 36 years until his retirement in 1992.
His Eminence, Archbishop Kyrill elevated him to the rank of archpriest on September 27, 1964.
Father George authored many articles, pamphlets, and booklets on the Orthodox faith, and in retirement published a bi-monthly bulletin for Bulgarian immigrants in the US, Canada and Europe, endeavoring to teach them about the Orthodox Christian faith.
During the cold war years, he helped many refugees from Bulgaria and Macedonia find work and lodging in the US.
Visitation will begin at Saint Nicholas Church, 3535 Crescent Ave., Fort Wayne, IN on Friday, January 7, at 5:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy, followed by interment at Lindenwoods Cemetery, will be celebrated on Saturday, January 8, at 9:30 a.m. A mercy meal will follow at the Marriott Hotel, Fort Wayne.
May Father George’s memory be eternal!