Nicholas George Harbatis

Nicholas George Harbatis April 30, 1926 - March 7, 2016 Father Nicholas George Harbatis, age 89, of St. Johns, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2016 with his family by his side. It was exactly 67 years to the day of his ordination as a Priest. He was born and grew up in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. He studied Theology at Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Mass, and after his graduation he stayed on and served as the school’s choir director. He later received a BS in Education from Wayne State University. He met his wife to be, Mary Mamangakis at a Cretan Dance and the two were married on January 23, 1949. Shortly after, Nicholas was ordained as a Priest in the Greek Orthodox Church. The couple settled in Woburn, Mass, where Father Nick was first assigned to Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church. Father Nick moved to new assignments in many different places including: Detroit, Tampa, Miami, and Astoria, New York, and started the Greek Orthodox Metropolis Summer Camp in Rose City, Michigan. However, he spent most of his career at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Detroit, where he served for more than 32 years, retiring in 1999. He stayed busy in his retirement with interim assignments in Chattanooga and Nashville, and substituting in other area parishes when called on by the Archbishop. He had been a resident of St. Johns since 2012. Father Nick was a dedicated Priest, a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Mary Harbatis. He is survived by a daughter, Donna Bacon and her husband Dr. William Bacon of St. Johns; a son, Chris Harbatis and his wife Rosann of Montverde, FL; grandchildren, Jesse Bacon, Dr. Louise Bacon, Jonathan Bacon, Nicholas Bacon & Kimberly Gunning, and great grandchildren, Ajani, Kaleb, Sotiri, & Amina. Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Wednesday, March 9, 2016, with the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church with Metropolitan Alexios, Bishop Dimitrios, and Father Nick Luoh officiating. Interment will follow at San Lorenzo Cemetery. A visitation will be held from 6 to 7 pm on Tuesday at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. In lieu of flowers, donations in Father Nick’s memory can be made to: Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 2940 County Road 214, St Augustine, FL 32084, The Metropolis of Detroit Summer Camp, or The St. Nicholas Scholarship Fund at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 760 W Wattles Rd, Troy, MI, 48098. St. Johns Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.