The Very Reverend Father George S Corey

Archpriest George S. Corey was born December 19, 1935, in Charleston, WV and fell asleep in the Lord at age 87 entering the Kingdom of Heaven where there is neither sickness, sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Schakabe “Mutt” and Lena Thabet Corey of blessed memory. Father Corey is survived by his son George and wife Ana Lucia and his grandson, Matthew Corey of Westport, CT; his son, David and wife Megan and his grandsons, Augusten and Jude Corey of Grosse Pointe MI; his son, Michael and his wife Grisel Corey and their twin sons, Marc and Michael of Westport, CT; and, son Jonathon and wife, Brijette and his granddaughter, Livia of Westport, CT.

He is also survived by his sister Dolores Bsharah of Redford, MI; sister Barbara Farha of Jacksonville, FL; and brother Lawrence Corey and his wife Lorraine Corey of Burke, VA – as well as all the stray cats, birds, and squirrels that came daily to his patio to be fed. Neighbors called Father Corey, “St. Francis of Assisi” because of his love for animals.

Father Corey graduated from Charleston High School in 1954, then attended Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Brookline, MA, then St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological School in Manhattan, NY (now, Crestwood, NY), then the Ecumenical Institute in Bossey which is attached to the University of Geneva, Switzerland. Father Corey traveled extensively throughout the Middle East
on six different occasions throughout the years. He also attended and graduated from Morris Harvey College (now, The University of Charleston) where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology/ Psychology. He then received a Master of Divinity degree and Doctor of Ministry degree from St. Vladimir Seminary in NY.

As a priest, he served the following parishes during a 35-year period: St. Michael Church
in Louisville, KY (1962-1966); St. George Church (now, Cathedral) in Pittsburgh, PA (1967-1977);
St. George Church in Boston, MA (1977-1986); St. George Cathedral in Coral Gables, FL (1986, his sabbatical parish); and St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY (1987-1997). In 1976, Father Corey accompanied the Primate of North America to visit the Orthodox Church in the former Soviet Union.

During these 35 years of service, he taught the Orthodox Christian faith at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA; Holy Cross Seminary in Brookline, MA and at St. Vladimir Seminary in Crestwood, NY to men studying for the holy priesthood. He served as a Trustee of the Orthodox Monastery of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, which he also served as Vicar General. He was the longtime editor – for more than 20 years – of The Word, the official publication of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

At the appointment of the Metropolitan Archbishop, Father Corey was instrumental in the unification of the New York and Toledo Antiochian Archdioceses, the agreement for which was signed by the bishops in Father Corey’s Pittsburgh office. He also served in the efforts of the Antiochian Archdiocese with the Orthodox Church in America for the canonization of Bishop RAPHAEL of Brooklyn, NY.

He served as spiritual advisor over a period of years for Teen SOYO and the Fellowship of
St. John the Divine and helped draft the constitution of the Antiochian Women in North America. For his efforts, he was awarded the Holy Cross of Mount Lebanon by the Archdiocese of Zahle, Lebanon; and he was awarded the Antiochian Gold Medal of Merit from the Archdiocese of North America.

Father Corey was medically retired in June 1997 whereupon he moved for a short period of time to Lexington, KY. In January 1998, he moved to Ft. Lauderdale, FL and lived there for twelve years. He worked at a very prestigious bookstore on Las Olas Blvd. for two years then was resident manager for a 100-unit apartment building for five years. Father Corey then taught at an elementary school for special needs children for two years. He adored those “special” children . He then lived in a retirement home in Ft. Lauderdale for two years before deciding to move back to Charleston. People have asked him why the move home, and he said: “I was born, baptized and raised in Charleston and I want to die in Charleston.” And, so, it has come to pass!

The funeral services will take place at St. George Orthodox Cathedral on the corner of Lee and Court Streets in Charleston, where his earthly remains will lie in repose, as follows: Visitation on Friday, August 25 from 4-8 pm with a Vespers service at 7, followed by the Trisagion Prayers of Mercy. Saturday, August 26, Divine Liturgy at 10:30 am and Funeral Service at 12:00 pm, followed by the interment at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. A meal of mercy will be offered at 3:30 pm at the Holiday Inn in South Charleston. Prayers and services to be conducted by the Dean of the Cathedral, the Rev. Fr. Joseph Hazar, Dean Emeritus the V. Rev. Olof Scott, and other visiting clergy.

Graveside service will be held at Sunset Memorial Park in South Charleston. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Freeman Funeral Home of Chapmanville, WV. No flowers please. Contributions in his memory can be made to St. George Orthodox Cathedral, P.O. Box 2044, Charleston, WV 25327-2044 or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to a charity of your choice.

May Father George S. Corey rest from his earthly labors in peace. Amen. He can now say the words of that great American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. whom he greatly admired: “Free at last.
Free at last; thank God almighty, I am free at last!”