Father Gervasios – born George Raptopoulos – also known as the “Saint of Prisoners” passed away early in the morning at the age of 89.
People called him “the priest of the poor” or “angel for the sons of the prodigal son.” Since 1987, the Ministry of Prisoners (Diakonia ton Filakismenon) “Penitent Thief Golgotha” has released more than 16,000 prisoners in need, paying their fines and giving more than 5,000,000 euros, money raised from people’s contributions.
A few years ago Elder Gervasios did not hesitate to travel 25,000 kilometers to the Fiji islands to convey God’s word to the prisoners there.
In an interview with ANA-MPA, Father Gervasios said: “If I die in a prison it will be the biggest gain for me. I want to die on duty, either on the way to a prison or on my way home. Christ died for the love of man. This is the finish, the perfect and the excellent.”
In all these years of action, the Elder had visited as head of a branch of the ministry of prisoners, male and female prisons as well as juvenile detention centers: most visits were in Greece and the rest were abroad; to Egypt, Albania, Bulgaria, France, USA, Jordan, Israel, Italy, Cyprus, Madagascar, New Zealand, Fiji Islands, Ukraine, Poland, Romania and Russia.
Elder Gervasios was a candidate for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for charity and social offers, among great personalities around the world.
