Individual Details

Obituary

Death Notice: Washington Post, January 29-30, 2012
Reverend Fr. BASIL KISSAL "Victor"  
On Saturday, January 28, 2012 of Rockville, MD. Beloved husband of Rita Kissal; loving father of George "G.J." Kissal (Sherry) and Constantine "Dean" Kissal (Crystal). Grandfather of Alexandra and Vasili Kissal. Also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, January 31 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, 7701 Bradley Blvd. Bethesda, MD 20817 where funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 1, 2012. Orthos services will be held at 9 a.m., Liturgy at 10 a.m. followed by funeral service. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in memory of Rev. Fr. Basil Kissal to APC-NSP Benevolent Fund c/o Presv. Pauline Pavlakos, 6315 Wilmington Drive, Burke, VA 22015 or to International Orthodox Christian Charities, 110 West Road, Suite 360, Baltimore, MD 21204. Arrangements by Philip D.Rinaldi Funeral Service Silver Spring, MD.

Obituary: Washington Post, February 24, 2012
Basil Kissal
Greek Orthodox Priest
The Rev. Basil Kissal, 68, a Greek orthodox priest who was the former chief pastor at Sts. Constantine and Helen Church in Washington, died Jan. 28 at Montgomery Hospice's Casey House in Rockville. He had Alzheimer's disease, said his wife, Rita Kissal. Father Kissal was a native Washingtonian who in 1988 became associate priest at Sts. Constantine and Helen, his home parish as a child. He presided over a major renovation program and was president of the Washington chapter of the Orthodox Clergyman's Association. He was director of an ecclesiastical court that addresses religious matters. In 1997, Father Kissal received the Patriarchal Cross for his service to the Greek Orthodox Church in America. In 2002, he became dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Charlotte [North Carolina]. He later served Greek Orthodox churches in Jeffersonville, Pa., and Bel Air, Md. After retiring in 2008, he settled in Rockville.

Victor George Kissal was born in Washington and graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville in 1961. He studied for the priesthood at Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Mass., from which he received a bachelor's degree and, in 1968, a master's degree in theology. Later, he taught at a high school in Massachusetts and served as a team statistician for the Boston Celtics basketball team. He was ordained as a priest in 1973 and took the clerical name of Basil. He served at Greek Orthodox churches in Bangor, maine, Manchester, N.H., and Rochester, N.Y,. before returning to Washington.

Survivors include his wife of 43 years, Rita Christakos Kissal of Rockville; two sons, George Kissal of Germantown and Constantine Kissal of Rockville; and two grandchildren.

Obituary, Orthodox Observer newspaper, Feb-March 2012
Fr. Basil G. Kissal
Rockville, Md - Fr. Basil G. Kissal, 69, a retired priest who served numerous parishes, died Jan. 29. He was born Aug. 20, 1943, in Washington and attended public school in Maryland. He attended Hellenic College where he received a B.A. in Greek Studies, then continued his education at Holy Cross School of Theology. He married Areti Christakos in June 1968. Fr. Kissal was ordained as a deacon and priest April 10-11, 1976, in Chicago by Bishop Timothy of Rodostolon. He was assigned to St. George Church in Bangor, Maine April 15, 1976, where he served through August 1977. Fr. Kissal then served St. Nicholas Church in Manchester, N.H., from Sept. 1, 1977 to Sept. 14, 1978; Annunciation in Rochester, N.Y., Sept. 15, 1978 to October 1984; St. Nicholas Chapel, Squaw Valley, Calif., and St. Nicholas Ranch and Retreat Center, October 1984-Oct 14, 1985; St. George, Albuquerque, N.M. from Oct. 15, 1985 to July 1988; Sts. Constantine and Helen in Washington, from July 1988 to March 31, 2003; Holy Trinity Cathedral, Charlotte, N.C. from April 1, 2003 to July 15, 2005; and Sts. Sophia, Faith, Hope & Agape Church, Jeffersonville, Pa., From July 15, 2005 to Sept. 30, 2006.
He is survived by his presbytera, Areti; and two sons, George James and Constantine Charles Kissal. Services took place Feb. 1 with Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey officiating, assisted by other clergy.


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