Fallen Officer Anastasios Tsakos – Street Is Named After Him

by +Chrissie Apollonia Nicolles

 On Monday, April 27th, hundreds of law enforcement officers swarmed the St. Demetrios church in Astoria to pay their respects, in solemnity of the five-year commemoration for the murdered Greek Orthodox Detective, Anastasio Tsakos, who went to this church’s school long ago. [*The bells at St. Demetrios are in a league of their own – they’re the only ones you hear around.] Inside, the contrast between the rigid, formal “sea of blue” at attention saluting their colleague and the hallowed hush of the sanctuary was something I’d never witnessed. I knew I had to be there because for years, since hearing this tragedy, I felt called to pass along a message from the other side to his widow… but I couldn’t. I can only describe this as an otherworldly, sixth-sense impression that wouldn’t leave me alone + needing to be told …it’s happened before, and once I expressed it to people grieving a loved one’s death, it lessened their pain. Likewise, in this particular case, I wanted to let it be known to his widow that, physically, Detective Tsakos never suffered any pain from his death…

Truth be told: What I envisaged is an image of what happened to him: that seconds BEFORE being struck and killed willfully by a drunk driver, while directing traffic on Long Island Expressway, Officer Tsakos’s guardian angel had lifted his soul (his true self) out of his physical body — before the impact into the arms of loved ones on the other side!  He was, and is, in a state of bliss beyond any earthly description.

Orthodox nun, Eldress Mother Gabrilia of Greece, often repeated: “There are no accidents, everything that happens is permitted by God.” The Archangel Michael is certain to have emerged carrying his ethereal body into the Kingdom. This is the patron saint of law enforcement and the military.

I tried asking the ever-guarded Fr. John Vlahos, who knew his widow, to tell her what I’d shared, but he wouldn’t. I was befuddled. Why? I kept asking him again, but nothing… perhaps most clergy are trained in a theology that de-emphasizes the supernatural … but God IS supernatural.  A skeptical priest may argue that those who survive a car crash are due to seatbelts – not an Angel’s intervention.

But I know Angels are real — Paradise is real.

So thank heavens, I finally met Mrs.Tsakos and told her myself and she confirmed it’s true, because her husband appeared in a dream declaring it so.  Mission accomplished!

Orthodoxy’s many saints, including St. Paisios of the holy mountain, testify, “There is no death.”

After ecclesia service by the Stoic Rev. Anargyros Stavropoulos, I got driven to 42nd St. Ave., for a street naming event by two retired Detectives Pete + Christopher, where Officer Anastasio’s name will not be forgotten. Before unveiling, more law enforcement arrived while New York City officials spoke and bagpipes played. I took photos of the back of Det. Chris’s black hoodie sporting his respects for colleague Anastasio – big letters + winged angels:

“Eternal Memory Detective 1st Grade Anastasios Tsakos”

The grieving must know that separation from loved ones is only temporary. In God’s time there will be reunion. I believe the Divine world purposely removes people + things from our lives because we are not to make “Idols” of them…the only “Idol” should be Christ Jesus. I recall Fr. Vlahos’ excellent bible class for years; he emphasized that we be on guard to never make “idols” of our job, nor possessions, nor spouse, nor parents, nor friend, not even holy church. We have to learn we are not stationary beings; we are not sturdy Redwood trees that last a thousand years; we have to experience plenty of loss as we face our aloneness and need for Theosis.  Most people trade the search for the divine for the comfort of the crowd. But sages and monastics realize the imperative truth:

             “Do not love the world or the things in it.”

It’s clear Lord Jesus demands a high sacrifice from us…

                “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me.”

There’s an extraordinary story of a policeman and a prayer recommended by Saint Paisios from the holy mountain; the geronda shared with visiting pilgrims that he, too, gets angry easily, but found an unbeatable prayer to send away these unclean spirits. Later a pious policeman heard this prayer; one night he found a man lying in the street because of heart attack, the police officer quickly invoked the prayer after doing CPR shouting “Great Is Thy Name Holy Trinity, Theotokos Save Us!” The sick man regained consciousness — thanks to the “warrior angel” policeman.

I find it curious about death … we humans are funny; we are one temporary body crying over another temporary body? Lol?

But even Jesus wept… just think: the collective heroes of society, Police/FDNY/Military, and the Orthodox Monastics all walk with “death” hanging over their heads.  The first group, via death, loses its fascination with the material world and all that’s in it — but for the Monastics? Death is their ticket to paradise!

In my opinion, a serene way to heal over the death of a loved one is to get thee to a Redwood forest…my favorite place in the world is a forest in northern California; like standing in a cathedral, walking through towering gigantic trees + breathe that fragrance. This is a healing balm. If you listen …you can hear the voice of God.

MEMORY ETERNAL To all our heroes + May it be blessed!