New-York tribune., 1921-10-03
Wealthy Fig Merchant Is
Stricken WhileDenounc.
ingChargeCreekChurch
Is Facing Bankruptcy
Police Summoned
TO Halt Fighting
Young Varzakakos Asserts
Clergyman Hit Father
With Brass Candlestick

Chief Medical Examiner Charles
Norris will perform an autopsy TODAY
on the body of Nicholas Varzakakos to
determine the cause of the Greek fp
merchants death. The law prescribes
such procedure in all cases of sudden
and unaccountable cessation OF life
IN this instance the post-mortem is
expected to show diseased heart, prob
aoiy case of angina pectoris. But
members of the congregation Of St.
Nicholas Greek Catholic Church who
saw the fig merchant die as he stood
shouting before the altar steps in the
MIDST OF communion yesterday, will pre-
Ter their own verdict to that of anv
coldly reasoning scientist. These trans
planted plan Hellenes devoutly believe that
'arzaRakos was stricken from on high
by an invisible agency charged w;fh
divine potency.
excitement in the church was in
tense, both by reason of the tragedy
ana because of the startling denial Of
the prests statement CONCERNING tho
IIancla situation Of the church Which
Varzakakos had made just prior to his
ueaoh. Inc reserves were called from
'he Old Slip police station to restore
oroeT "hen followers of the priest came
10 blows with adherents of the dead
man.
Hit With Can1lcstick, Charge
lhe dead mans son, George, a lad of
hlVeen, teartuly swore in the detective
room OF Old Slip station that the priest.
tne benign, whlte-haired Father Kyrilos
Vahadakls, struck his parent on the
skull with u brass candlestic( Othor
/ parlsnloners insisted the sacred ;nstru-
/ ment was no more than raised before
the lace OF the shouting Varzakakos
when ne began to choke and writhc. his
limbs giving away as life fled
Inc stone facade of the little church
OF st. Nicholas at 155 Cedar Street
confronts the ornate West Street build
lng' which rises to the dignity of a
skyscraper. towering above the Cort-
ianqs street ferry. Two blocks away
is Broadway the Equitable BUILDING
and the pyramidal peak of the Bankerss
trust. 1t is a region aswarm twice
each day with New Jersey commuters
and seems utterly divorced from any
suggestion Of the miraculous
Memorial Service for Hero
The service yesterday morning was
memorial for Greek who died over
seas under the American flag, parrages
Dovas, klnsman of the Fortv-second
Street talking machine dealer. In
place of the dead soldiers coffin. long
since buried, there was a green baize-
covered table placed at the crossing.
! Orange colored candles tied with
mourning ribbons burned at each end
( OF this symbolized catafalque.
Zach yyOrcbinor
TINS time darkeneG example of Byzan-
tine painting and kissed the glass pro-
tectlng sthc bearded features of the
saint. Chen, backing away from the
/ elaborately carved mahogany throne
supporting it, they passed to their
I places in the edjhce. Most of the
"omen-there are not many-mountcd
TO the gallery.
Financial Plea Starts Outbreak
Father Vafiadakis's memorial SER
mon was patriotic appeal for sup
port Of American institutions and
Ideals. 1t was long, as BELTS such
SUBJECT. ihen. attircd in somber robes
and cylindrical mtrc. relieved only bv
the white of his cassock and bis
Jeweled crucifix, he began the com
munion service.
The priest had found time in the
course of the morning to speak OF the
financial difficulties Of the church. He
had spoken Of the possibility Of clos
ing. the doors unless the situation was
relieved. 1t was this that aroused
'v!arzakakos. The big merchant, who
lived in 48 Washington Street and
whose place of business was 603 Dean
Street, Brooklyn, strode down the aisle
eXclalming against the priest. Var
zakakos was one of committee
charged with the conduct Of the church
finances. In Greek he declared there
was plenty Of money in the priests
Golfers.
Collapses Before Candles
rather Nafiadakis commanded Var
zakakos to get back. Instead, the man
stepped over the strip of red carpet
that marked the right arm of the tran
cept. For nearly twenty centuries the
creek CHURCH has regarded this space
before the altar as hallowed, not to
be profaned by lay feet.
The sexton, Xenaphon Reskakis.
grasped the angry man by the arms.
The priest rushed into the sanctuary.
partially concealed by blood red vel
yet curtain. Emerging, he stood on
the steps above Varzakakos. In his
hand was one Of the brass candlesticks,
still aflame, from the holy of holies.
He raised it high above his head and
took step toward the angry man. The
rest Of the congregation was crowding
forward.
Then it was that Varzakakos died.
The restraining arms Of the sexton
we're not sufficient to support him. He
collapsed before the illuminated icons,
upsetting candle stand as he fell. !
Mrs. Varzakakos rushed forward, |
screaming. The husband was carried
into the open air. His shoes and col
lar and tie were removed and his limbs /
were rubbed These measures were !
unavailing. He was dead. Why he died !
is for Chief Medical Examiner Norris
to determine,
The priest and other witnesses were
questioned at Old Slip police station I.
yesterday afternoon, but were released /
because there was no capable inter !
prefer available. Their examination
viii be- resumed to-day At the Office Of
the District Attorney.