Biography
Fr. Nick was born in Nashua, New Hampshire, on August 20, 1958, to Carol and Jerry Anctil.
He is he grandson of Nicholas and Harriet Gatsas and Emile and Thelma Anctil. He has one brother John, born in 1965, who still lives in New Hampshire with his wife, Anne, and two daughters, Danielle and Stacey. Fr Nick studied at the local public schools through his high school years, including a summer Advanced Studies Program in 1975 at St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire. He graduated Nashua High School in 1976 and then went off to Hellenic College to prepare for the Holy Priesthood. Fr. Nick graduated Hellenic College in 1980 and took one year off from his studies before he began Holy Cross School of Theology. On July 5, 1981 he married Cynthia Merilos Anctil. Cynthia (Cyndi) hails from Waukegan, Illinois, and is the daughter of the late Constantine and Cleopatra Merilos
Fr. Nick resumed his studies at Holy Cross School of Theology in September of 1981 and then finished in May of 1984. While at Holy Cross, he worked at the "57 Hotel" in Boston as a Front Desk clerk, while Cyndi worked for "Campos and Stratis," an Investigative Accounting Firm
Fr. Nick was ordained to the Diaconate on May 23, 1983, in his home parish of St. Philip in Nashua, New Hampshire, by the late Bishop Gerasimos of Abydos and was assigned as Deacon to Fr. Nicholas Manikas at the St. Demetrios Church of Weston, Massachusetts, until his Graduation from the School of Theology in May of 1984. He was then ordained to the Priesthood in May of 1984 at St. Sophia Church in New London, Connecticut by the then, Bishop Methodios of Boston (now Metropolitan Methodios of Boston).
Fr. Nick's first full-time assignment was to St. Demetrios Cathedral in Astoria, New York, in August of 1984 under the direction of the then, Father Anthimos Panagiotopoulos (now Metropolitan Alexios of Atlanta). He served St. Demetrios Cathedral until August of 1989. On August 6, 1986, Cyndi gave birth to their only daughter, Kalli Nicole. Cyndi taught for one year at the William Spyropoulos School in Flushing and then was assigned to teach at PS 92 in Corona, Queens, for the remainder of their years in Astoria. She also received a Master Degree in Bi-lingual Education from St. John's University
Fr. Nick's next assignment was to Holy Trinity-Saint Nicholas Church in Staten Island, New York, beginning on September 8, 1989. He served that Community for seven years, during which time the Community prepared to build a new Cultural Center. Cyndi remained working in Queens for the first year and then transferred to PS 3 in Staten Island. Kalli attended PS 23 until she finished 4thGrade.
In July of 1996, Archbishop Iakovos, of blessed memory, assigned Fr. Nick to Holy Trinity Church of New Rochelle, New York. The Anctil family moved to Eastchester, New York, and Cyndi started teaching in the public schools of Eastchester in September of 1997. Cyndi also received her second Master Degree in School Administration from Bank Street College in 2000. Kalli finished Eastchester High School in 2004 and then finished SUNY Cortland in 2008 majoring in Kinesiology. Presvytera Kalli, as she is now known, is married to Fr. Christopher, Assistant Priest at St. Anthony Greek Orthodox Church in Pasadena California.
Fr Nick was honored to serve at the Holy Altar with Fr. Peter Kyriakos, Pastor Emeritus, for the first 10 years of his ministry in New Rochelle until his passing in December of 2006. He has since shared the Holy Altar with Fr. Philip Mugadizi who is now in Kenya, Fr. Evan Evangelides who is now serving Annunciation in Stamford, Connecticut, Rev. Dr. Harry Pappas who is now serving Archangels Church in Stamford, Connecticut, Fr. Jason Roll, and finally with Fr. Soterios Baroody, now the Chief Financial Officer of the Archdiocese.
Fr. Nick celebrates his Name Day on the Feast of St. Nicholas, December 6.