UKRAINIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH OF THE USA
CONSISTORY OFFICE OF PUBLIC RELATIONS
PRESS RELEASE
Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel Celebrated Memorial Panakhyda for Metropolitan Philip
On Thursday, March 27, 2014 – His Eminence Metropolitan Antony and His Grace Bishop Daniel, accompanied by Very Rev. Todor Mazur, pastor of Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in New York City, Very Rev. Mykola Filyk of St. Panteleimon Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NY; Rev. Vasyl Pasakas of Nativity of the Theotokos Ukrainian Orthodox Church in South Plainfield, NJ; Rev. Vasyl Dovgan and Protodeacon Ihor Mahlay of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Parma, OH traveled to St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY in order to serve a Memorial Panakhyda for the newly reposed servant of God Metropolitan Philip, the spiritual father of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
In the presence of all hierarchs of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese both hierarchs of the UOC of the USA concelebrated the Memorial service and at the conclusion of which Metropolitan Antony expressed condolences and assurance of prayers of the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA for the spiritual father of Antiochian Archdiocese.
Addressing His Eminence Metropolitan Silouan of Buenos Aires and all Argentina, as the Patriarchal Vicar, and the hierarchs of the Church, Vladyka Antony stated: “On behalf of the clergymen, monastics, and laymen of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA we express deep and heartfelt condolences at the repose of His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, the Primate of the brotherly Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.
The passing of the Metropolitan is a deeply felt wound not only for the pious Antiochian Orthodox Christians in North America, but for all Orthodox Christians who have admired his wise and pastoral stewardship during the significant period of his life in the service of Christ’s Holy Bride. We are zealously praying to our Lord Jesus Christ that He may give rest in the dwelling of the righteous to the soul of our Brother and Concelebrant with whom we were united by the bonds of love and friendship.
The recently deceased Metropolitan lived in different epochs. His paternal wisdom and numerous virtues, which he gained while sacrificially serving Christ the Savior, adorned the ancient Antiochian Orthodox Church. His Eminence Metropolitan Philip, who personified the greatness of Antiochian Orthodoxy, was a real spiritual father for his flock and worked zealously for the sake of the unity and salvation of his flock during years.
Your Eminences and dearly beloved brothers and sisters in the Lord, as you reflect on this tragic loss, prepare to bid farewell to the beloved Metropolitan Philip, and face the extraordinary task of electing his successor, please be assured of our prayers for you and the entire Archdiocese. As we remember you in this time of grief and mourning, we shall also offer our fervent supplications to God for him, that he may find the reward of “the faithful and wise steward” that he most surely was, and that he may rest in the blessed hope of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
His soul shall dwell with the blessed and the remembrance of him will be from generation to generation!”
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