On Saturday, March 12, Archbishop Demetrios traveled to Johnstown, PA (the See of the Carpatho-Russian Church) to visit the Metropolitan on his sickbed. After praying with the Metropolitan and anointing him with Holy Oil, the Archbishop met with the Chancellor of the Carpatho-Russian Church, Protopresbyter Frank Miloro, to offer his advice and support. When he was informed of the Metropolitan's passing on Sunday the 13th, Archbishop Demetrios, as Exarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, contacted His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in order to apprise the Ecumenical Patriarchate of the loss. His All Holiness then by a formal letter, both to the Archbishop and to the Chancellor for the Carpatho-Russian Church, appointed the Archbishop to be the Locum Tenens. Archbishop Demetrios will preside at the funeral at 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 18 at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Johnstown, Penn., as well as the burial from St. John's Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church in Perth Amboy, N.J. on March 21 at 10:30 a.m. The rest of the services are listed at:
http://www.acrod.org/news/releases/mn-funeral.
In his letter to the faithful of the Carpatho-Russian Church, Archbishop Demetrios wrote: (http://www.acrod.org/news/releases/archpastoral1-abdemetrios)
Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I convey to you my deepest and most heartfelt consolations, as well as those of the Holy Eparchial Synod and the Clergy and Faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, on the passing of your ever-memorable and thrice-blessed spiritual father, the late Metropolitan Nicholas of Amissos. This loss, unbearable at any time, has come quickly upon us all, and we are all now in the midst of grief. But as the Apostle Paul reminds us, our present sorrow is not without hope (I Thessalonians 4: 13). Only a few weeks ago, the beloved and late Metropolitan celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday in the presence of his faithful clergy and flock, and it is certain that he passed from this vale of tears to everlasting joy in the certainty of the love, respect and goodwill of you, the faithful people of the Carpatho-Russian Church.
We have all lost a dear brother, father and friend, and above all, a spiritual leader. I want all of the faithful to be sure that the integrity, character and spiritual traditions of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Church will be safeguarded with utmost respect and attention during the period that I will serve as your Locum Tenens, as per the decision of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. All regular life of the Diocese will proceed as ever, through the office of the Chancellor.
May the Lord give eternal rest with all the Saints and Righteous to the soul of our beloved Metropolitan Nicholas, and may He keep the blessed Carpatho-Russian Orthodox flock of our Most Holy Ecumenical Patriarchate in peace and spiritual prosperity.
GREEK ORTHODOX ARCHDIOCESE OF AMERICA
8-10 East 79th St. New York, NY 10075-0106
Tel: (212) 570-3530 Fax: (212) 774-0237
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