On
Wednesday, April 28, on the Midfeast of Pentecost, in the Nativity of
Christ Church, the faithful bid farewell to His Grace, Bishop Daniel
of Erie, vicar bishop of the First Hierarch of ROCOR for the care of
Old Believers. The church is located on the shores of Lake Erie in
Erie, PA (both the city and the lake were named after the local Erie
Indian Tribe), less than 100 miles from the Canadian border and the
famous Niagara Falls.
The
vicar bishops of the Eastern American Diocese, Bishops George of
Mayfield and Jerome of Manhattan, arrived in Erie on April 27 for
Bishop Daniel’s funeral. Bishop Jerome celebrated the Old Rite
Liturgy, co-served by parish clerics: church dean Archpriest Pimen
Simon, Priest Theodore Jurewicz and Priest Hierotheus Popoff, as well
as Priest Seraphim Wing, and parish deacons Stefan Klimczak and Markel
Wassell. Bishop George prayed in the altar during the Liturgy. During
the Small Entrance, in accordance with Old Rite tradition, the casket
was carried into the altar through the Royal Doors and placed on the
right side of the altar. During the readings of the Epistle and
Gospel, the casket was moved to the high place, and was taken back to
the center of the church upon completion of the Liturgy. The funeral
was led by Bishop George, co-served by Bishop Jerome and the
above-mentioned clergy, who served to the antiphonal singing of the
male and female choirs. Bishop Jerome delivered the eulogy, after
which parishioners and the faithful bid farewell to their beloved
hierarch. Upon completion of the funeral service, the newly reposed
Bishop Daniel was committed to the earth in the local Orthodox
cemetery, where many Old Rite parishioners are buried. After the
burial, the faithful returned to the parish hall for a commemorative
luncheon.
Following
the luncheon, Bishop George continued his journey, traveling to the
town of Parma, OH (a suburb of Cleveland, the See of Bishop Peter of
Cleveland), to St. Sergius Cathedral to venerate a piece of the relics
of St. Sergius of Radonezh, which began to stream holy myrrh on
Sunday, April 18. Bishop George was greeted by cathedral dean Priest
Ilia Marzev, after which Vladyka served a moleben before the relics.
His Grace then departed Cleveland for Holy Cross Monastery.
