November
16, 2009
Belgrade: His
Holiness, Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, has reposed in the Lord
On Sunday, November 15, at 10:45
AM (local time) at the Military Medical Academy, the primate of the
Serbian Orthodox Church, His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, reposed
in the Lord. The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad,
His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York,
offered his condolences to the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox
Church.
To His Eminence
Metropolitan AMFILOHIJE
of Montenegro and the Coastal Lands
and the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church
Your
Eminence Vladyko!
It was with
profound sadness that I learned of the repose of His Holiness
Patriarch Pavle of Serbia, the father of all Orthodox Serbs, whose
life and faith served as a spiritual guidepost for his people.
We have lost a
remarkable person – ascetically humble, natural in his spiritual
simplicity and wisdom, a man of fervent prayer.
We lost a man of
duty, a strong hierarch, whose voice defended the faith, the truth,
justice, the lawful rights and freedoms of the Orthodox Serbian
population and reached all those in power both in Serbia and
throughout the world.
In His Holiness
Patriarch Pavle we saw a genuine friend of the Russian Church Abroad
and a true man of prayer for the Russian people in the diaspora. In
1992, the late Patriarch visited the United States, seeking from
this country and its influential persons and organizations fairness
towards the much-suffering Serbian people in the days of their great
tragedy. He came also as the father of his flock abroad, which then,
by the mercy of God, had already overcome its erstwhile division and
had united. Events in the Balkans hastened his return. Every hour of
his historic visit to America was scheduled. And still, Archbishop
Anthony (Medvedev, +2000), who was tonsured in Milkovo Monastery,
his clergy and flock had the opportunity to meet this humble and
spiritually-great heir of St Savva at their Cathedral of the Mother
of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow." This was to honor our St
John (Maximovich), who is so touchingly and lovingly remembered by
the Serbs, who was so revered by the "Serbian Chrysostom,"
Bishop Nikolaj of Zica, and by St Justin Popovic. Descending to the
crypt of St John, the late Patriarch Pavle donned the epitrachelion
and himself performed a funerary litany. Eternal Memory was then
sung. Then you, Your Eminence Vladyko, began to sing the troparion,
which the Patriarch’s delegation joined you in: "Teacher of
Orthodoxy, instructor of piety and chastity, luminary of the Church,
God-inspired instruction of Hierarchs, O supremely wise
John…" And everyone sang this troparion to the end. They also
sang this troparion to Archimandrite Justin (Popovic), even before
his glorification. His Holiness Patriarch Pavle of blessed memory is
also worthy of the singing of these words.
Today, with all our
hearts, we grieve together with you and the Serbian Orthodox people.
I assure you, Your
Eminence, that the Russian Church Abroad bears abiding love for the
Serbian Church and unceasingly raises its prayers for her suffering
people; a country enduring a tragic period in its history.
May
the Lord strengthen the Serbian Church and her people for many
years.
With
love in Christ,
+HILARION,
Metropolitan
of Eastern America and New York,
First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia
November
15, 2009
On
Sunday, November 15, His Grace, Bishop George of Mayfield, issued a
statement in connection with the passing of Patriarch Pavle, which
read in part:
"His
Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, was one of the great spiritual leaders of
our time and he will be remembered for his steadfast faith and love
for Christ. Through his pious way of life, His Holiness became the
righteous man of whom King Solomon wrote, "He pleased God, and
was beloved of him: so that living among sinners he was translated.
Yea speedily was he taken away, lest that wickedness should alter
his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul” (Wisdom 4:10-11).
Through his example of love and humility, he brought countless
people closer to God. The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad has always
had close brotherly ties with the Serbian Orthodox Church and today
we mourn together with our Serbian brothers and sisters in Christ. I
call upon all the faithful of our diocese to lift up their prayers
for the soul of the newly departed patriarch. Let us also pray that
the Lord comfort the Serbian people in this most difficult
time."
On
Sunday, November 15, upon completion of the Divine Liturgy in the
Synodal Cathedral, His Grace, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, addressed
the faithful with the following words:
"His
Holiness, Patriarch Pavle, has reposed in the Lord. The Serbian
Orthodox Church has always been the closest to our own Church
Abroad, especially the newly departed Patriarch Pavle, who
diligently worked with us to protect our ties to others, as well as
restore canonical union within the Russian Church. Let us pray for
the repose of his soul."
Media
Office of the Eastern American Diocese
