March 29, 2014
Brooklyn, NY: "More Than an Activist" ‒ Metropolitan Philip makes
his Final Journey
On
Saturday, March 29, the funeral of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba;
reposed March 19), head of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North
America, was held in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Brooklyn, NY. With
the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern
America & New York, a delegation from the Russian Church Abroad, led
by diocesan vicar Bishop George of Mayfield, attended the funeral of
the reposed hierarch. His Grace passed along
Metropolitan Hilarion’s condolences
to the Locum Tenens of the Antiochian Archdiocese, Metropolitan
Silouan of Buenos Aires & All Argentina, the episcopate, clergy, and
faithful of the Antiochian Church in America.
The service for the departed, which was performed in English and
Arabic, was led by Metropolitan Silouan, co-served by 14 hierarchs
of the Antiochian Church in the USA, Canada, and Latin America. Many
hierarchs came to honor his memory and offer their condolences to
the orphaned Antiochian flock ‒ members of the Assembly of Canonical
Orthodox Bishops of North & Central America: the chairman of the
Assembly, Archbishop Demetrios (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America), Metropolitan Tikhon (Orthodox Church in America),
Metropolitan Anthony (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA),
Archbishop Justinian (Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in
the USA (MP)), Bishop Ioan Casian (Vicar of the Romanian Archdiocese
in the Americas), and Bishop Michael (OCA). Also taking part was His
Grace, Bishop Jerome (ROCOR), and a multitude of clergy from the
several Orthodox jurisdictions, representatives of the Armenian and
Coptic Orthodox Churches, heads of the Syrian and Lebanese
diplomatic missions, and Syria’s permanent representative to the UN.
On
this rainy day, the main cathedral of the Antiochian Church in
America was filled with hundreds of people ‒ friends and relatives
of the departed, clergy, people of various nationalities,
backgrounds, and ages, who through the Lord’s providence, labors,
and life circumstances got to know this wise, steadfast,
hardworking, pious, humble, and radiant man over the course of
Metropolitan Philip’s 48 years of archpastoral service.
It is thanks to his wisdom and dynamic personality that the one
Antiochian Archdiocese in America now numbers over 250 parishes.
Thanks to the openness of the Antiochian Archdiocese and Syedna
(Master, Vladyka) Philip personally, a multitude of Americans,
Chinese, and people of many ethnicities found within a spiritual
home, coming to Christ and even receiving clerical ordination. The
Metropolitan ordered his missionary work and preaching in such a way
that Orthodoxy might integrate as naturally as possible into the
lives of the people living in America in particular and in the West
as a whole. He oversaw the creation of missionary, benevolent,
academic, and educational organizations, which today operate on a
level of Pan-American Orthodoxy, both beyond the borders of the U.S.
and under the aegis of the Episcopal Assembly. It was through these
organizations that Metropolitan Philip attracted more than one
generation of women to missionary service, thereby elevating their
role in the life of the Antiochian Church in America.
Though
having spent the majority of his life in America, Metropolitan
Philip remained a son of Antioch until the end of his days. In his
heart resided ancient Balamand, with its monastery and seminary,
through which passed many of the Metropolitan’s students and
spiritual children, who therein acquired the language and church
traditions of their fathers. His heart ached for the fates of Syria
and Lebanon, places rarely touched by peace. Thousands of miles from
his homeland, even here he sought out and approached those with the
authority to make decisions on an international scale. Archbishop
Demetrios, head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, who knew
Metropolitan Philip for over 40 years, recalled an instance when the
hierarchs were invited to the White House to meet with President
Bush. Metropolitan Philip tried his utmost to express to the Head of
State the situation facing his compatriots in Syria and Palestine,
to resolve their plight at the highest level.
Archbishop Demetrios noted another – and very important – trait of
Metropolitan Philip’s: "He was more than an activist ‒ he was a
spiritual person, who overcame obstacles through prayer. For him,
the most important thing was how something would look in the eyes of
God. He was dedicated to God and felt an absolute responsibility to
Him."
Metropolitan Silouan of Buenos-Aires & All Argentina read aloud a
letter of condolence from Patriarch John X of Antioch and, on behalf
of the Patriarch, posthumously awarded Metropolitan Philip the
Antiochian Orthodox Church’s highest award – the Medal of Sts. Peter &
Paul,
founders
of
the
Church
in
Antioch.
A
majority of the eulogies delivered by the Orthodox that day touched
on the subject of Holy Pascha; it could be no other way.
Metropolitan Philip was a servant of God, awaiting Christ’s Radiant
Resurrection, as well as a charismatic figure. The latter was not so
much a crown as a cross, which placed on him an enormous
responsibility before God and man. He had what is known as an "inner
core:" he had an iron will, and a tireless will to serve, to work,
and to inspire others by his own example. He had another precious
trait, one often so hard to find: he could talk to anyone on his own
level. He was hospitable. He knew how to bestow love.
Syedna Philip loved this cathedral and always served in it on holy
days and great feasts. He would make his way downstairs to the
refectory where, as fate would have it, only several days ago Bishop
Nicholas of Brooklyn received word of the Metropolitan’s repose.
Today the church building, acquired from the Episcopalians in 1920,
seems perhaps not as grand as the great Antiochian cathedrals
erected in recent years throughout America. But this cathedral, this
firstling, was dear to the Metropolitan. Here are preserved part of
the relics of the first Antiochian missionary in America ‒ Saint
Raphael of Brooklyn. The holy hierarch’s remains are kept at
Antiochian Village in Pennsylvania, where the newly departed will be
buried, as well. On Monday, March 31, laid alongside a saint,
Metropolitan Philip will find eternal rest.
Memory eternal to Metropolitan Philip!
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