February
6, 2016
Pennsylvania:
Archimandrite
Athanasy
(Mastalski)
reposed
in
the
Lord
On
Friday, February 6, Archimandrite Athanasy (Mastalski), longtime
rector of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia, PA, reposed
in the Lord. He was 69 years old.
Fr. Athanasy was born on June 24, 1946 in Philadelphia. In 1975, he
was ordained a deacon, and in the following year a priest, by
Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky). In December 1978, Metropolitan Philaret
performed Fr. Athanasy’s monastic tonsure.
Hieromonk (and later Abbot) Athanasy led Joy of All Who Sorrow
parish in Philadelphia for many years; he served in Holy Protection
Church in New Brunswick, NJ and St. Nicholas Church in Red Bank, NJ,
as well as at the convents in the Holy Land – Holy Ascension on the
Mount of Olives and the Gethsemane Convent.
In December 2005, Metropolitan Laurus elevated Fr. Athanasy to the
rank of archimandrite.
For many years, Archimandrite Athanasy was the guardian of the
myrrh-streaming icon of the Holy Righteous Anna, Mother of the Most
Holy Theotokos, with which he traveled to a multitude of churches
and monasteries in the dioceses of the Russian Church Abroad. The
holy image was painted in the Mount of Olives Convent by Nun
Mastridia, and began to stream myrrh in the United States. It was
well known that the future priest fell in his childhood and was very
badly hurt; he prayed to St. Anna, promising that, when he had the
opportunity and the funds, he would order an icon of St. Anna.
Archimandrite Athanasy spent the final years of his earthly life at
St. Tikhon’s Monastery (OCA) in South Canaan, PA, where the services
for the departed will be held.
Tuesday, February 9
– Vespers & Matins at 16:30.
Panihida – at 19:00.
Wednesday, February 10
– Meeting of Metropolitan Tikhon, Divine Liturgy – at 9:00.
The funeral will be served according to the monastic rite at 11:30
AM.
Through the intercessions of the Most Holy Theotokos and the prayers
of the Holy Righteous Anna, may the Lord grant blessed repose to the
soul of His newly departed servant, the Archimandrite Athanasy, in
the mansions of the righteous, and make his memory to be eternal!
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
