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Published by the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America, December
30, 2004
Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco Laid to Rest |
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December 30, 2004
San Francisco - Metropolitan Anthony of San
Francisco was laid to rest yesterday, after a
moving Funeral Service at the Ascension Cathedral
of Oakland, Calif., which was attended by faithful
and clergy from across the country and around the
world.
The faithful from the Metropolis were offered a
number of opportunities to pay their respects to
their spiritual father, beginning with a Divine
Liturgy on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004 at the Bishop
Anthony Chapel of the Annunciation Cathedral in
San Francisco. In the evening, His Eminence
Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over a
Trisagion (Prayer) Service in the Chapel. Offering
remarks following the Trisagion were Archon
Theofanis Economidis, vice-president of the
Metropolis Council of San Francisco; Rev. Theodore
Dorrance, president of the Metropolis Clergy
Syndesmos; His Grace Bishop Anthimos of Olympos;
Consul General of Greece in San Francisco,
Dimitrios Touloupas; Honorary Consul General of
Cyprus in San Francisco, Nicholas Theophanous; His
Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto,
representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and
Archbishop Demetrios.
Wednesday morning began with the Divine Liturgy
presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos
of Chicago, the senior Metropolitan of the Holy
Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America,
assisted by five priests from the Metropolis of
San Francisco.
More than 1,500 faithful attended the Funeral
Service, which began at 11:00am, and was presided
over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of
America. Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto
represented the Ecumenical Patriarch. Also
participating in the service were Metropolitans
Iakovos of Chicago, Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of
Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, Tarasios of Buenos
Aires, Bishops Anthimos of Olympos, Savas of
Troas, and Gerasimos of Krateia. In addition over
one hundred priests from across the country took
part in the service. Choir members from the
Metropolis sang during the Divine Liturgy and the
Funeral Service that followed. The youth of the
Metropolis, whom Metropolitan Anthony particularly
loved and guided over the years, were dressed in
traditional Greek costumes and stood as honor
guards in the central aisle and by the casket of
their spiritual father. The laity of the Greek
Orthodox Archdiocese of America were represented
by Mr. Michael Jaharis, vice-chairman of the
Archdiocesan Council and Mrs. Georgia Skeadas,
president of the National Philoptochos.
At the conclusion of the funeral service,
condolences for and personal memories of the
departed Metropolitan were offered by Rev. John
Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los
Angeles; Rev. Stephen Kyriacou, dean of the
Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco; Bishop
John C. Wester, representing the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of San Francisco William Levada;
William Swing, Episcopalian Bishop of San
Francisco, and Metropolitan Anthimos of Olympos.
Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto conveyed words of
comfort on behalf of His All Holiness Ecumenical
Patriarch Bartholomew and shared with the
congregation thoughts, impressions and memories
related to the deceased hierarch.
The Eulogy was delivered by Archbishop Demetrios,
who started by expressing the gratitude of the
Church to the clergy and laity, the doctors,
nurses and medical personnel, who assisted
Metropolitan Anthony in various ways, during the
difficult time of the final weeks of his life at
the hospital in Sacramento, Calif.
Then, the Archbishop highlighted three specific
aspects of the legacy that Metropolitan Anthony
leaves behind, the legacy of faith as a power to
build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:9-10), the legacy
of faith as freedom, liberation and independence
(Galatians 5:13) and the legacy of faith as joy
(John 16:11).
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