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Published by The National Herald, December 31, 2004

Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco Passes Away Christmas Day

By Theodore Kalmoukos
Special to The National Herald

BOSTON, Mass. – His Eminence Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, 69, died last Saturday, December 25, on Christmas Day.

The late Metropolitan apparently knew he was drawing near to the end his earthly life: "When they had crossed the River Jordan, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Tell me what I may do for you, before I am taken from you (I Kings 2.8)…’ As your bishop for more than 25 years, I am writing to you this final encyclical of my ministry," Metropolitan Anthony wrote in his last encyclical, which was released just before Christmas.

In it, His Eminence offered what he termed his "apologia… and accounting" of his "ministry and service to the Church." He also called upon the Church in America and its faithful to support the monastic movement in America; to help young men enter the priesthood; to intensify their philanthropic activities; and to enhance Pan-Orthodox relations.

"The monasteries hold fast to traditional practice, thus fulfilling their mandate to be the conscience of the Church. And the amazing growth of our monastic communities offers a compelling witness to the tremendous vitality of monasticism in this country… No one should ever be denied the opportunity to study for the priesthood due to lack of funds," he wrote.

"Despite all that has been accomplished, however, much more remains to be done," he added. "There is an urgent need for our parishes to acquire a heightened sense of responsibility to the local community, ministering to the needs of the hungry and homeless, the sick and the needy, the lonely and abandoned… it seems appropriate to emphasize the pressing need for strengthened relations and more effective communication among the canonical Orthodox jurisdictions in America. At present, our many separate and uncoordinated activities not only result in duplication of effort, but also lead to a diffusion and dispersion of our energies, constituting a dynamic of spiritual entropy."

In announcing the death of Metropolitan Anthony, His Grace Bishop Anthimos of Olympos, a close friend and assistant at the Metropolis, noted that, "although we are deeply saddened by the passing of this very dynamic hierarch of the Church, we are confident he is with the Lord. The Lord took him on Christmas Day, as if to remind us that his entire life and ministry were a gift to us, to his family, to the Church."

Assisted by Rev. Stephen Kyriacou, Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco, Anthimos read the special prayers "of the dying" shortly before the Metropolitan’s expiration. His Grace conducted a Trisagion service immediately following Metropolitan Anthony’s death.

Anthony was diagnosed with Burkitt’s lymphoma, a rare form of cancer five weeks earlier. At the time of his death, clergy, family and friends, including his sisters, Eleni Koniaris and Chrysoula Antonopoulos and their families, his sister-in-law Giannoula Gergiannakis and her family, gathered around him. He is survived by 12 nephews and nieces and a number grandnephews and grandnieces. He was predeceased by his brothers, Michalis and George Gergiannakis, and his sister, Stella Roumeliotakis.

In accordance with Metropolitan Anthony’s expressed wishes, donations to the Heritage Museum are requested. Checks should be forwarded to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, 372 Santa Clara Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127.

The Archdiocese of America issued an official statement from Archbishop Demetrios that evening: "Today, on the evening of Christmas Day, a very prominent and beloved hierarch of our Church in America, Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, was called by Jesus Christ our Lord to leave this perishable world and meet Him, and be forever with Him in the company of the Saints and the righteous. His life epitomizes a statement by Saint Paul the Apostle, who tells us, ‘If we live we, live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord (Romans 14.8).’ Deeply saddened by this sudden separation, we are comforted by the certainty that our beloved brother is with God, leaving behind a precious legacy of a total dedication to Christ and His Church; amazing episcopal work; a remarkably strong love for the people; a burning passion for Orthodoxy; and a joy for multidimensional ministry. We are sure that the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco now has a permanent, strong ambassador to God in the person of Her departed hierarch, and we fervently pray for the repose of his soul among the great saints and pastors of the triumphant Church in Heaven."

Funeral services, officiated by the Archbishop with the participation of other hierarchs and clergy, were held at the Ascension Church in Oakland, California this past Wednesday, December 29. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew assigned Metropolitan Soterios of Toronto and All Canada as his personal representative to Metropolitan Anthony’s funeral. Orthros (Matins) and a Divine Liturgy were celebrated prior to the funeral. Until preparations are finalized for Metropolitan Anthony’s final resting place at the Life-Giving Spring Monastery of the Theotokos in Dunlap, California, in accordance with his wishes, he will be temporarily interred at the Greek Orthodox Memorial Park in Colma, California.

Metropolitan Anthony’s body was laid in state at the Bishop Anthony Chapel of the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco from Monday morning, December 27, through Tuesday evening, December 28. Hundreds of faithful paid their respects and signed the Book of Condolences.

Metropolitan Methodios of Boston was shaken by the news of Anthony’s death. "I was deeply saddened by the news of the passing of my brother hierarch, Anthony. He was a good hierarch, conscientious and dynamic. He leaves behind a great archpastoral ministry, full of good deeds and institutions at the Metropolis of San Francisco. Metropolitan Anthony was well respected by the clergy and laity of his Eparchy, and he leaves behind a huge void in the Hierarchy of our blessed Church in America," he told the National Herald.

Bishop Anthimos, the person who probably knew Metropolitan Anthony better than anybody else, was his close friend and coworker, who spent the last ten years with the late Metropolitan at the San Francisco Metropolis, assisting him in many administrative and pastoral capacities.

"Anthony was the Bishop of the people. He was spontaneous, and he was uncompromising in matters of faith. He was adventurous and progressive, bold, dynamic and decisive," Anthimos told the Herald by telephone.
"Anthony had become disappointed with the course the Church in America had taken the recent years, and he somehow withdrew," Anthimos added.

Anthimos did not specify Anthony’s reasons for announcing his eventual retirement and departure from active ministry a few months ago, "He did not express this explicitly, but it was not necessary for him to say so outright. It was implicitly understood. At least I had personally sensed that."

Metropolitan Anthony was disappointed that the Ecumenical Patriarchate had twice imported Archbishops from abroad with the Archbishopric Throne of America became vacant, according to Anthimos.

"Yes. Anthony was disappointed as were many others, because I think all the hierarchs in America understand the problems the Church faces here. They are familiar with the clergy and laity of the Church in America, and they were not unworthy to be elected to the Archiepiscopal Throne. But the Mother Church (in Constantinople) decided to bring Archbishops from abroad, for reasons that many of us understand, but which we do not want to discuss out of love and reverence for the Mother Church. Despite that, without wanting to say that the Mother Church made mistakes, she did commit some injustices," Anthimos said.

In spite of earlier reports of a hopeful prognosis, Antimos added, Metropolitan Anthony had realized soon after he was diagnosed with Cancer that he was going to die: "One day, while he was in the hospital, he told me, ‘Anthimos, let me kiss your hand. Bless me because I am going to die. But I am at peace. I am not afraid of death. Let it come any time. I am ready,’ " Anthimos said.

A resident of San Francisco for the last 26 years, Metropolitan Anthony emerged from humble and austere beginnings. The son of Emmanuel and Eleftheria Gergiannakis, he was born in the village of Avgeniki on the island of Crete, the third of six children, growing up during the brutally difficult years of the Nazi occupation.

He was the first member of his family to leave the village, attending the ecclesiastical school of Chania, ultimately graduating from the internationally renowned Halki Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1960. He was ordained a deacon on July 27, 1958 and a priest on September 29, 1960.

After his ordination to the priesthood, Anthony came to the United States to pursue postgraduate studies and serve the Church in this country. While serving as a parish priest, he earned a Master’s of Divinity degree at Yale University and pursued doctoral studies in Contemporary Church History at the University of Chicago, and in Russian and Balkan History at the University of Wisconsin. In 1974, he was appointed Dean of St. George Cathedral in Montreal, Canada, where he remained until his elevation to the Episcopate on May 21, 1978. As titular Bishop of Amissos, he served the Eighth Archdiocesan District in Denver, Colorado until his election as Bishop of San Francisco in 1979.

Metropolitan Anthony was enthroned as the first bishop of the newly created Diocese of San Francisco on June 7, 1979. He served as the Bishop (and later Metropolitan) of San Francisco for more than a quarter of a century, overseeing the western states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and Hawaii. During that time, he was responsible for a tremendous expansion of ministries and programs, an unparalleled period of ferment and renewal.

Anthony’s tenure saw the founding of more than 20 new parishes and missions in the Metropolis of San Francisco, nearly one parish for each year of his ministry, as well as the establishment of three monasteries. He was the founder of St. Nicholas Ranch, the Greek Orthodox conference and retreat center located in the Sierra Nevada foothills. He was also the driving force behind the construction of the Life Giving Spring Monastery of the Theotokos on the premises of St. Nicholas Ranch.

He was the driving force behind the annual Metropolis Folk Dance Festival, the largest exhibition of authentic Greek folk dance, costumes and music in the world. Together with the San Francisco Metropolis Philoptochos, he created the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund, a multi-million dollar scholarship account providing funding for seminarians and students from the Metropolis to attend Hellenic College and Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. He proved to be a source of inspiration for countless thousands, not only Greek Orthodox faithful, but also religious and civic figures who recognized in him a great leader and a true man of faith.

"Metropolitan Anthony will be remembered for his enthusiasm, vigor and prophetic vision for the Metropolis of San Francisco. He challenged his flock to dream great dreams, and to make them a reality. His presence and legacy will be felt for generations to come," said Rev. Paul Schroeder, Chancellor of the Metropolis of San Francisco.



Volume 7 Number 1 - Tuesday, January 4th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY