Thousands Mourn the Funeral and Burial of Archbishop Iakovos Faithful from across the country flock to New York and Boston to attend services

Published by The National Herald, April 21, 2005

BOSTON – In an atmosphere of deep sorrow and mourning and under a clear blue skies, the late Archbishop Iakovos, formerly of North & South America was laid to rest on Friday, April 15, behind the Holy Cross Chapel at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Archbishop Iakovos died on Sunday, April 10, shortly after the conclusion of the annual Greek Independence Day Parade in New York. Present at the former prelate’s burial were His Beatitude Archbishop Christodoulos of Athens, as well as the Greek Government’s Deputy Finance Minister, Petros Doukas.

Hundreds of Greek Orthodox faithful from throughout New England gathered from the early morning hours in and around the Holy Cross Chapel for the burial.

Metropolitan Methodios of Boston officiated at the Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts. At 11 AM, and while the bells of Holy Cross Chapel tolled mournfully, Archbishop Demetrios of America officiated the Trisagion Service.

Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira & Great Britain and Metropolitan Kyrillos of Imvros & Tenedos (representing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), Metropolitan Damaskinos of Iopi (representing the Patriarchate of Jerusalem), Metropolitan Soterios of Toronto, Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey, Metropolitan Gerasimos of San Francisco, Metropolitan Tarasios of Buenos Aires and auxiliary Bishops Anthimos of Olympos, Demetrios of Xanthos, Antonios of Phasiane and Savas of Troas, the Archdiocesan Chancellor, as well as 70 priests wearing white vestments, were also present.

When Archbishop Demetrios began chanting the evlogitaria (memorial) hymns, the entire congregation joined in. Archbishop Demetrios did not permit Archbishop Christodoulos to participate in either the funeral service in New York the day before or the burial service.

In his memorial farewell, Mr. Doukas called Archbishop Iakovos "a leader of extraordinary caliber," adding that Iakovos "strengthened the Omogeneia and gave it the confidence it deserved. He placed Orthodoxy in its rightful position in the United States, and he had the Christian courage to march next to Martin Luther King during trying times."

In his eulogy, Metropolitan Methodios of Boston, who served as Iakovos’ archdeacon, said, "It was Archbishop Iakovos’ wish to be buried on the grounds of this school, where he taught for many years and served as its Dean," adding that "Archbishop Iakovos was a "man of prayer" who was "born to be a priest," and recalled traveling with Iakovos across "the length and breadth of the Archdiocese to visit parishes" throughout North, Central and South America.

Metropolitan Kyrillos had brought a handful of soil from Imvros and placed it on Iakovos’ body. The late Archbishop was born on the island of Imvros, which today is under Turkish dominion.

A funeral procession was formed from Holy Cross Chapel to the gravesite. Greek Orthodox faithful of all ages, weeping and shedding tears, were throwing rose petals on Iakovos’ casket. Consul General of Greece Constantine Bikas with his wife Mary, Archdiocesan Council Vice Chairman Michael Jaharis and his wife Mary, Deputy Secretary-General of Greeks Abroad George Markakos, Federation of Hellenic Societies of New England President Despina Dimitropoulos, Iakovos primary care physicians Dr. Ahmed Mohuiddin and Dr. Lambros Sideridis, and his close associates, Paulette Poulos and Niki Kale, were also present for the burial.

Archbishop Iakovos’ funeral service was held at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in New York on Thursday, April 14. The Cathedral was filled to capacity at the Pre-Sanctified Liturgy and the Funeral Service of Archbishop Iakovos on Thursday morning, as more than a thousand people attended, including ecumenical leaders of the Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches and the Jewish community; hierarchs of other Orthodox jurisdictions; and representatives of the Oriental Orthodox Churches.

In addition to the Patriarchal representatives, Orthodox hierarchs in attendance were Archbishop Christodoulos, Metropolitan Tarasios of Buenos Aires and SCCOBA (Standing Conference of canonical Orthodox Bishops in America) bishops.

Archbishop Demetrios of America officiated, along with all members of the Holy Eparchial Synod: Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Maximos of Pittsburgh, Methodios of Boston, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, Evangelos of New Jersey and Gerasimos of San Francisco, as well as auxiliary and retired bishops of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese. Metropolitan Isaiah of Denver was absent.

Neither the Metropolitans of the Eparchial Synod nor Bishop Philotheos of Meloa, who served as Archbishop Iakovos’ deacon and then as his auxiliary bishop for more than 40 years, were allowed to participate. For that, Archbishop Demetrios has been criticized privately by hierarchs, clergy and laity alike.

Archbishop Gregorios and Metropolitan Kyrillos were received favorably, though many faithful wondered why Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew attended Pope John Paul II’s funeral in Rome the week before, but did not come for the funeral of Archbishop Iakovos, who was the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Exarch in the America’s for 37 years before retiring in 1996. Iakovos, together with his late sister Chrysanthi, was also Bartholomew’s godfather.

Greek Minister for Macedonia and Thrace Nicholas Tsiartsionis represented the Greek Government. Gregoris Niotis represented PASOK Chairman George Papandreou, leader of the main opposition. Cyprus was represented by its Ambassador to Washington, Euripides Evriviadis.

Members of the Greek and Cypriot diplomatic corps were in attendance at the Funeral Service as well as local government officials headed by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and included former Mayors Rudolph Giuliani, David Dinkins and Ed Koch.

In his eulogy, Archbishop Christodoulos called Archbishop Iakovos "an unwavering and tenacious fighter for the good of the entire world… an inspired visionary of the unity of the Churches… and a nostalgic defender of freedom, a heroic protector of human rights," adding that the Church of Greece "bows in front of this casket in which the body of Archbishop Iakovos is resting," and publicly expressing his gratitude to Archbishop Iakovos for his commitment to Hellenism and Orthodoxy.

In his memorial homily, Metropolitan Kyrillos said, "Venerable and respected Archbishop Iakovos, I have come from Imvros, from your village of Agioi Theodoroi, from your birth place which you loved so very much, to honor you, and together with everyone from Imvros, whom at this moment I represent, to bid you farewell to eternity. I brought you a little earth from the holy land of our homeland, a little earth from the sacred tomb of your parents, in order that you do not feel you are alone in a foreign land; a little earth to fill your hands which gave us so many blessings."

Archbishop Gregorios praised Archbishop Iakovos for his "immensely valuable pastoral work."

Mr. Tsiartsionis said, "Archbishop Iakovos was a charismatic personality," adding that "he was the symbol of the Omogeneia in America."

In his eulogy, Mayor Bloomberg said the following: "As mayor of New York, it is my honor to represent the largest Greek community in North America. Just last Sunday, many of us were celebrating together as we marched along Fifth Avenue for the annual Greek Independence Day Parade. Today, we come together again, to mourn the passing of someone who, for so many years, was the most visible representative of this community. The playwright Sophocles wrote that, "One must wait until the evening to see how splendid the day has been." The sun has now set on the life of a man who blessed our city with his incredible wisdom and goodness. But we also gather in this magnificent and historic cathedral – where he preached – to remember just how splendid the long and rich life of Archbishop Iakovos truly was. He was an immigrant in this city of immigrants... and perhaps that sharpened his understanding that, for the American dream to be a reality, it had to be for everyone. Because for more than 60 years, he challenged us, by word and deed, to follow what Lincoln called "the better angels of our nature" and live up to our ideals. New Yorkers value tolerance and respect for others. And so we revere the memory of Archbishop Iakovos. Not only as the man who put a powerful human face on the faith of our half-million Greek Orthodox neighbors, but who also devoted his life to building bridges of understanding between people of all religions and races. There was something else, too, that endeared him to New Yorkers: although he strode the corridors of power, here and abroad, he never lost his ability to relate to everyone that he met. Two days ago, a newspaper story on his passing recounted how a seven-year-old girl at a Greek Orthodox school remarked after a visit from the Archbishop: ‘He’s my best friend. Make him come back.’ Many New Yorkers feel that same way today. And on behalf of all eight million people of this city, let me say, may God bless the soul of this great and good man."

In his eulogy, U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes of Maine spoke very warmly and nostalgically about his relationship with Archbishop Iakovos, crediting the late Archbishop as a major influence in his wife Christine’s decision to convert to Orthodoxy. "Archbishop Iakovos is the reason Christine is in this Cathedral today," the Senator said.

Bishop Andonios then read letters sent by the former President George H.W. Bush, with whom Archbishop Iakovos enjoyed a personal friendship, and also from Coretta Scott King, the widow of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., with whom Iakovos marched in Selma, Alabama in 1965.

The text of former President Bush’s brief letter is as follows: "I am sorry I will not be there on April 14, when His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos is honored for his life of service to the Lord, and is laid to rest. Archbishop Iakovos was my friend, and he taught me a lot about faith and love of Christ. He lived a full life in which he demonstrated, among other things, that true service to God and to the faithful is noble and wonderful. I shall miss this good man, and I know that all his Hellenic friends will especially miss him, too – George Herbert Walker Bush, 41st President of the United States."

Archbishop Demetrios summarized the ecumenical character of Archbishop Iakovos’ ministry.

"Archbishop Iakovos was unyielding and committed to Orthodoxy, but open at the same time to other religions," thanking those who remained close to and cared for Archbishop Iakovos during the nine years of his retirement and especially during the past months and days. Archbishop Demetrios also recalled that Archbishop Iakovos, in his final days, offered words of thanks and love to those around him.

When he was unable to speak, Demetrios explained, Iakovos’ ultimate communication was to use his hand to make the sign of the cross, conveying that when human language stops the language of God begins. Archbishop Demetrios concluded his remarks with one of Archbishop Iakovos’ most loved passages from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord Romans 8.35-39)."

Viewings were held at the Cathedral on Tuesday evening, April 12, and also throughout the day on Wednesday, April 13. Trisagion Prayers were offered by Metropolitan Herman and clergy of the Orthodox Church of America and Bishop Antoun and clergy of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. The City of New York offered New York City Greek American police officers, members of the Saint Paul Society, to serve as honor guards for the three days of viewing and the funeral. They joined the Evzones, the Hellenic republic’s elite Presidential Guard, who were given permission by the Greek Government to extend their stay, following participation in the Greek Independence Day Parade, to serve as an honor guard to Archbishop Iakovos until the conclusion of funeral services.



Volume 7 Number 17 - Tuesday, April 26th, 2005	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY