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GOARCH - April 10, 1998
OFFICIAL NEWS
Archbishop Seraphim of Athens and All Greece Passes Away
The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America notes with great sadness the falling asleep in the Lord of the ever-memorable Archbishop Seraphim of Athens and All Greece, at 1:35am Friday, April 10, 1998 (Athens time).
Archbishop Seraphim served for 24 years as the spiritual leader of the Church of Greece. His reign was the longest in the history of the country. He was elected Archbishop in 1974 and presided over the installation of six presidents of the Hellenic Republic.
As head of one of the 15 Autocephalous Orthodox Churches world-wide, Archbishop Seraphim held a major position in World Orthodoxy.
He was 85 years old and had experienced health problems since 1993. He was hospitalized for 45 days prior to his passing. At this hour, His Eminence Archbishop Spyridon is returning from Constantinople to the United States. In expectation of His Eminence, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, the Very Reverend George Passias said:
«Archbishop Seraphim was a stalwart of World Orthodoxy and his ministry was a hallmark in the life of the Church of Greece. Inasmuch as the roots of hundreds of thousands of Greek Orthodox faithful in America find their home in Greece, the repose of Archbishop Seraphim speaks to the hearts and minds of the Greek-American community. We pray for his repose and for all the people of Greece as they mourn the falling asleep in the Lord of their spiritual leader.»
All parishes of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese are requested to offer a Trisagion memorial service for the repose of Archbishop Seraphim at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy on Palm Sunday.
GOARCH
www.goarch.org/-/archbishop-seraphim-of-athens-and-all-greece-passes-away
April 10, 1998
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