Metropolitan Christopher laid to rest

Chicago, IL (SOC-NASA) - In the presence of many family, friends, parishioners and those who respected him, brother hierarchs of our local church from America, Canada and Australia as well as other Orthodox Churches, diplomatic representatives and devoted clergymen, Metropolitan Christopher of blessed memory was laid to rest yesterday at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois.

The Divine Hierarchical Requiem Liturgy, served beneath the open sky in front of the Monastery church, was celebrated by the presiding hierarch of the Orthodox Church in America His Beatitude Jonah, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of America and Canada, and concelebrated by His Grace Bp. Georgije of Canada, His Grace Bp. Longin of the New Gracanica – Midwest Diocese, His Grace Bp. Mitrophan of the Eastern Diocese, His Grace Bp. Maxim of the Western American Diocese, His Grace Bp. Irinej of Australia and New Zeland, His Grace Bp. Petar of Cleveland, Vicar of Midwest Diocese (ROCOR) and His Grace Bp. Mark - Diocese of Toledo and Midwest (Antiochian Orthodox Church).

Eulogizing Metropolitan Christopher in a moving sermon, His Grace Bishop Irinej of Australia and New Zealand, among many words of praise, stated that: “we have lost a very strong spiritual and administrative leader who helped foster bilingual church services and schooling, and had a profound spiritual influence on the lives of many people during his 60 years of pastoral service to Christ’s holy Church.”

After the procession to the grave site with the late Metropolitan's earthly remains, Very Reverend Fr. Nick Ceko, Dean of the St. Steven's Cathedral in Alhambra, California, bid farewell to the Metropolitan at his graveside, saying: “that during his long history as priest and then as hierarch, Metropolitan Christopher had to make many challenging decisions which were not always popular, but always right and in accordance with the teaching of the Gospel and the sacred order of the Orthodox Church.”

After the burial of the Metropolitan of blessed repose, a memorial luncheon was offered at the hall of Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Chicago, Illinois, during which Rev. Fr. Darko Spasojevich, Cathedral Dean, thanked everybody for their prayers and support and introduced V. Rev. Fr. Dennis Pavichevich, the Metropolitan’s Deputy who gave a very moving and compassionate speech, recollecting his personal memories of Metropolitan Christopher. Many representatives of different church affiliated organizations addressed the family and the people present: Mrs. Danijela Randjelovic, President of the St. Sava Monastery Women’s Auxiliary Organization, Mrs. Yvonne Orlich, 1st Vice President of the Serbian Singing Federation, Mrs. Biljana Sevic, President of the Executive Board of the Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Mr. Constantine Triantafillou, Director of IOCC, Mr. Dmitar Rakic, a long time friend from St. Archangel Michael Parish, and Mr. Petar Kovachevich, son of the late Metropolitan Christopher.

May Metropolitan’s Christopher Memory be eternal!