Holy Thanksgiving-- Eucharistic Living

THANKSGIVING

Great are You, O Lord, and marvelous are Thy works, and no word is sufficient to Hymn Thy Wonders!

What a glorious time we have in front of us.  The entire nation is stopping for a day for “Thanksgiving”.  I do not believe there is any other word that depicts our Orthodox Faith any better nor the state that ones’ soul needs to be in to begin the journey of holiness.  Thanksgiving is one of those days, that Orthodox Christianity needs to take hold of and transform it back to its original Christian roots (of truly thanking God for all things), from its current secularized display of turkey and football.

Thanksgiving is not so much a day for feasting but rather a day of gratitude to our Almighty Lord, for all we have, especially the very blessed circumstance we all find ourselves in that we are actually able to feast---for as we know, most of the world is living under the yoke of evil tyranny with war, fear, and starvation a daily reality. 

Living Eucharistically

We have a holy opportunity that we alone are in a unique spiritual position to actualize;   transform thanksgiving to a day that is a True Feast in our Church and throughout this great land.  Eucharist comes from the Greek word which means thanksgiving. In a particular sense, the word describes the most important form of the Church's attitude towards life itself.  We gather to celebrate the Eucharist, but must come already prepared in a state of perpetual Thanksgiving to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; praising God in complete gratitude for all things, so that He may be all things for us.

I call upon us all in this Holy Season of Advent to set the eyes of our souls upon the coming New Born King.  I urge us all, to reflect deeply upon the most precious gift that we have, our Lord Jesus Christ, and begin to shout with Joy and Thanksgiving, for the Life-giving water that he quenches our thirst with.  I implore this holy community of St. Peter and Paul to take this Divine state of living Eucharistically, to every corner of our neighborhood in the East Bay; displaying in word and deed, to whom all thanksgiving should be directed to--- Jesus our King and our God.

A Prayer

So what better way to celebrate Thanksgiving----- but to give thanks.

1. I thank You Lord Jesus for the life giving and precious gift of the Eucharist for the healing of my soul and body, for the remission of my sins and for life everlasting.
2. I thank You Lord Jesus for my family, my parish spiritual family, and all those that love me and even those that hate me.
3. I thank You Lord Jesus that we are living in a land of peace and pray that Your Divine Peace may soothe this war torn world from its misery so that all may rejoice in your Love.
4. I thank You Lord Jesus for our health, giving us the ability to be a laborers  in Thy Holy Vineyard, praying that many vocations to the priesthood and diaconate are brought forth from our community as sweet and precious spiritual fruit to be lifted upon thy Altar.
5. I thank You Lord Jesus for the multitude and countless blessings that I do not see and appreciate, but long to understand when I come into thy Kingdom.
6. I thank You Lord Jesus for knowing you, your Love, your Forgiveness, and your mercy; unworthy though I be
7. I thank You Lord Jesus for the many co-laborers in thy Vineyard that You have sent me; without them, this parish would not be here.  Keep them, protect them, and guard them all under Thy shelter.
8. I thank You Lord Jesus for the struggles and trying times that I am enduring, knowing very well that you chastise and prune those you love.  I submit myself to Thy Holy Shears and pray that you graft me unto Thy life giving VINE.
9. I thank You Lord Jesus and Praise Thy most precious Name, a name beyond all names, a name that brings Healing and Joy, a Name that every heart and knee will bend, a Name above all names, a Name that brings forgiveness and consolation to our wearied souls.  May I glorify thy holy Name all the days of my life.
10. I thank You Lord Jesus for the ministry that You allow me to share and partake in, may You forever transform me into Thy image and likeness  in the hopes that one day I may be called a worthy servant as you usher me into thy Presence.

With this overwhelming feeling of gratitude I bid you all a HOLY THANKSGIVING a day of  Eucharistic Living, so that we may worthily partake of the Life giving MANNA and never hunger again.

I ask you all to pen some of your own prayers and send them in so we can post it in our new Blog.  Let this be a family affair.  Parents gather your children, discuss the blessings from above in your life, and write out your thanksgiving prayers and submit them it.

Asking for your prayers, and assuring you of mine!

With much Thanksgiving to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Ft. Spyridon

The Mystery of Contentment

Philippians 4:11-13

¹¹ Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: ¹² I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. ¹³ I can do all things through Christ^[b] who strengthens me.

Contentment is a mystery.  I call it mysterious for it seems so evasive for the majority of us and I wonder often if it’s truly possible to attain.  It is so mysterious that when I do see a real Christian living a life of contentment, I automatically assume there is something that is being hid and it actually isn’t so.  If I cannot find that peace that being grateful and contentment brings, then surely no one else can either. Oh, how wrong was my train of thought.

My assumptions were beginning to be corrected as I realized that contentment isn’t something that is searched after, found, and taken hold of, but rather an interior state of being---a Christ-like attitude of life and the world, and the interplay between the two.

God has a Plan

The reality is that we falsely tie in contentment with money or material possessions; the idea being the more I have (money, homes, cars, things…) then the more content (and thus happy) I will surely be.  But in reality, as we all have come to know, money doesn’t truly buy us happiness and the great paradox is that the lack of it doesn’t either!

Luke 12:15¹⁵ And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Contentment, contrary to popular belief, does not necessarily mean being satisfied with what we have or where we are in life, but rather realizing that God has a plan for us, but only if we allow His will to be done in our lives.  We need to remember that His ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing. And it is in this attitude or perspective of life, as we put on the mind of Christ, that we begin to learn to depend on God for our daily bread, realizing that He indeed is our heavenly Father that cares for us personally and in the details of our life.

Priorities and the Purpose of Life

Oftentimes, even the most sincerest of Christians get so bogged down with day to day life of raising a family, going to work, taking care of the children, that we often lose sight of the real purpose of life: to become Christ like, grow in holiness, and to serve our neighbor.   Our lives and priorities are so out of balance that we end up in a tailspin and burn out.

Discontentment then takes hold for we have, unknowingly, adopted the worlds goals and standards (as opposed to Christ’s goals and standards) as our very own : more money, bigger homes, more cars, Wall street. The Lord reminds us that we are in the world, but not of the world; now we need to begin living out our lives and setting our priorities as such; living for Christ and not for the ruler of this world. As St. Paul says, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Gal 5:25).  And it is in the living and walking in the Spirit where the scales in our eyes begin to fall away, and we begin to see what is important and what, in fact, is a delusional waste of our precious time and energy.

How to begin

Let us clearly state that this is not a question of money, wealth, or even possessions. (We can be wealthy and grateful as well as poor and ungrateful)  It is about what is in our heart and how we are serving God, family, and neighbor with what we have.  When we begin to set our priorities of life straight, then we will begin to discern what God’s will is for me, my situation, and my life.  Then whatever I have, be it small or large, I use it for His Glory so that Christ may be all in all!

So here is a short list of ideas to reflect upon so as to foster contentment and gratitude.

1. Intentional Christian: taking your life in Christ and in His Body (the Church) as the single most important relationship to foster.  Not saying that your family is not important, but 1^st things 1^st.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God! We must move from being a Christian by name only, and to become Christians from the inside out.

2.  Living within your means: Our parameters (goals, objectives) for living must be rooted in the Gospel and in the reality of what we have or do not have.  As we allow the world to dictate to us how to live, how much to spend, and what to buy, then we will always fall short and be unsatisfied (not to mention forever being in debt thus held captive to the system). Dedicate yourself and your wealth (health, finances, talents, time) to the Lord and He will bless your circumstance and condition, whatever it may be.

3.  Become a Giver:  It is better to give than receive says the Lord.  Along with tithing, God desires that every Christian becomes aware of and then cares for the needs of others.  Be it feeding the hungry, helping your neighbor, or being friend for someone experiencing hard times, we are all called to become like Christ, and to come out of ourselves, and lay our lives down for one another.

4.  Priorities:  Health is wealth:  spiritual health and physical health; we need to address both at all times.  Love of God and love of neighbor comes first and is our driving force in life.  We surely address all aspects of life, but in the light of the Love of God.

5.   Develop and Attitude of Thankfulness: We often lose sight of the blessings we do have right in front of our nose.  We must begin to acknowledge all of the blessings God has showered upon us and begin to praise and thank Him continually (Bless the Lord oh my soul Psalm 103). Do not let a moment go by that you do not thank God for what you have and where you are.   It is remarkable how much we whine, and yet have so much. Turn that frown upside down and begin to smile, and give thanks and praise to the Lord.

6.  Thy Will be Done. "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ" (Philippians 3:8).  Seek Gods will and not the worlds and realize that there is nothing in this world that compares to the gaining of Jesus in our lives.

7.  I no longer fear, I now love, for love cast out fear: . "I can do all things through Him who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13).  If God is with us, who then can be against us:  we need to begin to trust that God is involved in our lives and cares for us.  And with Him, I can get through anything.

8.  Peace:  "The peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:7). He promised to give us His peace from above that transcends any earthly joy.  He didn’t promise us that our problems and difficulties will magically all disappear.  You can be assured of trials and tribulations being a Christian.  What he did promise us is the power and peace from on High, to endure and overcome our tragedies; “My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” says the Lord God.  Let us lay our difficulties at His feet trusting that He hears the crying of our hearts.

So my brothers and sisters let us stop running around searching for contentment for it is not an object that can be picked up and held.  It lies within our heart; where your hearts is, so is your treasure. It is even more than an attitude; it is a repositioning of the heart into a receptive state, allowing our most gracious Lord the space to work His Wonders in us, transforming us by Grace, into a new creation, with the potential to become Christ Bearers, making HIM present in this fallen and dark world. And this my friends, brings contentment, peace, and joy into the depths of our beings.  I pray this be a reality in all our lives.

Your servant in Christ Jesus our King and our God,

Ft. Spyridon

At the Corner of LOVE-FORGIVENESS-and PEACE

Luke 7 : A Sinful Woman Forgiven

³⁶ Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷ And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸ and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.”…..

 “Simon, I have something to say to you.”…..

, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. ⁴⁵ You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil. ⁴⁷ Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.”

⁴⁸ Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

⁴⁹ And those who sat at the table with Him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

⁵⁰ Then He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

In today’s fast pace life, we often go through all the “right” motions in regard to our religious life, yet somehow end up without that peace and tranquility that we all yearn for.  It seems that no matter how much we try, the joy that Christ has promised us appears so illusive;  always appearing just over the rainbow and out of reach.  We are left feeling internally anxious, spiritually dry, and the deep dark spirit of the world begins to set in; oftentimes without us realizing it before it is too late.

The above Gospel sheds light on a probable cause to this dilemma. “ Simon (INSERT YOUR OWN NAME HERE), I have something to say to you!!!” 

 From the moment I came into your house, you’ve done nothing for me. A host is supposed to see that his guests are taken care of yet you gave me no kiss, you anointed not my head,  nor my feet, and have not wept over your sins!  Doesn’t it strike you strange that you, being a Pharisee, knowing all the scripture and regulations and doing it all “right”, BUT  yet you hosted ME not, nor  were your sins forgiven and  found no peace.  Yet a supposed “sinner” and outcast, who was not as smart as you and did nothing religiously “right”, showed me more love , received forgiveness of  her sins, and found peace to her soul?

At the Corner of LOVE-FORGIVENESS- and PEACE!!!

Our Lord drives home this most beautiful circular interconnectivity of love, forgiveness and peace.     Forgiveness and love are integrally bound together and produces that most transcendent Peace from above.  

You see, her many, many sins were forgiven extremely  fast.  Why? For she loved much. Why ? For she was forgiven much. And the loop goes round and round.

In my personal life, I have unwittingly divorced active love from forgiveness:  I love little, yet expect to be forgiven much, resulting in no peace of my soul. 

For I am a great Pharisee you see:  Perhaps if I am able to light enough candles, or chant better, or say “longer” prayers then the peace will come.  I am a living example of this Phariseeistical approach; ultimately produces no good spiritual fruit in me.

For Jesus, my king and my God, certainly has knocked on the door of my heart and I truly have opened it and invited Him in (as we all should). Yet, as Simon the Pharisee, I have done little in regards to loving Him (or my neighbor for that matter) and taking care of my guest.  Then I wonder why I am left without peace.

So my brothers and sisters,  let us Love much with Godly and genuine Love. That quality love of which St. Paul speaks of:  “Love suffers long, and is kind, love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil, does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in truth, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Cor 13: 4-8)

For if you are like me, and are in desperate need of much forgiveness and peace, then let us Love much and without limit.  Let us put our faith into action, and not only in words.  Let us be doers of the Word and not only hearers.  For if we claim that we truly live in the Spirit, then we must certainly walk in the Spirit.

And then we will all be together at the corner of LOVE-FORGIVENESS-and PEACE. And may God grant this to be! Amen, Amen, Amen.

Your servant in our most compassionate King,

Ft. Spyridon

GOD = LOVE

1 John 4:16 - And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  

1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not,  knoweth not God; for God is love

“Let us all love one another, that with one accord, we may confess---- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity one in essence and undivided…”

These great and mysterious words are intoned in the liturgy right before we proclaim that “Christ is in our midst… and before the communal confession of the Nicene Creed.

And here lies the most basic, yet sublime, understanding of what the true nature of God is and what one must become in order to begin real communion with Him;  GOD IS LOVE!

It is not by chance or coincidence that the Deacon exclaims this very fact---- before you can begin to confess the Holy name of God as trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and approach HIM in true Spiritual Worship and Communion, we must first love one another in word and in deed; a truthful and genuine love.; a love without excuses or reservations.  That love that is not predicated upon anything else; we love pure and simple, for God first has loved us!

We cannot say that we love God, and have no real love for one another; this is hypocrisy which breeds phariseeistical religiosity at its worse.

Actions Speak louder than Words

The fact of the matter is that if our faith is in reality not Love in Action, then we are only pretending or playing make believe.  This will not be a faith that is capable of coming into contact with His Divine presence, hence no transformation, no healing, no forgiveness of sins and no peace from above.

If our love for one another is not:  real, practical, thoughtful, sacrificial, honest, joyful, and without pretention, then we have only entered into a superficial and exterior religion and not into The WAY OF SALVATION.  This would only be a faith that, for all practical purposes, we do not truly believe, is devoid of any transformative power,  as we are only putting on a facade; for actions definitely speak louder than words.

We know that in the epistle of St James, the brother of the Lord states “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe---and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James2:19-20)

Do we really Love one another?

Let us take a moment and face this pressing question head on and with all seriousness. For if our lives,  in no way or resemblance, bears honest witness to the fact that the God of LOVE  has indeed made His home in our heart and soul , that by His indwelling He has shown us LOVE from the inside out and has given birth to a new creation that is now capable of:  loving with a love not of this world, of caring with a care that this earth knows not, of being a true child of the most High, bearing witness to the True Light that has come to enlighten all men---- then we are living a lie.

Let us take a moment and assess how we interact with one another, how we respond to one another, how we treat one another, how we talk to one another and how we look at one another.  Are we Christ-like to one another; loving pure and forgiving quickly? Are we Godly to one another; sacrificing our own wants and desires for the love and welfare of my brother and my neighbor?  Are we heavenly and spiritual to one another; allowing peace and joy to flow freely between us?  Are we angelic to one another; bearing good tidings and blessings?

So what must I do?

If the answer to the above is more often than not, in the negative, then we have some work to do. For if what we say and proclaim is incongruent with how we behave and act, then we become destroyers of the kingdom and not builders--- heaven forbid. So how do we begin to love so that we can begin to know God?  The old idiom that practice makes perfect is totally relevant here.  We first need to be honest with where we are in living out our faith.  Then we need to begin practicing Christian love: pray for one another, forgive one another, be gentle to one another, check up on one another, say a kind word to each other, smile to each other, be a good listener, a caring friend, attune to the needs of other…… and the list never ends for the Love of God is without limit and knows no bounds, carrying us all into eternity.

Faith = Love in Action

So let us all love one another that with one accord we may truly confess---- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and then and only then shall Christ be among us, and so shall He be, and so shall He ever be!!!

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

Your Servant in the God of Love,

Ft. Spyridon

PATEINCE IS A VIRTUE: HOLY WAITING

“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord.  See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.” James 5:7

We all have dreams, desires, and expectations in our hearts.  But typically, there is a period of waiting involved before God’s promises are fulfilled.  This is not always easy to bear, but God in His wisdom knows precisely the timing that is in our best interest.  Often times we rebel against the timing of God, and force situations to unfold, pushing God’s blessing out of the scenario,  leaving us at a loss of why things didn’t turn out as expected.

Let us remember that His ways are not our ways, and His timing is not our timing!!!

Let us put our trust in the Lord that HE indeed has a plan for each and every one of us, and IS very concerned about the particular details of our lives; the LIFE that HE gave us, so of course he is concerned!!!

So instead of getting frustrated, angry, or disappointed if things do not go exactly as planned, let us turn our eyes unto the Cross and proclaim with all our hearts and souls “Thine will be done, not mine”.

Once in this dependent and trusting state upon God, He is able to enter the scene and HIS most loving plan will begin to take shape and unfold, surprising us in unforeseen ways:  “Give us this day our daily bread”.

In the above reading, it does not say “if” you wait, but rather “as” you wait patiently. The fact is that we are all going to wait, whether we like it or not.  We can either CHOSE to use  this time of holy waiting (as the farmer waits patiently for his fruit) for the glory of God or, unfortunately, for our continued disappointment if we chose not to trust our Lord.

Be hopeful in the Lord that HIS love and grace is sufficient no matter what the issue at hand is---- it’s only a matter of time before He shines thru the darkness; BUT only if you allow HIM to.

So I urge you my brothers and sisters, become like the farmer; waiting in joyful expectation that our loving Father will take care of us, bringing our longings and prayers to fruition and tend to our needs as He sees fit.

 Today could be that day that God turns it all around!!!!

 As you wait with holy patience and expectancy, you will open the window of your soul to allow the Holy Spirit in to work His wonders in you. Then He will give you strength and courage to fight your battles, overcome obstacles (in HIS name) , and  grant  peace in your soul------ then you will behold the bountiful  harvest He has  promised us, since the moment we were made by HIM.

Glory to His name forever

Your servant in our most compassionate King,

Father Spyridon

Resurrection of Life vs Resurrection of Condemnation

JOHN 5:24-30---- The Gospel read at Orthodox Funerals

Life and Judgment Are Through the Son

²⁴ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. ²⁵ Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, ²⁷ and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. ²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. ³⁰ I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me

I had the great privilege and honor to have participated in the Orthodox Funeral service for the Hiermonk John Hardenbrook, the father of our beloved Ft. Thaddaeus from St. Lawrence Orthodox Church in Felton, California.

Father John was a Christian in the truest sense of the word.  Without going into what he has accomplished in this posting (would actually need a book to do so), it is sufficient to say he has lived entirely for Christ and by default, for His people.  Ft. John was a servant’s servant; the wellbeing and concern (spiritual, physical, or otherwise) of others was his life’s focus in the Light of Christ.

In his Homily, Ft. Thaddaeus said a phrase that I have been chewing on all night.  To paraphrase (not sure if I have the wording exactly right): In death,  “Whatever we have done for ourselves will pass away into utter oblivion, but whatever we have done for others, will accompany us into eternity…..”

At the moment of hearing this very true Orthodox teaching about the falling asleep of the body, I was immediately beset with such overwhelming and mixed emotions.  On one hand, I was overjoyed that this servant of God has indeed done good and lived for others, thereby bringing consolation to all that his memory will be blessed.  On the other hand, as I stood so close to such a Christian that has now begun his journey to life everlasting, I couldn’t help but to reflect on my own shortcomings and self-centeredness.

The thoughts rushed in like lava spewing from a volcano: What good have I really done for others? Why am I always so preoccupied with my own welfare and when it’s convenient for me or at the right time, then and only then do I think of others? How do I become like Father John, and every other faithful servant of Christ who devoted their entirety to the building of the Kingdom and the saving of souls?

I was gleefully ecstatic with joy for Father John and at the very same time, ashamed of myself!

God gives us many,  many opportunities and situations to reflect, learn, and make changes in our lives to better conform ourselves to His Image; and yesterday was one of those heavenly whispers for me.

We must all ask ourselves some core Life questions:  Who am I really serving—God, the world ,or myself? How am I using the precious gift of time that He has given me--- for His glory or my own?

And it was this very thought of limited time that kept resonating in my soul.  We are all given only so much time to cultivate our heart and soul to produce spiritual fruit.  And like a thief in the night, our Lord and Saviour will call us, when—I don’t know, but sooner then we all want or expect, that I am sure. 

The above scripture says the time has now come that those who hear the Voice of the Son of God will live.  I want to live!!!  I want to be alive in Christ now, so that I may enter to the resurrection of Life (not the resurrection of condemnation) when he comes for me.  I want to live in the land of the Living, where all the choir angels and saints sing endless hymns and praises.  I want to be in HIS presence today and unto the ages of ages--- and I want this for all of you.

But I must first commit to the path of salvation:  to that tireless journey of Becoming like HIM so that I may be HIM to others, to the constant listening for His precious voice calling me into deeper waters, to that nudging of the Holy Spirit calling me out of my comfort zone so that He may fill me with more grace, more love, more forgiveness and compassion. To that life of living for others and not myself, to the laying down my life for my friend as He has laid down His Life for me, to the very life that the Gospel of Jesus call us all to--- love the Lord God with all you soul, with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your strength AND love your neighbor as yourself---in this is fulfilled all the commandments!

This was the high calling that Father John reached and aspired for.  And may this also be our lot as well so that we may see him again in the Resurrection of Life.

May his memory be eternal! 

Your servant in the King of Glory,

Ft. Spyridon