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Rev.
Philip Blyth Passes Away.
Last night, the rector of the Theotokos Icon "Surety
of Sinners" Mission in Redding, Northern California,
Fr. Philip Blyth, died at the age of 50.
Father Philip was ordained 13 years ago. Continuing his lay
employment, he nourished a small group of faithful, performed
missionary work and earnestly, mostly at his own expense,
decorated his small church. In recent years, Fr. Philip took
gravely ill and was almost unable to serve.
Presently, the clergy of the Western American Diocese are
in Seattle for a Pastoral Conference. This morning, after
Liturgy, the priests read the Canon for departed souls.
A pannikhida and funeral service are scheduled for the Cathedral
of the Mother of God "Joy of All Who Sorrow" in
San Francisco. There will be a pannikhida on Friday, 20 December
at 5:30 p.m., a funerary liturgy on Saturday, 21 December
at 8 a.m., and a funeral at 10 a.m., following by the burial
at the Serbian cemetery.
24 December: The Funeral
The body of the newly-daparted Priest Philip was brought to
the Cathedral and greeted by its clergy on Friday at 2 p.m.
A litany for the departed was served right away, and the reading
of the Gospel (by the clergy) and of the Psalter (by the laity)
commenced.
At 5:30 p.m. a pannikhida was conducted.
On Saturday, the funeral liturgy was performed by Protopriest
Sergei Kotar and Priest Paul Volmensky along with Archdeacon
Andronik. The entire family of the deceased (his matushka, mother,
two daugthers and sister) partook of the Holy Eucharist. At
10 a.m. the rite of burial for a clergyman began, at which Bishop
Kyrill of Western America and San Francisco officiated. He was
joined by Protopriests Stefan Pavlenko, Peter Perekrestov, Mark
Gomez, Sergei Kotar and Alexander Krassovsky, Priest Paul Volmensky,
Hieromonk Theodosius, Archdeacon Andronik and Hierodeacon James.
The Hierarchal Choir sang. Bishop Kyrill gave a sermon, emphasizing
Fr. Philip's humility and his dedication to his preistly calling.
At the end of the funeral, the coffin was carried around the
cathedral by the clergy with the singing of the irmos "Helper
and Protector" Fr. Philip was buried in the Serbian cemetery.
Eternal memory for the kind and devoted servant of the Church
of Christ! |
