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H.E. Metropolitan Nicholas, 75, dies in Johnstown;
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox spiritual leader


Johnstown, Pa., March 14, 2011 - His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, 75, spiritual leader of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A., died March 13 after a long illness.

 

Nicholas was elevated to the rank of Archimandrite in 1976, and was  elected by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople as Auxiliary Bishop for the Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese of America. He was consecrated as Bishop on March 13, 1983.

Following the death of Bishop John (Martin) in September of 1984, Bishop Nicholas was chosen as the third ruling hierarch of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese and was enthroned in Christ the Savior Cathedral by His Eminence, Archbishop Iakovos on April 19, 1985. He was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan, by His All-Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on November 24, 1997.

Over his many years of service to Christ and His Holy Church, His Eminence has proven to be a worthy laborer in the Vineyard of the Lord. In recognition for his labors he was the recipient of the Saints Cyril and Methodius Award, given by the Orthodox Church of Czechoslovakia, the St  Sava Award from Patriarch Pavel of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Holy Cross School of  Theology.

His Eminence has been noted for his love for his flock and the liturgical services of the Church, and his devotion to the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate. He was well-respected in Orthodox and Ecumenical circles as being a promoter of  peace and mutual understanding amongst all Christ-loving people. True to his patron Saint, Nicholas the wonderworker, His Eminence was perhaps best known and respected  for his pastoral sensitivity, generosity of  spirit and compassion for the sick and suffering and the less fortunate. 

The Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, general secretary of the National Council of Churches, expresses his condolences to the diocese on behalf of the Council's 37 member communions. Funeral arrangements are pending.
 



Since its founding in 1950, the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA has been the leading force for shared ecumenical witness among Christians in the United States. The NCC's 37 member communions -- from a wide spectrum of Protestant, Anglican, Orthodox, Evangelical, historic African American and Living Peace churches -- include 45 million persons in more than 100,000 local congregations in communities across the nation.


NCC News contact:  Philip E. Jenks, 212-870-2228 (office), 646-853-4212 (cell),
pjenks@ncccusa.org

 

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