Department for External Church Relations
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Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk sends condolences over the death of Schema-Archimandrite Jeremiah (Alekhin), hegumen of the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos
Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk, chairman of the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations, expressed his condolences over the demise of Schema-Archimandrite Jeremiah, hegumen of the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos. The text of the message is given below.
Hieromonk Macarius
Father Confessor
Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos
Dear Reverend Father Macarius, all-honourable brethren of the holy abode,
I was deeply grieved to learn about the demise of Schema-Archimandrite Jeremiah, hegumen of the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos.
“Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them,” the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian exclaims (Rev 14:13). I want to repeat these words today while reflecting on the blessed demise in the Lord of Archimandrite Jeremiah, elder-hegumen, faithful servant of Christ and spiritual guide of numerous monks.
Father Jeremiah devoted all his life to the Lord. Having endured hardships in a bitter time of militant atheism, he preserved in his heart faithfulness to Christ and His Church. Six decades ago, at a mature age already, he entered the Odessa Seminary and soon after that took monastic vows and was ordained. His spiritual guide at the Odessa Seminary was an honourable elder, Rev. Kuksha, upon whose blessing Fr. Jeremiah humbly asked to let him join the brethren of the Russian Monastery of St Panteleimon on Mt Athos.
He had to wait for almost 15 years before he received permission to go to the Holy Mountain. Those long years spent in the hope of God’s mercy reveal to the later generations of monks the greatness of his spirit. For the time passed in waiting he had acquired meekness, humility and obedience – qualities essential for a true monk. When the Lord ordained that he should leave his earthly homeland and head for the Garden of the Theotokos, he worthily continued the centuries-old tradition of the Russian elderhood on Mt Athos.
Our last meeting this May left a strong impression on me. Despite his natural physical weakness, Fr. Jeremiah was cheerful and meek in his heart, participating with fondness in the events that marked a visit of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Mt Athos. In his words, which will always live in my memory, I felt boundless faithfulness to God’s will – good, and acceptable, and perfect (Rom 12:2).
Archimandrite Jeremiah was buried on the feast day of the ‘Joy of All Who Sorrow’ Icon of the Mother of God. I pray to the All-Merciful Lord and His Most Pure Mother that They grant fortitude to the brethren of the monastery and unceasing help to all those, who knew the late Fr. Jeremiah, in their Christian life.
Eternal rest grant, Oh Lord, unto the newly demised Archimandrite Jeremiah, and make his memory eternal.
Invoking upon you God’s blessing,
/+Hilarion/
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman
Department for External Church Relations
Moscow Patriarchate
Patriarch
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