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His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, sent a letter to His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, expressing condolences and offering prayers on the repose of His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos of the Archdiocese’s Metropolis of Chicago.
Metropolitan Iakovos, 89, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday evening, June 2, 2017 at Chicago’s Weiss Memorial Hospital after a brief illness. A detailed tribute and biography of the late Metropolitan, who has overseen the Metropolis of Chicago since May 1, 1979, is available on the web site of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
The text of Metropolitan Tikhon’s letter to Archbishop Demetrios, dated Saturday, June 3, 2017, appears below.
Letter of Condolence of Metropolitan Tikhon to Archbishop Demetrios on the Repose of Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago
June 3, 2017
His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios
Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America
Geron of America
8 East 79th Street
New York, NY 10075
Your Eminence, Dear brother and concelebrant in the Lord,
It is with profound sadness that we learn of the falling asleep of His Eminence, Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago. May our Lord God grant His Eminence eternal rest and a blessed repose in the mansions of the righteous, and may he be ever remembered here on earth.
For nearly five decades, His Eminence bore the yoke of Episcopal service to Christ’s Holy Church in a variety of ministries throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in America. His dedication to theological education and his commitment to those in need have always been and will continue to serve as testaments to His Eminence’s work as a true shepherd of the people of God.
The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America joins me in offering our condolences and assuring all the clergy, monastics and faithful of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America of our prayers for the repose of the soul of Metropolitan Iakovos.
We take refuge in the hope that is Christ’s Resurrection, confident that our risen Lord has embraced His servant, the newly departed Metropolitan Iakovos, with love and has rewarded him for his faithful service.
With love in our Lord,
+ Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All American Canada