NEW YORK – The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and the Omogeneia accompanied Metropolitan Philotheos of Meloa to his last resting place yesterday, May 15, 2017.
More than 60 presbyters, six deacons and eleven hierarchs took part in the funeral service, held in the Archdiocesan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Manhattan, which was filled with faithful who came to pay their last respects and honor the memory of a respected hierarch of the Church.
His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios Geron of America presided at the funeral. The Archbishop noted that he was also representing His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, especially since the departed hierarch was a son of the Mother Church of Constantinople and a Metropolitan of the Ecumenical Throne.
Along with the Archbishop, five hierarchs of the Holy Eparchial Synod participated: Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Methodios of Boston, Alexios of Atlanta, Savas of Pittsburgh and Evangelos of New Jersey. Also participating were Bishops Andonios of Phasiane, Ilias of Philomelion, Demetrios of Mokissos, Sevastianos of Zela and Ierotheos of Efkarpia.
The funeral service was preceded by Orthros and Divine Liturgy with His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos of New Jersey presiding.
The Consul General of Greece in New York Konstantinos Koutras, accompanied by Consul Manos Koumbarakis represented Greece; and the Consul General of Cyprus in New York, Ambassador Vasilios Philippou, represented the Republic of Cyprus.
Metropolitan Philotheos’ of Meloa body was entombed in St. Michael’s cemetery in East Elmhurst, N.Y.
The previous evening of Sunday May 14, a wake for Metropolitan Philotheos was held at the Archdiocesan Cathedral and a trisagion prayer was chanted.
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