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THE FUNERAL SERVICE OF HAGIOTAPHITE ARCHIMANDRITE NARKISSOS

The Funeral Service of the Hagiotaphite Archimandrite Narkissos, Hegoumen of the Greek Orthodox Community of Beit Jalla took place on Friday morning, April 28/May 11, 2018, at the Central Monastery Chapel of St. Thecla the Equal to the Apostles and Frist Martyr. The Archimandrite had died the day before, after a several-month trial with the illness of aggressive cancer.

The Funeral Service was officiated by H.H.B. our Father and Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos with co-celebrant Hagiotaphite Archbishops and Hieromonks, Priest George Siahouan on behalf of the Community that the deceased used to minister, and the participation in prayer according to the spirit of mourning in Christ, of monks, nuns and laity from Beit Jalla.

The requiem was delivered by Geronda Secretary General Most Reverend Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantina as follows;

 

Your Beatitude Father and Master,

Most Reverend Archbishops,

Your Excellency Consul General of Greece,

Reverend Fathers,

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

We stand before the dead body of our beloved brother Hagiotaphite Hieromonk Narkissos who has left us for the heavenly dwelling places, in sorrow, awe and surprise. In deep thinking we wonder how the man who has been created according to the image and likeness of God has fallen into corruption and came into union with death?

To these human questions the answer comes from heaven, from the Person, the mission and the teaching of the One who came down to earth from heaven, the Incarnate, Crucified and Resurrected Jesus Christ our Saviour; from the One Who conquered death by His own death; from the One who died and behold, He lives. Since He died on the Cross and was resurrected, we who believe in Him and have died along with Him in His Baptism, having departed from our earthly body, we live along with Him in soul and spirit in His heavenly and eternal kingdom.

This mystery is already made manifest to our brother Archimandrite Narkissos who has been taken up into heaven after a painful illness. He already lies in the arms of his Creator and awaits His philanthropic judgment. Being present with him to his last earthly residence, and seeing him off to the eternal heavenly one, we praiseworthily recall his life in this world.

He came to the Holy Land from his hometown Patra of Peloponnisos and studied at the Patriarchal School of St. Demetrios. After his graduation he joined the Hagiotaphite Brotherhood, was tonsured a monk and he was given the name Narkissos (his name in the world was Nikolaos). He was ordained a Deacon and a Priest and ministered at all the shrines or pastoral ministries he was appointed with devotion and zeal. He served at the shrines of the Basilica of Bethlehem, Kana of Galilee, the Shepherds, at the Patriarchate’s Metropolis in Amman, as the Hegoumen of the Holy Monastery of St. George Al Hader, of Prophet Elijah, as the President of the Real Estate Committee, and for the last fifteen years as the Hegoumen of the Community in Beit Jalla. He conveyed to the clergy and the members of the Community the order and tradition of the Typikon of the Orthodox Church, the solemnity of the Church Services, the love of the decency of the House of God, while he lived at the Tower of Joassaph the Hagiotaphite in Beit Sahour, preserving and refurbishing it.

By saying these, we fulfill our human and brotherly duty towards him, moreover, we especially send our prayers to the Most High for him, asking Him, that as a righteous and philanthropist Judge He may notice his good works and his trial during the illness that ended his life, and forsake every sin made by him, willingly or unwillingly and place him in the land of the living along with the righteous ones, and resurrect him in the common resurrection in the Last Day. May his remembrance be ever-lasting.

Our beloved Hagiotaphite brother was escorted to the Cemetery in Holy Zion for his burial by the Most Reverend Metropolitan Narkissos of Acre of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, who was a spiritual child of the deceased.

The Hagiotaphite Brotherhood wishes for his ever-lasting remembrance.

From Secretariat-General

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