Condolences received on the repose of Archpriest Sergei Garklavs
CHICAGO, IL [MW Diocese Communications] — A number of condolences were received upon the repose of Archpriest Sergei Garklavs, Dean Emeritus of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Chicago, IL, who fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, October 19, 2015.
A letter condolence was sent by His Holiness, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, dated October 22, 2015. The letter was read by His Grace, Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy that preceded Father Sergei’s interment on Saturday, October 24.
Your Beatitude, Beloved in the Lord Brother and Concelebrant at God’s Altar,
I have been deeply grieved to learn about the demise of a cleric of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Sergei Garklavs, Dean Emeritus of the Church of the Holy Trinity in Chicago.
The deceased pastor was a zealous servant of the Lord’s altar and guardian of a great shrine of our Church, the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God. Thanks to his care, the icon was not lost in the twists and turns of the past century, but was brought back to its historical place, the Tikhvin Monastery.
May the All-Merciful Lord give rest to the soul of His recently deceased servant, Archpriest Sergei, in the dwellings of the righteous and make his memory eternal.
Please convey my condolences to the relatives and friends of Archpriest Sergei.
With brotherly love in Christ,
+ Kirill
Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia
A message of condolence from His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion [Alfeyev], addressed to His Grace, Bishop Paul of Chicago and the Midwest, was received on October 19.
Your Grace,
It is with profound grief that I have learned about the demise of the Dean Emeritus of the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Chicago, Archpriest Sergei Garklavs.
Father Sergei dedicated all his life to the service at the Lord’s altar in the Church of the Protection of the Virgin Mary in Gary, the Church of the Holy Martyr Panteleimon in Argo-Summit and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Chicago. He was vouchsafed to become a chosen one of the Mother of God who entrusted him with the keeping of Her miracle-working icon of Tikhvin. It was an unforgettable page in the Church’s history when this shrine returned to the revived Our Lady of Tikhvin Monastery of the Dormition, in which the deceased pastor served as much as he could as spiritual father in the last days of his life, edifying the brethren in the spirit of humbleness and love.
May the Ruler of Life, our Lord Jesus Christ hear the ardent prayers lifted up today for the blissful repose in Abraham’s bosom of the newly deceased servant of God, Archpriest Sergei, and may He place his soul in the dwellings of the righteous and make his memory eternal.
Please, convey my sincere condolences to the children of the deceased Archpriest Sergei — Archpriest Alexander, George, Paul, Mary and Olga.
With love in the Lord,
+ Hilarion
Metropolitan of Volokolamsk
Chairman, Department for External Church Relations of the Russian Orthodox Church
A personal message of condolence, dated October 24, also was sent by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon to Father Sergei’s son, Archpriest Alexander Garklavs, and the entire Garklavs family.
Dear Father Alexander and family,
It is with profound sadness that I learned of the falling asleep of your father, the Archpriest Sergei. May his soul and memory dwell with the blessed, and may you and your extended family find comfort in our Lord and Savior at this most difficult and trying time.
Archpriest Sergei was a witness to the power of the spiritual life, a prophetic pastor, a model of piety, a great teacher and an example of apostolic service to all whom he encountered. Today, we pray together with all the faithful that Archpriest Sergei receives rest, life, and resurrection from our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. May Christ, by the power that enables him to bring everything under His rule, transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (Phil. 2:20-21).
In our grief we are greatly comforted to know that Father Sergei was blessed with a family and a parish community of faith, and love for Jesus Christ. The entire staff of my Chancery joins me in offering our heartfelt condolences for the repose of the soul of the servant of God Archpriest Sergei. Together with him, may we all take refuge in the hope of the Resurrection.
Please be assured of our prayers for Archpriest Sergei’s repose, as well as for the consolation all those who love him. And let us together, “…cry out unto the Immortal King: O Lord, count worthy of Thine eternal good things him that has been taken from us, giving him rest in They blessedness that grows not old” [St. John of Damascus].
With love in Christ, and with every good wish for you and your entire family, I remain,
Yours in Christ,
+ Tikhon
Archbishop of Washington
Metropolitan of All America and Canada
