[VladFal]

Bishop Eirenaios of Patara (EP) reposed in the Lord on Saturday 19 December. He had been ill for some time. The funeral took place yesterday at Oropos monastery near Athens. He was 85 years old. Bishop Eirenaios was a friend and disciple of Elder Sophrony and served for many years in Birmingham, England. Born in Cyprus, he went to study at Halki immediately after World War II and was deacon to Patriarch Maximos V. On the deposition of Maximos, he left Constantinople for Cyprus and became abbot of Machaeiras monastery. After 1960, he could not accept the policies of Archbishop/President Makarios, and he came to England. I first met the Bishop in December 1991; he introduced me to Elder Sophrony, and received me into the Orthodox Church tonsuring me Reader some time later. He was my spiritual father for many years. May the Lord Whom he served faithfully for so long receive his soul into the choir of His saints.

Memory eternal!

[cheesypeetyz]

May his memory be eternal and his soul rest in peace.