Jesus said to her, “I Am the Resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She (Martha) said to Him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, He who is coming into the world.”
John 11:25-27
The priesthood in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America is a relatively small group. We number about seven hundred. In a given area, there may only be one priest, or at best a small group of priests. Because each priest is different—age, experience, approach to the priesthood, interests—it is not always easy to make friends. Yes, there is a brotherhood shared by all priests, by virtue of the common thread that we are all ordained as priests. However, friendships in any context have to be built, and the priesthood is no different. Because there are only a handful of priests who serve in the Tampa Bay area where I serve, (and I’m fortunate, because in many parishes, there is no priest who is close by) most of my close friendships with other priests are over the phone, and seeing them at an occasional retreat. Today’s message is about two priests, who happen to both be friends, who passed away last week, five days apart. One of them will be laid to rest today.
In our parish, one of our ministries is a women’s Bible Study, which I am blessed to lead. During Covid, in 2020, when we were meeting on zoom for Bible study, women from other parishes found our Bible study and asked if they could join. My response was that first, they needed to receive a blessing from their priest, and that I needed also to receive a blessing from their priests. The majority of these interested participants came from two parishes—St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Ocean Township, NJ and St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Virginia Beach, VA. I called the two priests, Fr. Andrew Eugenis (St. George) and Fr. John Manuel (St. Nicholas), who could not have been nicer in offering their blessings and encouragement. And thus began a friendship with two priests, both of whom are about ten years older than I am. Our relationships developed to the point that each of them invited me to their parish to offer a retreat for a weekend, so not only did I get to see Fr. Andrew and Fr. John at clergy retreats, I got to see them and serve with them in their respective parishes. I got to pray with them, I got to encourage them, I received encouragement from them, and I took the opportunity to learn from them, as we shared successes and failures together. I like both Fr. Andrew and Fr. John because their understanding of the priesthood was very similar to mine. Both had pragmatic minds. Both were real, there was not an ounce of pretense in either. My only sadness is that each lived far from me. Had we served in the same area, these two priests would have been people I would have chosen to see often.
In 2025, both were diagnosed with different forms of cancer. Each waged a valiant battle to fight it. I spoke with each one periodically, to offer an ear, a prayer, some encouragement, and despite the dire circumstances each faced, we were even able to still laugh. What I received from each was an amazing witness of faith, and hope. The hope was not “cure or bust.” It was that we will be faithful to God, no matter how this goes. Remember those three questions we reflected on recently: Do you believe in God? Do you believe in the goodness of God? Do you believe that God is good to you? Well, for Fr. Andrew and Fr. John, the answer to all three was a confident and certain “YES!”
Both missed serving at their respective altars during Holy Week and Pascha of 2026. I spoke with each at length on Holy Saturday, praying with each that both would return to celebrate the Resurrection in their respective churches in 2027. In my parish, at the end of the Paschal Divine Liturgy, right before we chant “Christ is Risen!” for the final time, I always say “Let us sing ‘Christ is Risen’ one final time tonight, and let us sing it for the ones who will not be with us next year on Pascha, who probably don’t even know it, and let us pray that they will sing ‘Christ is Risen’ in the presence of the Risen Lord, in the Kingdom of Heaven. Fr. Andrew Eugenis fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, July 19. Fr. John Manuel fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, July 24.
On Sunday, July 19, the Gospel reading was from Matthew 5: 14-19. In this passage Jesus says “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do man light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) Fr. Andrew and Fr. John personified these verses. Both were lights in the world, and both were lights in my world. Both sowed seeds of faith in people that will be remembered forever by those who knew them. I will remember them and forever be grateful that our paths crossed. It’s amazing how God has our lives cross paths and create unlikely friendships that end up being so meaningful.
I spoke with each about the possibility of death. And each had said that they would miss their families (both were in their mid-60s and actively serving), but they were not afraid. Not afraid is a good place to be when facing the end of life on earth. No one knows when this life will end. It surprised (shocked me actually) that both passed away so soon, and so close together. So, being ready and not afraid are two things we should all strive to be at all times. Today’s prayer is a special one, which is offered at the funeral of a priest, reflecting the sacrifice that is required of each priest, with the prayer that God will place that priest at the altar of heaven.
We thank you, O Lord our God, for Your life alone is immortal, and Your glory is incomprehensible, and Your mercy immeasurable, and Your love for mankind inexpressible, and Your reign without succession, and with You ,Lord, there is no partiality towards persons; for You have required all men to pay the same debt when the full measure of their life has been completed. Therefore, we entreat You, O Lord our God, give rest to your servant Andrew, the priest, and your servant John, the priest, who have fallen asleep in the hope of the Resurrection to eternal life, and set them in the bosom of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. As You appointed them to celebrate the Liturgy in Your Church on earth, likewise may them do the same before your heavenly altar, Lord; as You honored them with spiritual dignity among men, likewise accept them un-condemned among the angels in Your glory; as You glorified their lives on the earth, likewise make their departure from this life an entry among Your saints, and number their sprits among all those who have pleased You throughout the ages. For You are the Resurrection, the Life and the response of Your departed servants, O Christ our God, and to You we give glory, with Your Father who is from everlasting, and Your All-Holy, Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. (Adapted from the Efhologion/Priest’s Service Book, translated by Fr. Evagoras Constantinides)
Memory eternal dear brothers, who are worthy of blessedness and everlasting memory!
+Fr. Stavros
In memory of Fr. Andrew Eugenis and Fr. John Manuel—good men, faithful priests, dear friends.
