Archdiocese of Canada mourns the falling asleep in the Lord of Elder Ephraim

It was with great sadness that His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios, together with all of the Orthodox faithful from across Canada, learned of the falling asleep in the Lord of Elder Ephraim on Saturday, December 7th. Upon learning of the news, the Archbishop conducted a Trisagion service for him.
Fr. Ephraim, who was the abbot of the Monastery of St. Anthony the Great in Arizona, and previously the abbot of the Philotheou Monastery on Mount Athos, leaves behind a historic and spiritually deep legacy.
The Elder’s first visit to North America was in Canada in the late 1970s. Then Bishop-Sotirios opened the door to North America for Fr. Ephraim, with the two of them working collaboratively for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful.
It was clear from those early days that the Elder had unique spiritual gifts from God that attracted people to the High Priest, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
With the blessing of the Archbishop, among the very first monasteries created by Fr. Ephraim were in Canada: Patrokosmas in King City and Panagia Parigoritissa outside of Montreal.
It should also be noted that Archbishop Sotirios visited St. Anthony’s Monastery in 2012, meeting with Fr. Ephraim and congratulating him on the construction of an Orthodox oasis in the heart of the American desert.
Today, December 11th, Archbishop Elpidophoros of America will preside over the sacred funeral service of Fr. Ephraim. Although he deeply desired to attend, Archbishop Sotirios is unavailable to travel because of certain legal proceedings this week that were scheduled a number of months ago.
The Archbishop, together with all of the clergy and laity of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada, pray for the repose of Elder Ephraim’s soul in the bosom of our loving Lord, surrounded by our Panagia and the saints and angels of heaven.

— Source: gometropolis.org

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