Holy Synod Meets and Updated Details on Funeral Services for His Eminence Archbishop David

synod

On Sunday, November 29, 2020, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America met under the presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon via teleconference, and declared vacant the see of the Diocese of Sitka and Alaska following the death of the diocesan hierarch, His Eminence Archbishop David of Sitka and Alaska. During the meeting, His Beatitude informed the Holy Synod that he had appointed His Grace Bishop Alexis of Bethesda locum tenens of the diocese.

The schedule for the funeral service for His Eminence Archbishop David is as follows:

Tuesday, December 1
3:00 PM: Arrival of the body at Holy Trinity Church, Wilkes-Barre, PA.
3:30 PM: Panikhida will be held, followed by viewing. Please note that the Church has limited capacity and the number of people in the Church building will be tightly controlled.
6:00 PM: Order for the Burial of a Hierarch will be held.

Interment, not open to the public due to COVID restrictions, will be at St. Tikhon’s Monastery.

Please note that due to COVID restrictions, only invited clergy may serve at the services. Additionally, attendance at the services is limited to family and invited guests only. For all of these services, clergy and faithful should also be sure to maintain all safety protocols and precautionary measures. Other than serving clergy and singers, all in attendance must wear a mask.