JOHNSTOWN, Pa., March 18, 2011
Hundreds turned out Friday morning to remember the spiritual leader of the American Carpathos-Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko, at Christ The Savior Cathedral in Johnstown.
"We're very lucky that we had the opportunity to know him and worship with him," said Johnstown resident Cindy Lorditch.
One by one, parishioners shared their memories of Metropolitan Nicholas and his leadership, generosity and compassion.
Everybody has their own story and their own personal account of why he meant so much to them," said Father Michael Rosco.
Along with parishioners, hundreds of religious leaders from Metropolitan Nicholas' faith-filled community and churches made the trip to Johnstown.
"Our diocese encompasses half of the U.S.from New England to Florida and the Midwest. And nearly all of our clergy are here today for the funeral," said Rosco.
Some of them knew Nicholas from his work with the sick or suffering, while others, like Rosco, from his home parish in New Jersey, knew him from childhood.
"When everyone else was playing ball, he was playing church," Rosco said.
And on Friday, inside the cathedral it was a reverent goodbye to a man who touched so many lives.
"It's really hard to put it into words. We know he's with God, but we're going to miss him very much," said Johnstown resident Joy Love.
Metropolitan Nicholas will be transported to his hometown in New Jersey, where he'll be buried next week.
The funeral service was celebrated by His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios of America along with His Eminence Archbishop Anthony [Greek Archdiocese], His Grace Bishop Daniel and His Grace Bishop Andrei of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Bishop Thomas, Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese, Bishop Iia of the Albanian Orthodox Diocese, Bishop Mitrophan of the Serbian Orthodox Church and Bishop Melechesedek of the Orthodox Church in America, reports the official website of the Diocese.