Received this e-mail from the folks at St. Michael's Russian Catholic Church in NYC:
Dn. Robert

Dear All,
> I just got word that Fr Serge is in hospital in Dublin. I do not know
> the cause yet but understand he is in stable condition. Please join
> us in praying for his swift recovery.
> Dcn. Methodios/Thomas

My unworthy but humble prayer that our beloved forum friend, Father Serge will be relieved and recovered of whatever has put him in hospital.

Lord have mercy on our friend, Father Serge!

In Christ,
Alice

i got an update!

==

Fr. Serge's condition improved when he got a drip and some meds. It is not clear what the exact problem is but he has an infection in one leg, some lung problem and his normal complaints. Since he fell early in the year he has not taken any exercise. He goes from bed to computer chair. I hope the docs can stabilize him and ORDER him to take physio therapy and exercise. He is in St James's Hospital, the Mary Mercer Ward.

===

Lord have mercy!

Please, let's all pray for the recovery of Father Serge!! People are not sent to hospital for health matters that are not fairly serious!

Thank you,
Alice, Moderator

Prayers for Fr. Serge, may the Lord comfort and strengthen His servant...

Prayers for the recovery of our dear friend and fellow forum member, Father Serge, that he be restored to health and his active ministry

My prayers for God's humble servant, Father Serge. May the Lord bless him.

I'll place a candle for his intentions before the icon of the Mother of God when I am at St. Seraphim's in Dallas for DL this morning.

Lord, have mercy on your servant the Priest, Serge.

All, here is an update on Fr Serge by way of an email from James Carr in Dublin to Bishop Hlib, who is currently in Argentina:

"Currently, Fr Serge is heavily sedated in Saint James's Hospital in Dublin, recovering from surgery to stop internal bleeding in his stomach, with a tube in his stomach to deal with with this internal bleeding. Initially, he was admitted to hospital with extremely swollen legs, and suspected pneumonia. It was only when he started to bleed, and started to cough up blood; something more serious was suspected.

From the conversation, that I had with Paul (his house mate) it would appear that he is also being treated for a 'fatty liver', and that a significant cause of his problems are due to the cholesterol-lowering statin drug that he was taking. During our telephone conversation, Paul did acknowledge to me that this is very serious, and it is not looking particularly good for Fr Serge. This afternoon, at 2:30 pm (Saturday), Paul is going to the hospital to see Fr Serge, and he will have an update on his condition later on today. I have arranged to call him in the evening, and if I have any further news developments, I will e-mail you this evening."

Please continue your prayers for Fr Serge, who seems to be in very serious condition.

Jack

Prayers continue for Fr Serge - there will be candles lit in Edinburgh tomorrow

Prayers for healing!

I'll light a candle in Star of the Sea, Sandymount in the morning...

Prayers and more prayers for our dear, dear friend and poster, Father Serge! May our Lord have mercy!

Prayers for our beloved friend, Father Serge, that the Lord hold him close and restore him to health.

Tomorrow's Lutheran Epistle is so well suited to Fr. Serge's situation:

Romans 8:35-39

Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Let us pray:

Blessed Lord,
we ask your loving care and protection for those who are sick
in body, mind, or spirit and who desire our prayers.
Take from them all fears and help them put their trust in you,
that they may feel your strong arms around them.
Touch them with your renewing love,
that they may know wholeness in you and glorify your name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
now and for ever,
AMEN.

Candle lit and prayers.

I treasure a copy of his Irish translation of the Saint John Chrysostom Liturgy, through the kind help of Angelina.

Received this e-mail from the folks at St. Michael's in NYC. The update tends to dovetail with that provided by Jack Figel. Please keep up your prayers.

Dn. Robert

Date: Sat, 27 Aug 2011 12:37:01 -0400
Subject: Fr.Serge
From: thomas.stadnik@gmail.com
To: stmichaelruscath@hotmail.com

Ed,
Please spread the word on the prayer list. We need to intensify our efforts.
I just spoke to Serge's cousin Paul. Last night, Serge began to pass and to vomit blood. He had exploratory surgery to find the sources of internal bleeding and is now in critical condition in ICU; they could not find all the sources, but most have been stemmed and a drain was inserted to monitor for now. Apparently the condition of his liver is very bad and is one of the sources of the problem. They are preparing to arrange for a priest to administer the holy mystery of annointing (or the Latin equivalent). Bishop Hlib is with the other bishops in Brasil for their Synod, and I'm not sure who else may be close enough. Our incessant prayers are most needed now for our dear friend and long-time member and supporter of our community.
Fr. Dcn. Methodios and Matyushka Jennifer

Heavenly Father, physician of our souls and bodies, Who have sent Your only-begotten Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to heal every sickness and infirmity, visit and heal also Your servant Fr. Serge from all physical and spiritual ailments through the grace of Your Christ. Grant him patience in this sickness, strength of body and spirit, and recovery of health. Lord, You have taught us through Your word to pray for each other that we may be healed. I pray, heal Your servant Fr. Serge and grant to him the gift of complete health. For You are the source of healing and to You I give glory, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayers for Fr. Serge on the feast of our ladys dormition.

Prayers!

Kolya

Prayers for Fr. Serge

Amen and more prayers for Fr. Serge's return to health.

I've passed the information on Father's condition to Sayedna Nicholas, as he and Father Serge are old friends.

I have informed Bp Savas (Zembillas) of Troas, of the GOARCH, who remembers Fr Serge from his days in Keston wth Michael Bordeaux. His Lordship adds his prayers to ours.

Lord Jesus I offer my grief for Fr Serge. Please Jesus in your love for Fr serge and souls, restore him to the fullness of health. Yet Jesus deliver him from suffering!

I offer my prayers through the intercession of St. Luke.

May Jesus Christ our true God, the physician of our souls and bodies bring healing, health and salvation to His servant Archimandrite Serge.

I spoke with Fr. Serge's housemate. Fr. Serge is improving. Slowly. He was originally admitted to hospital for a leg infection (2 weeks ago), and for what was thought to be pneumonia. It turned out to be internal bleeding (with other symptoms). He had surgery to stop the bleeding and is slowly recovering (it will not be a quick road and there are possible obstacles). Please continue to pray the Lord will fully and quickly restore his health, granting him many years.

Might I recommend sending him a "get well" card?

Archimandrite Serge Keleher
123 Larkfield Gardens
Dublin, 6W Ireland

[Even if you don't know Father Serge send him a card!]

wee note: that should be '123 Larkfield Gardens'!

We commemorated Archimandrite Serge at the Divine Liturgy yesterday. Does anyone have an update on his condition?

Bless, Father,

Please see the Administrator's post - 3rd above yours

Many years,

Neil

I recd this message from Bishop Nicholas

Prayers continue to God for the recovery to health of our beloved Father Archimandrite Serge. Lord have mercy on him!

Does anyone have any updates on his situation?

--Alice

Just got this update from the folks at St. Michael's Russian Greek Catholic Church in NYC.

Dn. Robert

Ed,
> Please send to the St. Michael's prayer list:
>
> I spoke with Paul last evening. He had just returned from visiting
> with Fr. Serge. Fr. Serge is out of the ICU and has been feeling
> feisty enough to remove his breathing and IV feeding tubes. The
> internal bleeding appears to have subsided, but the drain is still in
> place. He has lost weight and muscle mass, wants to get out of bed,
> but is supposed to use a walker or cane which he does not appear to
> want to do. He is also probably too weak to do so right now, til he
> builds up some strength - which won't happen without nourishment,
> which in turn, can only be liquid given the internal bleeding and
> liver issues. He still has an infection and so still needs his
> antibiotics. He has asked to have grapefruit to eat and orange juice
> to drink but has been refused these as the acidity would irritate his
> weakened stomach and liver. Bishop Hlib sent Frm Jaroslaw, an
> Ukrainian Redemptorist from Canada to visit Serge this Sunday and
> celebrate liturgy and communicate him. Fr. Serge is clearly not out
> of the woods yet and your continued prayers are requested.
> God bless all of you,
> Fr. Deacon Methodios.

Thank you for the update.

Prayers continue

Continuing my prayers for Father Serge.

Prayers for our beloved friend, Father Serge, continue.

Received this from a fellow poster. Dn. Robert

I have today received an e-mail from Kyr Hlib who has been in Dublin this weekend .

No medical details but there is clearly a long way to go and Kyr Hlib is looking for a celibate priest to serve the Ukrainian Catholic community in Dublin to help Fr Serge.

Sweet Jesus make provision!

continuing prayers for Fr. Serge

O holy Father, heavenly Physician of our souls and bodies, who hast sent thine Only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to heal all our ailments and deliver us from death: do thou visit and heal thy servant the priest Sergei, granting him release from pain and restoration to health and vigor, that he may give thanks unto thee and bless thy holy Name, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: now and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

continuing to pray for Fr. Serge.

Does anyone have any updates on Father Serge?

Does anyone know if he is he still in hospital or is he back home?

Having just added Father Serge's name again to the list I send every week four our parish's Paraclisis service to the Blessed Mother of God, I am wondering, further to the above, if anyone out there knows anything about his health and progress?

Continuing prayers for our beloved friend, Father Serge

I was wondering likewise, Alice. Does anyone have any news?

I just spoke with Paul, a friend of Father Serge's (Saturday, 9:15 AM ET / 2:15 PM Dublin Time).

A week ago Father Serge was not doing well, and the doctors were fearful that his kidneys were shutting down.

On Thursday (Oct 20) he woke and was perfectly lucid. He is not talking much (he is weak) but he is demanding his computer. He remained alert yesterday and is alert today.

This is good news. Please continue to lift up Father Serge in prayer each day.

Might I recommend sending him a "get well" card?

Archimandrite Serge Keleher
123 Larkfield Gardens
Dublin, 6W Ireland

[Even if you don't know Father Serge send him a card! Mention you appreciate his posts on The Byzantine Forum.]

Prayers for our dear friend and brother, Father Serge, that he will continue improving and be restored to health.

Continued prayers for Fr. Serge...Thanks John for the update...

Totally awesome! Kidneys can sleep for a while and then decide to wake up.

Praise God!

A friend of mine visited Fr S on Monday and this was his report:

'I saw Father. He's not in too good a shape. He couldn't speak, has laboured breathing, but his kidneys aren't completely gone yet. Not sure if he could understand me, but he could look at me and look at the telly. I've passed Paul my number and told him to keep me updated. I'll inform you the minute I hear anything. Shall try to visit again on the weekend.'

Prayers continue!

Ed,

Thanks for the update. Prayers for our friend and brother, Father Serge, that through the intercession of the Holy Unmercenary Physicians, Cosmas and Damian, that he be restored to health and that God grant him many years.

My silent and official prayers for my friend Father Serge continue...

May the Lord have mercy on him and his situation. Amen.

Alice

Κυριε Ιησου Χριστε, ιατρος ουρανιε, ελεησον τον σον δουλον Σεργιον τον αρχιμανδριτης, τον πνευματικον εμον!

Lord Jesus Christ, Heavenly Physician, have mercy on Thy servant the Archimandrite Serge, my spiritual father!

Please, brethren from Eire, an update on Mitred Archimandrite Serge's health!

Poster: You are on the wrong prayer request thread!

Here is the latest on the thread for Father Archimandrite Serge:

http://www.byzcath.org/forums/ubbthreads...Serg#Post371177

Dear ALL friends of Fr. Serge (Keleher),

I hope you are well.

I have an update on Fr. Serge. To the surprise of doctors he has improved slightly. He can take some fluids and he recognizes some people and can say a few words. However his health is still rated as critical and grave and he is not expected to live long (according to doctors). Your prayers and those of your holy friends are working. Keep them going. I asked Paul to tell Fr. Serge you are all praying for him.

Thank you all and God bless,
Padraig

Ed, Thank you for passing that on.

Continuing prayers for our beloved friend and brother, Father Serge.

Lord, look with love on Your beloved son, the Priest Serge, who has served You with devotion these many years and, if it is Your Will, allow him to recover that he may resume his earthly ministry for You.

Praying for Fr. Serge.

May every sin of your Priest Servant, Fr. Serge, be forgiven him, those committed in thought, word or deed, knowingly or unknowingly. May he find perfect rest in the arms of his Creator, Savior, and Friend.

Thanks for all you have given to the world in this life Fr. Serge!

Hello everyone,

I just spoke to St James' Hospital - Fr Serge is on Private Ward 1, and is comfortable. The nurse told me that he is drifting in and out of consciousness - he is hanging on, but the end, sadly, does not seem to be far off.

May God be gentle to him.

Craig

Prayers at this time from here in Canada for a dear friend Father (Brian, as we knew him) Serge.

Lord Have Mercy


Kolya

Psalm 142
With my voice I cried to the Lord; with my voice I besought the Lord and poured out my prayer before him; I showed him my affliction, when my spirit was troubled, but you know my path.
In the way of my walking they have laid a snare for me; I look to my right and see none that knows me: the way of escape has gone from me and there is none who care for my soul. I cried to you, Lord, and said: you are my hope and my portion in the land of the living.
Hear my petition because I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors because they are too strong for me. Lead me forth from prison that I may give thanks to your name: your just ones shall have hope when you shall reward me.
Psalm 119: 105-112
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path; I have sworn and am resolved to keep the judgments of your justice. I am greatly brought low, Lord, give me life according to your word; be pleased with the words of my mouth, Lord, and teach me your judgments.
My soul is ever in my hands, and I have not forgotten your law; sinners have laid snares for me and I have not strayed from your commands. I shall inherit your testimony for ever because it is dear to my heart. I have turned my heart to do your commands for ever in truth.
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord all you nations; praise him all you peoples; for his grace it strong over us, truly the Lord is forever.

And to you belongs the praise, O God. Barekmor.

Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison, Kyrie Eleison!

Blessed Mother of God, come to Father Serge's aid, and lead him, when the time has come, to Paradise.

Lord forgive all his sins, and grant him salvation and paradise.

With tears and sadness,
Alice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AODHeTtWFxs&feature=related

Prayers continue!

Gospodi pomilui!

Tonight, by placing the lampada in our icon corner before the icon of O.L. of Zarvanytsija, we are entrusting Fr. Serge to her loving intercession.

I offer my prayers for Fr. Serge through the intercession of St. Patrick.

It is time for Compline. I will remember Fr. Serge through this service which for Lutherans begins "the Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last" and closes with the song of St. Simeon, the Nunc Dimittis surrounded by this lovely antiphon:

"Guide us waking O lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may keep watch with Christ,
and asleep we may rest in peace."

Prayers...... Lord, have mercy.

Prayers for Father Serge. Always accepting God's will but never giving up hope for recovery.

here's an update from David, a former student of mine from Singapore, whom Fr S has met on his last trip here in 2007, and is now a first-year Med student at the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland, in Dublin.

===

I just visited Father. He's doing much better than since I've last saw him. He's much more lucid and his breathing's improved and he's able to swallow a little bit of icecream and icelolly. But they won't feed him orally yet.

He can move his arms now, and paul tells me he was conversing in english, russian, and ukrainian over the weekend. Though, the last few days, he didn't say much. he concelebrated liturgy on sunday and received communion.

Also, they've moved him into a shared ward, he's off the antibiotics and his kidneys are recovering. They've going to put a central line in tmr so they can feed him, since he pulled out the IV. the doctor expects that should give him more energy.

I promised to bring him some chicken soup on saturday and he seemed receptive. Pray my soup turns out well! Shall keep you updated. He was hallucinating a little, kept drinking from an imaginary cup, but it should pass i think.

===

Fr S is indeed a fighter! Gospodi pomilui!

Thanks be to God!

Prayers continue!

Glory to God! Prayers continuing here.

Prayers continue for our beloved friend and brother, Father Serge.

Prayers continue for Fr. Serge.

Prayers continue. May God bless us with Father Serge's presence on the forum once again. May God heal him and grant Father Serge more years of ministry for the Kingdom of God. Amen.

Continued prayers

Athair Naofa, ABBA Columba- Béal na Crúibe balbh, Solas an dall, an bacach, Chun an stráice tar éis titim amach do lámh. Neartú suaite, Athchóirigh an buile O Columba, tá súil na Ceiltigh, De réir do chuid buanna 'idirghabháil. A dhéanamh linn compánach an aingil bheannaigh. Amen. (Naofa tAthair. Columba, iarr mé ar do idirghuí chun fulaingt, breoite, daoine gan dídean, agus hopeless helpless, agus go háirithe do na lámh ina mbás féin. Déan é seo, le haghaidh dom, sliochtach agus iníon , in ainm na Cumhachta na Tríonóide Naofa.

i regret to inform you that David rang me a few minutes ago to tell me that Fr Serge has reposed. i will pass on details as soon as i have them.

Vichnaya pamyat.

Вічная Пам'ять
ETERNAL MEMORY


Kolya

May the Lord grant peaceful repose to his servant, Father Serge, and may we all remember him forever. Without his early ideas, guidance, and introductions of me to church leaders, Eastern Christian Publications, ECJ, Sunday bulletin covers, the OL Conferences and OLTV would have never happened. My prayers go to Paul, those close to Father, and his parish community in Dublin. Eternal memory!

Jack

Во блаженном успений, вечный покой подаждь Господи всесветлейшему митрату отцу Архимандриту Сергию и сотвори ему ВЕЧНУЮ ПАМЯТЬ.
Господь да ублажит и упокоит его и нас помилует и спасет яко Благ и Человеколюбец!

With profound condolences to our Mother Ukrainian Catholic Church, to Patriarch Svyatoslav, to Bishop Hlib and our brethren in Dublin from the Russian Catholic Community of the Holy Archangel Michael in New York City.

(Rt. Rev.) Economos Roman V. Russo, Rector
(Very Rev.) Protodeacon Christopher Li Greci
and all the little flock at 266 Mulberry Street

Eternal Memory!

Requiescat in pace.

A great friend, priest, advocate for the Eastern Churches and scholar has been lost to us! I am grateful for the times that I was able to serve with him in Dublin and enjoyed finding my way around Dublin with him to various and sundry eating establishments.

May God hold you always in the hollow of his hand, Fr. Serge.
Slán go fóill. Blessed repose and eternal memory!

Fr. Deacon Daniel (Gordo)

Entering into Life on feast of St. Martin the Soldier, Bishop of Tours:

The golden ev'ning brightens in the west
Soon, soon, to faithful warriors cometh rest
Sweet is the call of Paradise the blest,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

Со святыми упокой, Христе, душы раб Твоих, идеже несть болезнь, ни печаль, ни воздыхание, но жизнь безконечная.
Сам Един еси Безсмертный, сотворивый и создавый человека: земнии убо от земли создахомся, и в землю туюжде пойдем, якоже повелел еси, Создавый мя и рекий ми: яко земля еси и в землю отыдеши, аможе вси человецы пойдем, надгробное рыдание творяще песнь: аллилуиа, аллилуиа, аллилуиа

Eternal Memory - I received the news this afternoon

I am so thankful I got to Dublin this year for Great and Holy Week and actually met Fr Serge in person . He was instrumental in helping me sort out the various problems with me becoming Eastern Catholic.

Truly a great priest .

In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to Your servant, the priest Serge, and may his memory be eternal.

Vičnaja jemu pamjat!

May his memory be eternal, may he rest in peace...

May the angels lead him into Paradise;
May the martyrs come forth to welcome him
and take him to the holy City,
the new and eternal Jerusalem.
May the choirs of angels welcome him.
Where Lazarus is poor no longer
may he have eternal rest.

Memory Eternal!

I am so profoundly saddened at losing our forum friend, Father Archimandrite Serge Keleher...

May our Lord forgive him all his sins, have mercy on his precious soul, and bring him to a place where there is no pain, suffering or sadness.

As he was very fond of Greece which he had visited on more than one occasion, the Greek language, which he was fluent in, and the Greek culture of which I am also a part of, I offer:

AIONIA I MNIMI SOU AXIOMAKARISTE KAI AIMNISTE ADELFE IMON.
Everlasting be your memory, O our brother, who are worthy of blessedness and eternal memory

With sadness and hope in the Resurrection,
Alice

...I will miss you, dear Father Serge, and the forum will miss your wit, your humour and your wonderful presence.

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your priest servant where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting. Amen

Eternal memory!

Eternal memory!

In blessed repose, grant O Lord eternal memory to your ever to be remembered servant, the Right Reverend Archimandrite Serge, and may his memory be eternal. Vichnaya Pamyat!

May the Lord repose his soul in the Paradise of Joy.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dílis - may his sweet soul be at the right hand of God.

Treasured memories of an t-athair Brian Ó Ceallachair.

Craig

May his memory be eternal.

Dn Robert

Зі святими упокой, Христе, душу слуги твого. Вічная йому пам'ять!

With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your priest servant Serge where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting. Amen

Eternal memory!

O God of all spiritual and corporeal beings, You Who trampled death, broke the power of Satan and granted life to the whole world, now, O Lord, grant rest to the soul of Your departed servant, the Priest Serge, in a place of light, freshness, and peace, where there is no pain, sorrow, or mourning.

As You are a gracious God and the Lover of mankind, remember his years of service to You and forgive him every transgression committed by him in word, deed, or thought, since there is no man alive who has not sinned, for You alone are without sin and You are the Resurrection and the Life, O Christ our God, and we render glory to You, together with Your Eternal Father, and Your most Holy, gracious, and life-giving Spirit, now and ever and forever. Amen.

May the memory of our dear friend and brother, Father Serge, be eternal and blessed.

Prayers, too, for his earthly family and his spiritual children, the parishioners of Blessed Hieromartyr Nicholas the Wonderworker Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church in Dublin.

Memory eternal! Vichnaya pamyat!
Prayers for the repose of the soul of Fr. Serge.

I have just heard the sad news today. I am from Dundalk Ireland. Fr.Serge baptised and Christmated my son Christian Alexander this year on the feast of the Pentecost.

I have a photo of me and Fr.Serge together too with our Son Christan. He didnt seem very well then and we often conversed through e-mail quite a bit over the summer then I never heard from him after this. I had no idea what had happened to him.

Has anybody here from Dublin got details about his funeral? I would really like to attend.

Vichnaya Pamjat

Stephen

Stephen

As yet we have no firm details other than the Priestly Parastas will be on Friday and his burial on Saturday.

I am flying over on Friday and will return on Sunday afternoon.

Hi Our Lady's slave. When you get any times of the parastas and burial could you please send me the details asap at stephenmmartyr@gmail.com ?

Below is possibly one of the last photos taken of Fr.Serge. it is of my sons baptism on feast of pentecost of June 2011.



[img:center]<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/69719815@N03/6337858408/" title="Fr.Serge by Stephen Mc Elligott, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6337858408_1a2beaf35b.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="Fr.Serge"></a>[/img]

oops didnt work but this link does.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/69719815@N03/6337858408/

[img:center]http://www.flickr.com/photos/69719815@N03/6337858408/[/img]

I received this message from Bishop Nicholas

If you had not contacted him, I would have told him this evening. They were close.

In righteousness Thy priests be clothed - Hal - u – Hal –
Thy righteous ones in- glorious garb

For David’s sake, Thy servant true - Hal - u – Hal –
The face of Thine a-nointed heed. Barekmor

Glory be to the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
Unto to the ages of ages and forever more.


May those feet that cleanly trod
Keeping pure Thy holy place
Tread the courts of paradise
And with angels e’er abide
Stoumen kalos Kurielaison


Blest be priests whose love for Christ

Marked their sacred altar’s task
Watching angels haste to come
Leading them to courts of joy
Barekmor

Glory be to the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

Son of God forget them not
Priests of Thine who served Thee right
Grant them pleasantness of face
On Thy advent day sublime
Moriyo rahem melain-oo aadarein

This prayer is the Sedro from the Sapro on Saturday mornings in the Syriac tradition. Let us recite this prayer for our clergy, earthen vessels that nevertheless are channels of God's grace to His beloved Chosen Flock:

We beg of You, Lord God, our Lord Jesus Christ, and we ask of Your kindness and we beseech You, we who are Your servants stained with impurity, on behalf of our brothers, who as revered priests and pure deacons ministered before You in holiness and righteousness; do not, then, enter into judgement with them; do not, Lord, give the feet which trod the steps of your holy altar, to tread upon coals of fire; do not, Lord, silence the lips and tongues which sang spiritual songs to You, so that they become closed and stopped; do not, Lord, darken the eyes which were fixed upon Your holy books, so that they become a prey to worms and corruption; do not, Lord, permit the hands which carried Your sacred and holy mysteries to shrink from the coals of fire; but rather, Lord, hear our poor prayers for them and blot out and forgive all the sins and faults which we or they have committed because You are good and rich in gifts and abounding in graces, Lord; and we will offer thanksgiving to You now and always and for ever. Amin.

For those of us who are unable to attend in person, I beg someone to record the Divine Liturgies so that we can pray for Archimandrite Serge as he enters the bosom of the Saints.

May his memory be eternal!

Just beautiful!

Вічная Пам'ять

May Fr. Serge's Memory be Eternal

May Fr Serge rest in eternal peace...

Lovely photograph. I copied and pasted the link myself. Shame its not working here...

S.ilvio,

The photo itself was actually posted to the photo gallery here by Stephen, the baby's Dad.

Many years,

Neil

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.

I've just seen that now. Thank you...:)

Just received an email from our bishop as follow:
Fr Archimandrite Serge Keleher
has fallen asleep in the Lord
in Dublin at 11:30 AM today,
11 November 2011.

Priestly Parastas is planned
for Friday evening, 18 November.
Funeral - Saturday, 19 November.

Eternal Memory!

+ Hlib

Memory eternal!

May the Lord God grant to his newly departed and priestly servant +Serge, blessed repose, where there is no pain sorrow or mourning, but only light and life everlasting! May his memory be eternal!

Fr Deacon El

Vicnaja Jemu Pamjat.

Вічная Память

Requiescat in pace

I know there is probably a lot going on that I'm not seeing but...His Grace has not yet posted up a time for Friday and Saturday. I hope he doesnt leave it too late as I'd really like to set aside plans to be there no matter what.

S.Ilvio I am glad you like the photo :-)

In Christ

Stephen

Details of the funeral of Fr. Serge - (note from Bishop Hlib). Priestly Parastas - Friday evening 18 November at 18:00 - 21:00.
(in the main chapel in Clonliffe College, Drumcondra, Dublin).

Funeral Liturgy - Saturday, 19 November at 10:00.
(in the main chapel in Clonliffe College, Drumcondra, Dublin).

Burial - Mount Jerome Cemetery, Harolds Cross (after the Funeral Liturgy).

Eternal Memory!
+ Hlib
Apostolic Visitor for Ukrainian Catholics in Ireland

May God Bless his Soul.

Yuhannon

Eternal Memory!

Вічная Память

Requiescat in pace

Fr. Serge was commemorated at our Sunday Liturgy at St. Joseph's Melkite Parish in Fairfield, Victoria, Australia last Sunday.

We commemorated Fr. Serge at our Liturgy in Melbourne last Saturday. Fr. Serge was definitely a friend to the Eparchy; having given me my Byzantine kickstart when we met in Singapore 4 years ago. He was also friends to 2 priests of our Eparchy; Frs. Kevin Cummins and Lawrence Cross.

I believe that he would have been commemorated by his associates at the Ukrainians as well.

Memory Eternal! Is there a bio on Fr. Serge? It would be interesting to know more about his life.

It was Remembrance Day, after all.

I'm sorry for my late response, but I have nevertheless been following along and have prayed for our beloved Fr. Serge...

Lord, welcome your Priest-Servant Serge into Your Heavenly Kingdom and forgive him all his trespasses in this life.

Fr. Serge, ora pro nobis!

Alexis

I'm flying over in the morning - this will be difficult for everyone present.

I'm sure we will all be glad that Fr Serge is now at peace and free of all suffering - but he will be missed

May God bless you and be with you on your journey, Anhelyna... Indeed he will be sorely missed.

Alice

Just a short line to tell you that I attended the Priestly Parastas this evening. It was both beautiful and dignified.

It was my first time to meet Anhelyna in real life and she's as lovely face to face as she is online. She asked me to convey to you that she arrived in Dublin safe and sound, is in good form if still very sad given the circumstances...

Thank you, S.ilvio

Surely many will miss him as he is welcomed in his eternal home. Prayers.

I'm just home . It's been a very emotional couple of days .

I will make a post during this week with an account of the Reception of the Body into the Church , the Parastas and the Funeral Divine Liturgy and the Burial .

Father was given a wonderful 'send off' surrounded by his 'family'. I know many people have asked if he had any family - yes he does - the whole of the Community in Dublin .

I also have some photos taken with my Point and Shoot , and they will go up in time .

Praise God!

Thank You Anhelyna. I know this has been a difficult time for you. You are in my prayers.

Thank you, Anhelyna. Take your time; we all know that these last few days were long and emotionally difficult for you.

From The Orthodox Church - OCP Media Network

(emphasis added)

http://theorthodoxchurch.info/blog/news/2011/11/abba-seraphim-ordains-priest-for-eritrean-orthodox/

A photographer from the Irish Catholic was present on Saturday and took some photos , one of which was published in the paper on 24th Nov., together with an article which has also been put on the Dublin parish Website



The full article can be read HERE

Fr Serge's funeral

Place - all services took place in the Seminary Church which is dedicated to the Holy Cross.

By the time we got there , all preparations had been completed - the full Iconostasis had been brought , by van , from the other end of the College buildings , and re- erected on the Sanctuary leaving a huge space behind it . Mics had been set up [ and they were needed ] and the Church itself was immaculate - it's not often used so needed a degree of ' spit and polish '

Friday - the reception of the body into the Church was originally scheduled for , I believe , at 5.30pm I went down there at 5pm and found the Undertakers [ Funeral Directors ] car already there.

I went into the Church to find Kyr Hlib there , and vested, to receive the body - this had been brought forward as His Grace, the Archbishop of Dublin , Diarmuid Martin, had wished to attend but unfortunately could not attend later due to other engagements. His Grace followed the Coffin as it was brought into the Church and read a portion of the Gospel from the front of the Church beside the coffin .

One of the EC priests from Canada and the USA had brought booklets in English and Ukrainian with the Order of Services for the burial of a Priest with him - very very welcome they were.

Fr Serge was in the Vestments given to him by the Parish at Pascha this year - he was wearing his white mitre .

As the members of the Community arrived they came forward to the coffin and many left flowers on the end of the coffin.

There were 3 EC Priests present including the Vicar General from London, who at present is flying over each Sunday to Serve Liturgy for the people [ as I understood from what the Bishop said later , this will continue until a new priest is appointed ] . The other 2 priests have Served in Dublin , helping Fr Serge at Pascha in years past and present . There was also an Orthodox Priest present as well . There were 3 RC Priests [ from Cork and the Pro-Cathedral ] as well and all took part in the Parastas.

The Chanter was Mr A Bebko from London. As those who have read Fr Serge's accounts of Pascha in years past may recall. Mr Bebko has been going there for about 10 years. Sadly Edward Yong was not able to come over [ but he sent a friend David who is studying in Dublin as his substitute on the Saturday ]

The service was beautiful - something I've never experienced before . I was asked to read one the the Epistles and did so. The congregation played their part in the ceremony joining in with the chant - and, as was said to me afterwards by S.ilvio

There weren't a huge number of the parish present at the beginning of the service - but numbers grew as people got home from work .

Saturday

The Funeral Liturgy started at 10am promptly - all the Clergy from Friday evening were there . All the Servers were there and added to their number that day was Paul - who has helped Fr Serge for many years . I was stunned to see him , but he obviously felt that that was where he should be that day - giving his own last service to Fr Serge .

The Liturgy was very moving , again I've never experienced this, all the Chant being in a minor key - haunting is the only way I can describe it . The languages used were Ukrainian , English and Latin ! The Creed and Our Father were also sung in Latin and most beautifully sung by the Priests from the Pro-Cathedral and some members of the Parish . One of the RC Priests came from Cork - again he has been in the Parish in the past - he wore beautiful black vestments , his own , and new ones too

Communion took some time - even with 3 priests too - many more flowers were placed on the Coffin

Later we all made our own farewell , during the 'Final Kiss' , by this time many of the congregation [ including me ] were in tears .

A Panachyda was then sung - with all the priests round the coffin and at the conclusion of that the Coffin was closed and taken out to be taken to the Cemetery for burial .

Slowly all the cars made their way out of the College Grounds and went to the St Jerome Cemetery - a very large one with a huge amount of walking . I was fortunate - members of the Parish took me and Edward's friend David over there.

Following the Burial , Kyr Hlib invited everyone to a meal at the Bewley's Hotel in Leopardstown .

I was extremely luck at this point - the couple who took us , Mr Bebko , David and myself went there avoiding the centre of Dublin - so we were there very quickly and I was able to relax for a bit. Lunch itself was truly splendid - and very well organised.

Following lunch Kyr Hlib spoke about his memories of Fr Serge and asked us to share our memories .

We heard stories of how the Parish started and how it has grown . We heard how Fr Serge got his green Mitre - a fascinating tale and eventually we all went back home

The Bishop left early, before many of the reminiscences as he had to fly to Paris in the early evening for the Annual Divine Liturgy in Notre Dame Cathedral on the Sunday.

Sunday

The final Service in the Holy Cross Church - a beautiful Liturgy , with the same three priests again . Again there was a mix of English and Ukrainian languages used . At Communion it was so nice to see so many children and teens present and coming from all directions in the Church down together , before the adults.

At the end the men came forward and started taking down the Iconostasis and organising the removal of all the liturgical accoutrements [ and believe me there were plenty of them ] back down to the Chapel at the other end of the building , by van .

I was astounded how soon the Church was cleared , carpets hoovered and all signs of our presence were gone



ETERNAL MEMORY

Thank you Anhelyna for the wonderfully written account of Fr Serge's final farewell


Eternal Memory...

Found this review of Fr. Serge's book on the Ruthenian Byzantine Liturgy by James Likoudis. Memory Eternal!

Dn. Robert

An Eastern Catholic Examines
Liturgical Problems
By JAMES LIKOUDIS

Fr. Archimandrite Serge Keleher is one of the best informed and scholarly authorities regarding events taking place in both the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. As Editor of the "Eastern Churches Journal : A Review of Eastern Christianity" (P.O. Box 146, Fairfax, VA 22038-0146; subscription $40 yr.), he regularly provides a thorough review of happenings in the world of Eastern Christianity as well as reports on aspects of ecumenical progress resulting from the Second Vatican Council. Living in Dublin, Ireland, since 1986, he has been the Greek-Catholic priest serving the growing number of Byzantine Catholic faithful, many of whom are immigrants from Russia, Belarus, Ukraine (both Western Ukraine and Donbas), Moldavia, Latvia, the USA, and elsewhere. There are also Irish members of his flock who have been attracted to the beauty and majesty of the Byzantine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Divine Services held at St. Kevin’s Oratory at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin include a mix of Church-Slavonic, Greek, Irish, and other languages as needed.

In his 2006 work "Studies on the Byzantine Liturgy-I" (Staurpegion Press, P.O.Box 11096, Pittsburgh, PA 5237-9998) Fr. Archimandrite Serge made an extensive and minute critique of a Draft document proposing a "Recasting of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom" by the Byzantine-Ruthenian Metropolitanate of Pittsburgh. Since the publication of Fr. Serge’s book, this Draft document, for the most part, has been promulgated as the official English translations of the Divine Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and of St. Basil the Great for the aforementioned jurisdiction, and has been "received" by the Congregation for Eastern Churches in Rome, which recognizes them as the licitly promulgated official texts for liturgical use. Any new translation of the Divine Liturgy in English, Fr. Serge had pointed out, affects all the various Byzantine Greek-Catholic Churches. He also noted the continuing dispute between "those who wanted a liturgical practice as close as possible to the liturgical practice of Eastern Orthodoxy, and those who wanted a liturgical practice as distant as possible from that of Eastern Orthodoxy" (involving also the introduction of certain latinizing practices). He recounts the recent history of liturgical and political conflicts among the Byzantine-rite bishops and priests and the resistance in the Pittsburgh Metropolitanate to a "people’s edition of the Divine Liturgy in conformity with the official Church-Slavonic books published in Rome".

Our author insists that any proposed restoration of Byzantine liturgical practice adapted to conditions in English-speaking countries must be in accordance with "the clear and unambiguous" directives of Vatican II and the Roman See which observed that renewal among Byzantine-rite Catholics cannot be "a blind imitation of a dead past, but an attempt to free Eastern Catholics from a past in which, severed from the roots of their own tradition, they were deprived of any organic development and could conceive of growth only as sterile servility to their Latin confreres". To be regretted among Byzantine rite clergy (quoting words of another leading Byzantine liturgical scholar Robert Taft, S.J.), is a certain "latinization of the heart resulting from a formation insensitive to the true nature of the variety of traditions within the Catholic Church". Failure to live the authentic theological, spiritual, and liturgical ethos of the Byzantine Catholic tradition only serves to impede the prospects of Reunion with the various Eastern Orthodox Churches.

This is the background for Archimandrite Serge’s concerns regarding the liturgical rubrics in the proposed English translation of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Liturgy which he declared "confused and inadequate. He was also very critical of the use of "horizontal inclusive" language in the proposed draft (sadly, this has become part of the officially promulgated liturgical texts). He cites the fact that both the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and the proper authorities in Eastern Orthodoxy have voiced strong opposition to the use of such language in the Liturgy. Moreover, there are alleged serious textual inaccuracies and mistranslations (he alleges 23 of them though he admits that some may be the object of legitimate dispute). In addition, he declared problematic 33 other instances of words or phrases rendered in English that do not faithfully render the meaning of the original (or best) texts in Greek or Church-Slavonic.

Readers may not be interested in the "nuts and bolts" of the liturgical problems and difficulties encountered by our Byzantine Catholic brethren in their efforts to revivify their spiritual and apostolic heritage, but they too can profit from acute observations touching on the Roman rite contained in Fr. Archimandrite Serge’s Study. Throughout his volume, he fittingly quotes the liturgical views of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger whose profound understanding of Catholic liturgical worship is, in fact, reflected in all the Church’s traditional liturgies of East and West, faithfully observed. Interestingly, he points out that "the Novus Ordo Missae of Pope Paul VI does not require the priest to offer the Eucharistic Prayer aloud" (although, contrary to longstanding practice, this is required in the new Byzantine-Ruthenian Liturgicon). It has become common, he states, for the Eucharistic Prayer (known as the Anaphora in the Byzantine rite) to be recited aloud and in vernacular languages. But "is there a heightened appreciation of the Roman Canon - one of the most ancient Anaphoras anywhere in the Church?" Not only has use of the magnificent Roman Canon become "very rare in practice" but neither has understanding or reverence at Mass grown. "Far from understanding increasing, there has been an insatiable demand for ‘new’Anaphoras’ - the modern Roman Liturgy now has Anaphoras for use during Mass celebrated with children (in all the history of the Church no one ever heard of such a thing").

Certain liturgical innovations in the Roman Liturgy difficult for many to understand (such as altar girls, women Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion dominating the sanctuary, the near-mandatory celebration "facing the people", the increasingly widespread practice of "Communion in the hand", and attempts to introduce "Inclusive language") Fr. Archimandrite Serge regards as creating serious difficulties for the prospects of Reunion with the Eastern Orthodox. It may be added here that a recent Eastern Orthodox theologian also has not hesitated to declare his brethren repelled by what they regard as "a new and alien liturgical spirit". (Fr. Laurent A. Cleenewerck in his book "His Broken Body" - see notice of my Review on my Website: www.CREDOBUFFALO.COM).

The same writer took occasion to declare:

"As long as the current liturgical spirit of modern Roman Catholicism remains the accepted norm, no amount of theological dialogue will achieve any resul".
With Byzantine Catholics encountering the phenomenon of "Americanization" as well as social and clergy pressures to adopt some of the above or yet other untraditional practices contrary to their best liturgical tradition (for example, in the past, there had been pressure, much of it self-inflicted, for Ruthenian Catholics to eliminate icon-screens and, at present, there is pressure, also mostly self-inflicted, to no longer pray the Anaphora inaudibly, in secreto or in mystica, the practice of the last thousand years), it is understandable that Fr. Archimandrite Serge should ask whether Byzantine Catholics should hazard adopting innovations which in the Western Church have "contributed to a serious reduction in the Faith concerning the Divine Liturgy and the Holy Gifts. One may question whether such results are desirable in the Greek-Catholic Church".

A careful reading of Fr. Archimandrite Serge’s work reveals similar problems encountered by the faithful of the various branches of the Byzantine Rite (Ruthenians, Ukranians, Melkites), to those encountered by Catholics of the Roman rite troubled by certain liturgical innovations (some even receiving official ecclesiastical sanction), and outright abuses offending the very sense of the Sacred. As there has been a pattern of resistance to the authority of Rome regarding directives to implement a real "reform of the reform" regarding liturgical practice in the West, so has there been a similar resistance to Vatican II’s (and Rome’s) insistence that Greek-Catholics maintain the authentic liturgical heritage and practice of the Catholic Church’s Byzantine tradition.

Our author concluded that:

"the honor of the Catholic Church is involved. Rome urges Greek-Catholics to be conscious of the liturgical and spiritual treasures which Greek-Catholics hold in common with the Eastern Orthodox. If this October 12, 2004 Draft were to be adopted as it stands, it would distance the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic Metropolitan of Pittsburgh still further, both from the other Greek-Catholics in the United States and from Eastern Orthodox in the United States. That is a severe drawback... If this draft were to be adopted, it would give substance to the accusation that such pious statements from Rome are simply window-dressing and that in reality Rome wants a revisionist liturgy to drive a further wedge between the Greek-Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox."
These are serious matters for Catholics of every liturgical rite involved in the Church’s ecumenical efforts. The subject "proposed Draft" with all its problematic aspects that have been the focus of this article, with only minor changes, has received, as previously noted, the approval of the Byzantine- Ruthenian Metropolitan of Pittsburgh, along with the Council of Hierarchs of the Pittsburgh Byzantine-Ruthenian Metropolia, and the Congregation for Eastern Churches in Rome, and has been promulgated as the official English translation of the Divine Liturgies for that jurisdiction. It has been reported, by members of both clergy and laity of the jurisdiction, that, since promulgation of this re- casting of the Byzantine Divine Liturgy, effective June 29, 2007, many complaints have been forwarded both to the Ruthenian Byzantine Hierarchs in the United States, and to the Congregation for Eastern Churches in Rome. The hope on the part of many of the Byzantine-Ruthenian Catholic faithful, and this is not without historical precedent, is that the Congregation for Eastern Churches will take "another look" at what has been promulgated, and bring about a liturgical state of affairs in the Byzantine-Ruthenian Metropolia of Pittsburgh which is more in keeping with the mind of the Universal Church.




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James Likoudis is president emeritus of CUF. His co-authored book "The Pope, the Council and the Mass: Answers to Questions the ‘Traditionalists’ Have Asked" (Revised edition, 2006) is available from Emmaus Road Publishing. To order, visit www.emmausroad.org or call (800) 398-5470. Likoudis is also the well-known author of a trilogy of books dealing with Eastern Orthodoxy.



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The above article appeared in the July 23, 2009 issue of the national Catholic newspaper "The Wanderer" (201 Ohio St., St. Paul, MN 55107- Susbscription $60 a year).

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According to my inexpert calculations, Fr. Serge's 40th. day is coming right on up: on December 20, 2011. In any case that's how I marked it on the calendar.

Today was indeed the 40th Day after the repose of Fr Serge .

We had a Memorial Liturgy this morning in Edinburgh , followed by a Panachyda.

Kyr Hlib had come up yesterday with 4 priests from England to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Fr Lubomyr's Priestly ordination , and it was announced that today they would remain for the 40th Day Liturgy.

Kyr Hlib [ a long time friend of Fr Serge ] spoke very movingly about him for the Homily .

It was a very moving Service

May the Lord have mercy on his Father Serge's soul.
May his memory be eternal...

by St. John Maximovich:

Therefore, panikhidas (i.e., Trisagion Prayers for the Dead) and prayer at home for the dead are beneficial to them, as are good deeds done in their memory, such as alms or contributions to the church. But especially beneficial for them is commemoration at the Divine Liturgy. There have been many appearances of the dead and other occurrences which confirm how beneficial is the commemoration of the dead. Many who died in repentance, but who were unable to manifest this while they were alive, have been freed from tortures and have obtained repose. In the Church prayers are ever offered for the repose of the dead, and on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, in the kneeling prayers at vespers, there is even a special petition "for those in hell."

Every one of us who desires to manifest his love for the dead and give them real help, can do this best of all through prayer for them, and particularly by commemorating them at the Liturgy, when the particles which are cut out for the living and the dead are let fall into the Blood of the Lord with the words: "Wash away, O Lord, the sins of those here commemorated by Thy Precious Blood and by the prayers of Thy saints."

We can do nothing better or greater for the dead than to pray for them, offering commemoration for them at the Liturgy. Of this they are always in need, and especially during those forty days when the soul of the deceased is proceeding on its path to the eternal habitations. The body feels nothing then: it does not see its close ones who have assembled, does not smell the fragrance of the flowers, does not hear the funeral orations. But the soul senses the prayers offered for it and is grateful to those who make them and is spiritually close to them.

O Christ God, with the saints grant rest
To the soul of your servant,
In a place where there is no pain,
No grief, no sighing,
But everlasting life.