www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Archbishop Raya has reposed

Deacon Stan just called me from Church.

Archbishop Joseph Raya has reposed in the Lord. May his memory be eternal+ May he be listed among the saints and rest where the just repose.

Oh but that we could all attain to just a small part of Sayedna Raya's holiness. A person who will be missed so much by those left in this world. Tears are shed, yet we rejoice because God allowed such a holy soul to walk among us, teaching us of the love of Christ. He and JPII are certainly rejoicing in heaven before the throne of grace. May he be quickly declared a saint in heaven with JPII.

Pani Rose

May his memory be eternal.

Gaudior, in prayer

Eternal memory!

I am so saddened to hear this news. He was such an admired pastor and hierarch. My dad was a seminarian down in Alambama and ran the eastern Catholic club and he came to speak there and was very inspiring. I know that since his move to Madonna House, he was also deeply loved there for many years. He was quite the teacher and theologian, as well as a great shepherd. (We use his "Face of God" for our outreach in St. Paul.)

Thank you for notifying us, Pani Rose.

Peace,

Gordo

Archbishop Raya was so awesome. I will always remember his hugs. To me, to sit at his feet and learn was like it must have been to sit before the Early Fathers of the Church. St. Georges is the Church it is today because the people were formed in their faith by Saedna Raya along with many holy priests, but he laid the ground work for it all. He could express the love of the Father in a way I had never heard before. There will be great mourning and yet rejoicing at St. Georges for we are far better, for he walked among the people there for so many years. Even when he was not physically present with us. Thank you Jesus!

Memory eternal...

His writings first pointed me East. More than 20 years ago, before I was even a Roman Catholic, his words led me to love the Eastern Catholics.

And now I am a Melkite... Thanks be to God for the life of Sayedna Joseph.

-- Penthaetria, rejoicing that my dear husband now serves at the altar with this great man

Penthaetria, rejoicing that my dear husband now serves at the altar with this great man

Penthaetria I cry with tears of joy reading these wods of yours. Thank you.

Eternal Memory!

Prayers for his repose.

james

The only way I know Archbishop Joseph is by his books that have been published. He was a deep and profound person with a true Orthodox spirit about him. His one book on the Nativity was truly enlightening, and one of the best books that I can recommend for anyone that is interested in learning of the Byzantine liturgical cycle concerning this feast, from the beginning of the Nativity fast through to the feast of the Presentation. I know that his ministry as a hierarch was under-utilized, but I always took note of the ministry when it appeared in print about Madonna House.

I pray that the Lord may grant him rest, and that He will grant the Archbishop and celebrant +Joseph eternal memory!

Vyechnaya Pamyat!!!!

Truly a holy man of God has reposed!!!!! I will never forget when Sayedna +Joseph celebrated the Liturgy at my Rusyn parish back in the late 80's. He celebrated with great devotion and his homily was one of the most memorable I have heard in all my life. He talked on the subject of why we come to Liturgy and that it was not some cold "obligation" and mentioned that it was like the lover who seeks the object of his love!!! Wonderful!!!
This truly Orthodox Hierarch will be missed by so many in both the Catholic and Orthodox Churches and by all Christians!

Father Joseph Raya came to visit SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh at the invitation of Bishop Nicholas Elko. Father Raya celebrated the Divine Liturgy for us as well as speaking to all of the seminarians. This was a most beautiful experience. My Liturgy in the morning will be for the repose of his soul. Eternal memory, peaceful repose , with the Saints, eternal memory and peaceful repose!

Father Joseph Raya came to visit SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary in Pittsburgh at the invitation of Bishop Nicholas Elko. Father Raya celebrated the Divine Liturgy for us as well as speaking to all of the seminarians. This was a most beautiful experience. My Liturgy in the morning will be for the repose of his soul. Eternal memory, peaceful repose , with the Saints, eternal memory and peaceful repose!

Blessed repose and eternal memory to one of the greatest and most sainted bishops, a Church Father of our own time. His interventions at critical times not only for the Melkite Church but for all Eastern Catholics have surely been inspired by the Holy Spirit given their fruit.

I personally owe him so very much from his writings as well as Byzantine Daily Worship, the very first English Byzantine prayer book I owned (several copies have since been used similarly to obliteration) and the Face of God was the first book on Eastern theology and spirituality I read many, many years ago. Vichnaja pamjat.


I am confident he and Catherine Doherty are rejoicing together at the heavenly throne. May he reside in the mansions of the just, and now may he intercede for us on earth.

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 proto-priest Joseph, 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 many years of service to You and to the peoples of your holy Churches, 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 beloved Sayidna Joseph be eternal and thrice-blessed.