When I logged onto Facebook intending to acknowledge a few birthdays and move on with my day, I instead encountered a post reporting that David had unexpectedly reposed in the Lord. I knew that he had been having health issues for some time, but this was a shock that left me with tears rolling down my cheeks. David and I have been close friends online for more than a decade, here, at orthodoxchristianity.net (where he posted as
Podkarpatska), at CAF, and FB. We bonded on our common interest in the early history of the Eastern Christian communities in the US and our mutual aversion to religious zealotry on the part of fellow posters of all stripes. Just a week ago, I was mulling over the idea of driving to Binghamton this summer and meeting him for lunch in one of those all-too-rare opportunities for a real life encounter with a dear online friend. David was a devoted member of his faith, a loving family man, a gentleman, and a friend to treasure. I'll miss you, my brother!
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 continued and everlasting rest to the soul of Your departed servant, David, in a place of light, freshness, and peace, where there is neither pain, nor sorrow, nor mourning, but only life everlasting.
As You are a gracious God and the Lover of mankind, forgive him every transgression committed by him in word, thought, or deed, 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 always and forever.
May his memory be eternal and may his loved ones be comforted in the prayerful expectation of being reunited with him in Heaven.
https://www.pressconnects.com/obituaries/bps127864
