A
Pannikhida Over the Coffin of General Anton Denikin is Held at the
Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York
photo-report
On
September 28, at 11 am, the clergymen and worshipers of the Synodal
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign in New York City greeted the coffin
containing the remains of General Anton Ivanovich Denikin. A choir
sang the troparion “Save o Lord Thy people.” Protopriest Andrei
Sommer, Senior Priest of the Cathedral, then performed a brief litiya.
At
12 noon, before the beginning of the solemn pannikhida, Priest Serafim
Gan addressed those who gathered with a eulogy, during which he
said:
“In
the history of our Russia, the word ‘white’ was always synonymous
with the term ‘free.’ Moreover, the word ‘white’ was a legal term
equating ‘free.’ In the book Domostroi, ‘white land’ meant ‘free
land.’ It has even been suggested that ‘White Russia’ first meant
‘free Russia not occupied by the Tatars.’ Grand Duke Ivan III was
called the ‘white sovereign’ because he freed Russia from the Tatars,
while Serbian monks on Mount Athos called our Russian rulers ‘white’
tsars and sovereigns, because they carried with them the idea of
freedom.
“Therefore,
the Russian idea of ‘white’ is that of freedom and independence.
This idea corresponds with our Russian civil ideology, which was
always that of a free and independent Russian state.
‘In
this now is our white idea,’ wrote IA Ilyin. ‘Our Homeland gave
us spiritual freedom, all that is finest and most valuable is infused
with it: the Orthodox faith, our military valor, our heartfelt,
lyrical art, our very spiritual life and way. To betray this freedom
would be to betray this divine gift and to betray oneself.’
“The
White Movement gave birth to our White Russian emigration, which
over the course of decades battled the godless regime, faithfully
preserving Orthodoxy and the great Russian culture, not only keeping
it but expanding upon it. Many labored, much was created by our
ancestors, the builders of Russia Abroad, who loved and treasured
this wondrous gift Ilyin speaks of, handing it down to future generations.
“I
think that the example of the love and devotion to their Motherland
and the selfless service to their neighbors can be a firm foundation
for the renewal of our society, to foster the spirit of patriotism
within it and dedication to the traditions of our Russian Church.
“Prayerfully
remembering General Denikin today, and all the warriors who took
upon their great shoulders the task of standing up for our faith
and the freedom of Russia, let us pray that we become worthy heirs
of the faith and loyalty of our glorious ancestors, who are worthy
of our emulation in their efforts for Russian Orthodoxy, and let
us preserve their legacy. Amen.”
The
pannikhida then began, headed by Protopriest Peter Holodny along
with Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Priest Serafim Gan, Priest George
Zelenin, Priest Joakim Provatakis, Priest Serguei Serjanov, and
Protodeacon Eugene Burbelo and Deacon Dimitri Temidis. A male choir
under the direction of Peter A Fekula sang antiphonally with the
male choir of Sretensky Monastery of Moscow. During the pannikhida,
military flags were held by representatives of the Cadet Union near
General Denikin’s coffin.
After
the pannikhida, a trapeza was offered at the Synodal hall prepared
by Warden Vladimir K Galitzine and the Cathedral’s Sisterhood. Protopriest
Peter Holodny spoke, as did EN Chavchavadze, Director of the Department
of Presidential Programs of the Russian Cultural Fund, and the singers
of both choirs sang several compositions and Russian folk songs.
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