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Our
Patriarch
Passed Awayby Reverend Dr. Doru Costache
On the 30th
July 2007, the clock
ceased to count the moments for
Patriarch Teoctist, allowing his soul
to extend its wings toward the horizon
without setting of the Kingdom.
Of course, many things may be stated about the activity of a hierarch
who dedicated to the service of the Church more than seventy years ofhis life; I am certain that those who knew him closely can bear
testimony to all these. I would like however to add to this cloud of
witnesses a personal detail, which I have never shared till now outside
a small circle of close friends. It was more than four years ago. I do
not remember the reasons why the Patriarch invited me to his office.
What I am certain of is the fact that, arriving early in the morning, to
my surprise I found together with His Beatitude one of the spiritual
fathers of the patriarchal cathedral. By the end of the meeting, and
with no relation to the discussion, the Patriarch made a comment
which probably I will never forget. In short, he observed that even the
professors and lecturers of the theological faculty need a spiritual
father and the sacrament of confession indicating to the father next
to him and who kept silence throughout the meeting. I remained
speechless. It was as if he was able to read my soul: it happened that
(although strange to my habits) those days I have been without a
spiritual guide for almost a year. Anyway, I left touched by the
observation of the Father, also amazed by what looked to me as being
a manifestation of the gift of clear vision
It is likely that testimonies of this kind are as necessary as any of the
details of a public biography, in order to give contour to a personal
profile, putting in relief less visible aspects of such a biography. And
even if the Patriarch will remain in the collective memory of the
faithful for various dimensions of his activity, I shall keep the memory
of that meeting and of the words that were fatherly told to me.
May his memory be eternal!
Reverend
Dr. Doru CostachePEACE AND HARMONY
anulXXXII
M
ay-July2007
The Revd. Dr. Doru Costache
64 Linthorn Avenue
Enfield South, NSW 2133
Dear Fr. Doru
I am writing on behalf of the New
South Wales Ecumenical Council to ask
if you can pass on to the Romanian
Orthodox community in Sydney theshare sorrow of our member Churches
on hearing of the death of His
Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist.
We give thanks for all that His
Beatitude contributed to the
development of the Church in the face
of the chances and changes of political
and contemporary life and we join our
prayers with the Romanian Orthodox
Church at this time.
May God continue to bless you and the
Romanian Orthodox faithful in your
important ministries and strengthen you
by the Holy Spirit in all that you are
and do in Christ.
Yours in the Love of Christ,
Rev. Dr. Jonathan Inkpin
General Secretary
NSW Ecumenical Council
NSW
ECUMENICAL
COUNCIL INC.