Early in the morning on May 8, the senior-most cleric of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Pastor-Emeritus of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Redford, MI, Archimandrite Illya (Barna), reposed in the Lord.
Kindly accept my profound condolences over the demise of Very Reverend Archimandrite Illya (Barna), an outstanding pastor of the Patriarchal Parishes in USA.
Fr. Illya was a devoted pastor and had a great personality. Having miraculously survived battle during his service in the Navy during WWII, he promised to dedicate his life to the Lord. Having been obedient to the All-Merciful God, Fr. Illya spent more than 60 years serving the Church and preaching the word of Truth from the Holy Gospel. During the longstanding period of his priesthood, he became a true spiritual shepherd for the flock of Christ - serving as Rector of St. Nicholas Church in Reading, St. Michael Church in Philadelphia, St. Michaels Church in Redford and as the Dean of the Atlantic States Deanery.
As I share in the grief of the family and spiritual children of Fr. Illya, I am ardently praying to the Divine Chief Pastor, Who has called the zealous worker of Russian Orthodox Church to Him, for granting rest to the soul of late Father Illya in the dwellings of the righteous! Eternal memory be to him!
+JOHN
Bishop of Naro-Fominsk
Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA