On Monday, October 10, the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA bade farewell to one her senior-most clerics, Archpriest John Kassatkin who reposed in the Lord on October 6.

On Sunday evening, October 9, the dean of the Eastern States, Priest Julian Ryabtsev served the Funeral Rite for a Priest co-served by clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes and other local jurisdictions. The church was filled with faithful who wished to raise up their prayers for their departed pastor.

On Monday morning, the Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Archpriest George Konyev celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Elevation of the Cross Church in Hackettstown, NJ co-served by Archpriest Basil Micek (rector of Sts. Peter & Paul Church in Scranton, PA), Archpriest Michael Lepa (parish administrator of St. Nicholas Church in Wilkes Barre, PA), Archpriest John Vass (dean of the Atlantic States), Abbot Nicodemus (Balyasnikov; dean of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Archpriest Igor Tarasov (rector of St. George Church in Bayside, NY), Priest Julian Ryabtsev (dean of the Eastern States), Priest Andrew Massey (parish rector) and Priest Nicholas DeGraaff (cleric of Three Saints Church in Garfield, NJ).

Singing at the Divine Liturgy was a combined choir of choristers from Three Saints Church in Garfield, NJ and the parish, under the direction of Rdr. George Konyev.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy, a memorial litiya was served, after which the body of the newly-reposed Archpriest John was brought in procession around the church which he had served for almost forty years, with the singing of the Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.

Archpriest John was interred in Sts. Peter & Paul Cemetery in Saddle Brook, NJ amongst other departed priests of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.

Photos: Priest Nicholas DeGraaff