+Deacon Michael Bishop: Memory Eternal
September 24-25 our parish and many fellow Orthodox Christians and friends prayed in our church for the repose and blessed memory of Deacon Michael Bishop who departed from this life on September 19, 2021. On Friday evening, September 24th approximately 100 people attended the visitation in church, during which a panikhida was served by Fr. John along with Archpriest Theodore Boback (Rector of St. Andrew Church, Baltimore (OCA)), Archpriest Alexey Bocharnikov (Rector of St. Nicholas Church, Chester, PA), Priest Robert Miclean (Rector of Holy Archangels Mission, Annapolis, MD (OCA)), Deacon Michael Ardan and Deacon Michael Sidorochev (both from St. Nicholas Church, Chester, PA).
Then, on Saturday morning, September 25th, more than 100 people attended the funeral service which was served by Fr. John along with the following clergy: Priest Gregory Winsky (Cleric of Holy Trinity Church), Priest Timothy Barkley (Rector of St. James Church, Taneytown, MD (Antiochian)), Priest Joshua Burnett (Rector of Holy Cross Church, Linthicum, MD (Antiochian)), Priest Damian Dantinne (Cleric of St. John Cathedral, Washington, DC (ROCOR)) and Deacon Michael Ardan. Other clergy and laity from several Orthodox churches in the Baltimore/Washington region and from neighboring states attended the memorial services. Also attending were representatives from the Baltimore City Council, Baltimore Police Department and Chaplaincy Program, Baltimore City Detention Center, Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, and some of the community organizations of which Deacon Michael was a member. Most of those who attended the funeral then proceeded to the cemetery for the burial, followed by the remembrance meal conducted in our outdoor pavilion.
We sincerely thank the members of our Parish Council for the overall coordination of the funeral, members of our Sisterhood and volunteers who prepared the remembrance meal and for the choir for their beautiful singing at both memorial services. Also, we offer our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who made so many generous donations to the Deacon Michael Memorial Fund, which after covering the costs of the funeral, will be designated to support the charitable projects Deacon Michael helped to coordinate. Thank you for your kindness and prayers. Memory Eternal to Fr. Michael.