Well done, good and faithful servant - 02/03/12
As we in Kodiak gathered at Holy Resurrection Cathedral to pray the Akathist to St. Herman last night, we learned of the repose of the servant of God the Protopresbyter Joseph Kreta. It seemed appropriate that his panikhida was prayed immediately after our prayers to St. Herman, to whom in the minds of us in Alaska Fr. Joseph's name is inexstricably linked. A man used mightily of God in the Diocese of Alaska, in his ministry at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, and as the founding dean of St. Herman Orthodox Seminary, he will be greatly missed. We extend our most sincere condolences to Matushka Maria and the rest of Fr. Joseph's family and assure them of our continued prayers for them and for the repose of the soul of the newly departed servant of God, the Protopresbyter Joseph.
This morning a panikhida was prayed at the seminary, in which our Dean, Archpriest John Dunlop, told the students that the greatest legacy of Fr. Joseph is that our seminarians remain faithful to their calling to prepare to serve the Church and people of Alaska.
As we consider the life of this faithful servant of the Lord we echo the words of the Wisdom of Solomon: "The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and they are at peace. God proved them and found them worthy for Himself. As gold in the furnace hath He tried them and received them as a burnt offering. Those who put their trust in Him shall understand the truth, and such as be faithful in love shall abide with Him; for grace and mercy is to His saints, and He hath care for His elect."
As we rededicate ourselves to the work begun by St. Herman and continued by the Protopresbyter Joseph, may we hear those words of Christ that Fr. Joseph no doubt hears from the Lord he served so faithfully: "Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord."
May his memory be eternal!