The faithful from the Metropolis were offered a number of opportunities to pay their respects to their spiritual father, beginning with a Divine Liturgy on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004 at the Bishop Anthony Chapel of the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco. In the evening, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America presided over a Trisagion (Prayer) Service in the Chapel.  Offering remarks following the Trisagion were Archon Theofanis Economidis, vice-president of the Metropolis Council of San Francisco; Rev. Theodore Dorrance, president of the Metropolis Clergy Syndesmos; His Grace Bishop Anthimos of Olympos; Consul General of Greece in San Francisco, Dimitrios Touloupas; Honorary Consul General of Cyprus in San Francisco, Nicholas Theophanous; His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, representing Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and Archbishop Demetrios. 

Wednesday morning began with the Divine Liturgy presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Chicago, the senior Metropolitan of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America, assisted by five priests from the Metropolis of San Francisco. 

More than 1,500 faithful attended the Funeral Service, which began at 11:00am, and was presided over by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America.  Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto represented the Ecumenical Patriarch.  Also participating in the service were Metropolitans Iakovos of Chicago, Isaiah of Denver, Alexios of Atlanta, Nicholas of Detroit, Tarasios of Buenos Aires, Bishops Anthimos of Olympos, Savas of Troas, and Gerasimos of Krateia.  In addition over one hundred priests from across the country took part in the service. Choir members from the Metropolis sang during the Divine Liturgy and the Funeral Service that followed.  The youth of the Metropolis, whom Metropolitan Anthony particularly loved and guided over the years, were dressed in traditional Greek costumes and stood as honor guards in the central aisle and by the casket of their spiritual father. The laity of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America were represented by Mr. Michael Jaharis, vice-chairman of the Archdiocesan Council and Mrs. Georgia Skeadas, president of the National Philoptochos.

At the conclusion of the funeral service, condolences for and personal memories of the departed Metropolitan were offered by Rev. John Bakas, dean of St. Sophia Cathedral in Los Angeles; Rev. Stephen Kyriacou, dean of the Annunciation Cathedral in San Francisco; Bishop John C. Wester, representing the Roman Catholic Archbishop of San Francisco William Levada; William Swing, Episcopalian Bishop of San Francisco, and Metropolitan Anthimos of Olympos.  Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto conveyed words of comfort on behalf of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and shared with the congregation thoughts, impressions and memories related to the deceased hierarch.

The Eulogy was delivered by Archbishop Demetrios, who started by expressing the gratitude of the Church to the clergy and laity, the doctors, nurses and medical personnel, who assisted Metropolitan Anthony in various ways, during the difficult time of the final weeks of his life at the hospital in Sacramento, Calif.

Then, the Archbishop highlighted three specific aspects of the legacy that Metropolitan Anthony leaves behind, the legacy of faith as a power to build and to plant (Jeremiah 1:9-10), the legacy of faith as freedom, liberation and independence (Galatians 5:13) and the legacy of faith as joy (John 16:11).

At the time of his death, he was surrounded by clergy, family and friends, including his sisters, Eleni Koniaris and Chrysoula Antonopoulos and their families, and his sister-in-law, Giannoula Gergiannakis, and her family. Metropolitan Anthony was pre-deceased by his brothers, Mihalis Gergiannakis and George Gergiannakis, and a sister, Stella Roumeliotakis.  He also leaves behind twelve nephews and nieces and a number grand nephews and grand nieces.

In announcing the passing of Metropolitan Anthony, Bishop Anthimos of Olympos, a close friend and assistant at the Metropolis, noted “Although we are deeply saddened by the passing of this very dynamic hierarch of the Church, we are confident he is with the Lord. The Lord took him on Christmas Day, as if to remind us that his entire life and ministry were a gift to us, to his family, to the Church.” Assisted by Fr. Stephen Kyriacou, the Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral, the Bishop administered “last rites” prior to the Metropolitan’s death and conducted a Trisagion (memorial service) immediately following.

Metropolitan Anthony’s body will lie in state in the Bishop Anthony Chapel of the Annunciation Cathedral from Monday, December 27, through Tuesday evening, December 28. The faithful are invited to pay their respects and sign the Book of Condolences on Monday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. and also on Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.  Orthros (Matins) will be celebrated on Tuesday at 9 a.m., with a Divine Liturgy following. The Liturgy will conclude at 12 noon. That evening, a Trisagion Service will be celebrated, beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Cathedral is located at 245 Valencia Street, San Francisco.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, December 29 at the Ascension Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland, beginning with Orthros (Matins) at 7 a.m., and followed by the Divine Liturgy, at 8:30 a.m. The Funeral Office will be sung at 11 a.m.  Until preparations are finalized for Metropolitan Anthony’s final resting place at the Monastery of the Theotokos the Life-Giving Spring, in Dunlap, California, in accordance with his wishes, he will be entombed temporarily in the Greek Orthodox Memorial Park in Colma.   Also, in accordance with Metropolitan Anthony’s expressed wishes, donations to the Heritage Museum are requested. Checks should be forwarded to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of San Francisco, 372 Santa Clara Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94127.

A resident of San Francisco for the last 26 years, Metropolitan Anthony emerged from humble and austere beginnings.  The son of Emmanuel and Eleftheria Gergiannakis, he was born in the village of Avgeniki on the island of Crete, Greece, the third of six children, growing up during the brutally difficult years of the Nazi occupation.  He was the first member of his family to leave the village, attending the ecclesiastical school of Chania, Crete, and ultimately graduating from the internationally renowned Halki Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1960.  He was ordained a deacon on July 27, 1958, and a priest on September 29, 1960.  After his ordination to the priesthood, he came to the United States to pursue postgraduate studies and serve the Church in this country.  While serving as a parish priest, he earned a Masters of Divinity at Yale University and pursued doctoral studies in Contemporary Church History at the University of Chicago, and in Russian and Balkan History at the University of Wisconsin.  In 1974, he was appointed Dean of the St. George Cathedral in Montreal, Canada, where he remained until his elevation to the episcopacy on May 21, 1978.  As titular Bishop of Amissos, he served the Eighth Archdiocesan District in Denver, Colorado, until his election as Bishop of San Francisco in 1979.

Metropolitan Anthony was enthroned as the first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of San Francisco on June 7, 1979.  He served as the Bishop and later Metropolitan of San Francisco for over twenty-five years, overseeing the western states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.  During that time, he was responsible for a tremendous expansion of ministries and programs, an unparalleled period of ferment and renewal.  His tenure saw the founding of over twenty new parishes and missions in the Metropolis of San Francisco, nearly one parish for each year of his ministry, as well as the establishment of three monasteries.  He was the founder of St. Nicholas Ranch, the Greek Orthodox conference and retreat center located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  He was also the driving force behind the construction of the Monastery of the Theotokos the Life-Giving Spring on the premises of St. Nicholas Ranch.  He developed the annual Metropolis Folk Dance Festival into the largest exhibition of authentic Greek folk dance, costume, and music in the world.  Together with the Metropolis Philoptochos, he created the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund, a multi-million dollar scholarship account providing funding for seminarians and students from the Metropolis to attend Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.  He served as a member of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America.  He proved a source of inspiration for countless thousands, not only Greek Orthodox faithful, but also religious and civic figures who recognized in him a great leader and a true man of faith.

Metropolitan Anthony will be remembered for his enthusiasm, his vigor, and his prophetic vision for the Metropolis of San Francisco.  He challenged his faithful to be more than we believed we could be, to accomplish more than we ever thought possible, to dream great dreams and to make them a reality.  A source of inspiration for countless thousands, not only Greek Orthodox faithful, but also religious and civic figures who recognized in him a great leader and a true man of faith, his presence and legacy will be felt for generations to come.

Contact: Frosene Phillips

frosene@comcast.net
www.goarch.org/en/special/met_anthony

In announcing the passing of Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios of America, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church in America, deeply moved, issued the following statement:

“Today, at the evening of Christmas day, a very prominent and beloved Hierarch of our Church in America, Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco, was called by Jesus Christ our Lord to leave this perishable world, and meet Him, and be forever with Him in the company of the saints and the righteous.  His life epitomizes the statement by St. Paul the Apostle, ‘If we live we live to the Lord, and if we die we die to the Lord’ (Rom. 14:8).

Deeply saddened by the sudden separation, we are comforted by the certainty that our beloved brother is with God, leaving behind a precious legacy of a total dedication to Christ and His Church, an amazing episcopal work, a remarkably strong love for the people, a burning passion for Orthodoxy, and a joy for multidimensional ministry.  We are sure that now the Holy Metropolis of San Francisco has a permanent, strong ambassador to God in the person of her departed Hierarch and we fervently pray for the repose of his soul among the great saints and pastors of the triumphant Church in heaven.” 

According to Father Paul Schroeder,  Chancellor of the Metropolis of San Francisco, a Trisagion (Prayer) Service will be held at the Annunciation Cathedral, San Francisco on Tuesday, December 28 and the Divine Liturgy and the funeral service will take place on Wednesday, December 29 at the Ascension Cathedral, Oakland, CA.

Archbishop Demetrios will preside over the Divine Liturgy and funeral service at the Cathedral. In both services, members of the Holy Eparchial Synod will concelebrate with the Archbishop, assisted by clergy of the Metropolis.

Metropolitan Anthony was enthroned as the first bishop of the newly-created Diocese of San Francisco on June 7, 1979.  He served as the Bishop and later Metropolitan of San Francisco for over twenty-five years, overseeing the western states of California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii.

Metropolitan Anthony was born March 2, 1935 in the village of Avgeniki on the island of Crete, Greece, the third of six children, growing up during the brutally difficult years of the Nazi occupation.  He attended the ecclesiastical school of Chania, Crete; following graduation he entered the internationally renowned Halki Theological School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, receiving his degree in Orthodox Theology in 1960. He was ordained a deacon on July 27, 1958, and a priest on September 29, 1960. 

After his ordination to the priesthood, he came to the United States to pursue graduate studies and serve the Church in this country.  While serving as a parish priest, he earned a Masters of Divinity at Yale University and pursued doctoral studies in Contemporary Church History at the University of Chicago, and in Russian and Balkan History at the University of Wisconsin.  In 1974, he was appointed Dean of the St. George Cathedral in Montreal, Canada, where he remained until his elevation to the episcopacy on May 21, 1978.  As titular Bishop of Amissos, he served the Eighth Archdiocesan District in Denver, Colorado, until his election as Bishop of San Francisco in 1979.

During that time, he was responsible for a tremendous expansion of ministries and programs, an unparalleled period of vitality and renewal.  His tenure saw the founding of over twenty new parishes and missions in the Metropolis of San Francisco, as well as the establishment of three monasteries.  He was the founder of St. Nicholas Ranch, the Greek Orthodox Conference and Retreat Center located in the Sierra Nevada foothills.  He was also the driving force behind the construction of the Monastery of the Theotokos the Life-Giving Spring on the premises of  St. Nicholas Ranch. 

Metropolitan Anthony of San Francisco developed the annual Metropolis Folk Dance Festival into the largest exhibition of authentic Greek folk dance, costume, and music in the world.  Together with the Metropolis Philoptochos, he created the Bishop Anthony Student Aid Endowment Fund, a multi-million dollar scholarship account providing funding for seminarians and students from the Metropolis to attend Hellenic College and Holy Cross School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts.  He served as a member of the Holy Eparchial Synod of the Archdiocese of America.  He proved a source of inspiration for countless thousands, not only Greek Orthodox faithful, but also religious and civic figures who recognized in him a great leader and a true man of faith.