Orthodox Believers In US Commemorate 20th Anniversary Of Russian Bishop Basil's Death
Mohammad Ali (@ChaudhryMAli88) Published September 17, 2019 | 02:10 AM
WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th September, 2019) Orthodox believers in the United States are commemorating 20 years of Russian Bishop Basil death, Orthodox Church in America (OCA) priest Valery Shemchuk told Sputnik.
"We will have Divine Liturgy at St. Nicholas cathedral in Washington and memorial service (panikhida) at the grave in memory of Bishop Basil," father Valery said.
Bishop Basil, whose secular name was Vladimir, was born in 1915 in the renowned Rodzianko family and his grandfather served as the last president of Russia's State Duma (Parliament) from 1911 until the Bolshevik revolution in 1917.
In 1919, Vladimir Rodzienko emigrated with his parents to the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia because the Bolsheviks issued an order to execute his family.
Vladimir Rodzienko became a priest in 1941 and served his first Liturgy under the bombardment of the Axis forces during their quest for territorial aggrandizement in the Balkans.
When the Yugoslav communists came to power and transformed Yugoslavia into a republic - a federation of six co-equal republics - Rodzianko was imprisoned for several years and then moved to the United Kingdom upon being released.
In London, Rodzianko started to work for the BBC and was broadcasting a radio program about Orthodoxy that was reportedly listened to by believers inside the so-called "iron curtain."
Upon moving to the United States, Rodzianko continued his radio broadcasts and also worked on the Committee for the Defense of Persecuted Orthodox Christians in the Soviet Union.
"Bishop Basil was an extraordinary person, a man of God," Marilyn Sweezy, who was his personal assistant for 18 years, told Sputnik. "Working with him was a living education in Orthodoxy."
Sweezy recalled how they were recording programs and delivering them to the BBC office in Washington for further broadcasting.
"I listened to all these recordings. He spoke in beautiful language of old Imperial Russia," Sweezy said.
Sweezy noted that Bishop Basil retained his love for Russia throughout his life,
Sweezy was the last person who saw the bishop alive on September 16, 1991 and found him dead the next day.
"I came to take him down to the US Archives to receive American citizenship," she said.
However, Bishop Basil got a Heavenly citizenship instead, Sweeny added.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Badar Shahbaz Warraich appointed as PM’s media coordinator
Finance Minister rules out rupee devaluation in talks with IMF
National team determined for good performance against New Zealand: Babar Azam
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 18 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 18 April 2024
Saka and Odegaard start for Arsenal, Guerreiro in Bayern midfield
Qatar PM says re-evaluating Israel-Hamas mediation role
Govt spokesperson terms allegations of PTI's Marwat against Saudi Arabia 'heinou ..
Minister appreciate UAE’s support for Pakistan economic challenges
Manchester City v Real Madrid Champions League starting line-ups
MIGA's support Pakistan in attracting foreign investments: Federal Minister for ..
Walker returns to captain Man City for Real Madrid clash
More Stories From World
-
Indonesia evacuating thousands after volcano erupts, causes tsunami threat
13 minutes ago -
Karsten Warholm: from local street race to world record
23 minutes ago -
Minister of Economy and Planning meets with Armenian Foreign Minister
23 minutes ago -
Ukraine's Olympic hero Beleniuk hopes for Russia-free Games
33 minutes ago -
Russian shelling kills one in east Ukraine
33 minutes ago -
Englishmen abroad: Kane relishes Champions League duel with Bellingham
33 minutes ago
-
5.5-Magnitude Quake Hits Fiji Islands Region
33 minutes ago -
Two arrested in Germany for allegedly spying for Russia
53 minutes ago -
China sees 141 mln cross-border travels in Q1
1 hour ago -
Number of S. Korea's farming households falls below 1 mln for 1st time
1 hour ago -
Zhang Ziyi leads starry cast in Peter Chan's 1940s Shanghai thriller
1 hour ago -
New Zealand to double renewable energy capacity to reduce emissions
1 hour ago