On Bright Saturday, April 26, diocesan clergy gathered in Holy Virgin Protection Church in Nyack, NY to serve the panihida and burial of Archpriest Alexis Kotar (dean of St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle, WA) who reposed in the Lord on Sunday, April 13 ‒ the great feast of Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem.

The funeral was officiated by the vicar of the Western American Diocese, Bishop Theodosius of Seattle, in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Seattle on Bright Wednesday, April 23.

Celebrating the Paschal Divine Liturgy on Saturday morning was parish rector Archpriest Elias Gorsky, co-served by Archpriest Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Archpriest George Temidis (secretary of the diocesan administration), Priests Paul Volkoff (cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral), Andrew Podymow (parish cleric), and John Kotalik (rector of St. John the Baptist OCA Church in Canonsburg, PA), Protodeacons Paul Wolkow & Eugene Kallaur (clerics of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Alexandre Sarandinaki (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Deacons Nicholas Ilyin (parish cleric), Alexis Baranoff (cleric of All Saints of Russia Church in Burlingame, CA), and Allen MacDougall (cleric of St. Nicholas Cathedral).

The singing was especially prayerful, comprised of local and guest singers under the direction of the son of the newly reposed, Gregory Kotar.

At the end of Liturgy, Fr. Elias delivered a personal eulogy, being a relative of Fr. Alexis’. A final panihida was served, with the radiant hymns of Christ’s Resurrection interspersed with those for the departed.

Fr. Alexis was interred in the cemetery of Holy Dormition Convent “Novo-Diveevo” in Nanuet, NY.

A memorial meal was held in the parish hall of Holy Protection Church, during which all offered their solace of friendship and love to the family.