Today, the faithful people of God, with deep sorrow at the temporary separation and with firm hope for reunion in eternity, bid farewell to one of their beloved shepherds, Metropolitan Timothy of the Diocese of Debar and Kichevo. His honorable body was laid to rest behind the southern apse of the altar of the sacred church of Saints Clement of Ohrid and Panteleimon the Wonderworker on Plaoshnik, where he will repose beside our great Equal-to-the-Apostles Saint. The funeral bore witness to the life of a man who enriched his diocese and the Church through decades of unwavering dedication, pastoral care, and constructive labors.
Presiding over the Requiem Hierarchical Liturgy and the funeral service at the cathedral of the Archbishops of Ohrid, the Church of Saint Sophia, His Beatitude Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, Stefan, extolled the profound contributions of the late hierarch. He commended Metropolitan Timothy’s tireless efforts in restoring ancient holy sites and building new churches, as well as his archpastoral guidance, under whose blessing monasteries such as Bigorski, Prechista, Rajchica, Saint Naum, and others were renewed to their original spiritual splendor and significance.
“You labored tirelessly, and your works remain a testament to your love for Christ’s Church,” emphasized Archbishop Stefan. “You were a light among the people entrusted to you, a light atop a mountain, a light that cannot be hidden. Thanks to you, following Saint Clement, Plaoshnik shines again. It is no coincidence that your earthly resting place is beside Saint Clement, where you may continue to assist in uncovering the undiscovered and restoring the yet unrestored.”
The solemn funeral was attended by members of the Holy Synod of Bishops, as well as hierarchs from the Orthodox Churches of neighboring Bulgaria and Serbia.
The city of Ohrid, with flags lowered to half-mast, gave its metropolitan a dignified send-off. Faithful believers, clergy, and church dignitaries lauded his life’s work. On this day of mourning, Sister Ephimia from the Monastery of Saint George in Rajchica remarked to the media that Metropolitan Timothy left an enduring legacy:
“For all people, for the entire Orthodox ecumene, he will be remembered as a man whose blessings restored many churches and monasteries in our diocese. Well-organized, they became oases of peace and spirituality, where to this day the Orthodox faithful, and indeed all people, find their spiritual solace, peace, and refuge.”
The funeral of Metropolitan Timothy serves as a poignant reminder of his unyielding labor for the spiritual renewal of the Archbishopric of Ohrid and for the unity of the Orthodox people—a labor that will continue to shine as a light among the people he loved and served until his final breath.
Memory eternal!
