A Homily by His Grace, Bishop Parthenius of Antania, Delivered During the Memorial Divine Liturgy at Plaošnik on the Occasion of the Repose of Metropolitan Timothy of Debar and Kičevo, November 26, 2024, Year of Our Lord
Your Reverences,
Honorable and Esteemed Fathers,
Revered Monks and Nuns,
Respected Mayor Mr. Kiril Pecakov,
Beloved Faithful,
Grieving Brethren,
Standing here now, with quietude in our souls and prayer in our hearts, in the sacred space of this Divine Eucharist—where Heaven and Earth unite, and mortality and decay of this age give way to the eternal Life of the Eschaton—we have heard the wondrous words spoken by the life-giving mouth of the Lord and recorded by the son of thunder: “He who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life and shall not come into judgment but has passed from death to life.” These revelatory words of the divine Economy concerning the meaning of life, fulfilled after its earthly end, instill in us the certainty that everyone who loves God and serves Him with faith and good deeds will pass from death into unending life, inheriting the joy of the Master.
In the light of this Gospel message, we offer our farewell words of gratitude and prayer for our ever-beloved, blessedly reposed Metropolitan Timothy, who dedicated his entire life to being a servant of the Son of God. Now, we bear the sacred duty of bearing witness to his works, his life, and his love for the Church of the Lamb and Shepherd. With humility, we attempt to express our respect and gratitude for his luminous example, which will remain indelibly etched in the history of our Holy Church.
We bid farewell to an archbishop who was a shepherd with the heart of a father, a wise leader, and a zealous servant of God’s Word. Among the virtues that adorned his episcopal life, his profound monastic spirit stood out most vividly. Under his blessing, the monasteries of the Diocese of Debar and Kičevo were not only restored but transformed into beacons of prayer, spirituality, and authentic monastic tradition, reflecting the ancient Athonite heritage.
With rare wisdom, Metropolitan Timothy granted monks and nuns the freedom to organize their lives according to ancient monastic typicons, bestowing upon them the blessing of Athonite autonomy. The monasteries he left behind are not only well-established but also flourishing with numerous monastics, bearing testimony to his labor and his pastoral foresight. This same approach characterized his guidance of the clergy and his administration of diocesan affairs, which he managed with prudence and determination.
We, the monks, nuns, and clergy, cherish with special love the memory of his blessed hands, which not only clothed us in the monastic schema but also ordained us to sacred orders. Each of us is a fruit of his episcopal sanctification. With love and gratitude, we can truly say that we are his spiritual children, his legacy before the throne of God.
Now, gathered around his honorable bier, we join together in prayers for the repose of his soul—monks, nuns, priests, and the faithful of our God-guarded Diocese. We believe and pray that the Lord, whom he loved and served all his life, will welcome him into the heavenly abodes, to dwell there in the light of God’s countenance, with the Most Glorious One among the sons of men, together with the righteous and all the saints.
Beloved brothers and sisters, we do not hide that our sorrow today is great, but we also bear witness to a hope that is even greater. Metropolitan Timothy, who was a pillar of our local Church, leaves behind a legacy that will continue to testify to his life filled with love for the Divine Plan and the Giver of all Good. Now that his earthly journey has concluded, we trust that the Lord will reward him with the unending joy of those who heeded His call and fulfilled their lives in service to His name. May the Lord receive him into eternal rest, into the courts of His heavenly Kingdom, where he will hear the blessed words: “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord.”
With these words, we bid farewell to our beloved Archpastor, until we meet again in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Eternal memory to you, rightly blessed and ever-remembered Vladyka!
