Congratulations pour in to Archbishop Andronik on his 10 year anniversary as Bishop

Your Eminence, Abp. Andronik, bless!

Today as we commemorate the Great Martyr Catherine, we also celebrate another significant date for our community, the anniversary of your archpastoral consecration. In 2007, already so long ago, you acted as your heavenly protector, “the father of all believers” Patriarch Abraham did and departed “from his house” and “went forth without knowing whence.” (Heb. 9:8). But like him, you knew that the Lord, “_is your shield and you must obey the voice of the Lord, and keep His commandments, statutes and laws … _”

The Lord called you to the Apostolic Ministry in the most difficult period in the life of the ROCA. The Lord defined a path of sorrows and a bearing of the cross for you. In the words of the apostle, many “troubles” awaited you. “Woes on the sea, on land, misfortunes from relatives and misfortunes from false brothers.”

It was necessary to organize the spiritual life in new parishes, to form a diocese, to unite the divided and “to gather up the scattered.” You, as a true archpastor, founded your ministry on the Savior’s words, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). And when the wretched despots, who call themselves “teachers, fathers and mentors” in the ROCA substituted the Truth with ideology and the Will of God with human arbitrariness, the Grace of God gave you the spiritual discernment to know how to save your flock and begin life again with Christ and in Christ.

Dear Vladyka, we prayerfully wish that you may, “maintain the service that you have received from the Lord and may you complete it.” (Col. 4:17)

Holy Trinity Parish in Astoria