Archbishop Gregory to undergo surgery, receives award from Ukrainian Orthodox Church

— His Eminence, Archbishop Gregory [Afonsky], retired Archbishop of Sitka and Alaska, is slated to undergo surgery on Thursday, August 18, 2005.

The surgery is the Archbishop’s third in recent months.

“We ask the faithful hierarchs, clergy and monastics, and all of the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America to remember His Eminence in their prayers,” said Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, OCA chancellor. “May Our Lord, the Healer and Physician of our souls and body, fully restore him to health, that he may continue to serve the People of God for many years to come.”

In a related matter, Archbishop Gregory was awarded the Order of Saint Nester the Chronicler, First Class, by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Volodymyr of Kyiv and All Ukraine on May 10, 2005, for “his fruitful labors on behalf of the Orthodox Church.”

The award was presented to Archbishop Gregory on Sunday, August 14, by the Very Rev. John Prokopiuk, on behalf of Metropolitan Volodymyr, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, Jackson, NJ.

A native of Kyiv, Archbishop Gregory served as Bishop, and later Archbishop, of Sitka and Alaska from 1973 until his retirement in 1995. He is well known for his numerous writings, especially those in the area of Church history. In April of this year, he celebrated his 80th birthday, at which time he was awarded the Order of Saint Innocent.

The Order of Saint Nestor is one of the highest honors bestowed by the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.

Those who wish to send cards or greetings to Archbishop Gregory may send them to:

The Most Reverend Archbishop Gregory

PO Box 94

Jackson, NJ 08527-0094