His Eminence Archbishop Job: A Love of Music and Life
by Archpriest John Adamcio
Come of faithful, let us work zealously for the Master, for He distributes wealth to His servants. Let each of us according to our ability increase our talent of grace…. Let (one) celebrate a service in splendor…
Apostikha, Great and Holy Tuesday Matins
It is indeed difficult to limit one’s thoughts and reminiscences of His Eminence to just a few paragraphs, or pages for that matter. But I will try.
Given the concept that human beings have a spark of divinity in them implanted at their Chrismation, His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle (of thrice blessed memory) would always exhort his flock to be aware of the Divine in order to become truly human. Archbishop Job was a true human being, with many strengths and some weaknesses; his life was based on profound faith in, and love for, our Lord Jesus Christ. He was committed to his High Priesthood, his flock, his family.
On the reverse of the Russian Mission Priest’s Cross is engraved this verse from St. Paul’s First Epistle to Timothy: Be an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity (I Tim 4:12) something which His Eminence strove to follow. He loved, and was loved, admired, and respected. He held strong friendships, though he was at times ridiculed and betrayed. Yet through his life, he maintained the dignity of his personal self and high office.
I first met Vladyka in September of 1966. The seminarians from St Tikhon’s sang the responses for the Funeral of a Priest for my father, Priest Stephen Adamcio. We would later renew our acquaintance when I entered St. Tikhon’s in 1969 as a freshman seminarian. His Eminence was in his last year of theological studies; I, the first of the five-year program. Soon, our acquaintance would become a strong, lasting friendship
Vladyka always wanted to be a parish priest. Following his graduation from seminary, he accepted a position as choir director for St. John the Baptist Church in Black Lick, PA. However, when the pastor took a new assignment, Vladyka remained at St. John’s, ministering to the faithful to the best of his ability. There were many reader services and trips to the Altoona-Johnstown Deanery Mission Services during this time. His mission was to keep the parish together until a new priest could be assigned. His interactions with his flock included many water balloon “fights” with the children of the parish. He was always approachable and self-sacrificing, caring for the spiritual needs of the parish. Though there was little monetary compensation, his love for the parish was evident. The Lord (and parishioners) took care of him during these times, until his ordination to the Holy Priesthood and subsequent entrance into the monastic life.
Vladyka had a gift for iconography. He was able to support himself by doing iconography for many people and churches in the local area. He would later expand his iconography to various parishes throughout the country, one in particular in Ft. Lauderdale, FL where I was then pastor.
He also had a love for, and experience with bells. He was the main bell ringer at St. Tikhon’s Monastery during his seminary career, developing many ringing patterns. I was able to assist him on many occasions.
His Eminence loved the liturgical services, especially the music. His express interest was his love for the “Plain Chant” of the Carpatho-Rusyn people: prostopenia. An excellent baritone, he would travel with the seminary mission choir, visiting many parishes throughout the country.
Celebrating the Divine Services correctly with grace and dignity were of vital importance to him. He served with his entire heart and soul! He truly believed in and followed the directive of the aforementioned apostikha. Whenever he did not con-celebrate, he would follow the services on the kliros, being deep in prayer.
All through the difficulties Vladyka encountered, his iconography and music were a stabilizing and comforting force in his life, especially during some very dark times.
A legacy Archbishop Job gave to the Orthodox Church was his composition of “A New Commandment,” which has taken the country by storm! He did much original music writing, drawing on the influence of what he defined as “The Sacred Carpatho-Russian Chant.” In his two major works: the “Paraklisis” and the “Canon of St. Andrew of Crete.” set to this chant, he brings out the deep, spiritual beauty of not only the text of these services, but the unique melodies and harmonies herein revealed. To this end, His Eminence gathered together men from the Chicago area to form the St. Alexis Male Chorus of Greater Chicago, as well as the Schola Cantorum. Though his original intent was to continue refining these musical settings and developing the Cantorum and Chorus, his untimely death put an end to this dream.
Vladyka loved music, especially related to the Church and liturgical services. During Matins for Great and Holy Friday, he would sing the Fifteenth Antiphon in the Byzantine chant. It was soul stirring, touching the very core of one’s heart. He would also sing the Hymn of Cassiani in the Byzantine chant as well, again deeply touching the soul.
Vladyka loved music, mummy movies, and being with the youth, especially those young men in whom he sensed a calling to the Holy Priesthood. He did much work with youth, especially in the Diocese of New England. There, with the help of many clergy, notably Hierodeacon Roman (Skvarnavicius) of blessed memory, the youth rallies were hugely successful.
Matushka Melania and I are better for knowing and being able to work with His Eminence for many years, especially during our time at Holy Trinity Cathedral. He was a support, encouragement, mentor, pastor, father, bishop, and friend.
A phrase from the Funeral of a Priest lingers in my mind and heart, and perhaps it would behoove us to remember it: My beloved brethren, forget me not when you sing to the Lord, but call to mind our brotherhood, and pray fervently to God, that with the righteous the Lord will give me rest.
May his Memory truly be Eternal!