Statement on the Death of Archbishop Victorin

As Chairman of the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), it is my sorrowful responsibility to convey to you the news that our beloved brother in the Lord, His Eminence Archbishop Victorin (Ursache), who represented the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada in SCOBA for the past 35 years, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, July 16, 2001.

His Eminence was a much admired and highly respected spiritual presence at all our Orthodox celebrations and gatherings. His deep commitment to Orthodox cooperation on this continent was obvious in his regular participation in our biannual SCOBA meetings. Wherever and whenever there was an opportunity to offer a unified Orthodox witness, Archbishop Victorin was present. As recently as May of this year, though he had retired in February from active service, he managed to be present for the historic SCOBA gathering in Washington, DC, of 34 canonical Orthodox Bishops.

Archbishop Victorin will be missed, and it is with deep sympathy that I extend our heartfelt condolences to His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist of Romania, to His Eminence Metropolitan Teophan, locum tenens of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese, and to all the spiritual children of our beloved departed brother in Christ. May God grant him eternal memory!

Archbishop Demetrios