One an Athonite, the other a Trappist... born on opposite sides of the world, in 1907... die on the same day.
The Athonite, Fr. John of Hilandari.
Fr. John of Hilandari
The Trappist, Fr. Daniel of New Melleray.Today, Sunday 29 July 2012, the oldest living monk on Mount Athos reposed in the Lord. Fr. John of Hilandari was 105 years old. He lived at the Serbian Monastery of Hilandari.
Fr. John was born on 10 May 1907 in Serbia. Following World War 2 he emigrated to England where he stayed until the early 80's. It was during this time that his wife died and he decided to become a monk at Hilandari Monastery. Since then he never stepped foot off of the Holy Mountain.
Though he was a patriot of Serbia, he never once visited since World War 2, because, he says, "it is not the place I knew. It would not remind me of my childhood years and this would sadden me."
He lived a life of prayer and obedience. His service work all these years was as a gardener. Many remember him as the monk with bags on his knees crawling throughout the garden. - finish reading here.
Fr. Daniel Lenihan* died July 29, 2012 at 11:40 AM. He was 105 years old. Fr. Daniel entered New Melleray on May 17, 1946 and made his first profession of vows on September 12, 1948, and his solemn vows three years later. He was ordained a priest on May 3, 1955. The day and time of his funeral will be announced later.
Fr. Daniel, a native of Chicago, served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II in Europe. His duties as a monk have included construction work, laying concrete block, purchaser, guest master, spiritual director and Mass Secretary. - New Melleray
* I was blessed to know Fr. Daniel when I was at New Melleray in the novitiate. He was a wonderful, faithful monk.
Many thanks to Mark of Joe Vs. the Volcano blog for the news on Fr. John of Mt. Athos.
Heaven must have had a great party to welcome them in!
ReplyDeleteMay they enjoy the fruits of their earthly labor and drink of the divine fruits of Heaven. Thank you to both men who hae served Jesus' Holy Church with love and devotion. May they rest with Christ the Savior.
ReplyDeleteMonks stand at the forefront of the battle. We won't realize how much they've done until we enter heaven. They are a preview of heaven as those who stand around the throne of God praise God and have no desire to live in the world but to live only for God.
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing to know any of the men. May God open wide the gates of heaven and thank God for showing us how to live and what we need to know and do. He is the first in our lives and the most important without hiim we can do nothing and with him everything.
ReplyDeleteIn jesus and mary we pray Mary Laura
I was blessed to know Fr. Daniel for many years. His smile tells it all. This friend of God was my friend too. The day he died we were awaiting the results of a test that could determine life or death. I prayed to Fr. Daniel and told him this was his first job in heaven. Hours later we got the results. Life! Thanks for the help! Like in life, he cares for us in his resurrection life.
ReplyDeleteConnie May