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[[Image:inla.jpg|frame|right|thumb| 150pxl|Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco (center)]]

==His Eminence Archbishop '''Anthony (Medvedev) of San Francisco===== Introduction ===On September 23, at 12:10 pm, ''' was the Ruling Archbishop first ruling [[bishop]] of the [[Diocese of San Francisco and Western America (ROCOR)|Western American Diocese ]] of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Archbishop Anthony, died]]. Vladyka Anthony led the Western American Diocese over the course He served as bishop of 32 years—not one Orthodox bishop in the USA held a cathedra San Francisco for such a long period of time. With the death of Archbishop Anthony, one of the last threads connecting us to pre-revolutionary Russia has been broken, a bond to the tradition of old Russian monasticism, with a direct succession of the spirit of the founders of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russiathirty two years. Archbishop Anthony He was the last bishop of the Russian Church who was born and raised in pre-revolutionary Russia, having assumed the monkhood at an early age, and who knew the great abba, Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky) of blessed memory.

Thirty-two years ago, on the Veneration of the Cross during Great Lent, Vladyka ==Life==[[Archbishop]] Anthony, newly appointed by the Council of Bishopsborn Artemii Sergeevich Medvedev, arrived from Australia. There were 16 parishes was born in 1908 in the Western American Diocese Vilnius and studied at the timePetrovsky Poltavsky Cadet Corps. The Parish of During the Catheral had not yet recovered from the difficult period of the construction of the new church. In the 1960's, the Diocese was divided into two parts[[w:Russian_Civil_War|Russian Civil War]], the Western American Diocese and the Southern Californian Diocese. There were a few parishes directly subject to the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. There were two cadet organizations and two scout organizations. With the arrival of His Eminence Archbishop Anthony he served in San Francisco, a period of healing, a period of the restoration of peace and unity began. Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky) of blessed memory would speak Crimean Cadet Corps of the main, brightest White Army and most endearing trait of Archbishop Anthony, his love: "It makes peace among those who quarrel and softens angry and spiteful hearts, it acts upon them like a balm poured into roiling seaswas evacuated from Sevastopol to Yugoslavia as hostilities ended."

At the age of 22, he entered the Entrance of the Mother of God Monastery. He considered himself a student of the Superior of [[Milkovo Monastery]], [[Image:serbssacrament.jpgSchema]]-Archimandrite [[Ambrosius (Kurganov)]].

Metropolitan Anastassy was not mistaken[[Image:vladykaantony. Over those 32 years, the Western American Diocese became one of the most well-organized in the Russian diaspora. A period of peaceful and amicable constructiveness began at the Cathedral. Under jpg|left|thumb|150pxl|Archbishop Anthony, the construction and frescos were completed, and the Cathedral consecrated. The parish built a new hall with premises for the SS Cyril and Methodius High School. The number of parishes grew to 35. A series of English-language missions was established in the Diocese, a hospital for the aging and the first Orthodox "lycee," in honor of St John of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle-worker. The Southern Californian Diocese was attached to the Western American Diocese, the two cadet organizations merged, the scout organizations did as well.]]

So many prayersIn 1932, so much love, patience, wisdom and humility Artemii Sergeevich was needed from Archbishop Anthony to heal the wounds, to unite everyone, [[tonsure]]d a [[monk]] and then to maintain peace and unity! The Russian writer Vladimir Soloukhin, describing his first meeting with Archbishop Anthony (see given the story "Plokhoi soborЙ" name [Bad Council[Anthony] in the anthology Smekh za levym plechom [Laughter Over the Left Shoulder]). In 1934, wrote: "The doors opened he was [to the residence of Vladyka Anthony—P.P.[ordination|ordained]] and I saw a gray-hairedhierodeacon, gray-bearded elder, opening his arms followed in 1938 as though to embrace me, as though a father to his prodigal son." This is how Vladyka Anthony greeted everyone who came to seek his counselhieromonk.

Archbishop In 1956, Archimandrite Anthony, born Artemii Sergeevich Medvedev, was born in 1908 in Vilnius and studied at the Petrovsky Poltavsky Cadet Corps. During the Civil Warconsecrated Bishop of Melbourne, he was evacuated from Sevastopol to Yugoslavia, where in the White Army he finished [[auxiliary bishop|Vicar]] of the Crimean Cadet Corps Australian Diocese of the White ArmyROCOR. At the age of 22In Australia, he entered worked closely with the Entrance of Russian liturgist Protopriest Rostislav Gan. Bp. Anthony also work there with the Mother of God Monastery. He considered himself a student future First Hierarch of the Superior of Milkovo MonateryROCOR, Schema-Archimandrite Ambrosius Metropolitan [[Philaret (KurganovVoznesensky), of which he wrote the work "Nemnogoletnii starets" [Young elder] New York|Philaret (Pravoslavniy put', 1952Voznesensky)]].

In 1932, After the future Archbishop repose of Abp. [[John Maximovitch|John of Shanghai and San Francisco]] in 1964 Bp. Anthony was tonsured into assigned to the monkhood, vacant Western American [[cathedra]] in 1934 ordained a hierodeacon, and San Francisco arriving there in 1938, a hieromonk1968. In MilkovoAlso, Fr Anthony bore the duty of ecclesiarch. During World War II, Hieromonk Anthony was a military chaplain in the Russian Corps and the Russian Liberation Movement. In the interim, 1968 he found himself at was elevated to the Monastery of St Job rank of Pochaev in the Carpathian Mountains[[archbishop]]. Since thenWherever he served, Fr Vladyka Anthony developed a strong bond paid special attention to work with that brotherhoodyoung people and parish schools. After Through his efforts the war, Fr Anthony moved with the brotherhood to Holy Trinity Monastery decisiveness that had arisen in San Francisco earlier in Jordanville, NY, where he fell under the spiritual leadership of Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko), who led him to missionary workdecade Abp. Heguman, and later Archimandrite, Anthony opened a series of new parishes in places where Russian refugees gathered, was able to restored peace and also temporarily served as administrator of unity within the parishes of Western Canada[[diocese]].

In 1978, Abp. Anthony became a member of the [[Image:inmelbourneHoly Synod|Synod of Bishops]] and took part in organizing the Councils of Bishops. As hegumen and archimandrite, he prepared the [[Typikon]] with instructions for divine services as an addendum to the Holy Trinity Monastery Calendar. He was active in maintaining the church Ustav (rule of services) and divine services.jpgUnder the direction of the Synod of Bishops, he prepared texts for the services for St [[Herman of Alaska]], St [[John of Kronstadt]], and St John of Shanghai and San Francisco, as well as the prayers to [[All Russian Saints]], and St [[Xenia of St. Petersburg|Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg]]. Abp. Anthony wrote the entire service to the [[New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia]]. Abp. Anthony was active in the preparation work for the glorification of St John of Shanghai. Abp. Anthony headed the committee responsible for examination of the remains of St John in 1993, as well as performing all the preparations for his glorification, including composing most of the service to St John.

=== From Melbourne By the end of 1999, Abp Anthony's health began to falter. On [[January 1]], 2000 he was granted a leave of absence by the See Synod of San Francisco ===Bishops for rest and medical treatment in order to regain his health. During this time Bp. Kyrill (Dmitrieff) of Seattle was assigned as temporary administrator of the Western American Diocese. During the year, Abp. Anthony continued to conduct services as his health allowed. By September 2000, his health had deteriorated greatly, and on [[September 22]], 2000 Abp. Anthony reposed in Our Lord.

In 1956A funeral liturgy was served on [[September 25]] in San Francisco before his remains were sent to New York, Archimandrite Anthony where a monastic funeral and burial service was consecrated Bishop of Melbourneconducted on [[September 28]] at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, Vicar of the Australian Dioceseas Abp Anthony had requested. Abp. In AustraliaLaurus, he was especially close to the famous Russian liturgist Protopriest Rostislav Gan, and also to the future First Hierarch Superior of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of RussiaMonastery, officiated, Metropolitan Philaret along with [[Alypy (VoznesenskyGramanovich)of Chicago|Abp. After the repose Alypy of Archbishop John of Shanghai Chicago and San Francisco the Miracle-workerDetroit]], the vacant Western American cathedra was filled by Bishop AnthonyBp. In 1968Kyrill of Seattle, he arrived in San Francisco and that same year was elevated to the rank [[Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Manhattan|Bp. Gabriel of archbishopManhattan]]. Wherever he servedAlso, Vladyka Anthony paid special attention to work with young people in attendance were Bps. [[Evtikhii of Ishim and Siberia]] and [[Mitrophan (Znosko-Borovsky) of Boston|Mitrofan of Boston]] and parish schoolsabout 50 priests.

From 1978 on, Vladyka Anthony was a member {{start box}}{{succession|before=''unknown''|title=Bishop of the Synod of Bishops and helped organize Councils of Bishops. As hegumen and archimandrite, he prepared and edited the Typikon with instructions for divine services—the addendum to the Holy Trinity Monastery Calendar. He was a magnificent scholar of the church Ustav Melbourne <br>(Rule of servicesROCOR) and divine services and as instructed by the Synod of Bishops, he prepared texts for the services for St Herman of Alaska, St |years=1956-1968|after=''unknown''}}{{succession|before=[[John (Maximovitch) of Kronstadt (together with St John San Francisco]]|title=Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco the Miracle<br>(ROCOR)|years=1968-worker2000|after=[[Kyrill (Dmitrieff), and the prayer to All Russian Saints, and St Blessed Xenia of St Petersburg. Archbishop Anthony wrote the entire service to the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia. Archbishop Anthony will be noted by history as the main inspiration for the glorification of the great saint of the 20th century, St John of Shanghai. Vladyka Anthony headed the examination of the remains of St John in 1993, and also performed all the preparations for his glorification, including composing most of the service to St John.San Francisco|Kyrill (Dmitrieff)]]|}}{{end box}}

=== "O Death, Where is thy Sting?" === At the end of 1999, Archbishop Anthony's health began to falter. Vladyka did not spare himself for the sake of the Church, and ignored his weakness until he could no longer walk and read without great difficulty.  The Synod of [[Category: Bishops granted him leave of absence starting on January 1, 2000, in order to regain his health, and the temporary administration of the Western American Diocese was given to Bishop Kyrill of Seattle. During his treatment, Vladyka Anthony still tried to attend all the main church services. He conducted all the services of Passion Week and Pascha that year. Despite his poor vision, he read the divine services, often by heart. After Pascha, Vladyka Anthony was hospitalized for extended treatment, and since then often lay in the hospital or in bed at home. He performed his final service on the Transfiguration of the Lord—his physicians allowed him to travel to the church from the hospital that day. He prepared himself all week for the service, thinking about how he would perform liturgy in a wheelchair (he was no longer able to walk then), and when he would rise to his feet. The Cathedral decided to celebrate his recent namesday on the day of the Transfiguration. There were no words to describe the joy Vladyka Anthony felt in seeing his flock and serving divine liturgy. After liturgy and a moleben to St Anthony the Roman, a trapeza was held during which Vladyka heard congratulatory greetings. That evening he returned to the hospital. At the beginning of September, Archbishop Anthony was released to return home. On September 10, on the day of St Job of Pochaev, Archbishop Anthony attended service at the Cathedral. He prayed at early liturgy and communed of the Holy Gifts, then venerated the icon of St Job and the relics of St John, turned to his flock and left the Cathedral. After liturgy, the doctor, examining the feet of Vladyka Anthony, said that he must immediately go to the hospital, or he would die of gangrene. Vladyka Anthony decided to wait, however, to hear on the speakers wired his room the remainder of the all-night vigil on the eve of the feast day of the Beheading of St John the Baptist, and after liturgy on September 11, which he also listened to, he was taken to the hospital. Vladyka Anthony's health weakened every day. He tried to conceal his great pain, but it was apparent to his visitors. Archbishop Anthony's spiritual father, Protopriest Stefan Pavlenko, administered Communion to him on Tuesday, September 19, and the last three days, one or another of his clergy spent all night in Vladyka's hospital room with him. On Thursday, Vladyka Anthony's condition worsened drastically, he reacted little to his visitors, and concentrated on his condition. On Friday, September 22, at around 11 pm, Vladyka Anthony received Christ's Mysteries for the last time. His breathing was very labored. Two priests read the Canon on the departure of the soul from the body, as the parishioners of the Cathedral who had gathered sang. After the canon, those present sang Vladyka's beloved Sticherion of the Cross, and a tear welled up in his right eye—he heard and understood everything! === Vladyka's Funeral ===]][[ImageCategory:funeral.jpg20th-century bishops]] Then they bid farewell to their archpastor, asking his forgiveness and blessing, kissing his hand. Priest Alexander Krassovsky spent that night in Vladyka's room, and the next morning, Protopriest Mark Gomez relieved him, in whose arms, at noon, the Ruling Archbishop of the Western American Diocese died peacefully. Word of Vladyka's repose was immediately sent to the Cathedral's clergy. It was a school day, and the students of SS Cyril and Methodius High School, whom Vladyka loved so much, learned of his death first. The High School hosted the very first service for the repose of the newly-departed Archbishop Anthony. By 1 pm, five priests already gathered at Vladyka Anthony's bedside and the Canon for the departure of the soul from the body was conducted, and then Vladyka's body was taken to the Cathedral. At 5 pm, Bishop Kyrill, Protopriest Stefan Pavlenko and Priest Paul Volmensky arrived from Reno (where that day the first hierarchal liturgy was performed in the new mission of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) and together with the Cathedral's clergymen, they vested Vladyka Anthony into his monastic garb and the minor Episcopal vestments. After all-night vigil, attended by a great number of parishioners who had already learned of Vladyka's death, the first pannikhida service was conducted. All night, the Cathedral's parishioners read the Psalter over the body of the newly-departed bishop. On Sunday, after late liturgy, the second pannikhida was conducted. Before the service, however, Bishop Kyrill spoke on what a great archpastor Vladyka Anthony was, how he was able to forgive and how the late Vladyka personally helped him understand the concept of Conciliarity in the Church. The third pannikhida was served that evening. It is worth noting that the eldest clergyman of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Protopriest Elias Wen, participated in this service. Fr Elias, 103 years of age, had almost not attended services anymore, but made a special effort to come and pray for Archbishop Anthony, whom he loved and respected. The clergymen read the Gospel over the body of the late Vladyka all night. On Monday, September 25, at 9 am, the funerary liturgy was served, attended by an enormous number of clergymen of the Diocese, and that evening, a parastas [great pannikhida] was performed, headed by Bishop Kyrill along with Bishop Jovan of the Serbian Orthodox Church, the clergymen of the Diocese and seven Serbian priests. Protopriest Stefan Pavlenko gave a eulogy. He said that this was a schema-monk who lay before the worshipers. Vladyka Anthony did not tell anyone that before becoming a bishop, he assumed the Great Schema, but he led his life as an austere monk. During his address, Bishop Jovan emphasized that although we lost an archpastor, we gained a new intercessor at the Throne of the Lord, and that we must not mourn that we lost Vladyka Anthony, but instead thank God that we had him at all. The multitude of worshipers silently, slowly, with a feeling of gratitude yet sensing that they were now orphaned, approached the coffin of their archpastor and kissed his hands. At this time, the singers sang various Paschal sticheria, and the parishioners joined in this singing and the final words[Category: "Christ is risen from the dead, by death He conquered death, and to those in the graves He granted life!" The Cathedral's Protodeacon, Fr Nikolai Porshnikoff, appointed to his position by St John was in the hospital all week, and learning of the death of Vladyka Anthony, with whom he had served for 32 years, grieved that he could not participate in his burial. He even questioned why the Lord punished him so. On the day of the parastas and the bidding farewell to Archbishop Anthony, Fr Nikolai was undergoing a medical procedure, and was under general anesthesia. At about 8 pm, a doctor unexpectedly told Fr Nikolai that he was being sent home. At this very moment, some visitors came to see him and he asked that they take him home to get his cassock, and then to the Cathedral. And so Fr Nikolai entered the Cathedral near the end of the service, asked blessing to don his vestments, and then intoned the final litany of the parastas for his archpastor: "Let us again pray for the newly-departed servant of God Archbishop AnthonyЙ" and then "Eternal Memory." Was this not a miracle, a mercy of God? At around 10 pm, the coffin with Vladyka's body was carried around the Cathedral he loved so much and placed into the hearse. This hearse circled the block once more and then departed for the airport. The clergy and worshipers watched the departed hearse for a long time. Vladyka left our Cathedral for the final time.  The funeral and burial service, as Archbishop Anthony requested, were conducted at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. Ten clergymen and some 50 people from the Western American Diocese were able to participate in the services. The body of the newly-departed arrived in the monastery on the day of the Elevation of the Cross. That evening, a funerary vigil was performed; the monastic brethren read the Gospel at the coffin all night. On Thursday, classes at the Seminary were canceled and a funerary liturgy was conducted. At the end of the service, a great number of clergymen and faithful from many cities and states all across America arrived, even clergymen from Australia. After liturgy, the monks gave a memorial trapeza for Vladyka. Because of the great number of worshipers, tables were set not only in the refectory but in the large Seminary Hall. The monastic funeral began at 1 pm. Archbishop Laurus, the Superior Bishops of the Monastery, officiated, along with Archbishop Alypy of Chicago and Detroit, Bishop Kyrill of Seattle, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, and around 25 priests. Bishop Evtikhii of Ishim and Siberia was in attendance, as was Bishop Mitrofan of Boston and another 25 priests. Several eulogies were given at the service. Archbishop Laurus described the image of Vladyka Anthony, outlining his life and sharing some personal memories of him. Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov called Vladyka Anthony "a Bishop of the people," just as St John of Kronstadt was a "father of the people." Fr Valery also stressed that Vladyka Anthony more than anyone was the most worthy successor to St John upon the Western American cathedra. After the service, the clergymen, under the ringing of bells and the singing of the irmos "Helper and protector," thrice circled the monastery cathedral with Vladyka's coffin. It was a brilliant day, the sun was setting, a breeze blew gently and the trees bore their autumn colors. Vladyka Anthony was buried in a grave behind the cathedral next to Metropolitan Philaret. The clergy and faithful did not leave for a long time, and sang prayers around Vladyka Anthony's grave, and, as they had in San Francisco, ended with the sticheria ]][[Category: Bishops of Pascha and "Christ is risen!" Everyone departed with a quiet joy and peace in their souls.Melbourne]]