It has been my privilege to serve Holy Trinity Eastern Orthodox Church two separate times. The first time was in the year 2000 and extending on into the early part of 2001, at which time His Grace, Bishop Alexander, of blessed memory, took over from me. I returned to Holy Trinity on Pascha of 2007, when I was invited to serve as Rector of the parish, and I continue, three years later, in that capacity. One of the unique blessings of both of those times is that I was honored to be able to serve Yakov Popov and to count him one of my spiritual children.

        One meets many people during one's lifetime, numberless people. Some are especially memorable, so much so that one never forgets them, regardless of the time that passes. Their face, their form, their voice, their personality, their peculiarities, and all of their traits are permanently inscribed in one's memory. Though they may move away or may repose, one can never forget them, the vivid memories of them remaining throughout one's life. These are the special people that in some manner, touch the heart. Our dear Yakov was one such man. Moreover, I should venture to say that men of his rugged and resilient sort are a rare sight in this day and age, and so he is even more memorable.

        Yakov survived the Bolshevik Revolution, he survived Stalin's terror and the Bolshevik murder machine, he survived the Second World War and German captivity, and he survived life in a displaced persons' camp after the war. Millions did not survive those events or places, but Yakov, by God's Grace, did. And at the end of all of these trials, he was blessed by God to come to the United States and to build a new life in this land that he loved. Here, he joined with others who had come to the United States from Russia to found this wonderful parish dedicated to the Holy Trinity. They built it with their own hands and paid for everything with their own money-an heroic effort by heroic men and women, genuine heroes of the Faith.

        Yakov did not stop at helping to found this parish. Indeed, he very rarely missed Sunday Liturgy. Seeing him come into Church and remaining for the Divine Liturgy and for the fellowship gathering after Liturgy was a permanent feature, a fixture so to speak, of life at Holy Trinity parish throughout its entire history. Only during the last few weeks was he unable to attend, and he was much missed.

        I recall an event a few days after the passing of Olga, Yakov's wife of seventy-four years. It was on Pascha, 2009, when Yakov arrived for the Paschal Liturgy. I saw him arriving and went out to greet him, and I recall that he told me "This is my last Pascha."

"No," I responded, "we all love you, Yakov, and want you to be with us for many years to come."

As it turned out, it was not his last Pascha. By the Grace of God he lived on to celebrate Pascha one more time.

        Most Sundays, when I saw Yakov arriving, I would go out to greet him. He would always kiss me and tell me, "I love you, Father James" and I would reply, "I love you too, Yakov." One can never, never forget such things, one can never forget so sweet and kindly a gentleman, a true gentleman, of the old school.

        It was a blessing for Yakov and for me that I was able to visit him last Saturday, when I arrived at his home unexpectedly. I had just completed a Baptism and I decided that I would stop to see him briefly, before I returned home. I was pained to learn upon my arrival that Yakov had taken a turn for the worse and was, in fact, then in the last hours of his life in this world. I gave him Holy Communion and I read the final prayers for him. He was only partly conscious, but before I left I leaned over close to his ear, and said, "Yakov, this is Father James. I love you." He nodded his head quite strongly, telling me, though he could no longer speak, that he heard and understood.

        I feel real pain and a real loss at Yakov's passing, as I know all of you do as well. We shall not see men like Yakov again. They were an exceptional breed of men, shaped and strengthened by some of the most horrific times in history. How honored we are to have known him!

        May his memory be eternal and may God take him into His loving arms forever!

        May God bless all of you this day!

Father James Thornton