Remembering Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko (+2015)
SVOTS – 19/3/19
March 18th, 2019 marked the fourth anniversary of the earthly departure ofProtopresbyter Thomas Hopko (March 28, 1939-March 18, 2015), Dean of SVOTS from 1992-2002.
As we remember this powerful preacher and teacher, I leave you with some of his ever-insightful words for our current season, taken from his book, The Lenten Spring (SVS Press, 1983).
“The lenten spring is welcomed by Christians in the Church not as the time for self-inflicted agony or self-improving therapy. It is greeted as the sanctified season consecrated to the correction, purification and enlightenment of the total person through the fulfillment of the commandments of the crucified God. It is received as the time for battling with evil spirits and blossoming with the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal. 5:22). It is accepted as ‘the great and saving forty days’ set apart for complete and total dedication to the things of God. It is the ‘tithe of the year’ which tells us that all times and seasons belong to the Lord who has created and redeemed the world.”
May the memory of Fr. Thomas be eternal!
