Funeral of Bishop Seraphim Celebrated at Holy Trinity Church, Yonkers

On Monday, February 16, 2026, clergy and faithful of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey gathered at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Yonkers to commend to the mercy of God His Grace Bishop Seraphim (Sigrist), former Bishop of Sendai.

The Order for the Burial of a Hierarch was served by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon. Concelebrating with His Beatitude was His Eminence Archbishop Michael, together with diocesan and visiting clergy: Archpriest David Cowan, Vice-Chancellor of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey; Priest David Bozeman, Secretary to His Beatitude; Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy, Rector of Holy Trinity Church; Archpriest Alexey Karlgut, Dean of the New York State Deanery; Archpriest Martin Kraus, Dean of the New York City Deanery; Archpriest Alexander Rentel, Rector of Three Hierarchs Chapel at St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary; Archpriest Michael Meerson of Christ the Savior Church, NYC; Archpriest David Garretson of Saints Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ; Priest Nicholas A. Garklavs of St. Nicholas Church, Whitestone, NY; Priest Gregory Aidinov of Christ the Savior Church, NYC; and Deacon Dr. Harrison Basil Russin of Three Hierarchs Chapel.

Prior to the funeral service, Archpriest Michael Meerson offered personal remembrances of His Grace. “When I told my wife about Bishop Seraphim’s death,” he reflected, “she replied, ‘Our Seraphim flew away from us.’” The image captured both the bishop’s earthly journey and his final departure — a life marked by movement, mission, and faithfulness.

Father Michael also recalled Bishop Seraphim’s remarkable ability to move across cultures and communities with ease. On one occasion, when teased about his wide-ranging intellectual and cultural sympathies, Bishop Seraphim gently replied, “I am not Irish, not Jewish, not Russian — just an American bishop.” Yet, as Father Michael observed, he seemed able to be at home among all.

At the conclusion of the funeral service, His Beatitude offered words of consolation, placing Bishop Seraphim’s life within the hope of Christ’s victory over death.

On Tuesday, February 17, His Beatitude again presided at the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Church, joined by His Eminence Archbishop Michael and the assembled clergy. Protodeacon Peter Skoog of Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown, PA, served at the Divine Liturgy. The faithful once more gathered in solemn prayer, commending the newly departed hierarch to the mercy of the Lord.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Archpriest David Kossey, rector of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, delivered a brief eulogy, recalling the impact and legacy of Bishop Seraphim.

The liturgical responses throughout the services were offered by the choir of Holy Trinity Church, under the direction of Samuel Loposky, and were augmented by students of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and members of the Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir. Participating with the choir were Archpriest Stephen Evanina, Rector of Holy Resurrection Church in Wayne, NJ, and Spiritual Advisor of the Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir, as well as the choir’s director, Stratos J. Mandalakis. Their collaborative offering of sacred hymnody lent solemn beauty and reverence to the services, strengthening the prayer of the gathered faithful.

Following the Divine Liturgy, a mercy meal was offered in the parish hall through the hospitality of the Holy Trinity parish community.

The interment of Bishop Seraphim took place at New Skete Monastery in Cambridge, NY.

With faith in the Resurrection, we commend His Grace Bishop Seraphim to the mercy of Christ.

Memory Eternal!