Fr James Pike - Eternal Memory!

May the Lord welcome Fr James Pike into the heavenly abode - we will miss him here - Eternal memory!


Fr James died July 23, 2009 ~10pm local time in Spokane, Washington surrounded by loving family and friends.

May the Lord say to him, "well done, my good and faithful servant!"

Here he is with our departed thirumeni, Thomas Mar Makrios!

The St. Gregorios Mission in Spokane, WA will be celebrating the Holy Qurbana, in Achen's memory on Monday, July 27 at 6 PM, Tuesday will be the wake, and on Wednesday, will be the funeral. H.G. Zacharias Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan for the Mission and Asst. Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese will be officiating the services.

May Fr James be remembered in the bosom of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob where all the righteous dwell. He will be sorely missed in our mission efforts. Eternal Memory!
Joe Varghese sends along a message from Deacon Gabriel Pike (brother of Fr James Pike):

"My brother spoke many times on the subject of servanthood and how Christ manifested His love for the Church by serving it. You would honor him by doing something special for the Church or some other person who needs to be served sometime this next week."

Joe's blog http://one-christ.blogspot.com/2009/07/remember-our-faithful-departed-one-fr.html

This is the second death in Spokane this month. The father-in-law of Fr Michael Hatcher passed to eternal memory on July 16. "Apachan" was an integral part of the mission parish there and will also be missed. Eternal memory!

Let us add our prayers for the comfort of Christ in this time of grief and bereavement in our mission society and the parish of St Gregorios, Spokane.

Submitted by
Fr John Brian
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
Madison, Wisconsin ~ 608.242.4244
http://maruroopa.blogspot.com/
o HEALING LIFE o DEEPENING FAITH o ENRICHING PRACTICE o REFRESHING SPIRIT

Father James Pike in Spokane hospice

Father James Pike, affectionately called "Chocolate Achen" by youth in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has been admitted to a Spokane (Washington) hospice facility today.

Father James (Chacko Achen) is the second American priest of the Mission Society of St. Gregorios of India and second American ordained to the priesthood by His Grace Thomas Mar Makarios (of blessed memory!).

For many years, he was involved in the annual St Gregorios youth-family conference held during July.

Father James was also the mission priest for the beginning of St. Gregorios Church in Seattle.

Family have requested prayers for him and his wife, Ginny Kochamma, who has also been his primary caretaker as Father James' health declined.

Photos from July 2004 family youth conference (in white cassock)

and September 2006 (at his 10th anniversary of priesthood)