Condolences From:
The Diocese of the Midwest (OCA)

March 15, 2011
Martyr Agapius

Protopresbyter Frank P. Miloro, Chancellor
American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A.
312 Garfield Street
Johnstown, PA 15906

Dear Father Chancellor, Clergy and Faithful of the Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese,

Glory to Jesus Christ!

On behalf of the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of the Midwest, I would like to express my sincere sympathy to the Smisko family, as well as to the clergy and faithful of the American Carpatho-Russian
Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A. for the recent loss of your beloved shepherd in Christ, His Eminence, Metropolitan NICHOLAS. 

Being fully aware of the relationship that the clergy and faithful have had with His Eminence, I can only imagine the great void that will be felt without him.  It is a time of sadness and loss, and yet a time of
great witness by Metropolitan NICHOLAS, as he courageously and steadfastly lived his faith in the midst of a huge and heavy cross of illness that he bore these last several years.  No one will know the pain and suffering that he had to endure while still continuing to serve the faithful entrusted to His Archpastoral care.

I pray that the Lord will welcome him into His loving arms.  As Metropolitan NICHOLAS would say at many funerals of priests throughout the years, may He hear the words of our Lord as he enters God's
Kingdom, “…Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.” (Matthew 25:23)

With sincere love and sympathy,

Archimandrite Matthias
Bishop-elect of Chicago and the
Diocese of the Midwest