Metropolis News

Metropolitan Andrew

1943-2021

Metropolitan of Toronto
June 2019 – June 2021

Bishop of Markham, Suffragan Bishop of Toronto
March 2013 – May 2019

Metropolitan Andrew was born in 1943 in Washington D.C., USA where he and his younger brother grew up before spending some time in Arlington, Virginia. His father was from Washington D.C. as well, while his mother comes from Freeland, Pennsylvania – north of Philadelphia.

Metropolitan (Vladyka) Andrew is from a long-line of Herron Family descendants; his first ancestors immigrated to the United States in 1710 from Alsace-Lorraine, France. However, the generations that followed mostly included Irish and English lineage.

In 1963, at the age of 20, he became an Orthodox Christian and following this, he entered Seminary School at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York in 1965 where he studied for two years.
In July of 1968 he entered Holy Transfiguration Monastery where he lived for most of his life before he moved to Toronto.

As he continued to live the Liturgical life of the Church, he was ordained Deacon in November of 1972 by St. Philaret, Metropolitan of New York. By 1988, he was raised to Archdeacon (highest rank of monastic deacons) and continued to serve at the Monastery, Convents and Parishes, including visits to Toronto, until he was ordained to the priesthood in October 2012.

Along the way, he had been fortunate to meet many holy people, including Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco in 1962 (who held the See before St. John (Maximovitch) of San Francisco).

In addition to his love to his patron-saint, Saint Andrew the First-Called, St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, and St. Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland all held a special place in his heart. He loved so much to celebrate all the Feast Days of our Church, and always said he especially enjoyed the Feast of Theophany. He loved the Orthodox Saints of every land, and when it comes to favourite hymns of the Church, he was always moved by the “Glory of Matins for Holy and Great Monday”.

He was buried on June 9, 2021, at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA.

Eternal Memory for our beloved

Metropolitan Andrew
-June 6, 2021-

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“We stand for the truth.
We say the truth…clearly.”

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Said during his last sermon on Saturday June 5, 2021 (May 23. OS),
Saturday before Sunday of Blind Man
at
Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, MA, USA

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

To all faithful and Orthodox Christians,

Earlier this evening, our beloved Metropolitan Andrew reposed in the Lord.

By the mercy of God, he served the Divine Liturgy at Holy Nativity Convent in Boston on Saturday morning. Later that day, he suffered a heart attack and received immediate care at the hospital. He was monitored throughout the day. Then earlier this evening, Metropolitan Gregory was able to read the “Prayers of the Departure of the Soul” and be by his side in his final moments.

In July of 1968, he entered Holy Transfiguration Monastery and was ordained deacon in November of 1972; he was raised to the episcopy in March of 2013. Having served Christ’s Holy Church for over 50 years, may our Saviour grant him rest among the just.

God grant unto our father and chief-shepherd, Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto, eternal memory!

Fr. Anthony
Fr. Protodeacon George