Bishop THOMAS Extends Condolences to Family of West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd

June 28, 2010

The Family of

U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd

300 Virginia Street, E.

Charleston, WV 25301

Dear Ones,

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Senator Robert C. Byrd into life everlasting earlier this morning.

The members of our diocese residing in our three West Virginia parishes, St. George Cathedral of Charleston, St. Nicholas Church of Beckley and Holy Spirit Church of Huntington, join with all West Virginians in sending our condolences. We join with West Virginians everywhere not only to lament his passing but to also celebrate his unequaled tenure and service to this great state and to our whole nation. His memory will long be remembered for many years to come.

Our commitments this week to be present with our Metropolitan Archbishop at our Eastern Dioceses Conference in Allentown, PA, through July 4 prevent us from personally delivering our condolences to you.

Our prayer in the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition is, “Christ our God, grant rest to Thy servant, Robert C. Byrd, in that place of brightness, that place of repose, where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting.”

Sincerely,

Rt. Rev. Bishop THOMAS

Bishop of Charleston, Oakland, and the Mid-Atlantic

The Very Rev. Olof H. Scott, Dean

St. George Cathedral, Charleston, WV

The Rev. Fr. Stephen De Young, Assistant Pastor

St. George Cathedral, Charleston, WV

cc: Governor Joe Manchin, III

State of West Virginia