July 30, 2015
Fr. Gordon was a leader in the group that became known as the Evangelical Orthodox Church, of which thousands joined the true Orthodox Church in 1987. He was ordained to the priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Philip and became a father to his community at the St. Ignatius Church. In 1996 he began to labor in the archdiocesan Department of Mission and Evangelism for several years. Together with Fr. Peter Gillguist, with whom he had discovered the Orthodox Church, he served on the advisory board of Orthodox Christian Laity and helped them to grow in their own mission by sharing his story of finding the Orthodox Church. Fr. Gordon was also known for supporting missionaries around the world, and especially Fr. Daniel Byantoro of the Indonesian Orthodox Church.
George Matsoukas, Executive Director of Orthodox Christian Laity remembers of him: “Fr. Gordon always spoke in a soft tone and in a deliberate way. We always knew we were in the presence of a holy and exemplary churchman when we had fellowship with him. We knew that these last few years were difficult for him health-wise. But Father Gordon embraced his suffering and trusted in the Lord. He was positive and faithful in life and in accepting what the will of the Lord was for him.”
Fr. Gordon has left behind many loved ones and a rich legacy of laboring in the vineyard of Christ. May his memory be eternal!
