Protopresbyter Elias Wen

Protopresbyter Elias Wen Born in China in 1896. At the age of 7 he converted to Orthodoxy at the Chinese Orthodox Mission in Peking. From 1905 until 1925 he studied at the Mission school, and in 1916 at the Mission seminary. Fr. Elias was ordained into the deaconate in 1924, and the priesthood in 1931. From 1946 on he was the rector of the Cathedral of the Most Holy Mother of God "Surety of Sinners," built by Saint John (Maximovitch) in Shanghai. Protopresbyter Elias (Wén Zizhèng in Chinese) was a clergy under the Archbishop of Shanghai, St. John the Wonderworker. He became rector of the Cathedral in Shanghai in 1946 but had fled to Hong Kong when the Communists took power in 1949. Until the age of 100, Fr. Elias conducted all Sunday and holiday services at the Cathedral, and sang on the kliros daily, morning and evening. It was difficult for Fr. Elias to make the trip to the Cathedral in the last few years, so the Cathedral clergy had visited him and administered the Holy Mysteries to him at his son's home during these last few years. Fr. Elias is survived by five sons, one daughter, 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Memory eternal for the servant of God Protopresbyter Elias Wen who have fallen asleep in the Lord shortly before 3PM PDT on Saturday, June 9, 2007 at age of 110. First Panichida will be held Sunday night. Services will also be held on Monday 7 pm and Tuesday 6 pm. The Funeral will be held on Wednesday at 10:30am at the Holy Virgin Cathedral on Geary Blvd. McAvoy-O'Hara Co. (415) 668-0077