On Sunday, June 1/14, 2026 the founder of the St. Benedict parish in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Schema-Archimandrite Benedict (Nelson) reposed in the Lord. We ask the prayers of all for the soul of the newly-departed priest, who served the Holy Church for 45 years, having been ordained in 1981.

On Tuesday, June 3/16, 2026 His Grace, Bishop Spyridon of Chicago & Mid-America, arrived in Oklahoma City on his first parish visit since his appointment as the ruling hierarch of the diocese, for the sake of the funeral and burial of Fr. Benedict. That evening, Vespers and a Pannykhida were served in the parish church which Fr. Benedict himself built. The parishioners stayed throughout the night reading the Psalter, led by the present Rector of the parish, Fr. Matthew Floyd.

On Wednesday, June 4/17, 2026 Bishop Spyridon led the Divine Liturgy, followed by the Funeral Rite for a Monastic. The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Stephen Taylor, which added greatly to the solemnity of the gathering. Following the funeral, Fr. Benedict was buried at the local Bethany Cemetery. After the burial, the faithful returned to the parish church for a memorial meal. Shortly thereafter His Grace departed for the airport to return to Chicago.