In memoriam Father Michael Fortounatto
Father Michael, son of Russian emigres, was born May 19, 1931 in Paris. He was for many years professor of Liturgical Musicology at the Saint-Serge Orthodox Theological Institute as a specialist in liturgical chant and author of numerous harmonizations in the tradition of the Moscow School of church chant.
For 45 years, he was choirmaster and priest at the Russian Orthodox Cathedral in London and a very close collaborator of Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh.
Returning to the Archdiocese in 2006, he gave numerous conferences in various countries of Western Europe and in Russia.
The Very Reverend Archpriest Michael Fortounatto fell asleep in the Lord on the evening of February 19 at the age of 90.
The funeral will take place on Friday, February 25 at the parish church of Christ-Saviour-and-Dormition in Vichy (8, rue du Docteur Charles, 03200 Vichy, France):
- 8:30 a.m. – Divine Liturgy;
- 10:00 a.m. – Funeral;
- 12:30 p.m. – Burial in the Châtel-Montagne cemetery, (Châtel-Montagne, Allier), followed by a reception.
His Eminence Metropolitan Jean of Dubna and the Council of the Archdiocese offer their sincerest condolences to his wife, his family and all his loved ones and accompany them in prayer. May the Lord grant Father Michael rest with the righteous.
Eternal memory to the servant of God!