Paul the BB:
Mimi, I just read on Mark Friesland's blog that his partner Nikolai was killed in an accident Sunday evening. I am devastated and at work so I cannot rev up the prayer chain. Might you? Thanks.
From Mark (Марко):
Thank you to everyone who has emailed me and called me since Nikolai's death (in car accident late Sunday, September 13). This was a horrible shock. I am so exhausted and it may be a long while before I am able to get back in touch with everyone. I do appreciate everyone's support and kindness.
May Nikolai rest in peace and rise in glory.
May God give comfort, consolation, and the peace that passes understanding to Mark, especially, and to all who loved Nikolai. May the all-embracing love of God heal those who grieve for Nikolai.
Thank you so much.
ReplyDeleteAmen to your prayer, Mimi.
ReplyDeleteSo sad....
ReplyDeleteEternal rest grant to her oh Lord. Receive her into the company of the faithful departed, and comfort those shocked and hurt by her sudden loss.
ReplyDeleteAmen
FWIW
jimB
JimB, Nikolai is--was-- a "he".
ReplyDeleteMarko is hte one who posts around our neighborhood with his name in Cyrillic script; he's an American living in Bulgaria. I'm not sure from his blog where thje accident occurred as it looks like they were visiting the US recently.
IT, thanks. I was away from my computer for a while.
ReplyDeleteYour words said it well, Mimi. Amen.
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell from his short post where it happened either, IT. I was unclear on when they were scheduled to return.
ReplyDeleteNikolai was a Bulgarian soldier and Mark calls him his "Knight of St George." I think they met in joint military exercises. Mark is a Tennessee native and US Army vet. He was among the NATO peacekeepers in the Balkans and deeply traumatized by the genocide at Srbrenica and suffers PTSD. From both his online posts and private e-mails it is evident that they were deeply in love with each other. They adopted a son who had been kicked out by his parents for being gay and their son is in university. Mark is a gifted linguist, a profound religious thinker, and a wild and funny guy. He wrote love poems to Nikolai. I don't know how I managed to type all that because the tears just welled up again. They were thinking of moving to Varna, Bulgaria, in the not too distant future. I will have to light candles before the icons of St Nicholas and St George tonight.
Oh my! What a beautiful and tragic love story.
ReplyDeleteMy prayer is for you, too, Pablito.
Prayers for Marko at this sudden and painful loss. May God grant him comfort and strength in this sad time. May Nikolai rest in peace
ReplyDeletePrayers - what a terrible thing.
ReplyDeletePrayers ascend.
ReplyDeletePrayers for Mark, Nikolai, and their son - this is so tragic. Thanks, Paul, for filling us in.
ReplyDeletePrayers for love and physical loss of that loved one who unthinkably went away...deeply, is far from a word I would use for the profound grief, I experienced under similar circumstances, sometimes I was unaware I was so deeply saddened, and discovered later there was yet more feelings to come... Marko; shock, unreality, walking/moving ahead, tending ones mutual life with ones head down is still to be done until a sunnier day...sometimes not caring if one wakes up in the morning, is something I experienced but that went away...Marko, I have been where you have been and survived and lived to see vast amounts of new clarity, joy and light...the lost loved ones never go away, how could he, he is embeded forever into your being, and besides, he wants you to thrive. Love is like that. Candles are lit and reaching the heavens from Central America to light Nikolais way (and yours) as I say, Lord, have mercy.
ReplyDelete