Laurel (Shkurla)

In Czechoslovakia

Born on January 1, 1928 in the small village of Ladomirova near Svidnik in Czechoslovakia (the territory of modern Slovakia) in a Ruthenian family.

Archimandrite Vitaliy (Maksimenko) baptized him - the famous Pochaev missionary, later the archbishop. ^[2]

In 1939, at the age of 11, he entered into the fraternity of the Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev in Ladomirova , founded by monks of the Pochaev Lavra . ^[3] The monastery (the brotherhood of Job Pochaevsky) was formally under the jurisdiction of the Mukachevo-Pryashevsky diocese of the Serbian Church , but in fact was under the jurisdiction of the ROCOR archbishop - Vitaly (Maksimenko). In 1944 , when the Red Army was approaching eastern Slovakia , the monastery was moved to Bratislava .

It was difficult for local natives, including young novices Vasily Shkurle and Vasily Vanko , to take such a step. At first they and few others remained. These days, Archimandrite Seraphim (Ivanov) was able to get to his native monastery and persuade both Vasily to join those who had already left ^[4] .

Monasticism and Priesthood

In 1944 he became a novice ^[3] . Together with the brotherhood of the monastery, he moved to Germany , then to Switzerland , and in 1946 the monastery brethren settled in Jordanville ( New York , USA), where he entered into the brotherhood of Holy Trinity Monastery ; accepted US citizenship .

In 1948, Archbishop Vitaly (Maksimenko) was tonsured at the Trinity Monastery in a Riasophore , and soon in a mantle with the name Laurus .

January 14, 1950 was ordained a hierodeacon ; in June 27, 1954 - in the hieromonk . In the same year he graduated from Holy Trinity Theological Seminary , becoming a teacher of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament and pathology .

June 2, 1958 - awarded with a gold pectoral cross and appointed inspector of the seminary. September 6, 1959 - elevated to the rank of abbot with the laying of a club. November 21, 1963 - was awarded a cross with ornaments and was appointed head of the book warehouse of the Holy Trinity Monastery , and on April 17, 1966, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite . ^[3]

Bishop

On August 12, 1967, according to the definition of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Archimandrite Laurus was appointed bishop of Manhattan , vicar of the Eastern American Diocese.

On August 13, 1967, he was consecrated bishop of Manhattan , vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. The consecration was performed by Metropolitan Filaret (Voznesensky) , Archbishops of Washington and Florida Nikon (Rklitsky) , Syracuse and Trinity Averky (Taushev) , Bishops of the Bulgarian Parishes Kirill (Yonchev) and Melbourne Anthony (Medvedev) . Appointed Secretary of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops .

As Metropolitan Hilarion (Corporal) recalled, the seminarist at that time: “This new position required his permanent presence at the Synod of Bishops in New York, but Vladyka came every Thursday to teach Pathology in two senior classes. He was usually driven by a car, his cellman Viktor Evgenievich Lokhmatov, a recent seminary graduate and future protodeacon. Everyone loved and respected Vladyka Lavra and very regretted that he could not stay in the monastery for a long time ” ^[5] .

Upon the death of Archbishop Averky (Taushev) in April 1976, he was elected rector of the Holy Trinity Monastery ; transferred to the Trinity-Syracuse department.

On October 20, 1981, the ROCOR Synod of Bishops, on the basis of the ruling of the Council of Bishops, was elevated to the rank of archbishop ; On September 1, 1984, a decision followed granting him the right to wear a diamond cross on a hood.

Since the 1990s, he repeatedly visited Russia to get acquainted with the state of things in the church life of Russia and visit domestic shrines ^{[6] [7]} . According to the memoirs of his cell-guard Protodeacon Viktor Lokhmatov ^[8] :

he preferred to travel incognito, especially when he became bishop. It was important for him not that he should be recognized and respected, but that he could just travel and study the faith of the people, observe the situation as it really was - especially in Russia. In the nineties <...> Vladyka several times came to Russia behind the scenes. Dressed as a simple hieromonk, he quietly came to various monasteries and churches. He constantly warned me: “Look, do not try to call me“ Lord! ”” He was very observant. <...> He was attentive to everything, he noticed everything, especially what related to the life of Orthodox believers. This gradually convinced him that the separation should be stopped.

On July 10, 2001, the ROCOR Synod of Bishops appointed Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) Deputy ROCOR First Hierarch.

First Hierarch

On October 24, 2001, in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary in New York, the ROCOR Council of Bishops “having performed a memorial service for the Metropolitan Anthony, Anastasia and Filaret and a prayer service of the Mother of God in front of Her miraculous Kursk-Root Way, as well as the Hierarchs Patriarch Tikhon and John Shanghai, The San Francisco Miracle Worker, having called upon the gracious help of the Holy Spirit, proceeded to the election of the new First Hierarch of the ROCA. ” 18 bishops took part in the vote, of which 6 were absent, but those who cast votes in writing. The results of the first round were as follows: Archbishop Laurus - 12 votes, Archbishop Mark (Arndt) - 1 vote, Archbishop Hilarion (Corporal) - 1 vote, Bishop Benjamin (Rusalenko) - 1 vote, and three abstained. Having thus obtained already in the first round the necessary 2/3 of the votes, Archbishop Laurus was elected the fifth First Hierarch of the ROCA ^[9] . The First Hierarch was first elected at the very first vote ^[10] .

On October 28, 2001, at the Synodal Znamensky Cathedral in New York, "at the great gathering of pilgrims," ​​the metropolitan Laurus was intronized to the metropolitan throne ^[11] .

In November 2001, Metropolitan Laurus received an invitation to a reception hosted by President of the Russian Federation V.V. Putin at the Russian embassy in Washington , on the occasion of his visit to the United States . However, the ROCOR’s First Hierarch, due to circumstances beyond his control, could not attend the reception and instructed Bishop Gabriel (Chemodakov), Secretary of the ROCA Synod of Bishops, to represent him on it. Vladimir Putin conveyed congratulations to Metropolitan Lavra on his election, and Gabriel (Chemodakov) invited on behalf of the last President of the Russian Federation to visit the ROCA parishes in the United States and, especially, Holy Trinity Monastery . Vladimir Putin thanked for the invitation and, in turn, invited Metropolitan Laurus to come to Moscow for a visit. ^[12]

On September 24, 2003, in New York, at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation , Metropolitan Laurus and members of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops met with the President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin ^[13] . At the meeting, he was handed a letter from the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II with an invitation to visit Moscow , which was gratefully accepted. ^[eleven]

On May 15-28, 2004, he made his first official visit to Russia .

On August 23, 2006 he met with the Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilus III in the building of the Jerusalem Patriarchate. Patriarch Theophilus wished that church unity and fellowship were restored in the near future and that the Russian Spiritual Mission in Jerusalem continued to flourish ^[14] .

On May 17, 2007, in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow, where he arrived with a representative delegation of clergy and laity of the ROCOR, together with Moscow Patriarch Alexy II, he signed the Act on Canonical Communion of the ROCA and ROC ^{[15] [16] [17]} . By my own admission: “At that historic time, I prayed to God and continue to pray, to thank Him for the fact that both branches of the Russian Church have achieved this opportunity by capturing their unanimity through the signing of the Act. Finally, we regained the opportunity to serve together, to worship! It was an extremely exciting and touching moment in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, many people cried - after all, we have been waiting for the reunion for more than one decade ” ^[18] .

Speaking on February 20, 2008, at the opening of the XII World Russian People’s Cathedral in the Kremlin, he paid special attention to the need to counter assimilation - “one of the main problems of youth, since it threatens to distance oneself from the Church”; criticizing American society, he said in particular: “In America and in the West in general, comfort, selfishness is preached. Extremely common, for example, drug addiction , drunkenness , extramarital affairs. All this is preached and allowed as something natural. It is very difficult to resist this influence, because such a lifestyle, such a worldview is intensely planted by our society. ” ^[19]

Death and funeral

He died in Jordanville on March 16, 2008, on the first Week of Great Lent ^[20] .

On March 17, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, with the congregation of the hierarch’s cathedral in the Trinity Cathedral of the Danilov Monastery, offered a prayer for the repose of the newly-departed Metropolitan Laurus and blessed Metropolitan Yu. In addition to him, the delegation included the head of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, Bishop Zaraisk Mercury (Ivanov) and the secretary of the Representation of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA, Archpriest Alexander Abramov ^[21] .

On March 21, at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Georgeville, the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated and the funeral of the late Metropolitan Laurus was performed. The Divine Liturgy and the order of burial were led by the Metropolitan of Krutitsy and Kolomna Yuvenaly, who were served by: Metropolitan Onufry of Chernivtsi and Bukovinsky, Hilarion of Sydney and Australia-New Zealand (Corporal) , Archbishop of Berlin and Germany, Archbishop of Berlin and Germany -American Kirill (Dmitriev) , Canadian Bishop George (Djokic) (Serbian Orthodox Church), Bishop of Manhattan, Gabriel (Chemodakov) , Bishop Mercurius of Zaraysk (Ivanov), the bishop of Stuttgart Aga um (Horacek) , Bishop of Cleveland , Peter (Lukyanov) , bishop of Toledo Mark (Meymon) (American Metropolia Patriarchate of Antioch), secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA Representation Archpriest Alexander Abramov, the governor of the Moscow Sretensky Monastery in Moscow, Archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) . Bishop of East Pennsylvania Tikhon (Mollard) (Orthodox Church in America) prayed at the altar. In addition to numerous clergy, religious and laity of the Russian Church Abroad, the Secretary General of the Permanent Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of America, Archpriest Mark Erie, clergy of the Antioch , Jerusalem and Serbian Patriarchates and the Orthodox Church in America, abbess of monasteries from the Holy Land - Abbess of Gethsemane Monastery Elisabeth and Bumblebee Abbess of the Olives Monastery of Moses (Bubnov). The temple was also attended by Minister of Culture and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation A. S. Sokolov, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to the United States Yu. V. Ushakov, Russian Consul General in New York S. V. Garmonin, Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia to the United Nations Nations I. I. Rogachev and other officials. The funeral service and mourning ceremony lasted all day ^{[21] [22] [23] [24]} .

After everyone said goodbye to the deceased lord and a memorial lithium was performed, the coffin with his body was surrounded around the temple three times, during the third time - with four stops for lithium. Metropolitan Laurus was buried in the crypt of Trinity Cathedral, where the First Hierarchs of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad lie ^[21] .

In April 2007 he was awarded the Synodal Znamensky Order of the first degree - the highest award of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Metropolitan Laurus was the first to be awarded this award. ^[25] .

On September 3, 2007, he was awarded by the Patriarch of Moscow Alexy II the Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir II degree “in consideration of the diligent archpastoral works and in connection with the 40th anniversary of the bishop's ordination” ^[26] , as well as the Head of the “Russian Imperial House” Maria Vladimirovna Romanova The Order of the Holy Blessed Prince Alexander Nevsky ^[27] .

On January 1, 2008, President of Russia Vladimir Putin sent him a congratulatory telegram, which states in particular: “Your outstanding role in preparing the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church and the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion with you Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II deserves special gratitude and appreciation . ” ^[28] .

On February 19, 2008, in the White Hall of the Moscow City Hall on Tverskaya Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov was awarded the honorary award “National of the Year 2007” for “personal contribution to the spiritual unity of the Russian people” ^{[29] [30]} .

On February 25, 2008, at a reception after the liturgy in the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Patriarch Alexy II was awarded the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree. ^[31]

February 27, 2008 in the Intercession Cathedral of the Martha-Mariinsky Convent received from the hands of Vladimir Yakunin signs of the international prize of St. Andrew the First-Called “ For Faith and Loyalty ” ^[32] .

Patriarch Alexy II in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta testifies to the role of Metropolitan Laurus in reuniting with the Russian Church: “Faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church will always remember him as a zealous archpastor who fulfilled the mission prepared for him by the Providence of God. Who, if not he, rallied the flock of foreigners with his prayer primacy? Who, if not he, allowed her to rejoice over the reunification with the Church in the Fatherland suffered by several generations of Russian emigrants? ” ^[33] .

Russian President Vladimir Putin, in his condolences to Patriarch Alexy II on the death of Metropolitan Laurus, wrote: “Metropolitan Laurus has an outstanding role in preparing the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church and signing with you the Act of Canonical Communion. This historical act will forever remain in the memory of grateful descendants ” ^[34] .

His successor, Metropolitan Hilarion, of the ROCOR’s First Hierarch, spoke of him this way: “I was always encouraged by the monastic feat of His Eminence Bishop Laurus, which was expressed in his prayer, faith, patience and humility. Vladyka was a great prayer book, attended all the monastery services, read the monastic rule. In general, he always remained a monk in the first place. Vladyka not only deeply believed in God, but also completely trusted Him and His guidance. He humbled himself, reconciled with the will of God, that is, surrendered to her completely and joyfully. Therefore, from him always breathed incredible peace and tranquility ” ^[35] .

The official representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate and the ROCOR even before the burial of the metropolitan, in principle, did not exclude the possibility of the canonization of Metropolitan Laurus in the future ^[36] .

Immediately after his death, those who personally knew Metropolitan Laurus testified to his modesty and simplicity, accessibility and unpretentiousness ^{[37] [38]} . So archimandrite Tikhon (Shevkunov) recalled: “He never used any other type of persuasion, except prayer and his own example. Coming to dioceses and churches that did not agree with his decision, he simply kept silent and prayed. And in most cases, his prayer was stronger than any agitation, exhortation, severity or punishment. It was a real monk. And, of course, a kind person. I don’t know a single case when he imposed a penalty on someone, scolded or reproached him ” ^[39] .

According to the historian Archpriest George Mitrofanov , "Metropolitan Laurus was able to fulfill the covenant of the founding fathers of the Church Abroad to reunite with the Russian Church" ^[40] .

Reflecting on the death of Metropolitan Laurus, the rector of the house church of the Holy Martyr Tatiana at Moscow State University Archpriest Maxim Kozlov , said: “Metropolitan Laurus had an amazing correspondence between what he said and what he did” ^[41] .

According to Archpriest Andrei Papkov: “I am convinced of the personal holiness of Vladyka Laurus, I turn to him for prayer help - and I receive it. I remember that I had a very difficult period as the principal of a school in Jordanville. Each summer session was unpredictable: difficulties with visas for teachers, wet, hot weather, all kinds of temptations. And then I went to the grave to Bishop Lavra and asked for his prayer help, which I received in all respects, including perfect weather ” ^[42] .

According to the memoirs of pianist Maxim Shostakovich : “I really miss him. Amazing was the man! He loved the monastery with all his heart. If on duty he had to leave, you would see how joyfully he returned. And always for all he had time, no matter how tired he was. He was respected and feared as a strict father, although he radiated only kindness ” ^[43] .

• Archbishop Vitaliy Maksimenko (commemorated March 8) // Orthodox Russia . - 1970. - No. 6. - S. 3-4
• 25 years since the death of Archbishop Vitaly // Orthodox Russia. - 1985. - No. 5 (1290). - S. 5-6
• In memory of Archbishop Seraphim of Chicago and Detroit // Orthodox Russia. - 1987. - No. 15 (1347). - S. 7
• Letters from His Beatitude Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitsky), Jordanville New York 1988.
• In memory of Father Jerome Monk Ignatius // "Orthodox Russia". - 1991. - No. 5 (1434). - S. 9
• Announcement // “Orthodox Russia”. 1992. - No. 3. - S. 3.
• Sacred Archimandrite Anthony. To the 100th anniversary of the birth // "Orthodox Russia". - 1992. - No. 23 (1476). - S. 6-7, S. 15
• "Orthodox Russia" of Russia // "Orthodox Russia". - 1997. - No. 21. - P.13.
• Metropolitan Laurus: On the things that are at home and in dispersion // Tatyana’s Day , 03/23/2008
• A letter from the Metropolitan of East America and New York Lavra to the rector of the St. Petersburg Archpriest Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyev on church historical materials in the Theological Collection December 10/23, 2002 // In memory of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad (1928-2008) Bulletin of PSTGU II: History. History of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2008, Vol. II: 2 (27), 146-147
• Letter from the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Rector of Holy Trinity Theological Seminary, Metropolitan of East America and New York Lavra, to the Rector of the PSTU Archpriest Vladimir Vorobyev November 14, 2006 // In memory of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church / Bulletin of PSTGU II: History. History of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2008, Vol. II: 2 (27), pp. 147-148
• Opening speech of the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Rector of Holy Trinity Theological Seminary, Metropolitan of East America and New York Lavra at a meeting with teachers and students of PSTGU. February 22, 2008 // In memory of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad (1928-2008) // Bulletin of PSTGU II: History. History of the Russian Orthodox Church. 2008, Vol. II: 2 (27) p. 149
• Memoirs of Metropolitan Laurus about the ever-memorable Archbishop Anthony

interview

• Maxim Shevchenko On the main goals of a foreign church // NG Religions , 11/14/2001
• Meeting with the editors of periodicals of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville (USA). // "Tribune of Russian thought" No. 2 (6) / 2003
• 03/19/2004: Metropolitan Laurus: Foreign saints in exile lived in the hope of returning to Russia ... // Russian Bulletin
• Metropolitan Laurus: both parts of the Russian Church are ready for an honest and constructive dialogue . Moscow, May 13, 2004
• “The foreign church does not intend to give up autonomy” The head of the ROCA, Metropolitan Laurus, will inform Patriarch Alexy II of this // The Kommersant newspaper No. 85 of 05/14/2004, p. 7
• “We have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to continue the work of the two commissions that we created”: Interview of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus to the newspaper Russky Vestnik , 06/01/2004
• We hope that our joint work will serve to strengthen Orthodoxy // interfax-religion.ru, June 4, 2007
• Metropolitan Laurus: “The Church always hears the opinion of those who maintain unity with it, overcoming problems and sorrows in its bowels, and suffering from its diseases” // patriarchia.ru , October 28, 2007
• Metropolitan Laurus: The signs of the awakening of Russia are manifested all distinctly. The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad in an exclusive interview with the Russian line spoke about his vision of spiritual change in our country // Russian Line , March 12, 2008
• NEW YORK: October 25, 2007. The Primate of the Russian Church Abroad answered questions from the editors of the Vestnik of Odessa Theological Seminary // ROCOR official website, October 25, 2007
• Holiness cannot be portrayed; holiness must be sought
• We must go and see for ourselves // Russian Inok Magazine, April 2008, p. 17

• On the 20th anniversary of the bishop's ministry of Archbishop Laurus: an album commemorating the twentieth year of hierarchal service of archbishop Laurus. - [Jordanville]: [sn], [1987]. - [112] p. : ill., col. ill., music. ill., portr., fax .; 28 cm
• Metropolitan Laurus (Shkurla) / [compiled by O. L. Rozhnev]. - Moscow: Publishing house of the Sretensky Monastery, 2017. - 142, [1] p. : ill., portr .; 15 cm. - (Guard of faith) .; ISBN 978-5-7533-1316-4 : 7000 copies.
• Gan Seraphim, Archpriest “Ascended of the Elected from My People” (in memory of the Metropolitan of East America and New York Lavra)  // Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate. M., 2008. No. 10. p. 52-62.

• Lavra, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Governor of the Syracuse-Trinity Diocese (Shkurla Vasily Mikhailovich). На официальном сайте МП
• Лавр (Шкурла) на сайте «Русское православие»
• Справка: Митрополит Восточно-Американский и Нью-Йоркский Лавр (Шкурла), первоиерарх РПЦЗ МП.
• Солдатов А. Лавровая ветвь. « Огонёк » № 13 за 24 — 30 марта 2008 г.
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