Voices from Russia

Rav Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

Rav Berel Lazar, the Chief Rabbi of Russia, said that the death of Metropolitan Laurus, Archbishop of New York and Eastern America, is a great loss not only to Orthodox Christians, but, also to all believers. “Our country is unique, as people of various religions have lived in friendship and accord for centuries. The joy of other traditional confessions is our joy, and their sorrow is our sorrow. Metropolitan Laurus was an authoritative cleric, who actively sought responses to the 21st century challenges to the flock of his church”, said a message of condolences the chief rabbi sent to Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia. Interfax-Religion received a copy of the message.

The Russian Jewish community “watched with great respect the efforts of Metropolitan Laurus to strengthen relations between Orthodox Christians”, Rav Lazar noted. “We saw the good fruit that his activity bore for all of us in our multinational and multiconfessional Russian motherland. It contributed to a greater mutual understanding between our peoples, a greater openness of our country to the outside world, and, at the same time, it showed all of us that believing people are capable of solving problems in a positive spirit, on the basis of love for neighbour”, he wrote. Rav Lazar expressed confidence in the fact that Metropolitan Laurus devoted his life “to the awakening of spirituality in the life of mankind and restoring unity in the life of our religious communities, and this effort shall not disappear fruitlessly, but, it shall be further developed”.

Mufti Ravil Gainutdin, Chairman of the Russian Council of Muftis

The Russian Council of Muftis also sent its condolences to the Holy Synod, clergy, and faithful of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). “The vigorous efforts of Vladyki Laurus helped to restore the canonical unity of the Orthodox Church in the motherland and abroad that was broken after the Red victory in the Civil War”, according to a statement of the Council of Muftis posted on its official website on Monday. Metropolitan Laurus shall go into history as a great leader of the ROCOR, one that restored the unity of its flock with the Russian Orthodox Church, the message said. It went on to say that Metropolitan Laurus “did much for the unity of Orthodox believers, and all people, including the followers of Islam, shall remember him as a constructive and creative figure”.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23374 (in Russian)

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

The Union of Orthodox Citizens (UOC) named the late Metropolitan Laurus, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) a “national hero of Russia”. “The unification of the Russian Orthodox Church was a great deed on the part of Vladyki Laurus, who achieved it despite diabolical resistance from opponents of the Church and Russia”, Kirill Frolov, the head of the UOC Moscow Department told Interfax-Religion on Monday. “The fact that Metropolitan Laurus passed away on the day of the Triumph of Orthodoxy is the best proof that all of the aforesaid is correct. The unification of the Russian church is indeed a great triumph for Orthodoxy”, he said.

“The merits of Vladyki Laurus are so great that we should name streets in our cities after him. We should also build a majestic cathedral in memory of this outstanding man and in honour of the unification of the [Russian Orthodox] Churches”, Mr Frolov advised. In his opinion, this memorial cathedral should be located at a significant site in Moscow, for example, at the proposed Moscow City business complex.

The duty of every Orthodox believer is “to follow Metropolitan Laurus’ call for strengthening the unity of the Russian Church in the face of modern challenges”, Mr Frolov said. He remarked that Metropolitan Laurus began his service to the Church in Sub-Carpathian Russia (in modern Slovakia), “a place where the people resisted many attempts over the centuries to deprive them of their religious and national self-consciousness. It is precisely from his Carpatho-Russian roots that he drew his strength in the faith, which allowed him to become the spiritual leader of the Russian emigration”.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23379 (in Russian)

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia thinks that the name of Metropolitan Laurus, who reposed yesterday in the USA, shall be an eternal part of the history of the Orthodox Church. “I think that Metropolitan Laurus has written his name down in the history of the Russian Orthodox Church, and his memory shall be fresh from generation to generation”, the patriarch told journalists in Moscow on Monday after a service marking the 25^th anniversary of the restoration of the St Daniil Monastery.

Patriarch Aleksei expressed his condolences in connection with the death of Metropolitan Laurus and said that the funeral of the primate of the ROCOR would be held in Jordanville NY on Friday. The Moscow Patriarchate shall send a delegation to the funeral led by Metropolitan Yuvenaly of Krutitsy and Kolomna. “During the next few days, we shall remember him in our prayers, and thank him for his contribution to the reconciliation of the ROCOR with the Moscow Patriarchate”, the patriarch said.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23369 (in Russian)

President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (centre) with Metropolitan Laurus (left) and Patriarch Aleksei (right) after the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion on 17 May 2007 at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

The presidential press-service reported that President Vladimir Putin sent his condolences to Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia on the occasion of the death of Metropolitan Laurus of New York and Eastern America, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR).

“Metropolitan Laurus spent more than half a century fulfilling the responsibilities of an Orthodox clergyman with selflessness and love. In recent years, the weight of his concerns increased immeasurably”. According to the president, the entire thrust of the activity of Metropolitan Laurus was directed towards the “spiritual and moral education of the Russian emigration, so as to encourage faithfulness to Orthodoxy and love for the motherland. Metropolitan Laurus played an outstanding role in the events leading to the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the signing together with you of the Act of Canonical Communion. This historical deed will be forever remembered by our grateful descendents”, Mr Putin emphasised in his note of condolences. He also asked the patriarch to convey his sincere condolences to the clergy and parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

The funeral of the hierarch, who died on Sunday at the age of 80, is scheduled for Friday, 21 March. It shall be held at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville NY, and Vladyki Laurus shall be buried in a special cemetery next to the previous primates of the ROCOR.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23359 (in Russian)

Archbishop Hilarion Kapral of Australia and New Zealand (seated in centre, with crown and purple robes), locum tenens of the ROCOR

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

The Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations told Interfax-Religion that Archbishop Hilarion Kapral of Australia and New Zealand shall be acting chairman of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR) until a new primate for the ROCOR is elected. “The name of Archbishop Hilarion, the first deputy chairman of the Synod, will be mentioned during church services in all ROCOR churches after the name of Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia”, a spokesman for the department said. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR is expected to elect a new primate for the ROCOR after Orthodox Easter, which falls this year on 27 April. The previous head hierarch of the ROCOR, Metropolitan Laurus, died on Sunday.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23368 (in Russian)

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

On Monday morning, Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia prayed for the repose of the soul of the newly-departed Metropolitan Laurus Skurla, Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. The prayers for the soul of the newly-departed Vladyki Laurus were said during the Hierarchical Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts served today by the patriarch at the Holy Trinity Cathedral at the St Daniil Monastery in Moscow. Metropolitan Laurus died early on the morning of 16 March, on the day celebrating the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23360 (in Russian)

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

Metropolitan Laurus Skurla, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), who died on Sunday at the age of 80, shall be buried on Friday, 21 March, according to Archpriest Nikolai Balashov, secretary of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations on Monday. Metropolitan Laurus will be buried at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville NY in a special cemetery laid aside for the first hierarchs of the church. It should be noted that the ROCOR has its headquarters at this monastery. Vladyki Laurus died on 16 March, on the day the Church celebrates as the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy (First Sunday of the Great Lent).

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23355 (in Russian)

Fr Vsevolod Chaplin, Deputy Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations of the Moscow Patriarchate

Moscow, 17 March 2008 (Interfax):

The Moscow Patriarchate will not interfere in the election of the new Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR), but, Patriarch Aleksei II of Moscow and all Russia shall bless the new first hierarch. “It shall solely be a decision of the ROCOR. It is fully independent in its operations. The Holy Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR shall assemble and elect a new head of the church”, Archpriest Vsevolod Chaplin, deputy head of the Moscow Patriarchate Department for External Church Relations, said on the Vesti TV channel. He added that the candidate elected by the Holy Synod of Bishops has to “acknowledge the authority of the Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia and the Holy Synod of the MP”.

He also said that representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate will travel to the USA for the funeral of Metropolitan Laurus, who died on Sunday at the age of 80. “A delegation of the Moscow Patriarchate will attend the funeral ceremonies, primarily the prayers and church services to be conducted in New York”, Fr Vsevolod said. He said the size and makeup of the delegation had not been decided yet.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=23349 (in Russian)

Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, superior of the Sretensky Monastery, and confessor of President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin

Moscow, Sretensky Monastery, 16 March 2008

At 21.00 on 16 March at the Sretensky Monastery in Moscow the brotherhood of the monastery and the students of the Sretensky Seminary celebrated a Pannikhida in memory of the newly-departed Metropolitan Laurus, the Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. After the completion of the service, the superior of the monastery, Archimandrite Tikhon Shevkunov, gave the following address to the assembly.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit!

My dear fathers and brotherhood! It was our great joy not only to see, but, also to associate with this holy man, for whose sake we have completed this first pannikhida. Metropolitan Laurus lived a long, exultant, and admirable life as a Christian monk of the Russian Orthodox Church. From his youth, indeed, for the remainder of his life, he dedicated himself entirely to the service of Christ and His Church, and he brought to God all the talents that were entrusted to him. First of all, he purified himself of all passions, and his soul was decorated with love, immeasurable kindness, and true humbleness. He brought to the Lord as the fruit of his works and prayers the entire assembly of archpastors and pastors, and his monastic disciples and students at Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in Jordanville.

He made a largely unseen, but, very important, contribution to the revival of Orthodox Russia. The books published by the printing house under his direction in the middle and end of the last century reached Russia under arduous conditions, and they shed the light of Christ’s salvation in the moral darkness and fog that surrounded so many in our motherland in those times. We can see the fruit of his life in the lives of countless laity of the ROCOR, of whom he was their most precious spiritual teacher and benefactor. However, the greatest example to his parishioners was his holy and focused life, with a continual burning love for Christ and sacrificial service to his flock.

Finally, his main offering to Christ as archpastor and head of the ROCOR was his carrying through of the wishes of its founders… the eventual reunification of it with the Church in the motherland. It was made possible together with His Holiness Patriarch Aleksei, these two men who lived at a time that was incomprehensively difficult, yet, also incomparably inspiring, for Russian priests, bishops, and monks. Without being distracted by the storms of hatred and spite, they accomplished the duty that was laid before them by the Lord Jesus Christ.

We, in Russia, did not know Vladyki for many years, during the time of our separation. However, we became the joyful witnesses of his last great endeavour, which he completed for the sake of the entire Russian emigration, both those who had already gone on to the Lord, and those now living scattered over the face of the globe. Perhaps, most importantly, we became witnesses of how he did this; we became the witnesses of his prayers. Precisely, prayer was the main source of Vladyki Laurus’ power, it was his main vocation, it was his main talent, and it was his main weapon. Prayer was his main joy and hope.

Today, such people are very rare. I, along with all of you, had the blessing of seeing this man and associating with him. You remember, as it was less than a month ago, how he served his last (and it seemed like the only one!) liturgy in Moscow with us here in the Sretensky Monastery. He said to me that it seemed as though the very earth here at the Sretensky Monastery was like an antimension because so many of the New Martyrs had accepted torture and death for Christ here.

We remember everything that happened in connection with this service… Vladyki Laurus, in spite of the tremendous fatigue caused by his ill-health, the long flight from America, the daily services and celebrations, after the service ended, at the common meal, he not only gave a general blessing, he blessed each one of us in particular! He blessed every monk, novice, seminarian, and worker in the refectory. With love, interest, and happiness he looked into the face of each monk and seminarian. All of you were for him the same as his family. The blessings of this champion of prayer and this man of a most holy life shall stay with us to the end of our days.

I shall say that Vladyki was one of the best and one of the most self-sacrificing people that I have ever met in my life.

Pravoslavie.Ru

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/news/080317003413 (in Russian)