March 16, 2015
Address by Metropolitan Hilarion on the occasion of the 7th Anniversary of the Repose of Metropolitan Laurus

March 3/16, 2015
Holy Martyrs Eutropius, Cleonicus & Basiliscus

It has already been seven years since Metropolitan Laurus departed from among us in this earthly life. I think that, for each one of us gathered here today, memories of time spent with him form a part of the inspiration that is so necessary for us in order to live a true Christian life. We have all felt his prayers, spiritual guidance, love, and tenderness.

Metropolitan Laurus lived the long, joyous, and wonderful life of a Christian and a monk of the Russian Orthodox Church. From his youth, he dedicated all of himself, without exception, to Christ and to serving His Church.

As the fruit of the labors and prayers of his long life, he brought unto the Lord God a multitude of remarkable archpastors, pastors, and monastics, whom he mentored within the walls of Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in Jordanville, many of whom are gathered here today.

Also among the fruits of his life are the Orthodox laity of the Russian Diaspora around the whole world, who honor him as their spiritual mentor, prayerful intercessor, and patron.

His priceless offering to the Savior in his capacity as the head of the Russian Church Abroad was the fulfillment of the will of our Lord Jesus Christ and the testaments of the founders of the Russian Diaspora – reunification with the Church in the Fatherland, bringing to an end the division of the Russian Church.

But the most important thing to which we bore witness was his fervent prayer, which was his strength, his armament, and his hope. His greatest instruction to his flock was his holy and laconic life. Metropolitan Laurus was an extremely humble and meek, yet at the same time distinguished, man. He was distinguished in the sense that, for him, the goal of life was a life in God.

For me, interaction with this man was a joy. Meeting such men comes once in a generation; these are people through whom shines a light that gives us strength and the opportunity to be inspired by a Christian life and strive to live according to its example. We believe that Metropolitan Laurus, who loved everyone as they loved him, prays for us even now.

Our panihida today, our shared prayer, is an expression of our love for and memory of him. For this reason, let us now pray with gratitude for this man, who in a very difficult period of our Church’s history gave every one of us a piece of that warmth, that love for God, that he himself possessed. Let us pray that the image, word, and deed of this divinely wise elder might illumine further for us the path to the Heavenly Kingdom.

+HILARION
Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York
First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese