January 17, 2012
Jordanville, NY: Metropolitan Hilarion called on the faithful of the Eastern American Diocese to pray for the soul of the newly reposed Archpriest Laurence

On Monday evening, January 16, the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, arrived at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY to lead the funeral services for Archpriest Laurence Girard. Upon completion of Compline, His Eminence led the panihida for the newly reposed Fr. Laurence, co-served by the monastery’s rector, Archimandrite Luke (Murianka), Archpriest Andre Papkov (senior priest of Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago, IL) diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and Archpriest Michael Crowley and Deacon Alexander Doohovskoy (rector and cleric of St. Xenia’s Church in Methuen, MA).

The coffin of the newly departed was brought into Holy Trinity Cathedral after the panihida, and the clergy immediately began to read the Holy Gospel, which continued all night.

After the panihida, Metropolitan Hilarion gave a brief statement to a correspondent of the Media Office, in which he said:

"Archpriest Laurence was much beloved and respected in our Eastern American Diocese and the entire Church Abroad. He served many different parish communities during his 38 years as a cleric, and will be sorely missed by those faithful whose souls and lives he touched through his love and compassion. His spiritual children have often explained how they would find a source of strength within Fr. Laurence. Through his many difficult and agonizing sufferings, he was able to cleanse his soul and be better prepared to stand before the Throne of our Lord. I appeal to all the clergy and faithful of the Eastern American Diocese to pray for the soul of the newly reposed Archpriest Laurence. May the Lord grant him eternal rest in His heavenly mansions!"

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Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese