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Add death information. Memory eternal.
Upon returning to the US in 1961, he took [[monasticism|monastic]] vows and was [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[diaconate]] and [[priest]]hood. From 1961 through 1966 he served as [[rector]] of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church, Madison, IL and as an assistant military [[chaplain]].
In 1967 he was elected and consecrated to the episcopacy as [[Auxiliary bishop|Auxiliary]] to the [[Metropolitan]] and [[Bishop]] of Washington DC and as administrator of the [[Diocese of Alaska (OCA)|Diocese of Alaska]] effective [[June 1]], 1967. On [[November 17]], 1967 the Great Council of Bishops elected him as the diocesan Bishop of Sitka and Alaska. He was consecrated a [[Bishop]] on [[May 6]], 1967. During his tenure in Alaska he oversaw the rebuilding of historic [[Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel (Sitka, Alaska)|Archangel Michael Cathedral]], Sitka, AK, which had been destroyed by fire. He also initiated regional conferences throughout the diocese and encouraged the establishment of a variety of educational programs and conferences.
In May 1970, as Bishop of Alaska, he headed the OCA's delegation which traveled to Moscow to receive the Tomos, or proclamation, of [[autocephaly]] from the [[Russian Orthodox Church]]. The [[Tomos]] guaranteed the right of self-governance for the Orthodox Church in America. Shortly thereafter, he hosted ceremonies in Alaska marking the [[canonization]] of one of the original Orthodox [[Missionary|missionaries]] to Alaska, the Elder [[Herman of Alaska|Herman]]. The event was significant in that it marked the first time a North American had been entered into the Orthodox calendar of saints.
However, he continued to suffer the residual effects of strokes he had suffered in late 2000 and early 2001. Despite a four-month medical leave of absence from May 1 until September 1, 2001, which he took at the recommendation of his physicians, he found the ever-increasing burdens of his office too demanding. On [[April 2]], 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius shared with members of the Holy Synod of Bishops his desire to retire from the office of Metropolitan of All America and Canada. The members of the Holy Synod of Bishops granted Metropolitan Theodosius' request effective [[July 21]], 2002.
On [[July 21]]2002, 2002 His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius opened the 13th All-American Council and presented his report on the last trienium. At the conclusion, he retired as Metropolitan of All America and Canada. On [[October 19]] 2020, Metropolitan Theodosius fell asleep following an "extended illness."<ref>[https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-beatitude-metropolitan-theodosius-lazor| In Memoriam: His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]</ref>
==External link==
* [http://oca.org/HSbiotheodosius.asp?SID=7 Official biography]
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{start box}}
title=Bishop of Washington DC (OCA)|
years=1967|
after=''unknown''[[Dmitri (Royster) of Dallas|Dmitri (Royster)]]}}
{{succession|
before=[[Amvrossy (Merejko)of Pittsburgh|Amvrossy (Merejko)]]|
title=Bishop of Sitka and Alaska (OCA)|
years=1967 - 1972 |
after= [[Gregory (Afonsky) of Sitka|Gregory (Afonsky)]]}}
{{succession|
before= Amvossy Amvrossy (Merejko)|
title=Archbishop of Pittsburgh (OCA)|
years=1972 - 1977 |
after= ''unknown'' [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]]}}
{{succession|
before= [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney (Bekish)]] |
title=Archbishop of New York, <br>Metropolitan of All America and Canada (OCA)|
years=1977-1981|
after=[[Peter (L'Huillier) of New York|Peter (L'Huillier)]]}}
after= [[Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa|Seraphim (Storheim)]]}}
{{succession|
before=—[[Basil (Rodzianko) of San Francisco|Basil (Rodzianko)]]<br><font size="-2">''Archbishop of Washington''</font>|title=Archbishop of Washington, <br> Metropolitan of All America and Canada (OCA)|
years=1981-2002|
after= [[Herman (Swaiko) of Washington and New York|Herman (Swaiko)]]}}
{{end box}}
[[Category:Bishops of Washington]]
[[Category:Bishops of Sitka]]
[[Category:Bishops of Pittsburgh]]
[[Category:Bishops of New York]]
[[Category:Bishops of Ottawa]]
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
[[Category:Metropolitans of the OCA]]
[[Category:St. Vladimir's Seminary Graduates]]