Difference between revisions of "Laurus (Škurla) of New York"

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==External link==
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His Eminence the Most Reverend [[Metropolitan]] '''Laurus (Škurla) of New York''' was the first hierarch of the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]] from 2001 until his death on [[March 16]], 2008.
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*[http://www.rocor.org.au/stjohntheforerunnerchurch/documents/laurus.html Biography] from the [[ROCOR]] Australia and New Zealand website
 
  
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==Life==
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The future hierarch was born Vassily Mikhailovich Škurla on [[January 1]], 1928, in the village of Lodomirovo, Czechoslavakia, to Mikhail Ivanovich and Elena Mikhaolovna Škurla. His family was devotedly Orthodox Christian in an area of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire that was strongly influenced by [[Roman Catholic]]s.
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When he was five, Vassily began serving at the [[altar]] of the [[Church]] of St. Job at the Pochaev [[Monastery]] in Ladomirova, which was the [[parish]] church for the local Orthodox population. At the age of eight, young Vassily approached the [[abbot]] of the monastery, [[Archimandrite]] Seraphim, to accept him as a [[novice]]. In 1939, at the age of eleven, his father gave him permission to join the monastery, and he began to fully participate in the monastery life while he continued his required secondary education. He remained in the monastery throughout World War II, until the approach of the Soviet Army in 1944.
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As the army approached, the brotherhood evacuated the monastery, first to Bratislava, and then on to Germany and Switzerland. While in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of sixteen, Vassily became a novice. In 1946, after the war, the brotherhood, including Vassily, emigrated to the United States and joined [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]] in Jordanville, New York.
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At Jordanville, Vassily joined the first class of [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Seminary]], graduating in 1947 while still a novice. In March 1948, Vassily was one of three novices who were [[tonsure]]d ryassophore [[monk]]s, being given the name Laurus. In 1949, Laurus was tonsured to the [[small schema]] and then [[ordination|ordained]] to the [[diaconate]] in 1949. In 1954, he was ordained to the [[priest]]hood. Fr. Laurus was elevated to [[hegumen]] in 1959. In 1966, he was further honored when he was elevated to [[archimandrite]].
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In 1967, Archimandrite Laurus was elected to the [[episcopate]], being [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] bishop of Manhattan at the Synodal Cathedral of the Theotokos of the Sign in New York City. With this elevation came an assignment as secretary of the [[Synod]] of Bishops. His consecration was celebrated by Metropolitan [[Philaret (Voznesensky) of New York|Philaret (Voznesensky)]], Archbishops [[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev)]] and [[Nikon (Rklitski) of Florida|Nikon (Rklitsky)]], and Bishops [[Anthony (Medvedev) of San Francisco|Anthony (Medvedev)]] and [[Kyrill (Yonchev) of Pittsburgh|Kyrill (Yonchev)]].
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After the repose of Abp. Averky in 1976, Bishop Laurus was elected abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery by the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev. With this election, Bp. Laurus was appointed bishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity by the Synod of Bishops. In the following years, Bp. Laurus traveled and led many pilgrimages throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including the Holy Land and [[Mount Athos]]. In 1981, he was elevated to [[archbishop]]. As abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, he encouraged publication efforts of the monastery, furthering the missionary purpose of the Brotherhood.
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In October 2001, after the retirement of Metr. [[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Vitaly (Ustinov)]], Abp. Laurus was elected by the Synod of Bishops as [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|metropolitan of Eastern America and New York]] and the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.
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Between [[May 6]] and [[May 14]], 2006, Metropolitan Laurus chaired the fourth [[All-Diaspora Councils|All-Diaspora Council of ROCOR]], at which approval was given for reconciliation and normalization of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate. On [[May 17]], 2007, Metr. Laurus, with many of the clergy of ROCOR, participated in the signing of the ''Act of Canonical Communion'' in Moscow, Russia and participated in a joint liturgy with the Patriarch of Moscow at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.
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On [[March 16]], 2008, Metropolitan Laurus reposed in peace at his residence in Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville.
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==External links==
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* [http://www.stjohnthebaptist.org.au/documents/laurus.html His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus (Vassily Skurla)]
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* [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/engrocor/enbio_vlyubiley.html BLESSED JUBILEE: Towards the 50th Anniversary of the His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus' Pastoral Service]
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* [http://www.russianorthodoxchurch.ws/synod/eng2008/3enmldeath.html His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Passes Away]
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{{start box}}
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{{succession|
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before= [[James (Toombs) of Manhattan|James (Toombs)]]|
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title=Bishop of [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Manhattan]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|
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years=1967-1976|
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after=[[Gregory (Grabbe) of Washington|Gregory (Grabbe)]]}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev)]]|
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title=Abbot of [[Holy Trinity Monastery (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Monastery]]|
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years=1976-2008|
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after=[[Luke (Murianka)]]}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev)]]|
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title=Rector of [[Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary (Jordanville, New York)|Holy Trinity Seminary]]|
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years=1976-2008|
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after=[[Luke (Murianka)]]}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Averky (Taushev) of Syracuse|Averky (Taushev)]]|
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title=Archbishop of [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Syracuse and Holy Trinity]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|
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years=1976-2001|
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after=see abolised}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Vitaly (Ustinov)]]|
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title=Metropolitan of [[Diocese of Eastern American and New York (ROCOR)|Eastern America and New York]]<br>([[ROCOR]])|
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years=2001-2008|
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after=[[Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney|Hilarion (Kapral)]]}}
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{{succession|
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before=[[Vitaly (Ustinov) of New York|Vitaly (Ustinov)]]|
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title=First Hierarch of ROCOR|
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years=2001-2008|
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after=[[Hilarion (Kapral) of Sydney|Hilarion (Kapral)]]}}
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{{end box}}
  
 
[[Category:Bishops]]
 
[[Category:Bishops]]
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[[Category:20th-21st-century bishops]]
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[[Category:Bishops of New York]]
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[[Category:Bishops of Syracuse]]
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[[Category:Bishops of Manhattan]]
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[[Category:First Hierarchs of the ROCOR]]
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[[el:Λαύρος Σκούρλα]]
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[[es:Laurus (Škurla) de Nueva York]]

Latest revision as of 14:41, October 11, 2013

His Eminence the Most Reverend Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) of New York was the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from 2001 until his death on March 16, 2008.

Life

The future hierarch was born Vassily Mikhailovich Škurla on January 1, 1928, in the village of Lodomirovo, Czechoslavakia, to Mikhail Ivanovich and Elena Mikhaolovna Škurla. His family was devotedly Orthodox Christian in an area of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire that was strongly influenced by Roman Catholics.

When he was five, Vassily began serving at the altar of the Church of St. Job at the Pochaev Monastery in Ladomirova, which was the parish church for the local Orthodox population. At the age of eight, young Vassily approached the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Seraphim, to accept him as a novice. In 1939, at the age of eleven, his father gave him permission to join the monastery, and he began to fully participate in the monastery life while he continued his required secondary education. He remained in the monastery throughout World War II, until the approach of the Soviet Army in 1944.

As the army approached, the brotherhood evacuated the monastery, first to Bratislava, and then on to Germany and Switzerland. While in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of sixteen, Vassily became a novice. In 1946, after the war, the brotherhood, including Vassily, emigrated to the United States and joined Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.

At Jordanville, Vassily joined the first class of Holy Trinity Seminary, graduating in 1947 while still a novice. In March 1948, Vassily was one of three novices who were tonsured ryassophore monks, being given the name Laurus. In 1949, Laurus was tonsured to the small schema and then ordained to the diaconate in 1949. In 1954, he was ordained to the priesthood. Fr. Laurus was elevated to hegumen in 1959. In 1966, he was further honored when he was elevated to archimandrite.

In 1967, Archimandrite Laurus was elected to the episcopate, being consecrated bishop of Manhattan at the Synodal Cathedral of the Theotokos of the Sign in New York City. With this elevation came an assignment as secretary of the Synod of Bishops. His consecration was celebrated by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky), Archbishops Averky (Taushev) and Nikon (Rklitsky), and Bishops Anthony (Medvedev) and Kyrill (Yonchev).

After the repose of Abp. Averky in 1976, Bishop Laurus was elected abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery by the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev. With this election, Bp. Laurus was appointed bishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity by the Synod of Bishops. In the following years, Bp. Laurus traveled and led many pilgrimages throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including the Holy Land and Mount Athos. In 1981, he was elevated to archbishop. As abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, he encouraged publication efforts of the monastery, furthering the missionary purpose of the Brotherhood.

In October 2001, after the retirement of Metr. Vitaly (Ustinov), Abp. Laurus was elected by the Synod of Bishops as metropolitan of Eastern America and New York and the first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

Between May 6 and May 14, 2006, Metropolitan Laurus chaired the fourth All-Diaspora Council of ROCOR, at which approval was given for reconciliation and normalization of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate. On May 17, 2007, Metr. Laurus, with many of the clergy of ROCOR, participated in the signing of the Act of Canonical Communion in Moscow, Russia and participated in a joint liturgy with the Patriarch of Moscow at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Moscow.

On March 16, 2008, Metropolitan Laurus reposed in peace at his residence in Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville.

External links


Succession box:
Laurus (Škurla) of New York
Preceded by:
James (Toombs) 		Bishop of Manhattan
(ROCOR)
1967-1976 		Succeeded by:
Gregory (Grabbe)
Preceded by:
Averky (Taushev) 		Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery
1976-2008 		Succeeded by:
Luke (Murianka)
Preceded by:
Averky (Taushev) 		Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary
1976-2008 		Succeeded by:
Luke (Murianka)
Preceded by:
Averky (Taushev) 		Archbishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity
(ROCOR)
1976-2001 		Succeeded by:
see abolised
Preceded by:
Vitaly (Ustinov) 		Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York
(ROCOR)
2001-2008 		Succeeded by:
Hilarion (Kapral)
Preceded by:
Vitaly (Ustinov) 		First Hierarch of ROCOR
2001-2008 		Succeeded by:
Hilarion (Kapral)
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