Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla)

Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) (1928-2008)

Vassily may be spelt Vasily, Vasili, Wasyl, Wasyly, Basil.

Laurus may be spelt Lavrus, Lavr, Laurel.

Skurla may be spelt Škurla (pronounced "Shkurla").

Early life of Vassily Mikhailovich Škurla

On 1 January, 1928, Vassily Mikhailovich Škurla was born in the village of Ladomirovo, in the Svidník County of the Prešov Province of Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia), to Mikhail Ivanovitch and Elena Mikhaolovna Škurla.

His parents and family were devotedly Orthodox Christians (identified as Ruthenians or Carpatho-Rusyns) in an area of the former Austro-Hungarian Empire that was strongly influenced by Roman Catholics, either as “Latin” Catholics or as “Greek” Catholics (also called Uniats). He was baptised by Archimandrite Vitaly (Maximenko) of the Pochaev Lavra, the well-known missionary.

When he was 5 years old, Vassily began serving in the Altar of the Temple of Saint Job of Pochaev at the monastery in Ladomirová, which served as the parish church for the local Orthodox Christian population (other buildings belonged to the Uniats). Because of the political and practical circumstances of the time, this monastery was within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (later, the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia).

At the age of 8, young Vassily approached the abbot of the monastery, Archimandrite Seraphim (Ivanov), and he asked that he accept him as a novice. This did not happen immediately.

Monastic life ; education ; World War II

In 1939, when he was at the age of 11, Vassily's father gave him permission to join the monastery in Ladomirovo. He then began to participate fully in the monastery life, whilst he continued in the required secondary education.

He remained in the monastery throughout World War II, until the approach of the Soviet Army in 1944.

Displacement ; exile, 1944

As the Red Army approached, the brotherhood evacuated the monastery in Ladomirovo. However, some local native-born people, including the young novices Vassily Škurla and Vassily Vanko, found it difficult to leave. At first, they and a few others remained. Soon, Archimandrite Seraphim (Ivanov) was able to get to his home monastery, and to persuade both Vassilys to join those who had already fled.

They moved first to Bratislava, and then they continued on to Germany and Switzerland.

While he was in Geneva, at the age of 16, Vassily became a monastic novice.

Emigration to the USA, 1946

In 1946, after the end of the war, the brotherhood, including Vassily, emigrated to the USA. There, they joined the Holy Trinity Monastery near Jordanville, New York. After his arrival, as did the others, he took citizenship in the USA.

At Jordanville, Vassily joined the first class of Holy Trinity Seminary.

Monastic tonsure, 1948, 1949

In March, 1948, Vassily was one of 3 novices who were blessed and tonsured to be rasophor monks by Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko). At this time, he was given the name Laurus.

Novice Vassily, 1948

In 1949, Rasophor Laurus (Škurla) was tonsured to the small schema, and he was given the same name.

Diaconal ordination, 1949

Soon afterwards, in 1949, Monk Laurus (Škurla) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Presbyteral ordination, 1954

In 1954, Hierodeacon Laurus (Škurla) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral monastic service

Hieromonk Laurus (Škurla) was assigned to continue his obediences in the Holy Trinity Monastery.

In 1954, the Hieromonk Laurus (Škurla) graduated from Holy Trinity Seminary, and he was assigned to serve as a teacher of the Holy Scriptures of the Old Testament, and Patrology.

On 2 June, 1958, The Hieromonk Laurus (Škurla) was awarded the Gold Pectoral Cross, and he was assigned to serve as the inspector (an administrative responsibility) of the Jordanville Seminary.

On 6 September, 1959, the Hieromonk Laurus (Škurla) was elevated to the dignity of igumen, and he was invested with the pastoral staff of an abbot.

In 1966, Igumen Laurus (Škurla) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

In 1967, Archimandrite Laurus (Škurla) was elected by the Holy Synod to the Holy Episcopate.

Episcopal ordination, 1967

In 1967, Archimandrite Laurus (Škurla) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate at the Synodal Cathedral of the Theotokos of the Sign in New York City. He was ordained by Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky), along with Archbishops Averky (Taushev) and Nikon (Rklitsky), and Bishops Anthony (Medvedev) and Kyrill (Yonchev).

Bishop Laurus (Škurla)

Episcopal service

Bishop Laurus (Škurla) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of Manhattan, a Vicariate of the Eastern America Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).

Long later, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) (a seminarian at that time) recalled that :

 This new responsibility required his permanent stay at the Synodal Headquarters in New York, but Vladyka came 
 every Thursday to teach Patrology in the two senior classes.  He was usually driven by his cell-attendant 
 Victor Evgenievich Lokhmatov, a recent seminary graduate (and future protodeacon).  Vladyka Laurus was all very 
 loved and respected and was very sorry that he could not stay in the monastery for a long time.

In 1967, along with his ordination and episcopal assignment, Bishop Laurus (Škurla) was assigned to serve as the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops.

In 1976, after the repose of Archbishop Averky (Taushev), Bishop Laurus (Škurla) was elected by the Brotherhood of Saint Job of Pochaev to be the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery.

In 1976, in conjunction with his having been chosen to be the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Bishop Laurus (Škurla) was transferred by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR, and he was assigned to be the Bishop of Syracuse and Holy Trinity. This included the rectorship of the seminary. During the following years, Bishop Laurus travelled considerably, and he led many pilgrimages to holy places throughout the Orthodox Christian world, including the Holy Land and Mount Athos. As the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Bishop Laurus (along with the monks) encountered a great many Canadian pilgrims, and there was a lasting influence on the lives of faithful Canadian parishioners who made frequent pilgrimages to the monastery.

In 1981, Bishop Laurus (Škurla) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

Archbishop Laurus

In his capacity as the abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Archbishop Laurus encouraged the publication efforts of the monastery, which furthered the missionary purpose of the monastic brotherhood.

Since the 1990s, after the fall of Communism in Russia, Archbishop Laurus repeatedly visited Russia so as to get acquainted with the Church life of Russia as it was at that time and after the major changes, in order to encounter this Church life, and to visit domestic shrines. There had already been reports from people who had visited, and he wished to see for himself how people lived and believed. According to the memoirs of his cell-attendant Protodeacon Viktor Lokhmatov :

 He preferred to travel incognito, especially when he became a bishop. It was important for him not
 to be recognised and honoured, but for him to be able just to travel and to study the faith of the people, 
 to observe the situation as it really was – especially in Russia.  In the nineties [...] Vladyka several 
 times went to Russia behind the scenes.  Dressed as a simple hieromonk, he quietly came to various 
 monasteries and churches.  He constantly warned me : 'Look, don't take it into your head to call me “Vladyka”!' 
 He was very observant. [...] He was attentive to everything, noticed everything, and especially as regards 
 the life of Orthodox believers.  This gradually convinced him that the separation should be terminated.

First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 2001

In October, 2001, after the retirement of Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), Archbishop Laurus (Škurla) was elected by the Synod of Bishops to become the Metropolitan of New York and Eastern America, and to be the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

From 6-14 May, 2006, Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) chaired the 4th All-Diaspora Council of the ROCOR, at which approval was given for the reconciliation and normalisation of relations with the Moscow Patriarchate.

Reconciliation of the ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate, 2007

On the Feast of the Ascension of Christ (17 May, 2007), Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla), along with many of the clergy of the ROCOR, participated in the signing of the “Act of Canonical Communion” in Moscow, Russia. Together with this signing, Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) participated in serving the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Patriarch of Moscow, Aleksey II, at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

Metropolitan Laurus and Patriarch Aleksey sign the Act of Reconciliation

Metropolitan Laurus, Patriarch Aleksey

February, 2008, visit to the Russian Orthodox Church ; visit to the OCA Representation Temple

In 2008, Metropolitan Laurus again visited the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow.

On 20 February, 2008, in the evening (by invitation of Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood), the Representative of The Orthodox Church in America to the Moscow Patriarchate, and with the blessing of Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) of All America and Canada), Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) of Eastern America and New York and First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, visited the Saint Catherine the Great Martyr Church in Moscow (the Moscow Representation of The Orthodox Church in America). Accompanying Vladyka Laurus were Archbishop Mark (Arndt) of Berlin and Germany ; Bishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Manhattan ; Bishop Peter (Loukianoff) of Cleveland ; Archpriest Seraphim Gan, the private secretary of the Metropolitan ; Protodeacons Joseph Jarostchuk and Victor Lochmatov ; and Mr. G F Selinsky.

The delegation led by Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) prayed at an intercessory moleben to the Most Holy Theotokos, to Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco and to the parish patron saint, the Great Martyr Catherine. The moleben was concelebrated by Bishop Peter, Archimandrite Zacchaeus and the parish clergy. Following the service of prayer the “Many Years” was intoned for Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger) of Moscow and All Russia, for Metropolitan Herman of All America and Canada, and for the visiting Metropolitan Laurus. Afterwards, Archimandrite Zacchaeus (Wood) welcomed Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) and those accompanying him to the parish. Then Archimandrite Zacchaeus presented Vladyka Laurus with an icon of Christ “the Sacrificial Lamb” in honour of this first visit to the Moscow Representation Church of the Orthodox Church in America. After blessing the faithful assembled in the Temple, Metropolitan Laurus and his delegation were offered a festal meal held in their honour in the parish dining-hall.

Repose, 2008

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

On 20 March, 2008, Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) of The Orthodox Church in America served a Panikhida with others for the newly-departed Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) at the Holy Trinity Monastery.

On 20-21 March, 2008, funeral services were offered at the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York.

On 21 March, the Hierarchical Memorial Divine Liturgy and the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch were served in the main Temple of the monastery. With the blessing of Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger), Metropolitan Juvenaly (Poyarkov) of Krutitsy and Kolomna presided along with 10 Russian Orthodox hierarchs and a bishop of The Orthodox Church in America. The burial brought together many clergy and laity from various countries and local churches.

On 21 March, 2008, after the Services for the Burial of a Hierarch, his body was interred alongside previous leaders of the Russian Church Outside Russia at the Holy Trinity Monastery Cemetery in Jordanville, New York.

Procession at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville

— Bishop of Manhattan (ROCOR) 1967-1976. Preceded by : Bishop James (Toombs). Succeeded by : Bishop Gregory (Grabbe).

— Bishop of Syracuse, New York, and Holy Trinity 1976-1981. Preceded by : Archbishop Averky (Taushev).

— Archbishop of Syracuse, New York, and Holy Trinity 1981-2001. Succeeded by : The See was dissolved.

— Metropolitan of New York and Eastern America 2001-2008. Preceded by : Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral).

— First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia 2001-2008. Preceded by : Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral).

(Abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, New York 1976-2008.)

(Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, New York 1976-2008.)

Reflections

Words of Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) (of The Orthodox Church in America) following the repose of Vladyka Laurus provide a helpful perspective on the life of Metropolitan Laurus :

 The death of His Eminence, Metropolitan Laurus is a great loss for all of us.  He laboured diligently for long decades – first 
 as a monastic and then as a hierarch.  He crowned his service in Christ’s Church and as First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox 
 Church Outside of Russia with his courage in achieving reconciliation within the Russian Orthodox Church.  At every stage of his
 ministry he maintained monastic humility, simplicity, and joy.  May his memory be eternal !

It is clear that humility was the foundation of his life and service. In this especially, his personal example serves as encouragement to all in our daily determination to be like Christ in His love for all.

Humility was accompanied by wisdom. This wisdom is particularly evident in his personal investigations and research that preceded the pivotal and historic reconciliation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia with the Patriarchate of Moscow in 2007. There was so much pain involved in the lives of those who had fled into exile following the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, and there were so many strong political opinions (not to ignore the strong presence of fear), that people found it difficult to embrace in forgiveness the Russian Orthodox Church which had had to endure 7 decades of persecution and slaughter under the atheist-communists. There was a strong suspicion that the Faithful in Russia might not now be truly Orthodox any longer. Mere speculation and distant observation would not be enough. It took bravery, as well, for Vladyka Laurus to travel incognito to Russia (even though the communists had fallen from power), and to make his own personal observations and assessment of the situation through his personal encounters with ordinary Orthodox Christians there. It was by doing so that he was able to determine that the people were, indeed, truly Orthodox Christians, and that it was now possible for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia to reconcile with the Russian Orthodox Church herself.

It is clear that the fruits of the reconciliation have been life-giving and positive for the whole Church.

Nevertheless, a significant number of people were unwilling to accept his assessment and to participate in this reconciliation. The consequence was a schism by those who were not ready to forgive. Painful and regrettable as this be, it is a clear call to the Faithful for prayer for the healing of this schism as well.

2021 Panikhida

On 31 August, 2021, on the Feast-day of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) served a panikhida (memorial service) in Holy Trinity Monastery at Jordanville, New York. This was the namesday of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) and of Archimandrite Flor (Vanko, +2012). Metropolitan Laurus was abbot of Holy Trinity Monastery for 32 years. He and Archimandrite Flor were amongst the group of monks who came from Saint Job of Pochaev Monastery in Czechoslovakia and immigrated to the USA after World War II. They joined the brotherhood already established here by Archimandrite Panteleimon (Nizhnik, +1984). Both fathers played a very important role in the life of the monastery.

Archimandrite Flor (Vanko)

Metropolitan Hilarion served a panikhida at the tomb of Metropolitan Laurus, 2021

Metropolitan Hilarion served a panikhida at the grave of Archimandrite Flor, 2021

Awards :

• Nabedrennik, 4 December, 1954

• Gold Pectoral Cross, 2 June, 1958

• Palitsa, 6 September, 1959

• Jewelled Pectoral Cross, 21 November, 1963

• Diamond Cross on the Klobuk (by decision of the Council of Bishops), 1 September, 1984

• Order of the Russian Orthodox Church, Saint Sergius of Radonezh, 1st degree, 25 February, 2008

References

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Moscow Patriarchate biography

Drevo Encyclopaedia biography

"Metropolitan Laurus (Vassily Skurla)" (Biography)

Biography in "Russian Personalities Abroad"

Additional information :

Gan, Archpriest Serafim, “Blessed Jubilee : Towards the 50th Anniversary of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus’ Pastoral Service”

Pospielovsky, Dimitry, “The Russian Church Under the Soviet Regime 1917-1982”, 2 volumes (Crestwood, NY : Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1984). ISBN-10 : 0881410330 ; ISBN-13 : 978-0881410334.

Regelson, Lev, "The Tragedy of the Russian Church 1917-1953" (in Russian)

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Address of Archimandrite Laurus upon Nomination as Bishop of Manhattan ; Address of Metropolitan Philaret to Bishop Laurus upon bestowing the Episcopal Staff

“Independent” newspaper obituary

“New York Times” obituary

The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) “In Memoriam” article

Moscow Patriarchate parish in the USA celebrates Pankhida on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Laurus (Skurla)

Tenth anniversary of the repose of Metropolitan Skurla

Lochmatow, Father Victor, “Metropolitan Laurus led the Church by his Humility”

“Council of Bishops of 2001 and the Election of the New First Hierarch, Official History of the Council” (ROCOR official website)

“Address of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia to its Flock” (ROCOR official website, October 2001)

“The Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia Concludes” (ROCOR official website, May 19, 2006)

“The Act of Canonical Communion is signed and the First Joint Celebration of Divine Liturgy by the Primates of the two parts of the Russian Orthodox Church takes place in Christ the Saviour Cathedral” (ROCOR official website, 17 May, 2007)

Video : “Reunification Service ROCOR and Moscow Patriarchate” (19 May, 2007)