Bishop Stephen (Lasko)

Bishop Stephen (Lasko) (1900-1975)

Stephen may be spelt Stefan, Istefan.

Vangel may be spelt Evangelos.

Early life of Vangel Lasko

Vangel Lasko was born on 13 May, 1900, in the village of Malëshova, near the city of Përmet, Gjirokastër County, in the Ottoman Empire (now Albania).

Vangel received his primary and secondary education in his home county.

When Vangel was 12 years of age, Albania became a country independent from The Ottoman Empire.

Higher education

Vangel received some higher education in Albania, but it is not written in available sources what he studied and where.

Emigration to the USA

In the 1930s, Vangel emigrated to the USA.

It is not yet indicated what higher education Vangel may have received, nor where,

It is presumed that Vangel received a theological education. It is probable that this was achieved after his arrival in the USA.

Ordinations

At some time, Vangel was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, probably by Bishop Theophan (Noli).

In June, 1949, Deacon Vangel Lasko was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Theophan (Noli).

Pastoral service

From 1951 to 1955, Father Vangel Lasko served at the Albanian Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Then, in 1955, Father Vangel was transferred to the Albanian Paraskevi Parish in Cleveland, Ohio.

Saint Paraskevi (Eprempte) Orthodox Church, Cleveland, Ohio

Father Vangel served also in some capacity in Chicago, Illinois.

Repose of Metropolitan Theophan (Noli)

On 13 March, 1965, Metropolitan Theophan (Noli) of the Albanian Archdiocese, fell asleep in the Lord in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

After the funeral, he was interred at the Forest Hills Cemetery at Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

Soon afterwards, Father Vangel Lasko was nominated to become a bishop in order to lead the Albanian Archdiocese.

Monastic tonsure

Very soon thereafter, in 1965, Priest Vangel Lasko was sent to Albania. There, he was tonsured to be a monk and given the name Stephen.

Then, he was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

Episcopal ordination

In Albania, on 20 March, 1965, Archbishop Paisius (Vodica) and other bishops of the Church of Albania ordained Archimandrite Stephen (Lasko) to the Holy Episcopate in the Holy Resurrection Cathedral at Tirana.

This occurred 2 years before the beginning of the communist programme for the destruction of the Orthodox Christian Faith, and also all religion in the country.

Episcopal service

Although Bishop Stephen was ordained as Bishop for America by the hierarchs of the Albanian Orthodox Church, not everyone recognised this arrangement. The dispute persisted for 4 years, until 1969, when Bishop Stephen was recognised in throughout the Orthodox Church as the canonical successor of Metropolitan Theophan (Noli).

In 1970, after the destruction of the Albanian Orthodox Church by the communist authorities, there was a desire in the North American diocese to perpetuate the Church of Albania’s life amongst her children living abroad.

After having received Autocephaly from the Church of Russia on 31 March, 1970, the First All-American Council of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) was convened in October, 1970. At that time, the bishops, clergy, and laity of the newly-autocephalous OCA addressed a landmark “Message to all Orthodox Christians in America” calling for jurisdictional Church unity on the North American continent, at the same time acknowledging the diversity of backgrounds and traditions, and respecting national and cultural heritages. This was a clarion call to “witness to the truth of our Orthodox Faith on this continent” in unity so “‘that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21) ’”. The full text of that appeal is found here.

At this time, Bishop Stephen turned to The Orthodox Church in America, with a request that his diocese be accepted under its omophor.

On 14 October, 1971, Bishop Stephen (Lasko) signed an agreement with OCA Primate, Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish), just days before the Second All-American Council. With this agreement, the Albanian Archdiocese was affiliated formally with The Orthodox Church in America.

Bishop Stephen (Lasko) with Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish) at the signing of the affiliation

Bishop Stephen (Lasko)

Repose, 1975

On Great and Holy Wednesday, 30 April 30, 1975, Bishop Stephen (Lasko) fell asleep in the Lord in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch was offered in the Saint George Cathedral in Boston, Massachusetts.

The details regarding where his body was interred were not available to the writer.

Saint George Albanian Orthodox Cathedral, Boston

— Bishop of Boston 1965-1975. Preceded by Metropolitan Theophan (Noli). Succeeded by Bishop Mark (Forsberg).

References

V. L. “In Memory of the Most Reverend Bishop Stephen (Lasko)” (New York : Yearbook of the Orthodox Church in America, 1976) pp. 120-121.

Russian Wikipedia biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Additional information :

Morris, Archpriest John W, ‘The Albanian Orthodox’ in “The Historic Church : an Orthodox View of Christian History]” (Bloomington, Indiana : AuthorHouse, 2011), pp. 549-550. ISBN : 978-1-4567-3491-6.

Orthodox Church in America Past Hierarchs

OCA Archives “Significant anniversaries for the Albanian Archdiocese and Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America” 2021

Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese web-site

Wikipedia article about the Albanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America

Wikipedia article about the Albanian Orthodox Diocese of America

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen)

Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)