Archimandrite Luke (Majoros)

Archimandrite Luke (Majoros) (1949-2026)

Rudolf may be spelt Rudolph, Rudolphe, Rodolfo, Rudolphus, Raoul, Rudis, Ruuto, Roel, Ralph.

Luke may be spelt Luc, Luka, Lukas, Loukas, Lucius.

Hilandar may be spelt Chilandar.

Early life of Rudolf Majoros

On 4 November, 1949, Rudolf Majoros was born in Novi-Sad, Yugoslavia to Laszlo and Katya Majoros. He had one sister, Klara. He was born into a Hungarian-descended and Hungarian-speaking family, and he and his sister grew up speaking both Hungarian and Serbian. Throughout his life, he valued both elements of his inheritance and formation, but being of a Hungarian family took precedence in his heart.

Both Rudolf and Klara were raised as Roman Catholic Christians. This was what was usual for most people in this town of Austro-Hungarian origin.

Rudolf completed his primary education in Yugoslavia, where he was born.

Emigration

As a teenager, he left Yugoslavia with his family, and they emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. His father had gone there a year earlier, in order to prepare their way.

Rudolf completed his secondary education in Toronto.

Higher education

After this, he entered Saint Michael’s College at the University of Toronto.

Working and developing years

For some years, Rudolf worked as an airline steward on Canadian Pacific Airlines (CPAir). This was, in fact, his first permanent employment. This employment meant that he was exposed to many different cultures, since he served on some international routes.

Becoming an Orthodox Christian

During his travels in the 1970s, when he would often stop and visit in Vancouver, British Columbia, he met 2 significant persons.

One was Bishop Joasaph (Antonuk), who was Vicar-Bishop of the Archdiocese of Canada (Orthodox Church in America). He was serving at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Vancouver, and he was a remarkable and holy person.

The other person was the man who would become his Orthodox sponsor and guide, Professor Demetrios Conomos. Professor Conomos was a professor in the of Music of at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver).

It was Demetrios who guided Rudolf into the Orthodox Christian Church, and to his baptism in Saint George Greek Orthodox Church in Vancouver. He was given the name Gabriel. Later, Demitrios enabled the newly-illumined Gabriel Majoros to make a visit to Mount Athos, Greece, for the first time.

Becoming a monk

A consequence of this visit to Mount Athos was his decision in 1977 to return and to live permanently on the Holy Mountain at Hilandar Monastery. This monastery was founded in 1198 by Saint Symeon (Stefan Nemanja) and Saint Sava (Nemanjić). The monastery has a double dedication : to the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple, and to the Three-handed Icon of the Theotokos.

Hilandar Monastery of the Theotokos, Mount Athos

Monastic tonsure

In about 1980, at Hilandar Monastery, Rudolf Majoros was tonsured to be a monk of the Lesser Schema, and he was given the name Luka (Luke). This occurred on the Feast of the Holy Apostle Luke 18 October/3 November.

The unforgettable Father Luke belonged to the generation of monks who arrived at the Hilandar Monastery in the 1970s, alongside the late Archimandrite Pajsije (Tanasijević) (1957-2003), Hieromonk Avakum (Medić) (1956-2006), Hieromonk Gavrilo (Vučković) (1944-2017), and Archimandrite Hrizostom (Stolić) (1939-2012), the last being the Bishop of Žiča. Another of his contemporaries, and nearer in age, was the Monk Andrej (Ćilerdžić), who later became a bishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Father Luke served for many years as the “Archondar” (hospitality officer) at Hilandar Monastery, and he was the closest cell attendant (“kelejnik”) to the late Elder Nikanor (Savić) of Hilandar (who was later recognised to be a saint).

Diaconal ordination

At Hilandar Monastery, in about 1980, the Monk Luka (Majoros) of Hilandar (tonsured monks take the monastery name as a “surname”) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Chrysostomos (Anagnostopoulos) of Rodostolon.

Hierodeacon Luke (Marjoros) continued to serve the Hilandar Monastery brotherhood in the usual way of monks. It is useful to keep in mind that at that time, the Hilandar Monastery was an idiorrhythmic community. It was during his monastic life at Hilandar that Hierodeacon Luke refined his culinary skills, a talent through which he cared for and served people for the rest of his life.

For a period of time, he lived as a solitary in a seaside hermitage.

Return to Canada

In 1985, Hierodeacon Luke (Majoros), with Monk Pierre (Vachon), returned to Canada to see his family.

Move to Jamaica

Afterwards, he felt unable to return to the Holy Mountain for some reason

Instead, Hierodeacon Luke he went to Jamaica. His sister had moved there, and had married her husband Nigel Young-Chin. He arrived in January, 1986, for the baptism of his niece Katleya, which took place on 25 January (she was exactly 6 months old). While there, he worked as an English teacher at the Saint Andrew High school for Girls in Kingston, Jamaica. After that, he worked for the Bolivar Art Gallery and Books.

He remained in Jamaica until the autumn of 1989, and the aftermath of a huge hurricane (Hurricane Gilberta) in September.

Return to Canada

When he returned to Canada, he worked at an office job with Laurentian Insurance.

Archdiocese of Canada, Orthodox Church in America

In 1989, when he returned to Toronto, Ontario, he was received into The Orthodox Church in America by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) of Edmonton.

Upon coming to the Archdiocese of Canada, and upon his being received, Hierodeacon Luke (Majoros) was attached first to Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto.

Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Toronto

At that time, he became well-known to the family of Professor Richard Schneider of York University, and amongst the youth in general, he enjoyed teaching and playing the game of cricket. Being a fan of European football, he also encouraged the youth in this game.

Later, he became known at the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, where he was attached as a hierodeacon.

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Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Ottawa

Before long, he and Monk Pierre (Vachon) sought out a site in Québec, in order to make an attempt at eremitic life, similar to what they had lived on Mount Athos (albeit that they were in different communities).

Hermitage of the Protection of the Theotokos, 1992

On 2 August, 1992, the establishment of the Protection of the Theotokos Hermitage in Saint-Eusèbe de Témiscouata, Québec was blessed.

Hierodeacon Luke (Majoros) was released from his attachment at the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral. He was assigned to the Ermitage de la Protection de la Mère de Dieu in Saint-Eusèbe de Témiscouata, Québec.

Fathers Luke and Pierre, visitor Charlene Lau (husband Brian Ahier, photographer)

Presbyteral Ordination

On 12 March, 2000, at the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint-Benoît de Nursie in Montréal, Québec, the Archdeacon Luc (Majoros) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa.

Pastoral service

On 12 March, 2000, the Priestmonk Luke (Majoros) was attached at the Communauté Monastique de Saint-Séraphim de Sarov. He was assigned also to serve at the Ermitage de la Protection de la Mère de Dieu in Saint-Eusèbe de Témiscouata, Québec.

Later, when the utter solitude (including being extremely distant from any Orthodox Christian community) had become too difficult to maintain, Priestmonk Luke (Majoros) was transferred to the Monastic Brotherhood of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos at Johnstown, Ontario. Regardless of this move, Father Luke continued to consider himself to be a monk of this hermitage.

At this time, he also served for a period of time at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in London, Ontario, “on-loan” to Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas) of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada).

Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, London, Ontario

Then, in 2003, he was sent to serve at Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Sudbury, Ontario.

Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Sudbury, Ontario

In both these assignments, he was well-loved by the parishioners.

On 1 September, 2006, in addition to his attachment at the Chapel of Saint Silouan, Priestmonk Luke (Majoros) was, assigned to serve as Interim Priest-in-charge of Saint Gregory of Nyssa’s Church in Kingston, Ontario.

On 1 January, 2007, in addition to his other duties, Hieromonk Luke (Majoros) was assigned to be Priest-in-charge of Saint Gregory of Nyssa’s Mission in Kingston, Ontario.

Saint Gregory of Nyssa Mission, Kingston, Ontario

While he served at Kingston, he lived at the Hermitage of Saint Anthony at Westport, Ontario.

Father Luke at Saint Anthony's Hermitage (before the construction of the chapel)

On 4 April, 2010, Hieromonk Luke (Majoros) received from the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America, the blessing to wear the Gold Cross.

In May, 2011, Hieromonk Luke (Majoros) was elevated to the dignity of Igumen by the Holy Synod.

On 11 January, 2012, Igumen Luke (Majoros) was released from his responsibilities as Rector of the Mission of Saint Gregory of Nyssa in Kingston, Ontario.

Igumen Luke (Majoros) was granted a Leave-of-absence for one year, and he was given the status of Unassigned Cleric.

It was at that time that Igumen Luke moved to the Monastery of Saint Silouan at Johnstown, Ontario.

Later in 2012, he cared for the wife of Viktor Eryomin of Brockville, Ontario, in the hospital there during her final weeks. The funeral of his wife was served by Father Luke at the Chapel of Saint Silouan (Johnstown, Ontario). She was interred at the Saint James Cemetery at Maitland, Ontario. Before marriage to Viktor, she was the widow of one of the 2 sons of Grand Duchess Olga Kulikova.

After the funeral, Viktor began to visit the monastery frequently, in part because Father Luke could understand Russian (Viktor, born at Murmansk, Russia, had arrived in Canada many years previously as a refugee). Eventually, he moved to the monastery, and lived there as a worker, and he attended all the services in the chapel.

Rather later, he was tonsured by Father Luke to be a Stavrophore Monk. On 21 February, 2013, Igumen Luke (Majoros) was formally attached as a Supply Priest of the Deanery of Ontario at the Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite in Johnstown, Ontario. There, he served in the Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite, and he travelled often to Potsdam, New York, USA, where he nurtured the beginning of the Mission of Saint Olympia.

Father Luke, Father Pierre, and visitors from New York, from Kingston, and from Ottawa

(at Saint Silouan's Chapel)

In 2015, Igumen Luke (Majoros) was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite.

Closure of Saint Silouan Monastery, 2016

In 2016, the Monastery of Saint Silouan was closed. As a consequence, Fathers Luke and Victor moved to Kilmarnock, Ontario, where they continued as the Hermitage of the Protection of the Theotokos. Father Luke served in the Domestic Chapel of Saints Cosmas and Damian.

At the end of 2024, because of the pending sale of the property where they had lived, Father Luke and Father Victor (Eryomin) moved into an apartment in Ottawa. They prayed at home, and they attended services at the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral, and Saint Stephen Serbian Orthodox Church.

Father Luke was fluent in speaking English, French, Greek, Hungarian, and Serbian.

In 2025, Father Luke began to feel very ill, and he received various treatments, which culminated in a surgery. Despite the surgery, which was followed by chemotherapy, Father Luke’s health had deteriorated sufficiently that his body could not tolerate treatment, and he remained in a hospital for a lengthy period of time.

Then, in February, 2026, he was admitted to the Saint Vincent Hospital in Ottawa’s palliative care ward.

Repose

Very early on 12 February, 2026, Archimandrite Luke (Majoros) fell asleep in the Lord at Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario.

Archimandrite Luke was predeceased by his parents. He leaves behind his sister Klara (Nigel), his niece Katleya, and his fellow Monk Viktor (Eryomin).

On Friday, 13 February, 2026, Bishop Andrej (Ćilerdžić) (Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Switzerland), who once led the ascetic life in Hilandar Monastery alongside Father Luke, officiated at a Memorial Service (Panikhida) for the departed at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Zurich. He was accompanied by Protopresbyter Branimir Petković, and Deacon Vladimir Mihajlović.

On Tuesday, 17 February, 2026, the coffin with the body of Archimandrite Luke (Majoros) was brought to the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral (15, Eccles Street), in Ottawa, Ontario. His body remained their in the open coffin until the evening.

Archimandrite Luke in repose

The Funeral Service for the Burial of a Monk was offered at the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral (15, Eccles Street, Ottawa, Ontario) on Tuesday, 17 February, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. This service was led by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa and Canada ; he was assisted by the Dean, Archpriest James Griggs, Second Priest Nikolay Melnik, and Deacon Denis Letunovsky. Deacon Mark Josefson was present. At the conclusion of the service, the Last Kiss was given to Archimandrite Luke, one-by-one, by those present.

The Memorial Divine Liturgy with a final, brief Memorial Service was offered at the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral was offered on Wednesday, 18 February, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The service was led by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa and Canada ; he was assisted the Dean, Archpriest James Griggs, and Deacon Denis Letunovsky. Priest Aleksandar Gujaničić of Saint Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church was present.

At the final Litiya (Trisagion, Memorial Service)

Whelan Funeral Home of Ottawa was entrusted with arrangements.

Interment was to follow in the spring of 2026 at the Saint James Anglican Cemetery at Maitland, Ontario. Graves for 3 monks had been purchased there many years earlier, before the closure of Saint Silouan’s Monastery at Johnstown, Ontario.

Saint James Cemetery sign

Reflections

Archimandrite Luke was a beloved, and compassionate pastor, and he held very definite and strong opinions.

In his life (possibly related to the difficulties he faced in his early days, including those in emigration), there were sometimes various complications. Despite these, he forged on in serving the Lord with hope.