Laurus (Å kurla)

Metropolitan Laurus ( secular name Vasily Mikhailovich Schkurla, Russian Василий Михайлович Шкурла, Vasiľ Skurla; * January 1, 1928 in Ladomirová ( CSR), † 16 March, 2008 Jordanville in Warren, New York, USA) was head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad.

Life

Born in 1939 in Russine entered the Orthodox Monastery of Saint Job of Pochayiv his hometown Ladomirová ( Okres Svidník ) in Eastern Slovakia a. 1946, the monastery was moved to Jordanville in the U.S. state of New York.

1947 Laurus was clipped to rassophoren monk. On March 19, 1949, he took the name of Laurus martyr. He was consecrated on 14 January 1950 for the monk and deacon on June 27, 1954 was his ordination as a monk priest. From 1964 Laurus was a lecturer at the Seminary of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville. From 1958, as an inspector of the seminar. On September 6, 1959, this survey took place in the rank of Hegumen and later on 17 April 1966, he was ordained Archimandrite.

Laurus was consecrated on August 13, 1967 Bishop of Manhattan and was thus Vicar Bishop of the Diocese Ostamerikanischen. He was also since July 18, 1976 Abbot of St. - Trinity monastery and administrator of the diocese of Trinity - Syracuse; from 12 October of the same year - Presiding Bishop and rector of Trinity Seminary. During this time he was also chief editor of the journals " Orthodox Rus' ", " Orthodox Life ", and " The Orthodox Way".

1981 saw his elevation to the archbishopric. He was deputy secretary and secretary of the Synod of Bishops. From 10 July 2001, he performed as alternate, also the duties of the First Hierarch of the ROCOR. From the Council of Bishops of ROCOR he was on 11./24. October 2001 to the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, from elected. Since then, he stood at the head of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. He engaged crucial for the restoration of canonical unity of the Russian Orthodox Church after their split in 1921. The official reunion took place on 17 May 2007.