Hundreds gather to remember late Metropolitan

HEATHER AINSWORTH / Observer-Dispatch
Hundreds of people attend the funeral mass and service, Friday, March 21, 2008, at the Holy Trinity Monastery chapel in Jordanville, to pay last respects to Metropolitan Laurus Skurla, an important religious figure internationally, who died Sunday at age 80 after six decades of spiritual leadership here.

By CATHERINE KURTELAWICZ
Observer-Dispatch
Posted Mar 21, 2008 @ 04:03 PM
Last update Mar 21, 2008 @ 05:26 PM

JORDANVILLE — Hundreds of solemn-faced mourners stood shoulder to shoulder for hours Friday to pay their last respects to Metropolitan Laurus Skurla at Holy Trinity Monastery.

The smell of incense and the sound of choir singers filled the church during the sacred event.

Metropolitan Laurus, an important religious figure internationally, died Sunday at age 80 after six decades of spiritual leadership at the monastery.

As the first hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus helped lead the reunification with the base Russian Orthodox Church last May in Moscow.

The day’s services took place inside the church, a tan building with a green roof and several golden teardrop-shaped domes. A tri-bar cross marked the top of the largest and highest dome.

When the 11 a.m. funeral ceremony began, the abbot's body laid in an open casket in the center of the church. Bishops and priests, dressed in ornate purple robes, surrounded the casket.

Hundreds of people filled the rest of the church, with an overflow crowd watching the service on two video feeds. Both rooms showing the videos were packed themselves.

An ambulance stood by outside in case someone fainted due to the long duration of standing in such a tight space.

Most of the crowd wore black. As per Orthodox tradition, women wore head coverings. Candles illuminated the church and each of the overflow areas, including the candles held by mourners.

The service was sung in what's known as "church Slavic." It involved mostly singing, and some prayers, which were said in Russian.

Mourners had an opportunity to approach the casket and kiss the icon and gospel book that were placed in Metropolitan Laurus’ hands, signifying their last goodbyes.

Then, bells tolled as the closed casket was carried by the clergy around the church three times ending at the crypt beneath the church that will serve as the bishop’s final resting place. The procession signifies Metropolitan Laurus’ passing into eternity.

Marlene Meister of Erie, Pa., came to the service with her family. She said she was very sad when she learned the abbot had died.

"I just felt like I had to be here," Meister said with a shaky voice. "He was a wonderful, wonderful person."

A 40-day mourning period will pass before monastery officials can address the loss of their abbot, who first came to Jordanville in 1946.

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