Our beloved Arch-Pastor has departed to the Lord. The worldwide outpouring at this moment confirms what we, the least of his children, have known too. He was kindness and love incarnate. He showed throughout his time as Metropolitan that he completely understood what must be done and he did it, without once counting the cost to himself. His steering of our Church into the harbor of unity within the Russian Church will doubtless be recorded as his great accomplishment. Yet, even in the midst of this great effort and so shortly after the All-Diaspora Council, he found time to attend our music conference that we hosted in 2006. We will not forget what he said when he accepted our invitation: "If I am alive, I will be there!" Truly, the life he lived was not one coming from his own increasingly tenuous health, but was one "hidden in God." We must therefore thank our Lord and God for the portion of this great and precious life just finished that we were granted to share. Below is what he said when he was with us. May his memory be eternal.
– Fr. George
Metropolitan Laurus' Homily at Holy Apostles Orthodox Church
Given on the occasion of the St. Romanos the Melodist Music Seminar
Sunday of All Saints, June 2006
"I will ask that all saints pray to God for us. Amen."
The first Sunday after the feast of Holy Trinity is called the Sunday of All Saints. On this day the Holy Church prayerfully glorifies all the saints who have pleased God from the ages. Included in this Sunday are the Holy Apostles, prophets, martyrs, bishops, monks, nuns, fools for Christ and all the righteous ones.
Honoring the memory of All Saints soon after the Feast of Holy Pentecost, the Holy Church desires in this way to show that sanctity is the fruit of the Holy Spirit which was abundantly poured forth on the Holy Apostles and through them in the Holy Church is poured forth on all believers.
The Holy Spirit made wise and raised to the ranks of the angels men like unto us, and others were crowned with sanctity for their ascetic and righteous lives. The ascetic feats of the saints were various, as today's Epistle reading informs us. The saints conquered enemies visible and invisible with faith. They patiently endured poverty and all kinds of adversity, persecution, martyrdom, and different forms of death.
The gospel reading of today testifies that the saints were true confessors of the Holy Faith as they left all behind that hindered them from following the Lord or that prohibited them from fulfilling His holy commandments.
And in the same way that they confessed the Lord before people, before mankind, does the Lord Jesus Christ confess the saints before His Heavenly Father. The saints whose memory we commemorate today followed the Lord, they followed His call, and took upon themselves the cross and carried it.
Brothers and sisters, today I am happy to pray with you, and I am pleased that I have the opportunity to celebrate today's feast with you during this church music conference. Your efforts, your fruit: you adorn the services with your prayerful singing. With all my heart I wish you that these conferences will assist you more and more to better the quality of church singing in each of your parishes. This is a great and holy endeavour. May God help you. I will ask that all saints pray to God for us. Amen.
St. Romanos the Melodist Society
