On Wednesday, August 31, the Orthodox Church commemorates the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus. This was the namesday of the much-beloved and ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla; +2008) and Archimandrite Flor (Vanko; +2012).

His Eminence and Fr. Flor were part of the group of monks who immigrated to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY in 1946 from Eastern Europe at the end of World War II. They arrived together with the other fathers who also came at that time, including the famous iconographer Archimandrite Cyprian (Pyzhov; +2001) and the future Archbishop Alypy (Gamanovich; +2019) of Chicago & Mid-America.

After Divine Liturgy and lunch, a panihida was served by the abbot, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, co-served by monastery clergy, commemorating these bishops and fathers, including Archimandrite Sergei (Romberg; +1992), who also arrived with the above fathers and whose day of repose was this day.

All of these fathers of Holy Trinity Monastery are responsible for the building of the monastic community there, without whom the entire Church Abroad would not have the treasure that we have today: the Diasporan Lavra, as it was called by Metropolitan Anastassy (Gribanovsky; +1965).

Through their prayers, may the brethren of Holy Trinity Monastery continue their grace-filled mission!

www.jordanville.org