Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 marks the 20th anniversary of the repose of Archimandrite Lazarus Moore who, serving the Orthodox Church almost 60 years, contributed to the spread of Orthodoxy throughout the world.
With joy and sobriety, enduring hardship and performing the work of an evangelist, Fr. Lazarus translated and spread what St. Paul refers to as the “Scripture (which) is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Father Lazarus served in the Orthodox Church throughout the world, including Palestine, Kenya, Greece, Australia, India, Serbia, California and Alaska. Reflecting on his life and ministry, it is clear Fr. Lazarus transmitted the life of the Church tirelessly, uniquely, and in a wholly Orthodox manner as attested to by St. Nikoli Velimirović, who vouched for him when he came into the church, as one who is truly carrying the torch of the Orthodox faith.
Fr. Lazarus, knowing many languages, translated The Ladder of Divine Ascent, the Menaion, the Psalter, The Great Canon of St. Andrew of Crete, The Arena and hundreds of other titles still in use around the world in seminaries, parishes and monasteries today. Two books for which he is particularly well known, are the original 1960 Jordanville Prayer Book and the life of St. Seraphim, entitled An Extraordinary Peace: St. Seraphim, Flame of Sarov.
St. John Maximovitch writes of Fr. Lazarus in October 1957, “None of the clergy that is currently serving in England can successfully nurture the Orthodox…there is a need to have a cultured and theologically educated Orthodox priest who would have enough reputation among Englishmen…so there is definitely a gap in the Orthodox Church activities in England, and this gap could be filled if Fr. Lazarus returned.”
Fr. Lazarus witnessed to Christ, to the Gospel and to the Orthodox Faith with Mother Gavrilia throughout India, visiting Gandhi while serving sick and impoverished families and children. He followed in the footsteps of Thomas the Apostle to India, who is traditionally believed to have sailed to there in 52AD. St. Ephraim the Syrian, in his hymns about St. Thomas, writes:“It was to a land of dark people he was sent, to clothe them by Baptism in white robes. His grateful dawn dispelled India’s painful darkness. It was his mission to espouse India to the One-Begotten. The merchant is blessed for having so great a treasure.”
These words ring true of Fr. Lazarus’ ministry.
During the years of his labors throughout India as translator, priest, monk and lecturer, Father Lazarus achieved respect and recognition throughout the Orthodox and secular world. His translation of The Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus got the attention of the English poet T.S. Eliot, who became interested in the manuscript, arranging
for it’s publication in England by Faber and Faber.
Fr. Lazarus articulated and bore witness to the Orthodox vision of unity among God’s diverse Creation, bringing dozens of cultures and tongues into the blessed liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church. For decades, Fr. Lazarus studied, served Liturgy, taught, prayed, fasted and translated for thousands of people. In 1982, while living in Australia, Fr. Lazarus was invited to America on a speaking tour of Greek Orthodox churches. During this tour, he met some Evangelical Orthodox clergy and received an invitation from Fr. Peter Gillquist to come and live among the people in the Evangelical Orthodox Church in America to help them transition from Protestantism into canonical Orthodoxy.
By 1987, several thousand individuals were received into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese.
Those who knew him continue experiencing the fruit of his prayers. In 1986, Fr. L was invited to come to Alaska to speak to the Orthodox faithful in Eagle River. He returned in 1988 and eventually moved there December of 1989 after being asked to make one last move before his journey across the line from this world to our eternal home.
From the cool rains of England to the oppressive Indian heat, and from Jerusalem to the far north of Alaska, he was a man after God’s own heart, looking for His lost sheep. Fr. Lazarus placed his hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, through voluntary service and suffering. This life with God, the greatest adventure, is relevant in our turbulent world, where we need to fearlessly go forward , no matter what the conditions, be they secular or pagan for God is with us.
As he approached the hour of death on his final pilgrimage, he heard these words from the second epistle of Timothy:
“I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
“At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. But the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me, in order that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the lion’s mouth. The Lord will deliver me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom; to Him be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Timothy 4:5-8;16-1
Fr. Lazarus, pray to God for us.
Father Lazarus Moore Foundation 