His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus Expresses Condolences to the Locum Tenens and Holy Synod of the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church

I hereby express my profound condolences and empathy to Your Eminence, the Locum Tenens of the First-hierarchal Throne, the Members of the Holy Synod, the clergymen and flock, the spiritual children and followers of the newly-departed Metropolitan Nikolaj, who zealously tended to the flock of the Czech and Slovak Orthodox Church.

During the difficult years of the exile of the Russian émigrés, the print shop of the Brotherhood of Pochaev Lavra, headed by Archimandrite Vitaly (Maximenko), who later became an archbishop in the USA, found a welcoming haven on Slovakian territory. Since then, the Russian Church Abroad, and especially the residents of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, have prayed with great love for the Reverend Archpastors, pastors and Orthodox faithful who carry on the work of God and those who seek salvation. We often remember the good-hearted and fraternal attention to us of the late Vladyka, whose departure from the earthly life is immeasurably tragic for us as well.

II pray to the All-Merciful God for the peace of His Eminence's soul in the abode of the righteous.

With love in the Lord, asking your holy prayers,

+Metropolitan Laurus,

First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia

January 17/30 2006

St Anthony the Great