LADOMIROVO, SLOVAKIA: September 22, 2008 
Photo-Report On the Visit of the Delegation of the Russian Church Abroad To the Holy Sites of Slovakia

On September 15-16, 2008, His Grace Bishop Peter of Cleveland and a delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia visited the churches and holy sites of Ladomirovo, Bardeov, Svidnik, Stropkov, and other towns. In Ladomirovo, the ROCOR delegation once again visited the local church, which from the 1920’s to the mid-1940’s was the home of the publishing house of St Job of Pochaev, founded by Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko, +1960) of blessed memory. The former monastery church, with frescoes painted by Archimandrite Kyprian (Pyzhov, +2002), is now a parish church. The late brethren of the monastery, Hegumen Savva (Struve), Hieromonk Grigory, brother of the late Fr Kyprian, and others are buried behind the altar. Here, the delegation performed a moleben at which they commemorated the late Metropolitan Laurus, his parents, relatives and reposed monastic brethren. Vladyka Laurus’ brother then hosted a reception for the delegates in the house where the future Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was born.

The rector of the church in Stropkov, Protopriest Peter Zuper, was a schoolmate of the late Vladyka Laurus. The delegation of the Russian Church Abroad was warmly and lovingly welcomed everywhere. His Grace also visited St Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Presovska, as well as the local Diocesan Administration and the Orthodox Theological School.