Archpriest Paul and Matushka Natalia Lazor

Archpriest Paul G Lazor (1939-2020)

and

Matushka Natalia A (born Manturoff) Lazor (1938-20__)

Paul may be spelt Pavel.

Natalia may be spelt Natalie, Nadine, Natasha.

Manturoff may be spelt Manturov.

Early life of Paul Lazor

On 28 June, 1939, Paul G Lazor was born Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. The date of his birth is perhaps one of the reasons for his name, since 29 June is the Feast-day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. His family followed the very common (if not prevalent) custom of naming a child after one of the saints on or near the day of birth.

Paul’s father, Joseph Lazor, was a Russian-speaking native of Galicia, who, as his own father, was an immigrant from Galicia, and a factory-worker in Canonsburg. For 50 years, Joseph served as the choir director and cantor at the Orthodox Christian parish of Saint John the Baptist in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA. He and his own father are listed as 2 of the founders of this parish in 1918. Paul’s mother, Anna Lazorchak, was the daughter of Michael Lazorchak, the third listed founder of the parish.

Paul Lazor was a first cousin of Frank Theodore Lazor (who was 5 years his senior).

Saint John the Baptist Temple

Paul was baptised in his home parish by Archpriest Basil Horsky (who served there 1934-1948), and he was raised from infancy by his strongly-believing and faithful Orthodox Christian parents. From them, and from his extended family, he came to love the Lord as did they. Besides the regular family prayers, his family and relatives could often be encountered standing before one or another icon in the house, and focussed in prayer. He continued to grow as a faithful Orthodox Christian in this environment, and he also grew with joy in singing.

By the time he was 10 years old, Father Nicholas Fedetz had become the pastor of the parish (1948-1961).

Throughout his years in the Canonsburg Public School System, Paul was always a good student. In high school, he did particularly well in such subjects as mathematics, physics, and chemistry. He also excelled in certain sports. He excelled in sports to such a degree that he could have become professional, had he so desired and chosen.

Young Paul Lazor

Higher education

In 1957, after his graduation from high school, Paul enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh (“Pitt”). He majored in the field of chemical engineering. During the summer of 1960, he worked as an engineering trainee for the Bethlehem Steel Corporation in Buffalo, New York.

Graduation

In 1961, Paul received a B.S. (Bachelor of Science) degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh.

Discerning his path

From an external perspective, the path of Paul’s life seemed to be set before him. Internally, however, such was not the case. He began to understand increasingly that, although this supposed path would no doubt lead him to a certain level of external and financial success, there was very little room along its way for that powerful, inner experience and vision of life which had motivated him from his childhood. That experience and vision was grounded in a totality of love, dedication, and service to God ; and it was revealed most directly to him in the life and worship of the Orthodox Church.

During a profound consultation with his parish pastor in Canonsburg, Father Nicholas Fedetz, Paul was gently but wisely advised to “give it a try”, i.e., to postpone (perhaps only temporarily) his well-constructed career as a chemical engineer, and to enrol at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary – a graduate school of Orthodox Christian theology, located at that time in New York City, New York.

To the dismay of many, including some of his family members, neighbours and friends from both his high school and college days, Paul followed this advice.

Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

In September, 1961, Paul enrolled at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in New York. During his initial journey by bus across the State of Pennsylvania, from Canonsburg to the Seminary in New York City, he was accompanied by his encouraging first-cousin (Frank Lazor) to Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (his own “alma mater”),

Once classes began at the seminary, the profound and spiritually inspired teaching and personal demeanour of the school’s excellent faculty – especially the Dean, Father Alexander Schmemann, and Professors John Meyendorff, Serge Verhovskoy, and Veselin Kesich – really “hit home” within the mind and heart of the new student. Coupled with the seminary’s excellent daily liturgical life, as well as his becoming close, lifetime friends with several of his fellow seminarians (especially the departed Father Thomas Hopko, a future Dean of the Seminary, and David Drillock) (future Provost, Treasurer, Professor of Music), all the interior doors of his life were opened.

By the Grace of God, he found, once and for all, the path toward the ongoing fulfilment - “from one degree of glory to another”, as the Apostle Paul writes (2 Corinthians 3:18) – of the goals and purposes of his life. This path was and is, stated simply, none other than “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) – in Jesus Christ.

During his 3 years of choral singing within the daily worship at the seminary, Paul rediscovered the power and brilliance of the tenor voice. From childhood, he had had a God-given talent for singing. The seminary was expanding, and growing. The seminary also moved to a new campus located to the north of New York City, near Yonkers, New York. At that time, Paul served as ecclesiarch of the school’s Three Hierarchs Chapel.

Summer octets

Even during his student years, Paul Lazor’s love and dedication for the work of Saint Vladimir's Seminary were evident. At that time, a mode of developing a renewed, and powerfully direct public contact and image for the Seminary was especially realised by the Seminary’s formation and dispatching of 3 consecutive “summer” octets (for him, during the summers of 1962, 1963, 1964). Paul participated in these 3 inaugural octets, and he directed the latter 2.

Octet 1962

Octet 1963

Octet 1964

Providentially, the schedule of the second octet in the summer of 1963 included a visit to Holy Trinity Cathedral in San Francisco, California. During this visit, Paul unexpectedly met his future wife and lifetime love, Natalia (Natasha) Manturoff,

Graduation

Paul G Lazor graduated from Saint Vladimir's Seminary with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree in 1964.

Saint Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood (recent portrayal)

Early life of Natalia Manturoff

On 18 August, 1938, Natalia Alexandrovna Manturoff was born at Macau, in southeast China (at that time a colony of the Republic of Portugal.

Natalia Alexandrovna was a daughter of Alexander and Maria Manturoff, Russian exiles who had arrived in Macau after escaping (in life-preserving fashion) the 1917 Boshevik Revolution against the Russian Empire by Bolshevik Communists. They had 2 children besides Natalia : Mikhail, and Galina Manturoff.

The Manturoff family had resettled initially in China, in the colony of Macau, and they lived there until their immigration to San Francisco, California, USA, in 1950.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, San Francisco

Natalia and her siblings continued their education in San Francisco, and Natalia graduated from George Washington High School there.

Natalia was naturalised a USA citizen in 1956.

With her siblings, Natalia had been baptised into the Russian Orthodox Church in China, and she grew up to be a devout (pious) Orthodox Christian woman.

Eventually, Natasha moved to New York City, where she obtained a job at the Chancellory of the Orthodox Church in America – a position which utilised her bilingual skills (Russian and English) as well as her personal, gifted ability to be at ease in meeting with and accommodating people.

Marriage, 1964

On 13 September, 1964, Paul G Lazor was crowned in marriage to Natalia A Manturoff at the Three Hierarchs Chapel of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (by then at Crestwood, Yonkers, New York).

Old Three Hierarchs Chapel

Over the course of their marriage, Paul and Natalia were blessed with 3 children (Alexander, Elizabeth, and Pavel (Paul)), and 6 grandchildren.

After the completion of the third octet, and after his marriage, it was soon time for Paul to be ordained and to begin his service to the Church. This was not merely because he desired to serve in this manner, but it was also because he was being obedient to the direction of his spiritual father, and the hierarchy of the Church.

Ordinations, 1964

In October, 1964, Paul Lazor was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Soon afterwards, on 17 October, 1964, Deacon Paul Lazor was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop John (Shahovsky) of San Francisco, at the “old chapel” of the Three Hierarchs at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (which at that time was attached to the main building by a covered walkway).

Father Paul and Matushka Natalia after the first Divine Liturgy, Canonsburg

Pastoral service

Saints Cyril and Methodius Church, Milwaukee

In 1964, the Priest Paul Lazor was assigned to serve as the pastor of the parish of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he served until 1967.

Holy Trinity Church, New Britain

In 1967, Father Paul was assigned as rector of the Orthodox parish of the Holy Trinity in New Britain, Connecticut (Diocese of New England). The 10 years of pastoral service there, were described by him as unforgettable, and that these years certainly shaped his pastoral teaching.

Lazor family, New Britain

Then, in 1969, he was asked (in addition to his pastoral service) to join the Saint Vladimir’s Seminary faculty on a part-time basis. Meanwhile, he continued his pastoral care at Holy Trinity Church.

It was during the years of his pastoral service that he gained many experiences which helped him in the future, when he shared many of them with students. It was not only the events, but also (and perhaps primarily) the personalities that he used as illustrations of a pastor’s life and work.

Assignment to Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary

In 1977, Father Paul completed his years of direct parish ministry by accepting the Seminary’s invitation to serve there full-time.

Father Paul was released from his parish responsibilities by Bishop Dmitry (Royster) of Hartford, and he was transferred to the omophor of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) for assignment.

Dean of Students

In 1977, Father Paul Lazor was assigned by Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) to serve in the Faculty of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Dean of Students.

Father Paul was assigned to serve as Dean of Students of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. As a full-time member of the Seminary’s faculty, he began as a lecturer. He taught regularly in the fields of liturgics, practical (pastoral) theology, liturgical theology, Church Slavonic, Russian, and Greek. He was eventually appointed the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology (Pastoral Theology). He also served as pastor and rector of the Seminary’s Three Hierarchs Chapel.

Father Paul with Professor Sergei Verhovskoy at a faculty meeting

Father Paul, Matushka Natalia with Metropolitan Theodosius, 1980

Father Paul serving

Father Paul at Vespers

Archpriest Paul Lazor, Archpriest Thomas Hopko

Father Paul’s lively sense of humour was peculiar to him, and to some extent, it required knowing him for a little while in order to catch its subtleties. As a pastoral lecturer, his anecdotes about his own pastoral experiences served as practical examples of usual parish life and situations, for future reference. These included his experience in serving various services under particular circumstances.

During those years of service at Saint Vladimir’s, Matushka Natasha worked on the Seminary staff and then for BOCES of New York for 21 years in special education.

Father Paul also served in several capacities within diocesan and Church-wide spiritual and social services. He was frequently invited as a speaker at churchly and other conferences, as well as special, educational events throughout the USA (including Alaska), and Canada. He also lectured at Orthodox theological institutions in Russia and Slovakia.

In Canada, Father Paul spoke on several occasions, and particularly (during the 1990s) at the Saint Vladimir’s Institute at Resurrection Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

His bilingual ability (in Russian and English) enabled him to lecture formally, and to speak in various places in Russia and Europe.

40 years of service

In 2004, the Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America awarded him a [ttps://collegeofarms.euclid.int/the-traditional-art-of-the-russian-orthodox-gramota/ gramota] (special blessed certificate) in connection with his 40th anniversary of ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

In 2015, Father Paul was awarded the Order of Saint Innocent, Silver Medal, by Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) as a formal recognition of his years of service in and for the Orthodox Church in America in a multitude of ways.

Father Paul would frequently note that, at all times during the 5 decades of his active pastoral service, he was supported by the full participation of loving wife and co-worker in Christ, Natalia (Natasha).

During those same years, Father Paul also served as an author, translator, and editor of numerous articles, liturgical service books for popular use, and several introductions to books produced by other writers. A good example of the work he performed in this latter area is his translation of the important Russian book by Professor Nicholas Uspensky published by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press under the title, “Evening Worship in the Orthodox Church”.

His principal contribution to the St. Vladimir’s Theological Quarterlywas his excellent presentation (in 1996) entitled, “Pastoral Care Today”.

In 2007, he delivered the Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.

Retirement, 2007

In June, 2007, Archpriest Paul Lazor retired from active service at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. At the time of his retirement, a video (“Honouring Father Paul Lazor”) was presented publicly.

Father Paul and Matushka Natalia moved from New York to Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania (southeast of Scranton, northwest of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania). It was situated not far also from Saint Tikhon’s Monastery and Seminary.

There, the Lord provided a “home parish” for Father Paul and his family. He began to attend and to serve (either as second-priest, or sometimes as substitute priest), and to sing in the choir at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Holy Trinity Church, Stroudsburg

Meanwhile, he continued to accept some invitations to speak in various places in the USA.

Illness

In 2015, Father Paul was diagnosed as having Parkinson’s Disease (a debilitating condition which affects the totality of a person’s life). In his case, the effects were revealed especially in the areas of speech, physical movement, and memory loss.

When he was asked about his serious physical struggles, Father Paul would say that he daily recalled the words of the Righteous Job : “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away ; blessed be the Name of the Lord” (see Job 1:21).

Even in his years of hardships, Father Paul remained a teacher, and father to many. Especially, he would call and encourage priests in their pastoral service, and he continued to serve as a model of prayer and discipline in his own life.

Father Paul remarked about the support of his kind and comforting neighbours. He expressed his gratitude to God for the mutual, long life he has shared with his wife Natasha in joy and peace, along with the families of their 3 children, in loving service to the Lord, within, and for His Holy Church.

Further, Father Paul was constantly deeply grateful for the care and love shown to him by his former student, the pastor of Holy Trinity, Father Nicholas Solak, who also ministered to him during his last days.

On 2 May, 2020, Father Paul was taken to the hospital with symptoms of aspiration pneumonia. This had occurred in conjunction with his long-time illness, and not with the pandemic Covid-19 virus which was at that time rampant.

Repose, 2020

On 9 May, 2020, after a long illness, the Archpriest Paul Lazor fell asleep in the Lord at a hospital near his home at Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania.

The memorial, funeral, and burial services for Father Paul were kept small and private due to ongoing COVID-19-related restrictions. Before the funeral, several Panikhidas (Memorial Services) were offered for him privately.

On Wednesday, 13 May, 2020, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest was offered at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1501 Trinity Court, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. The service was made available by the “live-stream” on the YouTube page of Holy Trinity Church. Five priests and a deacon served, and a homily was given.

At the funeral

After the funeral

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Father Paul Lazor was transported for interment at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery Cemetery at 3:00 p.m.

Because of the strict regulations at the time (in the context of the Covid-19 virus pandemic, the funeral services and the interment were closed to the public.

Grave-marker

Reflections

Archpriest Paul Lazor was a well-beloved pastor, who served as a good example to his students, to those who knew him, and to those who heard him speak.

The 3 children of Father Paul and Matushka Natalia were born and raised, and their lives indeed developed, during the time of their parents’ active pastoral service. Alexander (Sasha), and his wife Penny (Penelope), raised 4 children (James, Katya, Patrick and Sarah). He worked with Human Resources with Eversource in Hartford, Connecticut. Elizabeth raised 2 children, (Caroline and Gracie). She was a registered nurse employed at the Danbury Hospital, in Danbury, Connecticut. The youngest son, Paul (known lovingly at home as Pavlik), through his international work as a Flight Dispatcher met his wife, OIL (Bungorn Namprom), in her native country of Thailand.

For several generations of graduates and clergy serving in the Orthodox Church in America, and elsewhere in the world, Father Paul was a trusted teacher, guide, confessor, and spiritual father. Anyone who was a seminarian at Saint Vladimir’s when Father Paul was dean of students will likely remember him singing in the choir, or serving in the Altar. “He was always at services”, remembered Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Chancellor Archpriest Alexander Rentel. “He loved the services, and believed in them, their power to bring us closer to God Himself. He loved the services, but he also enjoyed the services. I learned so much from him about the services – organising them, the underlying method beneath their structure, how to serve, but also just that enjoyment that I mentioned”.

“I will always remember a quote, too, from him, which was really from his mother, whom he quoted frequently : ‘Any gift that comes from goodness has an inexhaustible source’". Seminary Alumna Matushka Robyn Hatrak was a student in Father Paul’s final class as Saint Vladimir’s, before his retirement from the Seminary.

“Father Paul was the heart and soul of Saint Vladimir's Seminary”, she said. “He cared deeply about everything, and it showed in how he would pop in and talk to you whether you were baking cookies in the kitchen, or you needed help with something in the Chapel. And he always made you feel loved and part of a big team”.

“He was a good priest and a good dean”, said fellow alumnus Father Gheevarghese John. “What I remember most are his ‘dos and don’ts’ of being a priest, and how we are to conduct ourselves as pastors. Memory eternal !”

“Father Paul was a beloved dean of students and professor,” said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary. “Truly, what a giant in the history of Saint Vladimir’s, and in the lives of so many people whom his life and ministry touched. He will be deeply missed”.

Writings

As an author, translator, and editor, Father Paul produced numerous articles, tracts, booklets of liturgical services, and several introductions to books of other writers. His largest work is the book, “Evening Worship in the Orthodox Church”, an edited translation (with introduction) of 3 articles by Nicholas Uspensky. His article, “Pastoral Care Today”, appeared in the “Saint Vladimir’s Theological Quarterly” in 1996.

On 28 January, 2007, Father Paul delivered the 23rd annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, entitled, “A Personal Memoir”, in honour of Father Alexander Schmemann.