Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo) suffers stroke

Vancouver, Canada, October 27, 2017

Photo: orthodoxcanada.ca Photo: orthodoxcanada.ca
Retired OCA Archbishop Lazar (Puhalo) of Ottawa suffered a stroke on October 11, and is still recovering in the hospital, according to Orthodox Canada.

Writing in the daily journal of The Monastery of All Saints of North America of Vancouver, Canada, His Grace Bishop Varlaam (Novakshonoff), former bishop of Vancouver, writes:

This has been an emotionally exhausting day for us, as Vladika Lazar suffered a stroke. At first his speech became blurred, then his right side became numb and an ambulance was called out. It arrived in just a few minutes and Vladika was taken to Emergency in Abbotsford where a series of tests and examinations were made to determine his condition. By the time I arrived there later in the afternoon, he was already improving, his speech becoming normal and the numbness gone. He said that at a certain moment he felt something like an electrical charge shooting down his entire right side, which restored his feeling. The medical staff was pleased to see him making such a recovery.

Bp. Lazar suffered a second mini stroke the next day. He was moved from emergency to the main hospital body on the following day, and tests showed that there was no brain damage.

According to the latest update, on October 25, Bp. Lazar is in good spirits and waiting for a free spot in a rehabilitation unit.

Lord have mercy!

***

Bishops Lazar and Varlaam founded the Monastery of All Saints of North America in 1968. The monastery was received into the OCA in 2003, after several decades spent in various non-canonical jurisdictions.

10/27/2017

Comments
Adam Russell6/7/2022 8:31 pm
I find it interesting that there are three groups of people when it comes to opinions on Archbishop Lazar. Having personally known Father Seraphim Rose, and Vladika Lazar, I see two groups immediately: those who support Father Rose and those who support Vladika Lazar. The third group might waver between curiosity or compassion - the latter being what makes us Christian. Also, for point of reference, I was at Platina (Father Rose's monastery) in the 1970s as a child. I was with Vladika Lazar in the 1980s as a teen at All Saints Monastery. I will say that both love(d) their faith without question. Both loved their flock. Both have researched the theology of Orthodoxy, doing their spiritual best to gain insight in an otherwise convoluted, theological paradigm. Personally, I found that both were/are kind, though tempered by a strict intellectuality regarding Orthodoxy. One of the two quite literally took me off the street and demonstrated the nature of true Christianity. Note I am trying to present an unbiased comment, and I refuse to take one of the above and degrade either of them. All debatable theology aside, Vladika Lazar and his closest associates: Bishop Varlaam, and Father Moses, were/are a testament to the faith. Father Seraphim Rose and Father Herman were wonderful and kind. And, while any theologian will scathe another they see as dogmatically inaccurate, as human beings, there were few as those listed above, who could be called as compassionate and genuinely, people of the faith. On a second note, I would like to argue that we can judge a person's argument by the way in which they make a claim. Those who commit to ad hominem (to demean a person) vs those who attempt to discredit the person's argument. Unfortunately, as with any ideological group, whether political or religious, it is too common to see unwarranted debasing of others, or consistent ad hominem. I would like to think that those who judge others so irrationally, at best, have something to discuss during confession.
Alexis Smiley6/27/2019 11:30 pm
We can judge people. Take the log out of my eye before taking the splinter from anthers. Does not mean we are not to redirect and call out falsehood that is against Gods kingdom. Judgment, also, does not have to be a hateful thing. My judgment is from love and concern. He has lead many many people away from what God shows us and teaches us. He was disposed in the 80's and was told not to speak on topics regarding homosexuality because his stance is wrong and contrary to the faith. I hope he is still doing well. But a lot of the people here are right.
David Richardson12/13/2018 11:43 pm
It is disappointing to see so called Christians using this notice of Archbishop Puhalo's illness as a forum for attacking the man on a theological level.
David, Toronto
Philip1/13/2018 7:01 am
Shame on you people on here with your mean spirited and malicious comments. Showing contempt for an elderly member of the Clergy is disgusting at best. For people claiming to be Orthodox Christians this is unacceptable. And by the way, if aerial toll houses are real, as you want them to be, then instead of using that as a condemnatory weapon as you are doing, use it as a reason to improve YOUR OWN behaviour, because if they are real, you are going to pass through them too. I actually feel silly for having to say this but have you not read that the measure you use on others will be used on you?
J Clivas10/30/2017 3:59 pm
The bishop probably wonders if the stroke was visited on him by his old nemesis, he late Fr. Serapheim Rose.
Jesse10/28/2017 10:49 pm
Thank you, Hieromonk Mark, for giving us an actual Orthodox perspective, and certainly the perspective that Fr. Seraphim and Elder Joseph would have us take.
John Raynor10/28/2017 10:21 pm
Who are you all to judge. Let’s start acting like Christians. We need to pray
That Vladika gets well.
Isidora10/28/2017 5:44 pm
I appreciate your informative comment Anthony. The holy Fathers enjoin us to be tough with ourselves and soft with our PERSONAL enemies, not the enemies of Orthodoxy. Had Saint Nicholas followed today's disgusting "niceness" we would all be Arians.
Hieromonk Mark10/28/2017 8:06 am
Indeed, this man has trampled on Holy Tradition, trampled on the memory of the righteous, scandalised the Orthodox; but let us answer his intolerance with mercy, his hate with love and his fighting with the Peace of Christ. Even the pharisee is to be pitied. This man to be pitied as a tool of the father of lies.

Let us pray for him in the love of Christ, that he may be delivered from sickness of soul and body, that the eyes of his soul may be opened and that he may repent before he faces the aerial toll-houses that he so opposes and denies.

Let us pray for a Road to Damascus moment: 'Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?'

All can change. Let us pray for that above all.
Anthony 10/27/2017 11:51 pm
@Jesse. Why? When someone attacks the Church, and holy people in the Church, from Fr Seraphim Rose to Elder Joseph the Hesychast to calling priests florid schizophrenics etc. All this and more, has this man done over numerous years so explain why this article need appear on the pages of a website that proclaims its Orthodoxy??? If Lazar is being listed on the website as ill then you should at least have the basic decency to create a page with every other person who is ill, and in need of prayers. Why single out and give him the space, when he has caused so much friction and insulted the memory of so many others?
Jesse10/27/2017 11:09 pm
Anthony, that is an absolutely pathetic stance to take, and you should be embarrassed to air it publicly.
Anthony 10/27/2017 9:33 pm
Disappointing that Pravoslavie would publish this. Lazar Puhalo/Ron Haler is one of the most troublesome konvertsie figures in North America. His attacks on Fr Serafim Rose were nothing short of disgusting, and his belief system was almost entirely unorthodox - defrocked at least twice, he promulgates homosexuality, transexuality, attacks the Church on the Toll Houses ad nauseaum, has attacked saints calling them mentally ill (including Geronda Efraim Philotheitis), and the list goes on. Never has he apologised, shown remorse or repented of his behaviour. He had a stroke. So have loads of other people - every day. Shouldn't make headlines on an Orthodox site dedicated to, well Orthodoxy.
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