Stuttgart, Germany, May 29, 2020
Photo: wp.com His Eminence Archbishop Agapit (Gorachek) of Stuttgart, vicar of the German Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, reposed in the Lord yesterday, May 28, on the feast of the Ascension of the Lord.
Vladyka long suffered from poor health. He was 64 years old.
The Diocese of Western Europe reports:
With sorrowful hearts, but confident in the mercies of the Lord whose Ascension we celebrate today, we confirm news received this morning from Metropolitan Mark of Berlin and Germany, of the departure unto God of the long-serving Vicar of the German Diocese, His Eminence Archbishop Agapit of Stuttgart. Archbishop Agapit, whose health had long been frail, suffered in particular from a weak heart. He reposed in the Lord this morning, on the Feast of the Lord’s Ascension.
His Holiness Patriarch Kirill offered his condolences, highlight Vladyka Agapit’s great contribution to Church life:
The life of the reposed was a remarkable example of faithfulness to Christ and readiness to work for the benefit of His Church: From a young age, he showed a determination to leave the world and took monastic vows in the monastery of the St. Job of Pochaev in Munich. Zeal for the glory of God and his zeal for obedience found favor in the eyes of the Creator, and He, by his wise providence, vouchsafed Fr. Agapit to accept the lot of the bishopric. For many years, His Eminence helped His Eminence Mark in his archpastoral labors, and tried to make his best contribution to the development of parish life in the Diocese of Berlin and to an active witness to the beauty and truth of Orthodoxy.
May his memory be eternal!
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The Diocese provides his biographical details:
Baptised as Alexander, the future Archbishop Agapit was born in Germany on 29th September, 1955. He completed his schooling in Franfurt-am-Main and went on to study at the department of architecture in Darmstadt. In 1979 he entered the brotherhood of St Job of Pochaev in Munich, where he was tonsured a monk on 29th March 29. On the 25th of December in the same year, he was ordained Hierodeaco; and on 8th April 1991 he was ordained Hieromonk. In 1995 he was elevated to the rank of Abbot.
In October 2000, the Holy Synod of Bishops elected Abbot Agapit to the episcopacy. His consecration as Bishop took place on 30th April 2001 at the Cathedral of the Holy New-Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Munich, Germany, performed by then-Archbishop (and future Metropolitan and First Hierarch) Laurus of Syracuse and Holy Trinity, Archbishop Mark of Berlin, Germany and Great Britain, Archbishop Hilarion of Sydney, Bishop Eutychus of Ishim and Siberia, and Bishop Ambrose of Geneva.
Apart from his duties as Vicar of the German Diocese, then-Bishop Agapit served for a time (until 2006) as Vicar to Bishop Ambrose, in the role of Administrator of the ROCOR parishes in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (now part of the Diocese of Great Britain and Western Europe). He was elevated to the rank of Archbishop by a decision of the Sobor of Bishops in 2017.
Archbishop Agapit will be remembered for his long and devoted service as Vicar of the German Diocese, for his joyful countenance and love for the monastic life. We implore all the faithful of this Diocese, in which he also served, for pray for the repose of God’s beloved and faithful servant. May he be granted the Heavenly Kingdom, and may his memory be eternal!
