Ladomirová, Prešov Region, Slovakia, December 6, 2024
Photo: eparchiapo.sk
Last month, the Archangel Michael Church in the Slovakian village of Ladomirová celebrated the 100th anniversary of its consecration.
The church is the only building to have survived from the Monastery of St. Job of Pochaev that operated in the village from 1923 to 1946. The founding monks came from the Holy Dormition Pochaev Lavra in Ukraine, and more than a dozen members of the brotherhood moved to Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, in 1946 after a brief stay in Munich, among them the future First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla). The monastery was known for its active publishing and missionary labors.
On Sunday, November 24, His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of Prešov and the Czech Lands and Slovakia celebrated the Divine Liturgy in honor of the centenary, assisted by a number of local clerics, the Diocese of Prešov reports.
In his homily, Met. Rastislav addressed the disconnect between outward appearances and spiritual reality in Christian life, emphasizing that having certain attributes (like a brain, heart, or Baptism) doesn’t automatically translate to their proper spiritual use. Using the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, he warned against the dangers of self-centered comfort and indifference to others’ suffering, stressing that our final judgment will be based not on our words or traditions, but on the love and compassion we showed during our earthly life. Through this message, he challenged his listeners to examine whether they truly live as Christians or merely possess the external markers of faith.
Photo: eparchiapo.sk
His Eminence also spoke about the anniversary of the church consecration:
Exactly 100 years and three days have passed since the local Church of the Holy Archangel Michael was consecrated by Archbishop Savvaty of Prague. A key role in its construction was played by the missionary work of Archimandrite Vitaly (Maximenko) [later the abbot of Jordanville and the ROCOR Archbishop of North America—Ed.] and other monks from the brotherhood of the Pochaev Monastery, who came to Slovakia in the period between the two world wars.
Met. Rastislav reflected on the church’s centenary by highlighting how their ancestors returned to Orthodoxy under difficult circumstances, understanding that both physical churches and spiritual renewal were essential for faith. He emphasized how generations of faithful contributed to the church through various means, creating a sacred space where Heaven and earth meet. The primate concluded by praying that the Archangel Michael would continue to protect them and that the church would remain a source of spiritual strength for years to come.
He expressed special thanks to the local parish priest Archpriest Mgr. Pavol Kačmár, whose sacrificial service, tireless work, and spiritual guidance are, according to his words, a precious gift from heaven and a great Divine blessing for Ladomirová.
Following the service, Met. Rastislav awarded the church rector Archpriest Pavol Kačmár a jeweled cross “as an expression of recognition not only for his many years of priestly service but also for his extraordinary care for the liturgical life and spiritual formation of the local community, as well as for preserving the cultural heritage of the village.”
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