This day, August 18/31, 2023, we celebrated the memory of the Holy Martyrs Florus and Laurus, two people who played a remarkable role in the life of the monastery and of the Church Abroad.

Both carried the name of Basil in baptism and were from the same area of Carpatho-Russia, where Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko) had founded a Russian Orthodox monastery in the 1920’s.  Both immigrated with many of the other fathers to the United States after World War II and joined the Holy Trinity Monastery and were eventually ordained to the priesthood and participated in the building up of the monastery.  Fr. Laurus eventually became a bishop and even metropolitan and first hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.  He presided over the union of the Church Abroad with the Church in Russia and was known as a gentle father of his flock and peacemaker.

Fr. Flor was known as a tireless worker and strict monastic.  Even though he reached the rank of archimandrite, he remained a humble ascetic and avoided all worldly habits.

On this day, we celebrate their memory, and a pannikhida was served for their souls, and we also ask their prayers before the throne of God for their beloved monastery.