The academic family said goodbye to Archimandrite Elijah (Reizmir)

The life path of Archimandrite Elijah (Reizmir) was closely intertwined with the life of the Moscow Theological Academy. Being its graduate, he understood a student like no one else and was always ready to help with his advice and kind words.

For many years, Archimandrite Elijah met applicants to the Academy at the entrance examinations, as a member of the Lavra confessors’ council. He held meetings and spiritual conversations with students, and also led academic confessions on the great holidays (Easter, Christmas and the Dormition of the Mother of God). 

Now the time has come when students must accompany their dear confessor and mentor, Archimandrite Elijah, and give him the last kiss.

On January 11, 2024, the Divine Liturgy and the funeral service for the deceased Archimandrite Elijah (Reizmir) were performed at the Assumption Cathedral of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra, who passed away on January 9 at the age of 80.

The funeral Liturgy was performed by the Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost, Chairman of the Synodal Department for Monasteries and Monasticism, and the Bishop of Gorodets and Vetluga Paramon.

At the end of the service, the Metropolitan of Kashira Feognost, the Bishop of Sergiev Posad and Dmitrov Kirill, the Bishop of Togliatti and Zhigulev Nestor and the Bishop of Gorodetsk and Vetluzh Paramon performed the funeral service concelebrated by the clergy and residents of the monastery. 

His numerous spiritual children, the Lavra brethren, teachers and students of the Moscow Theological Academy, monastics, parishioners and pilgrims of the monastery gathered to say goodbye to the deceased.

Before the funeral service, Metropolitan Theognost read out the Condolences of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill on the death of Archimandrite Elijah (Reizmir), a resident of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra.

The burial was performed by Archimandrite Pavel (Krivonogov), Abbot of the Savvino-Storozhevsky stauropegial monastery, elected as a bishop of Troitskoye and South Ural. Archimandrite Elijah was buried behind the altar of the Spiritual Church of the Lavra.

Background information:

Chanting performed by a choir under the conduct of Hegumen Silouan (Baranov).

STSL Press Office/MThA Press Office