In Memory of Archimandrite Vladimir (Sukhobok)
on the 30th Anniversary of His Repose

Archimandrite Vladimir (Sukhobok) was born in Russia. During World War II, the young civilian ound himself in Germany and spent some time at St Job of Pochaev Monastery in Munich. Together with a group of monastics and novices, in March 1949 he arrived at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, a monastery of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, where he labored for 39 years.

In April 1949, Vasily became a novice himself, and in 1953, he was ordained hierodeacon, then hieromonk. He worked in the kitchen and helped establish the monastery library. The monks worked on building the church, and Fr Vladimir contributed by doing plastering work. At the time, everyone studied at the seminary. After graduating in 1959, he began to teach at the seminary, which he continued to do until the 1980’s, and was also appointed to work in the main office. In 1982, he was elevated to the rank of archimandrite.

Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov remembered him: “He had a main podvig: for years he compiled lists for commemoration of the dead, he tended to the commemorative books in the altar, performed innumerable molebens and pannikhidas, and read names during proskomedia. In joy and in sorrow, people from all over the world appealed to him: ‘Remember this person, pray for him!' Fr Vladimir was the link between the monastery and the rest of the world. That was his main achievement.”

On August 20, 1988, Fr Vladimir reposed in the Lord after suffering from brain cancer. He was buried at Holy Trinity Monastery behind the cathedral altar. In his eulogy, Archbishop (later Metropolitan) Laurus noted that “Fr Vladimir was blessed by the Lord with a special kindness and love which attracted people to him, and people responded in like. The fact that so many people are gathered here today to see him off to his new abode is a testament to his kindness and love.”

Fr Vladimir represented the finest tradition of Russian monasticism, serving the world through prayer and consolation.