At St Vladimir’s Seminary on Saturday, April 14, 2007, Fr Paul Lazor was celebrated and honored on the occasion of his upcoming retirement at the end of June 2007. It was a lovely day full of laughter, anecdotes and many, many expressions of gratitude for all his years of pastoral service. Over the last thirty years, Fr Paul has served the seminary in many capacities - as  the John and Paraskeva Skvir Lecturer in Practical Theology, as priest and animating sprit of the Three Hierarchs Chapel, and as the Dean of Students/Associate Dean of Student Affairs.

After a couple of hours of mingling, enjoying the buffet, and catching up with old friends the guests gathered in the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium. Fr John Erickson, the Master of Ceremonies, welcomed a very full room for this important occasion: “Our joyful purpose today is to honor Fr Paul and his wife Natasha, and to celebrate their life and contributions to the life of St Vladimir’s Seminary.”

Eight people were invited to share brief comments on various aspects of Fr Paul’s life and ministry beginning with his older brother, Bob, who spoke about his baby brother’s early years. Pride emanated from his face as he shared anecdotes about their family, growing up together, and the fruit of Fr Paul’s life and work. “I am so pleased and honored to be here to speak about my brother and his accomplishments. I wish him well in his well-earned retirement.”

Fr Paul Kucynda, who attended the seminary as a student with Fr Paul and traveled on three consecutive summer octets with him, illuminated their life as seminarians together. He shared with the crowd, how the distinction was made between them as “Tall Paul” and “Small Paul.” Fr Paul Kucynda shared stories about life on the road in the octets and how through this “Tall Paul” met his wife: “Fr Paul listened to the popular advice and ‘went west and found gold’, his Natasha from California.”

Speaking next was Fr John Shimchick, who as a young man was a parishioner when Fr Paul was the parish priest for eleven years in New Britain, CT. He spoke of the life-changing influence Fr Paul had on him: “I never looked at Church or God in the same way ever again after meeting Fr Paul. When I was still a teenager, he showed me a person who loved basketball, contemporary music, and literature and who clearly loved the Church, God, and worship. He showed me how to be a faithful Orthodox Christian. Fr Paul taught me that everything that we love, everything in our lives, all our weaknesses and all our strengths, God uses at the appropriate times.”

The recently retired and long-time servant of the seminary, Prof. David Drillock, chronicled all Fr Paul achievements as a teacher, translator and author as well as highlighted the nearly countless ways that he faithfully worked for the seminary: “Words are insufficient to say all you have done for the good of St Vladimir’s Seminary.” Prof. Drillock also noted: “The Chapel is at the center of seminary life, and, above all else, Fr Paul did everything in his power to make sure that everything in worship was in good order.”

Fr Steven Belonick picked up where Prof. Drillock left off as he elaborated on Fr Paul’s priestly duties in the seminary chapel. “Fr Paul has proven himself a joyful, selfless pastor who can be counted on as a resource for those who want to immerse themselves in the faith and in the Church. Fr Paul is a priest for priests. He is most noted for how he serves every holy service with sobriety and splendor.”

Fr Steven also gave a special thank-you to Matushka Natasha: “With all that Fr Paul does to pastor and care for students and the larger seminary community we have to ask the question, ‘If Fr Paul is caring for everyone, then who is caring for Fr Paul?’ and the answer is his Matushka Natasha. Thank you, Natasha.”

Two long-time members of the seminary chapel community for whom Fr Paul has been their pastor spoke of his priestly ministry. Georgia Toumbakis shared some of the most touching words of the day when she expressed her gratitude for Fr Paul’s pastoral care and friendship especially following the death of her only child. Bettye Malone gratefully acknowledged Fr Paul’s dedication, fidelity, and involvement with the chapel community’s church school.

Fr Paul’s younger son and namesake, Paul, spoke next about family life and what his father taught him. “I’ve seen how my father takes care of so many over the years, students and parishioners. His life lesson to me has been to do what you love and love what you do. Dad, I wish you luck and want to thank you for all the experiences you have provided for me.”

A multi-media presentation, the highlight of the day, featured photographs accompanied by music from all the aspects of Fr Paul’s life.  Fr Paul himself then addressed the guests, expressing gratitude for the many people who influenced him throughout his life. Click here to read Fr Paul's Retirement Address in its entirety. 

The day’s events ended with special presentations including a beautiful cross from his cousin Bishop Robert Moskal of the Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of Parma, OH, which was blessed and placed on Fr Paul by another first cousin, His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius, retired primate of the Orthodox Church in America. Fr Steven Belonick presented an engraved glass memento on behalf of the entire seminary. Special thanks and appreciation were communicated from Fr Paul’s former parishioners in New Britain, Connecticut. Metropolitan Theodosius conveyed greetings from His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman, president of St Vladimir's Seminary.

A gallery of photographs is now available.