With faith in Christ and hope in the Resurrection, we share news of the repose of the Right Rev. Archimandrite Thomas Kazich, 83, who fell asleep in the Lord peacefully on Friday, August 14, in Glenview, IL. Fr. Tomo, as he was known, was an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary who leaves behind an incredible legacy of faith and service in the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Fr. Tomo was born on May 9, 1943, in Gary, IN, to Frank and Sophia Kazich. Fr. Tomo grew up at St. Sava Church in Gary, where he was baptized and developed a lifelong love and devotion to the Orthodox Christian faith. From an early age, he was actively involved in the life of the Church, later serving as director of the church school and as a Sunday School teacher. He graduated from Indiana University in 1966 and later earned his Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 1975. After graduating from the Seminary, Fr. Tomo worked for the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC), a publisher of instructional materials for Orthodox church schools. During his years with the organization, he conducted workshops for teachers and authored four religious education manuals. He later joined McGraw Hill Publishing Company in New York City.
On February 14, 1982, on the Feast of the Protection of the Mother of God, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Iriney of blessed memory at St. George Church in East Chicago, IN. In March of that year, he traveled to Australia to serve the Free Diocese in Hall, near Canberra. Later in 1982 he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in Sydney and tonsured a rassophore monk at St. Sava Monastery in Hall.
Hieromonk Thomas served in the Australian Diocese for ten years, where he devoted himself wholeheartedly to educating young people and nurturing their faith. He established the first children’s camp at St. Sava Monastery and worked closely with the sisters to organize smaller camps at parishes throughout the Diocese. He also established a book center to make Orthodox educational and spiritual literature more readily available to the faithful.
Throughout his ministry Fr. Tomo dedicated himself to religious education and spiritual growth, leaving a profound impact on generations of Serbian Orthodox children, young people, and adults. He frequently made use of his gifts as an educator, writer, and editor in service to the Church, preparing diocesan calendars and editing diocesan newspapers and youth journals.
All Fr. Tomo’s lessons included hands-on activities for his students.
Fr. Tomo working with his Diocesan Observer mailing team.
Fr. Tomo will be remembered with gratitude and affection by the many people whose lives he touched through his teaching, priestly ministry, writing, and friendship.
He is survived by his siblings, Patricia Anomanni, Frank “Sonny” Kazich, and Peter Kazich; nephew and niece, Dan Anomanni and Blaise Kazich; grandnephew and grandniece, Mike Anomanni and Emily (Anomanni) Herriman; and great-grandniece, Nora Mae Herriman.
In lieu of flowers, at Fr. Tomo’s request donations may be made to New Gracanica Monastery in Third Lake, IL; St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Monastery in Libertyville, IL; or St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary.
May the memory of Archimandrite Thomas be eternal!
Article and photos adapted from St. Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church.
