Venerable
Julian Lazar
of the Romanian Skete of Prodromou
A Romanian monk, born in 1926, at Lakkou from 1977 to 1981 and then at Prodromou, who reposed in 2023; venerated, not formally canonized.
- Reposed
- 202321st century
- Place
- Lakkou (1977-81), Prodromou (from 1981), Mount Athos
- Order
- Venerables
Life
Julian Lazar, also called Avva Julian of Prodromou, was a Romanian hieromonk, one of the great Athonite spiritual fathers of our time. He was born on 8 January 1926 at Vorona, Botosani county, and reposed on 10 March 2023, aged ninety-seven. He is venerated by the faithful, without a synodal canonization.
Named Ioan Lazar in the world, he was the son of Ilie and Elisabeta, simple, devout people. In 1946, at twenty, he joined the community of Sihastria Monastery in Neamt county. He did his military service in 1950 and, after ten years of prayer and obedience, was ordained deacon in 1956, then priest. In 1977, at fifty, he came to the Holy Mountain. For four years he lived at the Lacu Skete, and in 1981 he reached the Prodromou Skete, where he was made confessor. While he had strength he confessed and guided the community of the skete and the pilgrims who came from Romania.
A saying of his remembered by many: if people returned to fasting and prayer, life on earth would change for everyone. Shortly after his repose a series of meetings and conferences was held in his memory.