Cloud of Witnesses
Venerable (Monastic)16th century

Venerable Laurence Abbot of Komel

d. 1548

Also known as Laurence of Komel

A disciple of St Cornelius of Komel who served as igumen of the monastery, continuing his teacher's work.

Feast Day
May 16
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Commemorated as

Our Venerable Father Laurence, Abbot of Komel

Life

Venerable Laurence was a sixteenth-century Russian monastic who served as abbot of the Komel (Korniliev) monastery near Vologda. A disciple of the monastery's founder, Saint Cornelius of Komel, he was chosen by the brethren to lead the community and guided it through a period of consolidation following his teacher's death.

Laurence is remembered both as a faithful steward of the monastic life his teacher had established and as a diligent copyist of books, an occupation he continued even while bearing the responsibilities of governing the community. He reposed in 1548 and is commemorated on May 16.

Timeline4 momentsReadHide
  1. 1538Chosen as abbotOn the recommendation of Saint Cornelius and by the unanimous choice of the brethren, Laurence was made igumen of the Komel monastery, drawing on the counsel and instruction of his teacher.
  2. c. 1538Tatar incursionLearning of the approach of Tatars toward the monastery and acting on the advice of Saint Cornelius, Laurence led the brethren away to a place of safety.
  3. 1547Koptevo monastery joined to KomelRecognizing Laurence's zeal as head of the Korniliev monastery, the Elder Alexius placed the Koptevo monastery, which he directed, under the authority of the Komel monastery.
  4. May 16, 1548ReposeAfter guiding the monastery for roughly ten years following his teacher's death, Saint Laurence reposed in the Lord.

Contributions & Legacy

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Context and Monastic Setting

The Komel monastery, also called the Korniliev monastery, had been founded by Saint Cornelius of Komel, who settled in the Komel forest near Vologda in 1497 and built up a community there, composing a monastic Rule that drew on the traditions of Joseph of Volokolamsk and Nilus of Sora. Laurence was numbered among Cornelius's disciples alongside Saints Gennadius, Cyril, Herodion, Adrian, and Cassian.

Before his repose, Cornelius transferred the guidance of the monastery to Laurence, and Laurence governed the community for about ten years. According to the synaxarion he devoted himself to the monastery's welfare, and even amid the cares of leadership he did not abandon his accustomed work of copying books.

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints