+V. REV. ARCHPRIEST-STAVROPHOR LAZAR KOSTUR
April 1, 1940 - December 1, 2023

On Friday, December 1, 2023, Archpriest Lazar Kostur, 83, passed away in his home in Coral Springs, Florida, with his loving wife of 54 and a half years, Protinica Mira, by his side.

Lazar Kostur, was born on April 1, 1940, in Civljane, Dalmatia, to the late +Ilija and +Cvita Kostur. He came to Gary, Indiana, in 1958, where he graduated from Emerson High School.

In 1962, Lazar enrolled in Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, New York, which he successfully completed in 1967, receiving a Bachelor Degree in Theology from the University of the State of New York. Entertaining post-graduate studies in Russian and History at Indiana University Northwest, he further pursued a Master of Arts Degree in History at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois.

On June 8, 1969, Lazar was united in marriage with Mira Stepanovich of Detroit, Michigan. On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14/27 September 1969, Lazar Kostur was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at the hands of the His Grace Bishop Dr. Firmilian (Ocokoljich), Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Midwestern America, at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

His first parish was St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Waukegan, Illinois, where he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on Sunday, February 1, 1970. On October 1, 1973, Fr. Lazar was transferred to serve at Sts. Peter and Paul Serbian Orthodox Church in South Bend, Indiana. In April of 1976, his work in the vineyard of the Lord continued in the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Western America; first, at St. Sava Church in San Gabriel, California, and later at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church in Castro Valley, California. In April of 1980, he assumed the pastorate of St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Duluth, Minnesota. In April 1986, Fr. Lazar moved to St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Indiana. On the November 5, 1989, he was elevated to the dignity of an Archpriest by the Diocesan Administrator, His Grace Bishop Mitrophan (Kodic) of Toplica. Fr. Lazar served St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Indiana, until his retirement on August 31, 2008. On the occasion of his forty years of priestly service, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious Cross, September 27, 2009, His Grace Bishop Longin (Krco) of New Gracanica and Midwestern America, awarded Fr. Lazar with the right to wear a pectoral cross. In retirement, he prayed and assisted at St. Simeon Serbian Orthodox Church in North Miami, Florida, and in his home parish of St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral during the warmer months.

Fr. Lazar and Protinica Mira had five children, Kristina, Petar, Tatiana, Suzana and Nikolaj. He was a loving father, who brought up his children in the way of Christ and His Holy Church. The divine services and the Church were always a priority for the entire family. Fr. Lazar made sure that his children were on the path of faith, always being an example of prayer in the home. He was a moral example, served and taught with a pure heart and dedication to Christ. Daily he prayed for all of his friends, former parishioners and clergy.

From his children, he proudly had 24 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild: daughter Protinica Kristina and her husband Archpriest-Stavrophor Dragomir Tuba: Jovan and his daughter Amara, Mihaila (Aleksandar) Tomic, Petar, Ana and Lazar; son Petar and his wife Danijela Kostur: Ivana, Marina and Dejana; daughter Protinica Tatiana and her husband Archpriest-Stavrophor Milovan Katanic: Vasilije, Lazar, Nikolina, Jelena, Jovana, Milica and Ilija; daughter Suzana and her husband Nikolaos Tripologos: Ioannis, Alexia and Stefan; son Priest Nikolaj and his wife Popadija Katherine Kostur: Lazar, Kasijana, Marija, Ilija, Nikolaj and Ksenia. His family was his utmost pride and joy. He lived every day thinking about them, visiting with them, calling them and showering them with love.

Fr. Lazar and Protinica fulfilled their dream of retirement together in Coral Springs, Florida, where they spent 15 blessed years together in the sunshine, which he loved so much.

Over the last few years of life, Fr. Lazar had some health problems, suffering a stroke in 2021, yet he persevered with rehabilitation, trying to fulfill his desire to serve the Divine Liturgy once again. In September of 2023, Fr. Lazar was diagnosed with the most aggressive brain cancer.

May our Lord receive the noble soul of his servant, Archpriest-Stavrophor Lazar Kostur, into the dwellings of His Heavenly Kingdom, where there is neither sickness, nor sorrow, nor sighing, but life everlasting. Memory eternal!

BEREAVED:
Wife: Protinica Mira Kostur; Children: Protinica Kristina (Archpriest-Stavrophor Dragomir) Tuba, Petar (Danijela) Kostur, Protinica Tatiana (Archpriest-Stavrophor Milovan) Katanic, Suzana (Nikolaos) Tripologos, Priest Nikolaj (Popadija Katherine) Kostur; Grandchildren: Jovan Tuba (Great-Granddaughter Amara), Mihaila (Aleksandar) Tomic, Petar Tuba, Ana Tuba, Lazar Tuba, Ivana Kostur, Marina Kostur, Dejana Kostur, Vasilije Katanic, Lazar Katanic, Nikolina Katanic, Jelena Katanic, Jovana Katanic, Milica Katanic, Ilija Katanic, Ioannis Tripologos, Alexia Tripologos, Stefan Tripologos, Lazar Kostur, Kasijana Kostur, Marija Kostur, Ilija Kostur, Nikolaj Kostur and Ksenia Kostur; Sister: Milica (Stevan) Iglendza; Sister-in-law: Milica Boyle; Iglendza and Dragic Families.

Preceded in death by: Ilija and Cvita Kostur, Parents; Ljubica Kostur, Pera Kostur, Petar Kostur, Andja (Ilija) Dragić, Siblings.

Funeral arrangements for Fr. Lazar Thursday, December 7 at 6 p.m.

Priest’s Funeral Service Friday, December 7 at 6 p.m, at St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in Merrillville, Indiana.

Friday, December 8 at 9 p.m. Hierarchical Divine Liturgy for the Reposed and Burial at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois.

Daća (Serbian Orthodox Memorial Luncheon) at New Gračanica Monastery immediately following.