Priest Lawrence Zalikowski, attached in retirement to Saint Simeon Church here, fell asleep in the Lord on Monday, January 3, 2011 at the Vista Manor Nursing Home.
Born Richard Zalikowski in Buffalo, NY on August 10, 1927, he spent much of his childhood and adolescence in foster homes and an orphanage operated by Polish Catholic nuns. At the age of 17, he enlisted in the US Navy and served on in the Atlantic for the duration of World War II. After his discharge from the Navy, he settled in Key West, FL and later entered the Benedictine Order at Saint Leo’s Abbey, where he remained for 16 years.
After settling in Norfolk, VA in the early 1980s, he converted to Orthodox Christianity at the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, taking the name Lawrence, and later became a subdeacon during the OCA Diocese of the South’s Assembly in Williamsburg, VA. In 1985, he moved to Orlando, where he became an active member of Saint Nicholas Church and was ordained to the diaconate by His Grace, Bishop [now Archbishop] Dmitri of Dallas and the South in May 1986. The following year he was attached to Saint Simeon Church, Titusville, where he guided the life of the parish during extended periods in which it was without an assigned rector.
He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Dmitri at Saint Stephen Church, Longwood/Orlando, FL, in November 1996. He served as priest-in-charge at Saint Simeon Church until his retirement in 2003.
Visitation will be held at Saint Simeon Church, 3175 Satterfield Road, Titusville, on Thursday, January 6, at 5:00 p.m. The Funeral Service will be celebrated at 6:00 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday, January 7, at 10:00 a.m., followed by interment. A luncheon will be held at the Mims United Methodist Church.
For additional information please call Saint Simeon Church at 321-268-8354.
May Father Lawrence’s memory be eternal!