ARCHIMANDRITE JOHN MAITLAND MOIR (1924-2013) - Memory Eternal

Fr John Salter writes in Chrysostom for Apostles-Dormition 2013:


Father John was a long-standing member of the Anglican & Eastern Churches’ Association both as an Anglican and as an Orthodox priest. He was a priest at the Orthodox church of St. Andrew, in Edinburgh, but also founded some Orthodox centres in Scotland. He was also chaplain to the Orthodox at Edinburgh University, and he died peacefully in the Scottish capital on 17th April 2013.

Father John studied Classics at Christ Church, Oxford, and theology at Cuddesdon College, and in 1950-51, as an Anglican, at the Greek Theological College of Halki in Istanbul. On his return to Scotland he was ordained in the Episcopal Church.

In 1981 he travelled to Mount Athos, having resigned his ministry in the Diocese of Moray, and was received into the Orthodox Church in the monastery of Simonopetra. He returned to London and served faithfully for 30 years in the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.

Father John had inherited a fortune, but he died virtually penniless as he gave so much away. No down-and–out or alcoholic was ever turned away from his home. Homeless tramps would be found sleeping on his sofa. He was tireless in his concern for victims of torture and persecuted Christians throughout the world. As his health, always poor, declined further and as he lost his sight he spent more and more time in prayer. He could be described as an Orthodox staretz.

May his memory be eternal !