A Life Dedicated to Serving the Orthodox Faith and Its Youth
On the Feast of the Holy Maccabean Martyrs, Friday, August 14, 2026, the Very Reverend Archimandrite Tom Kazic fell asleep in the Lord, leaving behind a deep and lasting mark on the life of the Serbian Orthodox Church and its people.
Archimandrite Tom was born on May 9, 1943, in Gary, Indiana, to Frank and Sofija Kazic, formerly Krosnjar. He grew up at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in Gary, where he was baptized and where he developed a lifelong love for and devotion to the Serbian Orthodox faith and its Church. From his earliest years, he was actively involved in the life of the Gary parish, later serving as the director of the parish school and as a Sunday school teacher.
He graduated from Indiana University in 1966 and, in 1975, earned a Master of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. After completing his studies, father Tom worked with the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC), preparing and publishing educational materials for Orthodox church schools. During his years with the organization, he conducted seminars for teachers and authored four religious education manuals. He later joined the publishing company McGraw-Hill in New York.
On February 14, 1982, the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Irinej of blessed repose ordained him to the diaconate at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in East Chicago, Indiana. In March of that same year, he traveled to Australia, to Hall, near Canberra, to assist Bishop Peter with diocesan responsibilities.
Later in 1982, he was ordained to the priesthood in Sydney and tonsured as a rassophore monk at St. Sava Monastery in Hall. As hieromonk Tom, he served in the Australian Diocese for ten years, dedicating himself wholeheartedly to the religious education of young people and to nurturing their faith.
He established the first children’s camp at St. Sava Monastery and worked closely with the Serbian Sisters’ Circle (KOLO) in organizing smaller parish camps throughout the Diocese. He also established a book center, seeking to make Orthodox educational and spiritual literature more readily available to the faithful.
Upon returning to America, he continued his educational and pastoral ministry at the New Gracanica Monastery and within the New Gracanica Diocese. At the recommendation of Bishop Longin, the Holy Synod of Bishops, under the leadership of the Serbian Patriarch, elevated father Tom to the high rank of Archimandrite.
Throughout his monastic and priestly ministry, father Tom placed his gifts as an educator, writer, and editor at the service of the Church. He prepared the diocesan calendar, edited diocesan newspapers, and worked on numerous publications and magazines for children and young people. For more than forty years, he devoted himself to Orthodox religious education and spiritual growth, leaving a profound mark on the lives of generations of Serbian Orthodox children, youth, and adults.
Archimandrite Tom leaves behind an extraordinary legacy of faith, knowledge, service, and love for the Orthodox Church and its sacred tradition. Through his life’s work, he helped preserve and pass on the rich traditions of the Serbian Orthodox Church, while inspiring countless young people to know, love, and live their faith.
His life was a quiet yet steadfast witness to faithfulness to the Church. He served through knowledge, the written word, teaching, and prayer, and above all through his love for the people entrusted to his care. Many will remember him with gratitude and affection as their teacher, priest, spiritual father, writer, editor, and friend.
At the New Gracanica Monastery, as well as at the grave of our beloved father Tom, candles will burn in prayer for the repose of his soul. With gratitude to God for his life and ministry, we will remember him in our prayers.
Memory Eternal!
May the Lord grant him the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal rest in the bosom of Abraham, together with all the saints who from the beginning have pleased Him.
Christ is Risen!