The Very Rev. Nicholas Fedorchak, 82, of Mt. Lebanon, formerly of Monongahela, died Sunday, November 22, 1998, in St. Clair Memorial Hospital, Pittsburgh. The Very Rev. Fedorchak graduated in 1946 from St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary, South Canaan. He was ordained as deacon September 8, 1946, and as priest September 15, 1946, in Protection of the Holy Virgin Cathedral in New York City, N.Y. His first and only parish assignment was to St. Mary Orthodox Church in Monongahela, in the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and West Virginia, Orthodox Church in America. He retired as pastor of St. Mary after 51 years. The Very Rev. Fedorchak served as dean of the Monongahela clergy for many years and served for a time as the spiritual director of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs. The elevations bestowed upon him included the pectoral-jeweled cross and Archpriest. The Very Rev. Fedorchak had an extraordinarily long and distinguished pastorship. Upon his 50th anniversary in the priesthood, St. Mary Church issued a proclamation called him "a spiritual leader of great courage, faith and foresight ... The Very Rev. Fedorchak has administered untiring and unselfishly to the spiritual and physical needs of St. Mary's parishioners." On July 13, 1946, he married Helen Jubinsky, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Dr. Rodney Fedorchak of Mt. Lebanon; a daughter, Claudia Bazil of Crestwood, N.Y.; five grandchildren, Alexis, Stephanie and Nicholas Fedorchak, and Drew and Justin Bazil; four sisters, Mary Kohler and Tillie Seyka, both of Clifton, N.J., Anna Tapyrik of Pittsburgh and Irene Kiehart of Jermyn; and three brothers, Peter and Joseph Fedorchak, both of Long Island, N.Y., and Walter Fedorchak of Endicott, N.Y. Copyright ©1998 Observer Publishing Co.Last updated Monday, November 23, 1998Nicholas Fedorchak
Former pastor of St. Mary Orthodox Church
He was born June 21, 1916, in Jermyn, Lackawana County, a son of Teddy and Julia Chawinsky Fedorchak.