October 22, 2016
Stratford, CT: Archpriest Andrei Semyanko reposed in the Lord

On Friday, October 21, Archpriest Andrei Semyanko (former rector of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT) reposed in the Lord after several years of failing health. He was 89 years old.

Born in Poltava in 1927, the future Fr. Andrei was the son of Ivan and Eugenia Semyanko. He received his education at Lomonosov Gymnasium. After immigrating to America, Andrei was tonsured a reader and ordained a subdeacon by Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko; +1960) and ordained a deacon in the same year by Archbishop Averky (Taushev; +1976). He graduated from Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in 1961. In 1965, Fr. Andrei was ordained a priest by Archbishop Averky, and served as a parish priest in Protection of the Mother of God Church in Rochester, NY until 1971, when he was assigned as rector of Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, which obedience he fulfilled until July of this year.

In 2010, the ROCOR Synod of Bishops awarded Fr. Andrei the distinguished honor of wearing the second pectoral cross.

Fr. Andrei is survived by three sons: Archpriest Constantine (currently rector of Holy Presentation Church), Nicholas, and Ivan, a daughter Maria, and a multitude of grandchildren and great grandchildren.

The editors of the diocesan website express their sincere condolences to the entire Semyanko family. Memory eternal to the newly reposed Archpriest Andrei!

The funeral service schedule is as follows:

Sunday, October 23 ­– Panihida at 6:30 PM

Monday, October 24 – Liturgy at 8:00 AM (served by Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan), followed by funeral at 10:00 AM.

All services will be held at Holy Presentation Church in Stratford, CT. The burial will be held at Novo-Diveevo Cemetery at Holy Dormition Convent in Nanuet, NY.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese