With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Archpriest Paul Kucynda, an alumnus of St Vladimir’s Seminary. Fr. Paul fell asleep in the Lord Wednesday, July 9, 2025.
The Very Rev. Paul Kucynda, an archpriest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), was a long-time Rector of Holy Resurrection Church, Wayne, NJ. In his retirement he was attached to the Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, in Brick, NJ.
Fr. Paul attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary in the 1960s, and was a member of the first Seminary Octet. In the summer of 1962, Fr. Paul and the other members of the Octet toured some 80 parishes throughout the United States in order to raise awareness, fundraise, and recruit for the Seminary. His dedication and love for the Church were evident throughout his time as a student. A letter to Fr. Paul dated August 27, 1965, from his fellow seminarian and Octet member, David Drillock—who went on to serve for many years as Professor of Liturgical Music at the Seminary—notes:
The Faculty of St. Vladimir's Seminary takes special note of the extra curricular work of Mr. Paul Kucynda, during the 1964–1965 academic year. Mr. Kucynda directed the Chapel Choir on weekdays during both the winter and spring semesters. In addition he rendered invaluable assistance in helping to prepare and to direct a special group for the Holy Week Services. All this he did with devotion and sincere love and at all times showed deep responsibility in performing the duties of a Chapel Choir Director.
Fr. Paul also received appreciation from the Seminary for directing the 1965 summer Octet. On June 11, 1967, he married Barbara Anne (née Kuntzevich) at Holy Trinity Church, Brooklyn, Matushka Barbara’s home parish. Mka. Barbara worked as a substitute teacher while Fr. Paul completed his seminary studies. He was ordained to the holy priesthood on January 7, 1968, and received a Bachelor of Divinity degree from St. Vladimir’s Seminary that same year.
Following ordination and graduation, the Kucyndas were assigned to Holy Resurrection Church. They were blessed with a son, Timothy, in 1969. Fr. Paul and Mka. Barbara served at Holy Resurrection for five decades, celebrating fifty years of ministry there together in 2018.
Fr. Paul was preceded in death by his beloved Mka. Barbara (+February 16, 2018). They are survived by their son Timothy.
Information regarding Fr. Paul’s funeral will be announced on the OCA website, here.
May the memory of Archpriest Paul be eternal!
Some information for this article was adapted from OCA.org.
