With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Ms. Eleana Silk, an alumna of St. Vladimir’s and longtime librarian at the Seminary. Eleana fell asleep in the Lord on October 21.
Eleana was born in Detroit, Michigan, and studied zoology and geology at Michigan State and George Washington University, working as a computer programmer before enrolling at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in the 1980s. She went on to complete a Master of Divinity degree in 1986 and a Master of Arts in Christian Education in 1988. She then graduated with a Master of Library Science degree from Columbia University in 1989.
Eleana eventually joined staff as assistant librarian and later head librarian of the Seminary’s Father Georges Florovsky Library. She served faithfully for many years until her retirement in 2019, and was also known in the Seminary community for her generosity in support of seminarians and their families.
Eleana with Fr. Chad Hatfield at her retirement celebration at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in 2019.
In addition to her work for the Seminary, Eleana remained an active member at all levels of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), serving on the OCA’s Metropolitan Council and Department of History and Archives; co-editing the book The Legacy of St. Vladimir (SVS Press, 1990); and writing articles for The Orthodox Church, The FROC Journal and the OCA's Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries. Silk also served as secretary of the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC).
Information regarding Eleana’s funeral will be announced on the OCA website, here.
May her memory be eternal!
