At its Board of Directors meeting held on July 19, 2021, the Orthodox Church Capital Improvement Fund (OCCIF) Board of Directors unanimously elected Archpriest John Dresko to serve as the second president of OCCIF, effective August 1, 2021.

Father John, an alumnus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, has served on the OCCIF Board since 2016, and as interim treasurer for three years. The founding OCCIF president, John Della Monica, has stepped down due to increased demands on his professional life. During Della Monica’s tenure, OCCIF developed into a professional financial organization devoted to helping the growth of the Orthodox Church through capital improvement loans. He has agreed to remain on the Board of Directors to guide and mentor the new president.

“Every board member, as well as the many Orthodox parishes and institutions already helped by OCCIF, offer our profound thanks to John,” said incoming OCCIF president Fr. John Dresko. “We wish John and his family nothing but the best and continued good health.”

In addition to his years of work with OCCIF, Fr. John brings a thorough knowledge of Orthodox Church finances and administration. Father John is currently rector of St. Paul the Apostle Orthodox Church (OCA) in Las Vegas, NV. Ordained to the Holy Priesthood in 1979, he has had a long vocation in parishes and at the administrative levels of the Church. In addition to parish work and administrative positions, he has served on the Diocesan Councils of the Diocese of the Midwest, the Diocese of New England, and, currently, the Diocese of the West, where he serves on the Finance Committee. He has also served on the Metropolitan Council of the OCA for sixteen years over the past thirty.

“Over the years Fr. John has been an invaluable resource on OCCIF’s Board of Directors,” said Della Monica. “Now as president, Fr. John will help OCCIF continue to grow as the leading provider of capital improvement loans for the Orthodox Church.”

About OCCIF
The Orthodox Church Capital Improvement Fund (OCCIF) was established in 2011 as an outreach of the Mission Board of the Diocese of the West of the Orthodox Church in America. OCCIF is the leading provider of funding for capital improvement projects exclusively for the Orthodox Church, with over $4 million provided to Orthodox missions, monasteries, and institutions.

About Archpriest John Dresko
The Very Rev. John Dresko possesses a B.A. in history from Iona College, New Rochelle, NY and an M.Div. from St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Class of ’80). In addition, he is a graduate of the Meyer Institute of Christian Stewardship and The Center for Philanthropy of Indiana University, both in Indianapolis, IN. While in the Air Force, he also graduated from Academic Instructors School at Air University, Maxwell AFB, AL with post-graduate credits in education.

In addition to St. Paul’s, Fr. John has served in Rochester Hills, MI; Mentor, OH; and New Britain, CT; and as director of Stewardship, then director of Development, for the Orthodox Church in America. He also served on active duty as an Air Force chaplain at Lackland AFB, TX. A past president of the Alumni Association of St. Vladimir’s Seminary, he served on the Board of Trustees of the Seminary and as chairman of the Dean’s Search Committee in 2006.

Father John has lectured on Christian Stewardship and giving at various locations throughout North America and authored numerous articles and reflections in numerous publications. He is married to his wife Elizabeth since 1977, and they have four children and seven grandchildren.

Fr. Leonid Kishkovsky delivered the annual Schmemann Lecture at St. Vladimir's in 2005

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky, longtime Director of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)'s Office of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations. Father Leonid fell asleep in the Lord on the evening of August 3, 2021 in Sea Cliff, NY.

"Protopresbyter Leonid Kishkovsky will be remembered as one of the building blocks of what would become the OCA. His global contacts and influence in both Orthodox and ecumenical spheres had no rivals," said Archpriest Chad Hatfield, president of St. Vladimir's Seminary. "His legacy will be studied and interpreted for many years to come. May God grant him Paradise." 

In addition to his work for the OCA, Fr. Leonid had vast experience serving the Church nationally and internationally through leadership in organizations such as SCOBA, IOCC, and the World Council of Churches. He was also the long-serving rector of Our Lady of Kazan Church, Sea Cliff, NY.

Father Leonid attended St. Vladimir's Seminary from 1964 to 1967, and returned to his alma mater in 2005 to deliver the 22nd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, titled, "Orthodoxy Today: Tradition or Traditionalism."

"Father Leonid was one of my most cherished mentors, especially in church diplomacy, where he embodied both zeal and sobriety, and also realism, respect for the other, and love for the Church," said St. Vladimir's Professor Dr. Peter Bouteneff. "His unflagging commitment and hope (often in the face of deep disappointment), his knowledge, and his connectedness to the movers and shakers of the church and the political world made him into one of the giants of our time—all the while, grounded in his beloved little parish in Sea Cliff. In making the Orthodox Church known, understood, and respected throughout the world, his impact was incalculable." 

All services for Fr. Leonid’s funeral will take place at Our Lady of Kazan Church, 2 Willow Shore Ave, Sea Cliff, NY. The schedule is as follows:

Wednesday, August 11
12 p.m. - Arrival of the Body and Panikhida
7 p.m. - Funeral Service for a Priest

Thursday, August 12
9:30 a.m. - Divine Liturgy, immediately followed by Litya from the Panikhida and interment at Roslyn Cemetery

All clergy who wish to concelebrate the funeral or the Divine Liturgy should contact the chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, Archpriest Alexander Rentel, at chancellor@oca.org or (516) 922-0550 x130.

May the memory of Protopresbyter Leonid be eternal!

The Rev. Nicholas Andruchow (St. Vladimir’s Seminary Class of 2002) and his wife Presbytera Merilynn (Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology Class of 2002) are now undertaking even greater responsibility at the Orthodox Christian ministry Project Mexico. In June 2021, Project Mexico named Fr. Nicholas, its longtime associate director, as the organization’s new executive director.

Since 1988, Project Mexico has been building homes for some of the most impoverished families in Northern Mexico with the help of more than 16,000 volunteers from around the world. The Project also runs St. Innocent Orphanage near Rosarito, Mexico to provide a home for orphaned boys.

“You see such a need in Mexico...the founders saw this need, and we continue to respond to this,” Fr. Nicholas said on a recent interview with Ancient Faith Radio. “With thousands of people trying to get into the United States, what it creates is a lot of vulnerable young people—a lot of vulnerable young people—and so there's a bigger need than ever for an Orthodox Orphanage, and thank God we're able to have a presence…”

He added that Project Mexico plans to grow its operations in the coming years. One goal is to expand its orphanage capacity from its current number of twenty boys (from age five to college age) to thirty-five, and to start taking in orphaned infants soon. Father Nicholas also hopes Project Mexico can build thirty-five homes in 2022 (up from its average of 20–25 homes built per summer).

Father Nicholas Andruchow was raised in Worcester, MA, as a member of the Orthodox Church in America. Before undertaking missionary work, Fr. Nicholas received a bachelor’s degree in restaurant management and later spent two years in the Dominican Republic as a member of the Peace Corps. As a single man, he then worked with Project Mexico for three years, establishing a pig farm and teaching entrepreneurial skills to the orphanage boys. Following graduation from St. Vladimir's Seminary in 2002, Fr. Nicholas and Pres. Merilynn spent nine years leading the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Mission Church in Flagstaff, AZ. Project Mexico reached out to Fr. Nicholas in 2011 to bring him back as a priest and associate director, and the Andruchows relocated to Mexico, where they have been working with Project Mexico ever since.

Father Nicholas and Pres. Merilynn are parents of three boys.

May God continue to strengthen their incredible ministry, and may He grant them many years!

Learn more about Project Mexico and ways you can help at their website, projectmexico.org. 

Saint Vladimir’s Seminary graduate Priest Basil Paul has entered the angelic life of monasticism after being tonsured in his native Kerala, India on July 14, 2021.

Following his graduation with a Master of Arts degree in May 2021, Hieromonk (Aboun Dayroyo) Basil was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and Holy Priesthood in the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church in the weeks leading up to his monastic tonsure. His Eminence, Mor Aphrem Mathews presided over Fr. Basil’s ordinations and the monastic tonsure which took place at St. Mary’s Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Kuruppampadi, Kerala, India.

Father Basil wrote beautifully of the mystery of his monastic tonsure—at the conclusion of which, in the Syriac tradition, a new monk is given a large wooden cross to carry upon his shoulder.

Today was my betrothal, betrothal to the Cross. This is attested by the second stanza of the Quqoyo [a kind of metrical hymn] sung during the Service of Incense: "This soul which has been betrothed to your crucifixion, give her to perform good works and become worthy of your bridal chamber." The cross that I carry wasn't imposed on me by any—rather it was my sole choice, as this is what I recited thrice before handing over the scissors to my bishop, His Eminence Mor Aphrem Mathews, to tonsure me: "I wish to draw near to God. Your name is good to me, Lord, my trust, so that I may recount all your wonders (Ps. 73:28)."

Stripping myself of the worldly clothes and adorning the monastic habit, I go ahead inscribing the admonition of my bishop in my heart: "My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptations. Do not be hasty at the time when temptations come. Cling to the Lord and do not depart from him, that you may finally become great (Sir. 2:1-3)."

Hieromonk Basil—or Basil Rambachen, as he will now be commonly called—holds two other degrees he obtained in India prior to his studies in the U.S. at St. Vladimir’s Seminary, a Bachelor of Engineering from Nagpur University and a Bachelor of Divinity from United Theological College, Bangalore. He also served as an intern for the National Council of Churches in India’s Youth Department.

May God grant Hieromonk Basil many years!

With faith in Christ and hope in the resurrection, we share news of the repose of internationally recognized philanthropist John G. Rangos, Sr., a major supporter and longtime friend of St. Vladimir’s Seminary. Rangos fell asleep in the Lord July 21, 2021 in Pittsburgh, PA at the age of 91, following a brief illness.

A successful businessman, Rangos was the founder of The John G. Rangos Sr. Family Charitable Foundation, which supports numerous health care and educational efforts. The Foundation made a lasting impact on the Seminary by generously supporting the construction of a new administrative building. Named in his honor, The John G. Rangos Family Foundation Building at St. Vladimir’s Seminary was completed and occupied in 2001, following a decade of planning, fundraising, and construction. The building remains a major hub on campus to this day, housing the Father Georges Florovsky Library, Metropolitan Philip Auditorium, and administrative offices. He also co-founded International Orthodox Christian Charities (IOCC) in 1992, which has since provided more than $742 million to help people in need around the world.

In 2016, the Board of Trustees and Faculty of St. Vladimir’s honored Rangos with a Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa. He was also an archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Church’s highest lay honor.

"I pray that God has taken Mr. John Rangos into His loving care," said St. Vladimir's Seminary Trustee Emeritus Dr. Alex Machaskee. "Mr. Rangos and I spent many times together in Pittsburgh and Boca Raton discussing his support of St. Vladimir's and multiple projects administered by IOCC. As a member of the Seminary board and chairman of IOCC I always appreciated his wise counsel as well as his extraordinary philanthropy. May his memory be eternal."

John G. Rangos, Sr. was born of Greek heritage in Steubenville, OH in 1929. As a young man, he attended the Houston School of Business, which he interrupted to join the military. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951–1954. In later years, he worked with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society to create the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and served as its first chairman. Throughout his entire life, Mr. Rangos continued a personal mission to serve his country by helping veterans and their families, and offered decades of service to hundreds of nonprofit organizations throughout the world.

Rangos was the father of three children, John Rangos Jr., Alex Rangos, and Jenica Rangos Welch; and grandfather of four.

Funeral arrangements will be private.

May the memory of John G. Rangos, Sr. be eternal!