Priest Martin LeBrecht, who in retirement was attached to Saint Seraphim Cathedral here, fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, March 22, 2013.
Born August 22, 1930, Father Martin and his family lived in Munich, Germany and then Rome, Italy until 1940. At that time, the LeBrechts immigrated to the Us and settled in Irvington, NJ. In 1948. they relocated to Texas, where Father Martin began studies in agriculture at Tarleton State College. He found his real love to be music, however, and earned a degree in Music Education from the University of Texas in Austin. After serving his country in the Air Force, he taught in the Houston School District and took further courses at the University of Houston.
Returning to Austin, he attended the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest and was ordained a priest in 1960. As an Episcopalian priest, he served parishes in Texas and Arizona. While in Phoenix, he and his wife Betty were blessed with two children, Mary and Andrew.
Eventually, Father Martin and Betty began to explore the Orthodox Christian Faith. They were received into Orthodoxy by His Grace, Bishop [later Archbishop] Dmitri on Saint Thomas Sunday in 1980.
Father Martin pursued Orthodox theological studies with local clergy and took correspondence courses from Saint Tikhon Seminary, South Canaan, PA. He was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop Dmitri in May 1989 and to the priesthood the following April. He was awarded the gold cross in January 2000. He retired in 2004, having served as Priest-in-charge of the Mission of Saint Sava, Plano, Texas.
In retirement, Father Martin continued to serve at Saint Seraphim Cathedral and in parishes in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Father Martin is survived by his wife, Matushka Betty; daughter Mary; son Andrew and daughter-in-law Christina; and granddaughters Fiona and Catriona.
Services for Father Martin will be celebrated at Saint Seraphim Cathedral on Monday evening, March 25, at 6:30 p.m. and Tuesday morning, March 26, at 10:00 a.m. More information may be obtained by calling 214-528-3741 or 214-522-4149.
May Father Martin’s memory be eternal!
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