The Very Rev. Michael Hutnyan fell asleep in the Lord at his home in Drifton, PA on Saturday, September 22, 2007.
The Archpriest Michael was born in Freeland, PA on February 26, 1930. Father Michael was a graduate of The MMI Preparatory School also located in Freeland. He attended St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary for a time before attending and then graduating from Christ The Savior Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Seminary in Johnstown PA. He then went on to receive a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Youngstown, OH.
Father Michael was a psychology and logics professor at Saint Tikhon’s Seminary at time he was rector of All Saints Orthodox Church located in Olyphant, PA
Ordained to the holy priesthood on January 27, 1955, at Saint Michael Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church, Freeland, PA. Father Michael pastored parishes in the Carpatho-Russian Diocese, The Metropolia (formerly known as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America) which later came to be known as the OCA (Orthodox Church in America). Towards the end of his ministry as an Orthodox Priest, he served in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United States of America. Father Michael retired out of the Ukrainian Diocese but later served at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church located in McAdoo, PA (OCA).
Father Michael serve some 16 Orthodox parishes over his many years as an Orthodox Priest.
In addition to his parents Helen (Plavchak) and Andrew Hutnyan, Father Michael was predeceased by his wife of 42 years, Matushka Mary, in 1997; a daughter Mary Margaret in 1994; a sister Mary Jeskie; and two brothers, the Very Rev. Fr. John Hutnyan and Protopresbyter Andrew Hutnyan.
Surviving Father Michael are his sons, the Very Rev. Emilian Hutnyan, rector of Saint Andrew Orthodox Church, Maple Heights, OH, and his wife Matushka Laryssa; Paul Hutnyan and his wife, Terry (Virginia); Nicholas Hutnyan (Minersville, PA); and Thomas Hutnyan and his wife, Lori and their two sons, Joshua and Matthew (Dayton, Ohio); daughters Daria Teter and her husband, Officer Kyle and daughter Zoe (Sinking Spring, PA); Rebecca Hutnyan (Coatesville, PA); Christina Ngo and her husband, Dr. Tony (Virginia); and Marina Long and her husband, Daniel with their two daughters Sophia & Elena Ruth, also of Coatesville, PA. Fr. Michael is also survived by his brother, Protopresbyter George Hutnyan and wife Pani Dorothy (Youngstown, Ohio); nine grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman, presided at the otpivaniye (Rite of Burial of an Orthodox Priest) with several Orthodox priests in attendance on Wednesday, September 26 at Holy Trinity Church, McAdoo, PA. The responses to the burial service were sung by St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary Choir under the direction of Monk Sergius. Mr. Martin Paluch served as the photographer. Seminarian and subdeacon Joshua Smith and Subdeacon Peter Ulrich assisted the metropolitan at the divine services. The Divine Liturgy the next morning was also con-celebrated by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman and several Orthodox Clergy. Male choir responses were sung under the direction of Archpriest Daniel Kovalak (Williamsport, PA) and the following clergy: Rev. Fr. Nicholas Wyslutsky, Mogadore, Ohio, Archpriest John Onufrey, Shillington, PA, Archpriest Emilian Hutnyan of Sagamore Hills, Ohio and Seminarian Herman Klarr (St. Tikhon’s Seminary). Archpriest Michael was carried around the church one time before being by interred at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox and Greek Catholic Cemetery, Freeland, PA. A repast meal was served at Lobitz Catering located in West Hazelton, PA
Donations in Father Michael’s memory made be made to the Archpriest Michael Hutnyan Scholarship Fund, c/o Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, PO Box 130, South Canaan, PA, 18459.
May Father Michael’s memory be eternal!