Memory Eternal: Remembering Archimandrite Alexander [Pihach]
The one-year anniversary of the repose of Archimandrite Alexander [Pihach] was marked at the Orthodox Church in America’s Representation Church of Saint Catherine the Great Martyr here on Saturday, October 7, 2017.
Archimandrite Alexander had fallen asleep in the Lord unexpectedly during a visit to Canada on October 7, 2016. He had faithfully served as Dean of Saint Catherine Church and as OCA Representative to the Patriarchate of Moscow since his appointment to that position by the Holy Synod of Bishops on November 30, 2012.
Presiding at the Panikhida was His Grace, Bishop Daniel of Santa Rosa, who was in Moscow with Archpriest Kirill Sokolov, Associate Priest at San Francisco’s Holy Trinity Cathedral, to represent the OCA at the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Glorification of Saint Innocent of Moscow, Apostle to America, at the Holy Trinity-Saint Sergius Lavra on Friday, October 6. Also serving at the Panikhida were Archpriests Christopher Hill and Valentine Vasechko of Saint Catherine Church. Representing the US Embassy to Russia was Mr. David Horn, Staff Assistant to the Ambassador.
Born Dennis Alexander Pihach in Saskatoon, SK, on June 27, 1952 and raised in an Orthodox Christian family, Archimandrite Alexander graduated from Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg, MB, in 1973. He continued his studies in Sociology and Slavic Studies and graduated from the University of Saskatchewan, after which he was employed with Social Services. In 1986, he was ordained to the priesthood in the OCA’s Archdiocese of Canada and assigned to plant a mission in Yorkton, SK—now Saint Mark’s Church—while continuing his employment with Youth Addictions Services.
He was elected Dean of the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Deanery and appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada in 1996. Two years later, he was assigned Rector of Saint Herman of Alaska Sobor, Edmonton, AB.
On July 11, 2009, he was tonsured to monastic orders and elevated to the dignity of Igumen of Saint Elias Skete, Dickie Bush, AB. On September 1 of the same year, he was appointed Interim Dean of Annunciation Cathedral, Ottawa, ON. He was elevated to the dignity of Archimandrite in May 2011 and continued to serve Saint Herman Sobor until his appointment to Saint Catherine’s the following year.
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May Father Alexander’s memory be eternal!