Surrounded by family, friends, priests, and relatives in Ukraine participating by livestream video, Father Vitalii Stashkevych was ordained to the Holy Order of the Presbyterate for the Byzantine Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh by Archbishop William Skurla Jan. 14 at St. John the Baptist Cathedral in Munhall, Pa.
As a Subdeacon from the Eparchy of Mukachevo in Ukraine, Father Vitalii was accepted by Archbishop Wiliam to serve in the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. He was ordained a Deacon for the Archeparchy Nov. 8, 2017 at Holy Ghost Church in McKees Rocks, Pa. Concelebrants for the Jan. 14 Divine Liturgy were Monsignor Russell A. Duker, Very Revs. Andrew J. Deskevich and Frank A. Firko.
The Master of Ceremonies was Father Valerian M. Michlik. Seminarians served and Martin Bovee assisted. The Archeparchial Choir, under the direction of Darlene Fejka, sang the responses to the Liturgy. Protosyncellus Very Rev. Andrew presented Deacon Vitalii for ordination.
In his homily, Archbishop William spoke of the years of preparation and of the path that brought Deacon Vitalii to this day of priestly ordination in Pittsburgh from Uzhgorod, Ukraine, where he was born to Nicholas Continue reading
