Rev. Petro Budnyj

Rev. Petro Budnyj [o. Петро Будниӣ], (b. March 4, 1909, in Mohyliv-Podilskyi, Vinnytsya, Ukraine; d. January 5, 2002, in Sliver Spring, MD). Priest, composer, choir director. After his graduation from the Lviv Music Conservatory, he organized and directed choirs in Vinnytsya and surrounding areas. Shortly after his ordination in 1942, he was forced to flee to Germany and seek refuge at a DP camp near Stuttgart. He emigrated from Germany in 1950, and served at Orthodox parishes in America (Herkimer, NY; Utica, NY; Silver Spring, MD). During this time, he published many collections of sacred music. Father Budnyj is buried at St. Andrew’s Cemetery in South Bound Brook, NJ.

1942: Ordained at St. Andrew’s Cathedral (Kyiv, Ukraine)

1944-1950: Refugee at German DP camp near Stuttgart

1950: Came to America

1950s: St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Herkimer, NY)

1960s: SS. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Utica, NY)

1973-1980: St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (Silver Spring, MD)

1980: Composed an original setting of the Divine Liturgy