Rev. Petro Melech

Rev. Petro Melech [Петро Мелех], (b. 1922 in Ukraine; d. August 21, 1979, in Kerhonkson, NY). Father Melech was ordained at St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Kyiv in 1943. He fled to Germany during the war and became the pastor at St. Athanasius Church, which was located at the DP camp in Ellwangen (Jagst). Shortly afterwards, he came to America. He served between 1951 and 1959 at Orthodox parishes in New York, NY (St. Vladimir) and Hartford, CT (St. Vladimir). In 1959, he became the Assistant Pastor to Fr. John Hundiak (later Archbishop Mark) at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carteret, NJ. He served there for twenty years until his tragic death at the age of 57.

1943: Ordination (Kyiv, Ukraine).

1944-1949: Pastor at DP camp (Ellwangen, Germany).

1951-1959: Pastor at St. Vladimir UOC (New York, NY) and St. Vladimir UOC (Hartford, CT).

1959-1979: Assistant pastor at St. Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Carteret, NJ).