Obituary: The Very Rev. Paul Harrilchak
How to put into words the life of a man who loved words and lived and loved The Word? On Wednesday, March 12, 2025, the Archpriest Paul Harrilchak, priest and shepherd of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Ashburn, Virginia, a parish of the Orthodox Church in America, breathed his last and fell asleep in the Lord. May he rest his head on the bosom of our Lord Jesus; eternal memory!
Father Paul is survived by his brother, Thomas & his family, his two beloved Godchildren, Joshua and Gloria Lefchik, their mother, Sharon, and his loving community at Holy Trinity. Born in Yonkers, New York, on July 2, 1941, Father Paul described himself as a “church mouse” from a very young age. In church he felt at home. He came from good “Lemko” stock, his grandparents having immigrated from the old country, bringing with them their faith and love of ethnic Ukrainian food and song. Our church community benefited from both as Father Paul pinched many pierogies or served the most delicious cabbage and potato soup at our Lenten Potluck meals. We sing Ukrainian carols put to English words to evangelize us for our Feast Days: the Feasts of Light, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, the Pasch of our Lord, to name a few.
Father Paul was a man of God who lived for and dedicated his life to the Church. He attended Catholic University, where he studied under the renowned biblical and liturgical scholar, Juan Mateos, and then St. Vladimir’s Seminary where he studied at the feet of giants, Father Alexander Schmemman and Father John Meyendorff, of blessed memory. His lifelong passion for Eucharistic Renewal including “putting the prayers of the divine services back on the lips of the people” was sparked by the wisdom imparted by his mentors, professors, and brothers in Christ, including Father Laurence Mancuso, of blessed memory. Father Paul brought their work to life in his pastoral service at Holy Trinity and in his publications.
In 1978 Father Paul helped to establish a new mission, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, and was instrumental in founding it while Father John Meyendorff was on sabbatical from St. Vladimir’s Seminary. When Father John returned to the Seminary, Father Paul was ordained and assumed leadership of the parish. He saw the church community as a Catechetical School, where the services and work of the church are our opportunity to grow in the faith; to understand what the Church is conveying to us, and to more fully experience God’s love for us through the Eucharistic Assembly. Fr. Paul built a parish that transcends all ethnic and national boundaries, a parish that is not Slavic, nor Greek, nor Romanian, nor Syrian, but nevertheless is continuous with all of them, and where everyone feels at home.
Father Paul was a scholar and expert in liturgical theology. His driving passion and study was liturgical and church renewal. “Words have meaning,” he would say. After exhaustive research and translations, he penned two books for the Church: The Divine Liturgy of the Great Church, with Melodies for Congregational Singing, and Confession, with Examination of Conscience and Common Prayers. He also wrote numerous booklets on the liturgical services of the Church and pamphlets expounding catechetical and spiritual matters.
A kind and generous spirit, Father Paul was also a man with many artistic talents which he used to elevate our spiritual involvement. His legacy will be in the words he spoke and penned, in the action that springs forth from them, and in our own growth in faith and love. Now let your servant go in peace, Master, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation which You have prepared before the face of all people. A light to enlighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of your people, Israel. God grant eternal rest to your servant, the priest Paul, and may his memory be eternal.
Obituary (PDF)