Archimandrite Peter (Zaychenko)

Archimandrite Peter (Zaychenko) (1885-1956)

Zaychenko may be spelt Zaytchenko, Zaichenko, Zaitchenko.

Peter may be spelt Petr, Pëtr, Petro.

Early years of Prokopy Feodorovich Zaychenko

On 26 February, 1885, Prokopy Feodorovich Zaychenko was born in what was then the Ekaterinoslav Governorate, and is now Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine. At that time, it was in the Russian Empire. He was raised by his pious parents in the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church.

His father died when he was quite young, and his mother was left with several children to take care of. While she was making a pilgrimage to Kyiv, a monastic elder told his mother that the young Prokopy should be dedicated to the service of God, and that he should enter a monastery. This became possible, and he did enter a monastery in 1896.

Higher education, after 1896

While Prokopy’s education continued in the monastery, he was also preparing to become a teacher.

Transfer to the USA, 1910

Then, in 1910, Prokopy was called to serve in the new North American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Upon his arrival in the USA, he was sent to Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.

Monastic tonsure, 1911

Prokopy Feodorovich Zaychenko was tonsured to be a monk in the small schema (stavrophor, the life-commitment) on 24 March, 1911, at Saint Tikhon's Monastery.

Since it was the Feast-day of Saint Peter of Kazan, he was given the name Peter.

Diaconal ordination, 1911

On 26 March, 1911, the Monk Peter (Zaychenko) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate in Saint Tikhon’s Monastery. His first parish assignment was in Alaska, to which he soon travelled.

Presbyteral ordination, 1911

In 1911, at the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Sitka, Alaska, the Hierodeacon Peter (Zaychenko) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Monastic pastoral service

Alaska, 1911

The first parish assignment of Hieromonk Peter (Zaychenko) was at the Church of Saint Andrew in Killisnoo, Alaska.

He also served in Hoonah, Alaska, where they completed a church building during his tenure there.

In late 1912, he was transferred back to Sitka in order to serve as acting district dean.

However, Father Peter requested a transfer out of Alaska in 1914, because of health concerns. He was neither the first nor the last to suffer health difficulties there. The region in which he had served was inhabited by the Tlinkit peoples, who are used to the heavy rains and the humidity of the region. Others often have difficulty adapting to this climate.

"Lower 48" USA, 1912

The transfer was granted, and Father Peter obediently served many parish Temples in the USA and in Canada during the following years.

He served in Fall River, Massachusetts ; Stamford, Connecticut (1915-1917) ; the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Detroit, Michigan (1917) ; Saint Michael’s Church in Chicago, Illinois ; Saint Nicholas' Church, Kenosha, Wisconsin (1918-1922) ; Lawrence, Massachusetts ; Rochester, New York ; Patton, Pennsylvania ; Albion, Michigan.

Windsor, Ontario

Of particular attention in this project is the mention of his assignment to Ford City, Ontario, Canada. Ford City is now a part of the city of Windsor, Ontario. The main street of this area was, in those days, Drouillard Road, and on this road is situated the Church of Saint John the Divine, which was constructed in 1914. Father Peter served this parish for a time.

Saint John the Divine Church, Windsor

USA parishes

After his service in Windsor, he then served in Detroit, Michigan (just across the Saint Clare River to the north of Windsor) ; Black Lick, Pennsylvania ; Vintondale, Pennsylvania ; Boswell, Pennsylvania ; Export, Pennsylvania ; Greensburg, Pennsylvania ; Jerome, Pennsylvania ; Milwaukee, Wisconsin ; Madison, Illinois ; Steubenville, Ohio ; Youngstown, Ohio ; Pittsfield, Massachusetts ; Springfield, Massachusetts ; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and in Chicago, Illinois.

Retirement, 1951

In 1951, after 40 years of service in North America, Father Peter retired, and he moved to Phoenix, Arizona. In Phoenix, his so-called retirement was a rather active one.

On 25 November, 1951, the Saints Peter and Paul Russian Eastern Orthodox Greek Catholic Church was officially formed in Phoenix (the first service had been offered in 1949).

Archimandrite Peter was assigned by Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) of the Diocese of San Francisco and the Western USA to serve this parish.

He personally purchased residential property at 1614, East Monte Vista Road, where services were held, and it later became the Temple of the parish. The parish membership totalled about 12 families at the time.

This evangelically active completion to his life’s work established a spiritual home for Orthodox believers which would bring the Lord’s solace to them for generations.

After the repose of Archimandrite Peter, it became evident that he had willed the residential property to the parish. This gift enabled the parishioners quickly to make additions and expansions both to the Temple and to the property.

Saints Peter and Paul Church, Phoenix

Repose, 1956

On 12 November, 1956, Archimandrite Peter (Zaychenko) fell asleep in the Lord in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Presbyter were offered at the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Phoenix.

After the services for the Burial of a Presbyter, his body was transported to Pennsylvania, and it was interred at the cemetery of Saint Tikhon’s Monastery in South Canaan, Pennsylvania.