Soucek, Rev. Archpriest Pavel,
The Rev. Archpriest Pavel Soucek, a resident of Old Forge for the past six months, died Thursday afternoon in the VNA Hospice at Community Medical Center. He and his wife, Matushka Paula, celebrated their 42nd wedding anniversary Oct. 13.
Born in Prague, Czech Republic, son of the late Vaclav and Jaroslava Stara Soucek, he was a graduate of Charles University, Prague, as well as Litomerice, Czech Republic; General Theological, New York; and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological, Crestwood, N.Y., seminaries. On Bright Saturday, May 2, 1981, he was ordained to the holy priesthood by Metropolitan Theodosius at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Throughout his priesthood, Father Pavel served under the New England, Western and Eastern Pennsylvania, New York, South, and Mid-West dioceses of the Orthodox Church in America. He retired from Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, Marblehead, Ohio. In addition to a doctorate, Father Pavel held master's degrees in theology, divinity, science, herbology and was a certified gerontologist. He was a gifted iconographer and prolific artist and his work adorns many homes throughout the United States and Europe. Father Pavel was also an accomplished composer of both secular and liturgical music as well as a master musician on several instruments. On Thursday, he fell asleep in the Lord.
Also surviving are two sons, the Rev. John, rector of St. Michael's Orthodox Church, Old Forge, and wife, Matushka Michelle; and Jacob Soucek, Canoga Park, Calif.; and three grandchildren, Christina, Sarah and John Soucek.
Father Pavel will lie in state at St. Michael's Orthodox Church, 512 Summer St., Old Forge, Thursday at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. A panikhida memorial service will be served at 7 p.m. The funeral will be Friday at 11 am in St. Tikhon's Monastery Church, South Canaan, to be celebrated by the His Grace, Right Rev. Bishop Tikhon and area clergy. Interment, St. Tikhon's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary, P.O. Box 130, South Canaan, 18459, where a memorial scholarship fund will be established in Father Pavel's name. Arrangements by the Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor.
Scranton Times on 1/20/2009,
St. Tikhon's Monastery Church,"
St. Michael's Orthodox Church,
Holy Assumption Orthodox Church, "