His Eminence and the Faithful of Altoona and beyond gathered on August 19 to honor the 50 years of ordained service of Father Andrew Matychak.

 

Born in a small town in eastern Pennsylvania, Father Andrew was the oldest of three children, all of who were very active in their parish there dedicated to St Vladimir in Lopez. (Many know his sister as Mother Christophora, Abbess of the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration in Elwood City for the last 25 years). At a young age, he served in the altar and often spoke of becoming a priest someday.

 

The Fall of 1973 was quite eventful for Father Andrew. In just over 6 weeks, he was married, ordained twice, and assigned as pastor of not one, but two parishes. First, at Holy Ghost Church in Ambridge, Father Andrew married his beautiful bride Georgette, a western PA native from Sewickly. Two weeks after that, he was ordained by Archbishop Kiprian at St Tikhon Monastery Church in South Canaan, first to the Holy Diaconate, and then the next Sunday to the Holy Priesthood. By mid-December, he was assigned to serve the faithful of both SS Peter and Paul Church in Altoona, and Holy Assumption Church in Ganister. A few years later, the bishop also assigned as the Rector of Holy Ascension Church in Colver as well.

 

In addition to his ministry within those three parishes, Father Andrew and Matushka Georgette ran a private school called Harbor House which touched the lives of many young people in Altoona, then later the children of those students. Sadly, Matushka Georgetter fell asleep in the Lord in May 2019. May her memory be eternal!

 

On Saturday, August 19, the faithful of SS Peter and Paul, as well as the greater Eastern Deanery, gathered together to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with His Eminence. Following the service, the community moved to the a nearby restuarant for a celebatory dinner in honor of Father Andrew's and Matushka Georgette's service to God in His fields in Blair County.