Father Arkady Moiseyev

Remembering Fr. Arkady Moiseyev (1899 - 1986)

Fr. Arkady Moiseyev was born on November 9, 1899, into a family of priests, being both the son and grandson of Russian Orthodox priests. He first attended the Theological Seminary in Vilno, Poland (now Vilnius, Lithuania), where he graduated summa cum laude, and later the Orthodox Theological School in Warsaw, Poland, where he received a Master of Sacred Orthodox Theology degree in 1929.

For six years, Fr. Arkady taught at the Orthodox Seminary in Vilno.

On September 5th, 1939 Fr. Arkady was ordained to the diaconate. He was ordained a priest on September 18th, 1939, by the Russian Orthodox Archbishop Sava of Grodno. He next served as pastor of the Convent of St. Mary Magdalene in Vilno, and later in Hanover, Germany. He was also administrator of Russian Orthodox churches in Carlsbad, Marienbad, and Frazensbad in Germany.

Fr. Arkady and his Matushka Lyubov came to the United States in December, 1951, and settled in Washington, DC. In January, 1952 he was assigned to assist Bishop Jonah, at that time the Bishop of Washington. Upon the death of Bishop Jonah in 1955, Fr. Arkady became the pastor of the Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas.

Under his guidance, the planning and construction of the present church building was completed in 1962, and dedicated in May of 1963. The 1963 Dedication booklet states "Through the difficult years of building the national shrine, Father Arkady with his steadfast spiritual resolve and trust in God, has been a tower of strength."

Father Arkady was renowned for the clarity and sincerity of his sermons. He also wrote frequently for various Orthodox publications.

In 1978, when St. Nicholas Church was designated St. Nicholas Cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Theodosius appointed Fr. Arkady as dean, a position he held until his retirement on June 1, 1986.

Fr. Arkady fell asleep in the Lord 36 years ago today, on October 15, 1986 in Washington, DC.

Henry Sawchuk, President of the Parish Council at the time of Fr. Arkady's death, said "Father Arkady was beloved by all the members of the St. Nicholas parish for his humility and deep Christian faith".

May Fr. Arkady's memory be eternal before God!