Remembering Protodeacon Sergius Miller
Protodeacon Sergius/Roy Bruce Miller of Columbia, Maryland passed away on March 16, 2022. Bruce was born on Sunday, December 4, 1938, at University Hospital in Baltimore to Katharina Emma (Kralick) and Ferdinand Roy Miller. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother Ellsworth and sister-in-law Patricia Miller. He is survived by his aunt Edith Kralick, niece Carole (William) Greenage, nephew Ellsworth Kenneth Miller, great niece Samantha, great-nephews Thomas and Michael and his beloved cat Noel.
He grew up in Baltimore and attended Baltimore City College High School, graduating in the accelerated course in 1957. He then attended Loyola College, receiving his A. B. in 1960. Bruce taught school for five years in the Anne Arundel County Schools before enrolling in The Catholic University of America in Washington, D. C. He completed a M. A. in Medieval History and completed the course work and comprehensive exams for the PhD. In 1968 he received a Fulbright grant to study and conduct research on the early history of the Abbey of Alcobaca in Portugal. Following an auto accident, he returned home and obtained a job in the religious section of the Catholic University Libraries in early 1969.
In 1973’s he received his Master’s of Library and Information Sciences and was appointed assistant head of the Acquisitions Division and became head of the Division in 1976. In 1979, he became the head of the Religious Studies Division. The title of Coordinator of Humanities was added to his position. Bruce had these duties until he retired in 2003. He gained a great deal of respect in this role, specifically as the head of the Theology, Philosophy and Canon Law Library. He also was asked to serve as Interim Director of the Virginia Theological Seminary Library when that institution was in need of leadership.
In 1973 He became Orthodox attending St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington, D.C. He began serving in 1997, and in 1998 was tonsured reader and ordained subdeacon. He was ordained deacon on Sunday, December 24, 2006.
Father Sergius transferred to The Orthodox Church of St. Matthew in March 2011 and was raised to the protodiaconate on Holy Saturday 2017 by His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon. He was a great friend to many, including those who had been close to him throughout his life. He supported organizations that work to save animals.
