The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Michael Polanichka reposed in The Lord on Monday morning, Dec. 20, 2021, at the age of 85.

He was born July 17, 1936, in Scranton, Pa., to the late Nicholas and Susan (Chuvan) Polanichka.

Proto. Michael entered the Diocesan Seminary of Christ the Savior in Johnstown, Pa., in September 1956 and graduated in June 1960.

On June 11, 1960, he married the former Eleanor Jean Hazuda in Nesquehoning, Pa., and they just celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary in June 2021.

His beloved wife, Pani Eleanor, who was his caregiver for the past three years, passed away suddenly on Nov. 21, 2021.

Proto. Michael was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on July 3, 1960, by the late Metropolitan Orestes P. Chornock and offered his first Divine Liturgy in his home parish of St. Nicholas in Scranton.

His first pastoral assignment was to St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Bayonne, N.J., where he completed an extensive renovation program of the church and parish rectory.

In March of 1968, Proto. Michael was transferred to Rahway, N.J., and served there for 4½ years.

While in Rahway, a building program was instituted and a beautiful Byzantine-style church was built.

By appointment of His Grace, the late Bishop John R. Martin, Proto. Michael and his family were transferred in September 1972 to St. John's Russian Orthodox Church in Sharon.

Over the next several years, Proto. Michael oversaw the burning of the mortgage on the church's educational center and was instrumental in the building of the church's cemetery chapel in 1982, which was a life-long parish dream.

Just before his retirement as parish priest of St. John's, he was directly involved with all the fundraising and donations that helped with the building of the brand new church in Hermitage.

In addition to his pastoral duties at St. John's, in 1975 Bishop Martin appointed Proto. Michael to the chairman of the Diocesan Building Committee and head of construction of the million-dollar Diocesan complex at Camp Nazareth in Mercer.

He was also a consultor to the late Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko and a member of the Diocesan Board of Trustees.

At the 12th Diocesan Council-Sobor in 1979, Bishop Martin bestowed upon Proto. Michael the title and rank of Protopresbyter (Monsignor) with the privilege of wearing a gold pectoral cross.

That formal investiture took place on December 9, 1979, in Sharon.

In 1995, Proto. Michael was appointed by Metropolitan Nicholas as financial secretary for the Diocesan Priest's Pension Plan.

Proto. Michael was also very active in community affairs.

For 20 years, he served as president of the Orthodox Clergy Association, past president of Christian Associates and the Sharon Ministerium.

He was very instrumental in the formation of the Community Food Warehouse, a non-profit organization that provides food to the hungry in Mercer and Lawrence counties. He served as president, vice-president, and treasurer and was also on the board of directors for 27 years.

After serving for 51 years in the priesthood, Protopresbyter Michael retired in August 2011 but continued to serve liturgies in the local Orthodox churches for several years.

Protopresbyter Michael was a very loving, caring, and devoted pastor to each of his church parishes, congregations, and all that he met.

He was a true reflection of his patron saint, Archangel Michael, who is one of the most celebrated of the angels and defenders of the faith.

He will be greatly missed, not only by his immediate family but also by his extended family in the Lord.

Proto. Michael was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Pani Eleanor; and his oldest brother, John C. Polanichka.

Survivors include his three children, Valerie J. Dick and husband, William, of Annapolis, Md., Justine MacNeil of Ellicott City, Md.; and Michael D. Polanichka and his wife, Brenda, of Simi Valley, Calif.; six grandchildren, Kaela (Richard) Merkle, Jason (Courtney) Micucci, Cameron MacNeil, Brianna Dick, Jordan (Paul) Zdinak, and Taylor Polanichka; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Eileen Micucci and Jennifer and Claire Merkle; two brothers, Andrew Polanichka and wife, Joanne, of Hershey, Pa., and Nicholas Polanichka and wife, Maryann, of Dalton, Pa.; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to St. John's Orthodox Church, 3180 Morefield Road, Hermitage, Pa., 16148.