Tarpon Springs, FL [OCA] The Archpriest Peter Tutko, 80, fell asleep in the Lord at home on Friday afternoon, November 5, 2021. Fr. Peter (and his recently departed Matushka Sonja) served multiple parishes. Their ministry spanned over four decades of service to the Church, beginning in the Diocese of New England and then in the Diocese of the South [OCA].
Fr. Peter was born on March 18, 1941, to Peter and Anastasia (Talalay) in Brooklyn, NY, and from his youth was raised in service to the Orthodox Church starting at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn. He served in the altar, sang in the choir, taught in the church school, and directed the choir. He entered the Pre-Theological Program at St. Vladimir’s Seminary when it was still located at Union Theological Seminary on West 121st Street. In the Summer of 1962, Fr. Peter was a member of the first St. Vladimir’s Seminary, Octet, that traveled to 80 parishes throughout the United States that summer. He met Sonja Horoschak on her birthday at Christ the Savior Church in Paramus, NJ and they would be married there in September 1968. The newly married couple then moved to South Canaan, PA, where Fr. Peter continued his theological studies at St. Tikhon’s Seminary. Fr. Peter was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by the hands of Archbishop KIPRIAN in 1971. He then often served as Deacon for +Metroplitan IRENEY (Bekish). Deacon Peter received his Master of Divinity from St. Tikhon’s Seminary in the Spring of 1973. On June 2nd, 1973, His Beatitude IRENEY ordained him to the Holy Priesthood.
Fr. Peter (and Matushka Sonja) received their first pastoral assignment at Holy Trinity Church, Springfield, VT, and also Holy Resurrection Church in Berlin, NH. It was here that Fr. Peter met +Bishop DMITRI (Royster) of Hartford, who would later become the first bishop of the new Diocese of the South in 1979. It was to St. Andrew Church, in New Port Richey, that Fr. Peter became the first assigned priest by +Bishop DMITRI in the newly formed Diocese of the South. In 1980, Fr. Peter and Matushka Sonja welcomed their son, Mark. Over the next 25 years, Fr. Peter labored in the Tampa Bay Area helping to establish parishes, educate the faithful, encourage college students, organize singers into Pan-Orthodox choirs. He had a special love of liturgical music, chanting, and choral singing that remained with him his entire life. During this time Fr. Peter served the communities of Holy Trinity in St. Petersburg (later Safety Harbor), St. Mark in Bradenton, St. John OCF in Gainesville, St. Philip in Tampa, St Raphael in Inverness. Fr. Peter truly supported a vision of Orthodox brotherhood and cooperation among the clergy in the Tampa Bay Area with his faithful participation in the Tampa Bay Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood since its inception. After his retirement in 2008, Fr. Peter became integrally involved in parish life at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Clearwater, FL as well as at St. Mark Church in Bradenton. In 2013 Fr. Peter celebrated the baptism of his grandson, Jayson, who brought such great joy to his life.
Fr. Peter’s health began to decline shortly after the repose of Matushka Sonja in March of this year. Despite his failing health, Fr. Peter maintained his missionary spirit offering his encouragement and inspiration to the newest mission of the Diocese of the South, Sts. Joachim & Anna in The Villages. He was present for the first Divine Liturgy in June and sang with the choir as he was able up until his repose.
Fr. Peter will be remembered for his humor, his love of church music, his family, and his love of Christ and service to His Holy Church.
Funeral services for Fr. Peter will take place, with the blessing of +Bishop IRINEJ of Eastern America, at St. George Serbian Orthodox Church, Clearwater, FL
Service for the Burial of a Priest – Tuesday, November 16th at 6 PM
Divine Liturgy – Wednesday, November, 17th at 10 AM
Interment at Meadowlawn Cemetery following Divine Liturgy
The Family is grateful for the comfort and care provided by Suncoast Hospice. They request that any donations in memory of Fr. Peter be directed to Sts. Joachim & Anna Orthodox Church, The Villages, FL.
May Fr. Peter’s Memory Be Eternal!
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
St. George Serbian Orthodox Church
Kenneth Alonso
November 12, 2021, 4:40 am
My deepest sympathy goes out to you, Mark. Both your parents were exceptional people. Holy Trinity and St. Mark were blessed by them.
Ted
November 15, 2021, 1:35 am
Was Father Tutko at Holy Trinity Church in Springfield, Vermont in 1974?
Archpriest Thomas and Matushka Evelyn Ruzila Edwards
November 16, 2021, 3:55 pm
We send our deepest sympathy to you on the passing of your father, + Fr Peter. We have known him and your dear mother +Matushka Sonja even before they were married. We met you at the funeral in Paramus NJ of your dear “Grammy” +Olga Horoschack . I sent your father a sympathy card following the passing of your mother. Your father responded with a thank you telephone call. We must have spoken for at least an hour about your mother and the “good old days” when were all young and in good health. I treasure that phone call from your father and am so sorry for your loss. May he dwell among the blessed and May his memory be eternal. Love & prayers for you as your grieve his passing. Fr. Thomas & Matushka Evelyn Ruzila Edwards, Northampton, Pa formerly of Paramus, NJ.