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Father Warnecke Retires as Chancellor of our Diocese by Fr. John Shimchick [Spring-Summer, 2001] [Note: Fr. Alexander died while this issue was in publication, on Sunday July 1 - the Feast of SS Cosmas and Damian. The essential points of this article still convey the author's feelings as to his unique place in the history of Orthodoxy in America.] Due to poor health, Father Alexander Warnecke, stepped down from his long-held position as Diocesan Chancellor at the end of 2000. The occasion of his elevation to Protopresbyter which took place on Sunday October 22, 2000, combined with the 50th anniversary of his priesthood, allow us to consider his unique place in the history of Orthodoxy in America - for there has truly been no one like Father Alexander! The liturgy and banquet held in his honor were attended by His Eminence Archbishop Peter, Protopresbyter Robert Kondratick, Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, Protopresbyter Thomas Hopko Fathers John J Chupeck, Michael Meerson, Alexander Garklavs, Ilya Gotlinsky, and Protodeacon Michael Speck. Fr. Kondratick also bestowed the Order of Saint Innocent Silver Cross on both Father Alexander and Matushka Pauline Warnecke, on behalf on Metropolitan Theodosius, for their many years of work in and for the Church. As in all remarkable men, there are many sides to his personality. But what he deserves to be most fondly remembered for has been his profound generosity. Many of us have been touched and effected by this, whether we have known it or not. Fr. Thomas Hopko, in considering Fr. Alexander said, "Our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed that the first commandment is to 'love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength' (Mk 12:30) and it is possible to see how Fr. Alexander sought to do these things. He loved and supported every aspect, every dimension of church life: his mind encouraged the work of education; his heart supported the young and the elderly; his soul loved the liturgy and all of the sacraments and he did everything with all his strength. No one could doubt his whole commitment to the Church." It is probably fair to say that but for his vision and fortitude places like St. Andrew's Camp and Saints Cosmas and Damian Adult Home would not exist. St. Andrew's has been the site where several generations of Orthodox young people have learned about their faith and each other, establishing, in some cases, life-long friendships - many even first meeting their future spouses there. St. Andrew's has also been the site of clergy gatherings (anticipating the Liturgical Institutes now held at St. Vladimir's Seminary) and of youth retreats and conferences. Saints Cosmas and Damian Home has provided our elderly with a dignified place to spend their last years, in the midst of an Orthodox context. He has been generous to his local parish, to our Diocese, to the OCA, and to institutions that have benefited the whole Church (like the Orthodox Christian Education Commission - OCEC and to St. Vladimir's Seminary). But one can speak of his support for generations of specific people - for seminarians, young people, clergy newly-arrived from foreign lands, and for others who were "just there." Methody Evanoff, speaking at the banquet on behalf of SS Peter and Paul parish, said: "Father Alexander, you welcomed our children into the Faith at Baptism, and you escorted our loved ones from the Church to their eternal rest. Through all this, you have been our faithful priest." For all these acts of generosity, for his love of God and of the Church, we offer our gratitude to Father Alexander. + Fr. Alexander's obituary from the website of the Orthodox Church in America
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