The Very Reverend Father Stefan Zencuch was born on June 27th, 1949 in former republic of Czechoslovakia.
On June 1972, he graduated from the Orthodox Theological Faculty in Presov, Czechoslovakia.
In 1974 Fr. Stefan married Dr. Katarina Cernakova, and in August 1980, they escaped from communist Czechoslovakia, together with their two children. After nine months spent in a refugee camp in Austria, the whole family arrived safely at John F. Kennedy airport in New York in May 21, 1981.
On Fathers Day in 1981, the late Patriarch Mstyslav, the prime Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, ordained Fr. Stefan in South Bound Brook, New Jersey.
While holding a number of pastorates in the metropolitan areas of Chicago, Minneapolis, and Washington D.C., Fr. Stefan earned additional academic degrees at St Andrew College, Winnipeg, Wheaton College Graduate School and the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN.
Fr. Stefan lectured on Pastoral, Practical and Comparative Theology at St. Sophia Seminary in So. Bound Brook, NJ. His academic focus was primarily dedicated to the phenomenon of the Lay Ministry, and the Theology of the “Fire of Heaven” originated by Saint Symeon the New Theologian, of 10th century Constantinople.
Fr. Stefan’s numerous written articles, and the book of “The Ethnic Orthodox Congregation and the Parish Council”, published by Light and Life Publishing Company in Minneapolis, strive to call to the attention of the leaders of the church, both Ordained and Laity, that in Christ's Holy Church, the balance between the Ordained Priesthood and Royal Priesthood must be in divine harmony, as was practiced in the communities of faith at the beginning of the Christian era.
In 2004, while serving parishes in Lyndora and Arnold, PA, Fr. Stefan originated the “Institute for Christian Orthodox Studies” with the objective to share and introduce to the people of God a better understanding of the role of Christ in the Christian community of faith.
On June 27, 2006, after 25 years of parochial service, Fr. Stefan and Pani Katarina moved to Panama City, Florida for a new Christ and Bible based mission in Orthodox Christian faith.
On the Feast Day of the Transfiguration of Our Lord, on August 6, 2006, they opened a family Chapel at their residence.
After 9 months of dynamic liturgical activity, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church offered their chapel as a new home for worship, at 1608 Baker Court, in Panama City.
Father Stefan and Pani Katarina can be reached by Email at: stefanzencuch@gmail.com or by phone: 850-375-4848 (Cell)
