Very Reverend Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich

Very Reverend Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich, of North Port, Florida, fell asleep in the Lord on December 19, 2025. 

He was born July 30, 1939, in Trauger, Pa, the son of the late Reverend Demetrius and Pauline (Horvay) Yackanich. 

Archpriest Eugene graduated from Brownsville High School, Brownsville, Pa. in 1957.  He then earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from St. Vincent College, Latrobe, Pa.  He entered Saints Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary for his theological education and priestly formation.  He did eight months of study at the Oriental Institute in Rome.  He was ordained to the priesthood March 25, 1965, by Bishop Nicholas T. Elko. 

He began his priestly ministry by serving as an assistant at St. Nicholas, Youngstown, Ohio and then at Sts. Peter and Paul, Braddock, Pa. His pastorates included Sts. Peter and Paul, Chicago, Ill.; St. George, Youngstown, Ohio and the following Pennsylvania parishes: Sts. Peter and Paul, Patton; St. John, Uniontown; St. Mary, East Pittsburgh, and St. Elias, Munhall. 

On the Archieparchial level, he served as Dean of Studies at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, Protopresbyter of the North Central Deanery, Protopresbyter of the Greater Pittsburgh Deanery, member of the College of Consultors, Presbyteral Council, Finance Council and Seminary Board of Directors, Liturgical Commission and the Administrative Board of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference.  In 2010 he was elected Administrator of the Archeparchy and served in that capacity until 2012.  He was appointed Protosyncellus by Metropolitan William C. Skurla in 2012.  Metropolitan William elevated him to the rank of Archpriest November 24, 2013.  He retired from actively priestly ministry in 2015. 

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his siblings: Demetrius, Jr., Alice, Melany, Dorothy, Gabriel and Ernest.  He is survived by his sister Beatrice of North Port, Fl.; nephews, Demetrius III of Lake Ariel, Pa., Gabriel (Susan) of New York, Paul of Pottstown, Pa. and nieces: Karen Takai of Titeras, N,M. and Maria of Philadelphia, Pa. 

Visitation for Archpriest Eugene will be held on Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, Uniontown from 2 PM to 7:00 PM. A Parastas will be celebrated at 7:00 PM. The Funeral Divine Liturgy will be celebrated by Metropolitan William Skurla at St. John Church on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 10:00 AM. Burial will take place following the funeral at Mt. Macrina Cemetery. 

Arrangements are under the direction of the DONALD R. CRAWFORD FUNERAL HOME, HOPWOOD, PA.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Very Reverend Archpriest Eugene P. Yackanich, please visit our floral store.