Rev. Mikhaylo Tsyuman

Reverend Mikhaylo Tsyuman, formerly of Philadelphia, PA, died Wednesday, June 5, 2019, in Miami Florida.  He was 60.

Born in Chornylis, Ukraine, Father Mikhaylo was the son of Paraskevia (nee Brek) and the late Reverend Petro Tsyuman.

Father Mikhaylo wrote of his journey to becoming a priest: " Today I am a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  I was born in Ukraine; at the time, Ukraine was under the USSR regime and atheism was strictly enforced.  It was so strict that all religions were forbidden; instead of religion, people were told to believe in their dictators.  Lenin was portrayed as the only idol; such history may seem far-fetched but back in those times, it was a matter of life and death." 

After his service in the soviet army, he went on to write "When I finished the army, my inner feelings would only grow; my love toward God only got bigger.  I began to see things that were given to me; my calling to priesthood, at first, had me confused but soon I cornered myself  and I began to see the difference of the inequality made by the government.   I prayed, saying, 'Lord, if there is nothing better than I could be, then I will become a Priest; just help me, because without Your help I will not accomplish anything'.  Soon I decided and took my first steps into priesthood;  I fought with myself about this decision and now, in retrospect, I regret fighting for so long.  Today, I pray that the Lord forgives me for any doubt that I may have had."

Father Mikhaylo went on to serve parishes in the Philadelphia area and in Florida before debilitating illnesses forced him to retire.  

His viewing will be held on Friday, June 14, 2019, at 6 PM at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral.  Services for a Priest will be sung at 7 PM.  His funeral will be held on Saturday with Requiem Liturgy for a Priest celebrated at 9 AM at St. Vladimir's. 

Burial will follow at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, South Bound Brook, New Jersey.

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