The Mitred Archpriest, Igor R. Soroka, 96, of Monongahela, died peacefully on Dec. 18, 2021, in Monongahela. He was born April 1, 1925, in McKees Rocks, a son of the late Archpriest Gregory and Matushka Anastasia Soroka. After graduating from Charleroi High School, St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and Duquesne University, Father Igor served as a choir director at several Orthodox parishes before he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in September 1959. He served his entire ministry as a parish priest at St. Nicholas Church in Donora, starting from December 1959 to his retirement in July 2017. Father Igor’s life was also devoted extensively to music. A graduate of Duquesne University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, he was a soloist for the world renowned Duquesne Tamburitzans. During his life, Father Igor wrote and compiled six liturgical music books, all of which are extensively used throughout the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). He also was appointed the first director of the OCA’s Department of Liturgical Music, organized numerous national Orthodox choir conferences and conducted several well-known choirs, including the former Pittsburgh Male Chorus and the Cathedral Choir of the Pittsburgh Archdiocese. For his lifelong liturgical musical contributions to the Orthodox Church, Father Igor received the Order of St. Romanos Award from the OCA. Father Igor also served as dean of the Mon Valley Deanery of the Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and Western Pennsylvania (OCA), national spiritual adviser for the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs of America (FROC), director of the Late Vocations Program of the Pittsburgh Archdiocese, host of the “Orthodoxy: A Living Faith” radio program and a member of the Metropolitan Council of the OCA, beside community positions such as president of the Donora Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Middle Monongahela Industrial Development Association. In addition to his parents, Father Igor was preceded in death by his wife of Blessed Memory, Matushka Irene Soroka; three brothers, Father Leonid Soroka, Father Vladimir Soroka and Sergei Soroka; and three sisters, Alexandra Soroka Bazil, Zenovia Soroka Pecuch and Sylvia Soroka Elnitsky. He is survived and was deeply devoted to his three sons, Mark, Matthew (Ann) and Philip; daughter, Larissa (Chris) Baker; and granddaughter Ali Soroka and grandson Gregory Soroka. Father Igor put special emphasis on a tightly knit family throughout his life. Family and friends will be received at St. Nicholas Church in Donora for a viewing from 3 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, then a Burial Service for a Priest, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. At 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, a Divine Liturgy/Trisagion Service and final Blessing will be held at St. Nicholas Church. Interment will take place Thursday, Dec. 23, at St. Tikhon’s Cemetery, South Canaan, Pa. In lieu of flowers or gifts, you may make a donation in Father Igor’s memory to St. Nicholas Church, Donora, Pa. Arrangements have been entrusted to ANTHONY L. MASSAFRA FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICE INC., 40 Second St. Ext. Carroll Township/Donora, PA 15033, 724-379-6900. To share a condolence please visit www.massafrafuneralhome.com.
