The Very Reverend Archpriest John J. Udics fell asleep in the Lord on Wednesday, February 3, 2016 after complications from surgery. Father John, a priest in the Orthodox Church in America, devotedly served the community of Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church at 28th St. and Snyder Ave. in Philadelphia from 1985 until 2009. In 2009 he relocated to South Plainfield, New Jersey, as the pastor of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Ukrainian Orthodox Church. From 2010 until his repose he was the pastor of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church (OCA) in Herkimer, New York. Father John will be remembered as a dedicated and charitable priest who was always concerned about the spiritual well-being of his flock, as well as those outside his parish. He was very knowledgeable about the spiritual life and matters concerning the church. He had a great gift for preaching and teaching in an accessible manner so that all people could understand. He also put much effort in to writing articles to teach people about Christ and the Church. Father John was a driving force in the greater Philadelphia Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood, encouraging unity and cooperation among Orthodox jurisdictions, and developing many enduring relationships with his brother priests and lay people. He also served as a volunteer police chaplain with the Philadelphia Police Department's Clergy (Chaplain) Program which provides care to members of the police department and their families. He especially valued riding with police officers as they performed their work in the community. Father John was born on February 11, 1948, in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Joseph and Mary (Konet) Udics. He is survived by his three sisters: Rose Udics (Jim Gomes) of Arlington, MA; Margaret Kappanadze (Fr. Jason) of Elmira Heights, NY; and Mary Ray (Ron) of Kirtland, Ohio; and his four nieces, three nephews, one great-niece, and several God-children. As a child, Father and his family were parishioners at St. Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland, Ohio, where he attended Christian education classes, served as an altar server, sang in the choir, and rarely missed a service. Father was a talented musician. He played piano, several wind instruments, and he had a wonderful singing voice. After high school Father attended The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio, for one year, and subsequently transferred to Iona College in New Rochelle, New York, so that he could attend Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary at the same time. He received a B.A. from Iona in Philosophy. Father John was fluent in French, Japanese, and Russian. During his final year at Seminary, Father John worked as an intern in Unalaska, Alaska, at Holy Ascension of Our Lord Cathedral. He also participated in the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches at Bossey in Switzerland. After completing his education, he lived in Sitka, Alaska, where he taught French at Sheldon Jackson College. He also worked in Alameda, California, and Portland, Oregon. When classmates from seminary informed him of an opportunity to work in Japan, Father John went to Tokyo where he taught English to Japanese students for several years. While in Japan, Father John was ordained to the diaconate at the Holy Resurrection Cathedral (Nikolai-do) in Tokyo. After returning to the United States, Father John found himself at St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. He needed a place where he could conduct research for his thesis in order to complete the requirements for his Master of Divinity. While at St. Tikhon's he worked in the seminary library, served at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church as a deacon, and later was elevated to proto-deacon. In that church, on January 30, 1985, he was ordained to the priesthood by His Grace, Herman, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania. He was immediately assigned to the Assumption of the Holy Virgin parish in Philadelphia. Father John's entire life was devoted to loyally serving Christ and His Church. He was occasionally a little gruff, but he had a kind heart and a contagious sense of humor. He was a pastor, teacher, counselor, and mentor to many people who will miss him immensely. Visitation for Father John will be held at Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church at 28th St. and Snyder Ave. in Philadelphia on Tuesday, February 9th at 7 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 8 p.m. On Wednesday evening, the same schedule will be followed at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Herkimer, New York. Father's funeral service was conducted at St. Tikhon's Monastery Church in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, on Thursday, February 11th at 7 p.m. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated on Friday at 9 a.m. in the Monastery Church, with the internment afterwards. May Father John's memory be eternal