Theodore D. Fryntzko 1918-2000

FRYNTZKO, KOHUT

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 7/12/2013 at 00:00:19

Sioux City Journal
1 November 2000

Archimandrite Innocent (Theodore D. Fryntzko) known as Father Innocent, 81, formerly of Sioux City, died Saturday, Aug. 26, 2000, at St. Vincent Hospital in Staten Island, N.Y.

Memorial services were Aug. 31 at Divine Liturgy, and burial services were Sept. 1 at the Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadorisk in South Canaan, Penn.

Father Innocent was born Sept. 11, 1918, in Granite City, Ill., the son of Dimitry and Pelagia (Kohut) Fryntzko. In his youth, he was employed as a press-record boy. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He graduated from Columbia. University and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York.

He worked as a counselor for the Illinois Youth Commission at St. Charles Training School for Boys and was involved in religious, education in many parishes nationwide before being ordained to the holy priesthood at his home parish, Nativity of Virgin Mary Eastern Orthodox Church in Madison, Ill., in 1967. He served as a parish priest in Sioux City before departing for Alaska.

He first went to Alaska for the canonization of St. Herman in 1970. He returned during the winter of 1971-1972, and settled in his parish of Old Harbor. In 1973, he moved to Unalaska and served as parish priest for many years before being tonsured a monk. In 1978, he received the name of Innocent at the Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. The next day, he was elevated to Archimandrite.

Most of his priesthood was spent as a missionary and parish priest in the Orthodox Church in America's Diocese of Alaska. He served in the Aleutian Islands and mainland of Alaska.

He taught at St. Herman's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, and then pastored in the Juneau, Alaska, parish, where he also served as chaplain to the Alaska State House of Representatives.

In 1996, he moved to Sts. Cosmas and Damian Adult Living Center in Staten Island. Following his retirement, he continued to minister by counseling the elderly.

Survivors include a brother, Vladimir Fryntzko; a sister, Olga Simurda; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Milanka; an infant brother, Michael; and four brothers, John, Gregory, Vasil and Andrew.

Memorials may he directed to Monastery of St. Tikhon of Zadonsk. South Canaan. Penn.