Seminary alumnus Pdn. Keith Russin reposed in the Lord on Thursday, October 26, 2017. Protodeacon Keith attended St. Vladimir’s Seminary from 1968 to 1971, and graduated with the Master of Divinity degree. He was assigned to Holy Resurrection Cathedral in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Orthodox Church in America) for many years, and he retired from serving only a few years ago. He also owned and operated the Simon S. Russin Funeral Home in Plains, PA. He was attached in retirement to the Monastery Church of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, South Canaan, PA.
Protodeacon Keith’s M.Div. thesis at St. Vladimir’s was a study on Father Alexis Toth, now canonized, and he published an article based on his thesis titled, "Father Alexis G. Toth and the Wilkes-Barre Litigations" in St. Vladimir's Theological Quarterly (vol. 16, no. 3 [1972]: 128–149). He used to humorously say that his thesis and article “made the case” for Father Alexis to be recognized as a saint.
He also enjoyed a career as a librarian in Connecticut before taking over his family's funeral home business. Additionally, Pdn. Keith wrote a "Guide of the Holy Resurrection Cathedral" which details the architecture and history of the parish and is available in the seminary library: (https://svots.waldo.kohalibrary.com/app/work/54955).
Protodeacon Keith is the cousin of Harrison Russin, a Dean’s Fellow and Lecturer in Liturgical Music at the Seminary.
Memory Eternal!
The Funeral Service will be celebrated at Holy Resurrection Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre, PA at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1. The Divine Liturgy will be celebrated at the cathedral at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 2. Interment will follow at Fern Knoll Burial Park, Dallas, PA.
