On April 8, 2022, at The John Halecky, Jr. Annual National Archon Lenten Retreat in Southampton, New York, a plaque was presented to Sonia Halecky, the widow of the beloved late Archon National Vice Commander John Halecky Jr., whose memory and name will be in everlasting remembrance. Archon John Halecky III received the plaque on behalf of his mother.
The 2022 Archon Lenten Retreat is the first to be known as The John Halecky, Jr. Annual National Archon Lenten Retreat; all future Archon Lenten Retreats will bear this name. Archon Halecky was the originator of the Lenten Retreat initiative and the establishment of the Archon Spirituality Committee. It is therefore fitting that the Retreat now bears his name as a lasting tribute to this extraordinary Archon of the Great Church of Christ.
His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros of America stated that Archon John was “the man of his family — the man of his Church,” and was “not someone who can be summed up by any quality or quantity of eloquence. His devotion to both his family and to his Church is testament enough to a life well-lived…. Within the Order of Saint Andrew, John was a strong force for unity and inclusion. He shared with us all his special affinity with all our Slavic brethren. He was forthright in his advocacy for the good of the Mother Church.”
Dr. Anthony J. Limberakis, National Commander of the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in America, said that Archon Halecky “was our beloved Vice Commander. He was an extraordinary Archon of the Great Church of Christ. Even His All-Holiness recognized the unique charismata of John Halecky, a Carpatho-Russian who brought ecumenicity to the Order of Saint Andrew, and who brought a sense of spirituality to the Order like no other Archon.”
Archon John Halecky III remarked: “Today, responding to this particular honor on behalf of my mother, Sonia Halecky, sister, Nadine and the rest of our family is so very humbling. We are deeply moved that you, members of the Order of St. Andrew have attached his name to this annual event going forward. I also need to convey my mother’s very specific message that she contemplates and venerates, daily, the Archon memorial cross that was presented to her by Dr. Limberakis on behalf of the Order. We also acknowledge the respect of so many members of the Order that was demonstrated by their being present in person or in spirit at his funeral services. Our thanks and gratitude also extend especially to His Eminence Archbishop Elpidophoros and our beloved spiritual advisor, Father Alex Karloutsos.”
Archon John Halecky, Jr.’s commitment to his Church was longstanding and far-reaching. Archon John was invested as an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 1982 and conferred with the offikion Ekdikos. He served on the National Council of the Order from 1997 until his passing on December 22, 2021, and as the National Secretary from 1998 to 2013, when he succeeded Nicholas J. Bouras as National Vice Commander.
Archon John served as a Trustee and held various offices at Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church in Bayonne. Subsequently, after moving to Mountainside, New Jersey, he served in roles as a Trustee and President on the Board of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He was an active member of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs (FROC), and served in various capacities including National Convention Chair twice. He was also a member of the ACRY (American Carpatho-Russian Youth).
