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The Very Reverend Archpriest Peter Telencio, Chaplain Colonel, US Army (Ret.), 74, died on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, in Columbia, South Carolina. Born April 3, 1950, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Metro and Mary Deroski Telencio. He was married to the former Martha Swirdovich on October 13, 1973. In addition to his wife, Fr. Peter is survived by his sons, Damian Valdimir and Stephen Daniel Telencio, who both reside in Columbia, South Carolina. He also leaves behind his two precious grandchildren, Hayden Anna and Luca Alexander Telencio as well as two sisters. Fr. Telencio is preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, and two sisters. Fr. Peter was a native of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, a retired Chaplain (Colonel) in the US Army, and priest in the Orthodox Church in America. He earned degrees from the following institutions, St. Tikhon’s Theological Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania (B. Th) 1972, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania (BA in Philosophy) 1975, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee (D. Min) 1982, and Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey (MA. Ed) 1988. Fr. Peter was ordained to the Orthodox priesthood by His Grace, Bishop Herman ( now Metropolitan, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America) on January 26, 1974, at St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Monastery Church, South Caanan, Pennsylvania. Fr. Peter was the first Orthodox Priest to be promoted to the rank of Colonel in the history of the US Army Chaplaincy. During his 24-year US Army career, Fr. Peter served as a Russian interpreter for the state Department while deployed in Grenada during Operation Urgent Fury. While stationed in Berlin, Germany, he was the liaison officer for the US Berlin Community with the Soviet Forces. Also in Berlin, Germany, Fr. Peter was a school board member, advisor for curriculum development for academic studies, family advocacy board member, and assistant high school soccer coach at Berlin American High School. Throughout his military career, he was always involved in youth soccer and basketball as a coach. Later in his career, Fr. Peter was appointed Director of Combat Development at the US Army Chaplain Center and School in Columbia, South Carolina. He was responsible for the doctrine, training, leadership, organization, material and soldier requirement, force development along with force structure for wartime military equipment needed for all units of the US Army Chaplain Corps. Fr. Peter’s awards and badges included: Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Superior Unit Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Air Assault Badge, and Senior Parachutist Badge. Following his military retirement, Fr. Peter served his community as Administrator for Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina. He was also the past Pastor of Holy Resurrection Greek Church in Bluffton, South Carolina, Director of Religious Education, OCA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Diocese, and Marriage and Individual Family Director, Diocese of Greek Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia. The family will receive guests beginning at 4 o’clock on Saturday, October 19th at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 1900 Main St, Columbia, SC 29201. A Trisagion service will follow visitation and begin at 6 o’clock with Rev. Fr. Michael A. Platanis will be officiating. The funeral service for Fr. Peter will be held at St. Tikhon’s Monastery, 175 St Tikhons Rd, Waymart, PA 18472, directed by Charles A. Battenburg Funeral Home, 363 Washington Ave., Jermyn, PA 18433. Burial with full military honors will follow in the churchyard.

Tributes

The Very Reverend Archpriest Peter Telencio, Chaplain Colonel, US Army (Ret.)

April 3, 1950 - October 15, 2024