Obituary of Archpriest Nikolai Babijtchouk

Archpriest Nikolai Babijtchouk, Devoted Priest, Husband, Father and Grandfather

On October 20, 2022, after a severe injury and prolonged recovery, rector-emeritus of the Church of All Saints at the Patriarchal Metochion in Pine Bush, NY, Archpriest Nikolai Babijtchouk, reposed in the Lord.

Archpriest Nikolai Babijtchouk was born on October 10, 1957 in the village of Kizya in Ukraine. He was the first born of six children to Volodymyr and Tetyana Babijtchouk. After graduating from school and serving in the navy, he married Ekaterina Dudchak, in 1979, who was a faithful companion and assistant to Fr. Nikolai in all places of his ministry. Fr. Nikolai and Matushka Ekaterina raised three daughters, Tatiana, Elena and Olga who became faithful helpers in his parish service. On March 8, 1985, as a student at the Moscow Theological Seminary, he was ordained by its rector, Bishop Alexander (Timofeev) of Dmitrov, to the diaconate, and on October 6 of the same year, a priest. In 1987, after graduating from seminary, he served in the parishes of the Khmelnytskyi diocese in Ukraine. By the decision of His Holiness Patriarch Pimen and the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church in February 20, 1989, he was appointed rector of the Church of all Saints in Pine Bush, New York. Fr. Nicholas’ zealous service was celebrated by the hierarchy of the Russian Orthodox Church with many ecclesiastical and church-wide awards, including the right to wear a mitre, which Fr. Nicholas was awarded by His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia on Holy Pascha, 2010.

Fr. Nikolai leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Ekaterina, daughter Tanya Bowen and her husband Joe Bowen, daughter Elena Kwoka and her husband Christopher Kwoka, daughter Olga Kulikovskyi and her husband Fr. Artemiy Kulikovskyi; 7 grandchildren—Natalia, Alexander, George, Nicholas, Ekaterina, Leo and Daniel; as well as his mother—Tetyana Babijtchouk; siblings– Vasiliy, Luba, Vera, Peter and Andrey; and mother-in-law, Tetyana Dudchak. Fr. Nikolai was predeceased by his father Volodymyr in 2014. 

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 4-6pm at Church of All Saints in Pine Bush, NY with a service following. A funeral service is scheduled for Sunday, October 23, 2022 at 10am at the Church of All Saints. Interment will follow at the church cemetary at the same location. Flowers, donations, and condolences may be offered at Church of All Saints, 287 Jansen Road, Pine Bush, NY. 

Eternal & grateful memory to Archpriest Nikolai!

Arrangements are under the care of Colonial Memorial Funeral Home, 396 State Route 52, Woodbourne, NY 12788. For additional information, please contact the funeral home at 845-434-7363 or visit the website at www.colonialfamilyfuneralhomes.com.