Father Minas Vasile Sarchizian

June 24, 1968 – July 22, 2025

Father Minas Vasile Sarchizian fell asleep in the Lord, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 after 57 years of life.

Fr. Minas was born in Constanta, Romania on June 24, 1968. Fr. Minas knew from a very young age that he wanted to serve God as a priest. God guided him through a congenital heart defect, an oppressive regime, and across lands. In March of 1982, Father Minas immigrated to the United States of America as a young boy with his whole family. Fr. Minas served as an altar boy for many years at Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church in Los Angeles, CA. Father attended Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Pennsylvania.

The love of Father Minas’ life was discovered back in his homeland of Romania. Father Minas and Presbytera Stela Nicoleta wrote letters to each other that were tender and earnest. Their letters eventually brought them together in the sacrament of marriage in Romania in 1995. Presbytera Stela joined her husband in America and in 1996, their precious daughter Mary was born.

Not long after his ordination to the priesthood, Father Minas opened Saint Patrick’s Orthodox Mission in the San Fernando Valley under the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese, an English speaking mission so that his daughter’s generation could understand the Divine Liturgy and so that America could engage in Orthodox worship in a vernacular tongue.

God later guided Fr. Minas to Saint Michael Antiochian Orthodox Church in Van Nuys, CA where he served as an assisting priest for over 10 years until the time of his repose. Father Minas was down to earth and admired for his warm energy, peaceful demeanor, and beautiful voice. Father Minas served as interim pastor (2015-2016) of Holy Cross Antiochian Orthodox Church in Palmdale, CA and served many liturgies through many jurisdictions at various parishes across Southern California.

Father Minas loved many things. Collecting soaps, visiting botanical gardens, wild cats, anime, nature, and so much more. He loved his Presbytera Stela Nicoleta, his daughter Mary, and his grandcat Puma so much and they miss him dearly. Memory Eternal to Father Minas. Fly high, our little butterfly.

A funeral service for Father Minas will be held Thursday, July 31, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at St Michael Antiochian Orthodox, 16643 Vanowen St, Los Angeles, CA 91406. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service from 11:30 AM to 12:00 PM at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park and Mortuary, 10621 Victory Blvd, North Hollywood, CA 91606.