Thursday, August 13, 2026 at 10:00 AM Parastas at Sts. Peter & Paul UOC, Carnegie, PA
Service will be livestreamed on Parish Facebook & Website
Served by Rev. Fr. Robert Popichak
Thank you to all who attended this service!
As information becomes available concerning Fr. John Charest and how to support their family, it will be added.
Click on the CROSS to donate in support of the Charest Family.
If you would like to mail a donation:
Please make check out to Sts. Peter & Paul UOC
Place "Charest Family" in memo line.
Mail to:
Sts. Peter & Paul UOC
P. O. Box 835
Carnegie, PA 15106
Thank you for your kindness!
Meal Train for the Charest Family
As we navigate the sudden passing of Fr. John, a meal train has been set up to assist with lightening the load that Matushka Laryssa and the children carry.
Anything from homemade meals to snacks and gift cards is an immense help. Please also consider donating dog and cat food to assist with taking care of their pets as well. Check the calendar to sign up. Thank you for supporting the Charest family!
Here is the link to sign up for the meal train:
Images shown are from 2018 to 2026.
Fr. John was born and raised in Rhode Island. He was baptized and grew up in the Woonsocket parish of St. Michael. At the age of 17 he was tonsured a reader and subdeacon by His Eminence Archbishop Antony. After graduating from Rhode Island College with a degree in Elementary Education Fr. John stayed busy in his hometown working with the youth soccer league, coaching high school soccer and hockey, and substitute teaching in the elementary and high school. It was in his college years that he began to discern his call to the priesthood. With encouragement from His Eminence Archbishop Antony he went on the inaugural mission trip to Ukraine in 2003. That trip cemented his love of serving and prompted his participation in three more trips. On his last trip, he and another team member, Laryssa Tschaikowsky, grew close to one another which lead to their marriage in 2010.
After being married Fr. John completed the St. Stephen program at the Antiochian House of Studies and was ordained, by His Grace Bishop Daniel to the Deaconate in 2011. Fr. John served as a deacon for three years at St. Peter and Paul parish in Palos Park, IL and three years at St. Volodymyr Cathedral in Chicago, IL. After six years of serving as a deacon and completing the MDIV program at St. Sophia Theological Academy in South Bound Brook, NJ, His Eminence Archbishop Daniel ordained Fr. John to the priesthood. Fr. John served a brief amount of time as an assistant priest at St. Volodymyr Cathedral before being assigned to Saints Peter and Paul parish in Carnegie, PA.
Fr. John has serves as Spiritual Advisor to the Junior National Executive Board of the Ukrainian Orthodox League. for three years and currently serves as their Spiritual Advisor. Fr. John serves as president of the Pittsburgh Area Clergy Brotherhood. Fr. John and Matushka Laryssa have three children.
