Eleana S Silk

Eleana S Silk (1951-2025)

Early life of Eleana S Silk

On 10 August, 1951, Eleana Sonnie Silk was born to John and Helen (born Kavenski) Silk in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Another daughter, Michelle, was born to them also.

Eleana was baptised in the Orthodox Christian Church at Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Detroit (as was her sister). Her parents raised their 2 daughters as Orthodox Christians. Eleana's formation provided her with a living, integrated relationship with the Lord in the bosom of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Saints Peter and Paul Church, Detroit

By the age of 12, Eleana began to sing in the parish choir. She continued to do so throughout her life thereafter.

Eleana received her primary and secondary education in her home city.

Higher education

After completing her secondary education, Eleana entered the Faculty of Science of Michigan State University at East Lansing, Michigan.

While she was there, she attended Saint Andrew's Orthodox Church, and she sang in the choir.

Saint Andrew Orthodox Church, East Lansing, Michigan

In 1972, she graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology.

Then, Eleana entered the Faculty of Science of George Washington University in Washington, DC, where she studied Geology.

While she was studying geology, Eleana was attending Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral in Washington. Her participation continued there for many years. As a parishioner, she sang in the choir ; she served as secretary of the parish ; she published the church bulletin for 10 years. Eleana was active also in the local FROC (Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs), and she served for a time as president of that branch.

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Washington, DC

In 1979, she graduated from George Washington University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology.

Then, for a time, Eleana worked as a computer programmer.

During those years, Eleana made a first visit to Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York. Her visit took place on an annual "Orthodox Education Day", a sort of autumn festival which begins with the serving of the Divine Liturgy, and which is followed by food, song, dance, tours, talks, book-sales, and other activities. This festival gives easy access to visitors, and also to potential students.

Later, she commented that when she walked through the gates of the seminary for the first time, she knew that she would be returning as a student.

At Saint Vladimir's Seminary

Indeed, Eleana did enrol in Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

When she began her studies, her first work-assignment as a student was to help in the Father Georges Florovsky Library. Her previous studies, her current studies, and her work-assignment were all part of the providential preparation and formation in her life for what was to come. Her own particular personality was a major factor in this formation.

In 1986, she graduated with a Master of Divinity degree.

Concluding studies ; professional service

From 1985-1990, Eleana served as Assistant Librarian in the Father Georges Florovsky Library at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, New York.

At that time, the library was situated on the upper, rear floor of the "Education Building" (situated behind the original "Saint Eleanora Home for Poor Mothers" building). In this structure, there were classrooms, the Metropolitan Anthony Bashir Auditorium, and the dormitory rooms for female students.

Reading-room of the old library

Meanwhile, Eleana continued her studies at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, and in 1988, she graduated with a Master of Arts degree in Religious Education.

Afterwards, Eleana enrolled in Columbia University in New York City.

She graduated with a Master of Library Science degree in 1989.

Librarian of the Father Georges Florovsky Library, 1990

Then, in 1990, Eleana began to serve as librarian of the Father Georges Florovsky Library of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, New York. She persevered in her service with dedication and focus, and with considerable self-sacrifice.

Soon, Eleana became one of the driving forces that developed the Saint Vladimir’s Seminary library into the most important resource the Seminary has to offer. This includes the digitisation of the library catalogue throughout the 1990s, and the construction and organisation of a new library facility.

Bereavement, 1996

On 13 September, 1996, John Stephen Silk fell asleep in the Lord at Parma, Cuyahoga (Cleveland), Ohio.

New library facility, 2002

The John G Rangos Family Building was constructed in 2001, and it was dedicated and blessed in May, 2002. This building houses the library, the Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) Auditorium, and the seminary's administrative offices.

J G Rangos Family Library and Administration Building

Bereavement, 2003

In 2003, Helen (born Kavenski) Silk fell asleep in the Lord at Walnut Creek, California.

Further service in the library

During the time of Eleana's service, the library’s collection grew from 43,000 to more than 180,000 volumes. Librarian of Congress James Billington called it “the richest library of Eastern Christian holdings in the western hemisphere”.

A former student commented about Eleana's characteristic disposition : “Any time I would ask her help or for a book, she set out immediately to help or to find the book. There was never a question or a doubt or an exasperation or a correction, she just took pleasure in being an excellent librarian, which means connecting you with the information”.

New library reading-room

Eleana reflected that that the library’s resources came to be accessed by visiting scholars from all over the world, those both Orthodox and not Orthodox. She recalled also that in the past she had received one interlibrary loan from the White House.

Eleana commented that “I have especially appreciated meeting and working with the many people who have donated materials to the library over the years”. While she was working throughout her long hours of dedicated labour in the library, Eleana was writing. Besides other writing, she was co-editor of the book, “The Legacy of St. Vladimir” (SVS Press, 1990), and she wrote articles for “The Orthodox Church”, “The FROC Journal”, and the OCA's “Resource Handbook for Lay Ministries”.

New Library web-site, 2014

In March, 2014, the Father Georges Florovsky Library at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary opened its new, dedicated library web-site, thanks to the efforts of librarian/archivist Matthew Garklavs.

About this significant development, Eleana commented : “A dedicated library web-site has been on our ‘wish list’ for many years now, but we never had the available time and talent to accomplish the task. The Seminary is very grateful to Matthew for all his efforts in developing the site”. While serving the needs of the students and faculty of the Seminary, the web-site will also act as a gateway for the academic community at large. Scholars from around the world have come to use the Library here, because they can find materials not available anywhere else. The new web-site affords them more access to these resources, and makes it easier to utilise the collection.

Eleana continued in this labour of love until her retirement in 2019.

In association with her responsibility as Librarian of the Father Georges Florovsky Library, Eleana was a member of the New York Area Theological Library Association.

Further, Eleana S Silk has been listed as a noteworthy librarian by Marquis Who’s Who.

Other areas of service

In addition to her devoted service as librarian, Eleana was active in various other aspects of Church life.

From 1989, she was a member of the History and Archives Department, and of the Bicentennial Commission of The Orthodox Church in America, at Syosset, New York.

From 2004-2008, Eleana served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Saint Herman Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska.

She served as a member of the Metropolitan Council of The Orthodox Church in America.

In addition, she was a member of the Oral History Association. One previous student wrote with gratitude about “her ongoing love of oral history, which overflowed into a continuing enthusiasm for this topic, even when the odds seemed to weigh against it”.

Eleana was also a member of the Fellowship of Orthodox Stewards (FOS) ; of the Orthodox Theological Society of America (OTSA) ; and she served as secretary of the Orthodox Christian Education Commission (OCEC).

Saint Vladimir's Seminary, Crestwood, aerial view

Comments by students

About Eleana, former students have written that

 Whether working in cramped quarters in the old library ‘back in the old days’, or labouring 
 to organise the ‘new library’, or co-ordinating work on the faculty council, or simply 
 helping students or visitors find the resources they needed, Eleana was a beloved part of our 
 seminary experience.  
 
 Eleana has touched the lives of seminarians from dozens of countries, from most states and 
 provinces in North America, from all the canonical Eastern Orthodox jurisdictions, 
 and from our friends in the Oriental Orthodox Communion.  She welcomed new students, 
 she supported struggling seminarian families, she sang alto in the seminary choir, 
 and she always cared deeply about our seminary, its mission, and our formation.

It might be said about Eleana that her heart has been full of love for the Lord, and that this love has been applied in a multitude of ways. She cared personally for the students and their families, and for those who came to the seminary library for other reasons. She freely gave of herself, and she behaved rather like a loving aunt to the students and their families. She did this not only during their time of study, but afterwards also.

Visiting diocesan assemblies

Eleana participated sometimes as an observer or a presenter in various diocesan assemblies. The Archdiocese of Canada was frequently a beneficiary of visits from her, and particularly during the triannual assemblies.

Graduates of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary (particularly the women graduates) were refreshed in their own loving service through visits with Eleana if they could attend the assembly. In 2024, the graduates in Canada include Antonina Kemileva-Dunn ; Barbara Frank ; Esther Juce-Engel ; Constance Kucharczyk ; Dianne Storheim-Hill. Of course, there are many clergy also in the diocese who have been helped by Eleana at the seminary.

Some Library history

The Saint Vladimir Seminary Library began in the 1940s in a non-functional bathtub of a tenement apartment in upper Manhattan. At the time, Saint Vladimir’s Seminary was still attached to Union Theological Seminary.

The first volumes were donated by Russian immigrants and professors who were interested in promoting theological education. These donations included books in Russian, Greek, French, and German ; however, there was very little material in English. The collection continued to grow with the acquisition of personal libraries from former faculty and friends of the seminary, despite the lack of an adequate facility to accommodate them.

In 1962, the property in Crestwood (later, Yonkers), New York, was acquired. Quickly, plans were made for the construction of a new "Education Building". This building would accommodate space for classrooms and a new library. It was dedicated in 1965, and the library was named after Father Georges Florovsky, former dean of Saint Vladimir's Seminary.

With a new facility that could accommodate up to 30,000 volumes, the library expanded more comfortably. For several years, efforts to build up the library concentrated on collecting materials to support seminary programmes in the areas of pastoral theology, social work, ethics, and theological education. The scope of the collection expanded significantly through the Library of Congress Gifts and Exchange Programme.

It should be kept in mind that the librarian is responsible for cataloguing all the books (albeit with some assistance). Computers to aid in this work came later in the process.

During the 1970s and 1980s, hundreds of boxes of books were received by the library at no charge. At one time, nearly a quarter of the collection consisted of books from the Library of Congress. The seminary library began to grow at an even more rapid pace with the acquisition of personal libraries of past deans and faculty. The collection grew to 43,000 volumes by the 1980s and on to 116,000 volumes in the following decade. Compact shelving was installed to maximise space, but storage was still a major concern.

In 1992, the seminary’s Board of Trustees authorised the establishment of a capital campaign to raise funds for a new library and other new buildings. In 1998, construction began for the John G Rangos Family Foundation Building, which would house administrative offices, the library, and an auditorium,. The building was completed in 2001.

In 2002, the library moved into the John G Rangos Building. In this new building, the shelf-space for the library was tripled, and storage space increased dramatically. The stacks came equipped with advanced electronic shelving, and a capacity of 230,000 volumes. The new facility also included a beautiful reading room that served as a great gathering place for patrons and visitors. The collection now ranges in time from the 16th to the 21st century. It contains some manuscripts, but most of the collection consists of printed books.

In addition to its strengths in theology, the collection also possesses many treasures in its rare book section. The Ostrog Bible, the first printed bible in the Slavic script (1581) was donated to the seminary by Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco. The Gospel of Saint Matthew in the Aleut language, translated by Saint Innocent (Veniaminov) of Alaska (1840), is another rare holding that is prominently displayed in the reading room.

Retirement

In 2019, Eleana Silk retired from her service as Librarian in the Father Georges Florovsky Library of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. When she retired, she was by far the longest serving librarian at Saint Vladimir's Seminary.

It may be said that during the years of her exposure to, and service in Saint Vladimir's Seminary, there were immense changes, particularly in the physical appearance of the campus. The contrast between the original library facilities and the newly-constructed library are particularly notable. A similar comparison may be drawn with the original Three Hierarchs Chapel and the new Chapel constructed in the early 1980s.

When Eleana retired, she had very limited financial resources. As a consequence, she could find affordable housing only at a great distance from Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, and from parishes in the region where she settled. It was a sharp contrast from being able to walk to services.

Eleana’s sister had a career as a teacher. However, in later years, her health declined, which limited her ability to earn enough. In retirement, both sisters began to live together in order to pool their limited resources. The cost of medical assistance, however, was rather greater than their ability to pay. When their shortfall was understood by some former students, a collection was undertaken through them to relieve their financial stress.

Award, 2023

On 13 November, 2023, the new web-site "Axia Women" posted an article in which Eleana Silk was named "Notable Woman of the Week". This site gives focus on hard-working, devoted, Orthodox Christian women (who are nominated for inclusion by readers).

Group of photos from "Axia Women"

During these years, because it was very difficult for Eleana to get to services, she was cared for spiritually from time to time by Archpriest Eric Tosi. Because of the nature of the illness of Michelle, they would meet away from Eleana's home in a public place.

All the while, Eleana herself suffered from deteriorating health.

Repose

On 21 October, 2025, early in the morning, Eleana Silk reposed in Christ suddenly. She had been killed instantly in a car-crash while she was driving.

Eleana had long previously pre-arranged some of the details in view of her eventual repose, but she was in such dire economic straits from seeing to her own and her sister's medical needs that a collection had to be organised amongst her friends and acquaintances. The necessary funds were amassed within a couple of days.

On 31 October, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., Archpriest Eric G Tosi led the Service for the Burial of a Lay-person in the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk Catholicon. He was assisted by Archpriest Alexander Rentel ; Archpriest Steven Voytovich ; Archpriest David Garretson ; Hieromonk Danaks (Rhodes) ; Presbyter-Economos Christopher Rocknage, and a deacon.

A group of singers from Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Christian Seminary made the responses. Because of the circumstances of her repose, the coffin was not open. There were 2 eulogies after the reading of the Holy Gospel.

Serving clergy

The Funeral Service

First eulogy, Archpriest Eric Tosi

Second eulogy, Archpriest Steven Voytovich

After the conclusion of the funeral obsequies, a procession formed, and her coffin was carried by all 6 priests who served to Saint Tikhon's Monastery Cemetery, where her body was interred with further prayer.

Grave-marker

References

Prabook World Biographical Encyclopaedia reference

Additional information :

Breck, John, Meyendorff, John, Eleana Silk, eds., “The Legacy of St Vladimir : Byzantium, Russia, America” (Crestwood, NY : Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1990). ISBN 10 : 0881410780 ; ISBN 13 : 9780881410785.

Orthodox Theological Society of America

American Theological Library Association

New York Area Theological Library Association

Protopresbyter George Florovsky

Father Georges Florovsky Library web-site

Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Crestwood, New York web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Crestwood, New York

Orthodox Church of America (OCA) web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church of America (OCA)

Archdiocese of Canada, Orthodox Church of America (OCA) web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary