Archpriest Jason R. Kappanadze, 81, fell asleep in the Lord on June 14, 2025, at home with his family in Elmira Heights, NY. He will be dearly missed by his wife of 42 years, Matushka Margaret Kappanadze (née Udics); his children, Nina Dudek, Susanna Tabeling (Peter), and Paul Kappanadze (Anastasia); and his beloved grandchildren, Lydia Dudek and Peter Kappanadze.
He was born on February 28, 1944, in Cleveland, OH, to Anastasia (Fedak) and Roman Kappanadze, and was baptized at Saint Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral. He grew up surrounded by extended family, including his grandfather, Protopresbyter Jason R. Kappanadze, long-time pastor at Saint Theodosius.
Music was always an important part of his life. He was an accomplished pianist and found immense pleasure in making music with others as a band member or accompanist.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in speech from the Ohio State University, where he played in the marching band and worked at the radio station. After graduating in 1966, he served as a communications officer in the United States Air Force for four years, rising to the rank of captain. He began a successful communications career as a cameraman in Cleveland, OH, and in advertising and television production in Little Rock, AR, and Atlanta, GA.
While in Atlanta, Father Jason rediscovered his faith at Saint Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church where he “heard the Divine Liturgy in English for the first time.” Shortly thereafter he headed to Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. He served as choir director in Atlanta and at Saint Basil the Great Orthodox Church in Simpson, PA. As a student, he said, “Over a period of time, I came to the realization that the Church — when I viewed it from the perspective of where I was, and what I’d been doing — made incredible sense and possessed deep wisdom concerning life in this world and the next. It became my desire — if God so willed it — to learn more and to pass it along to others.”
At seminary, his friend, Deacon John Udics, introduced him to his sister Margaret, and the two were wed at Saint Theodosius in 1983. Father Jason was ordained to the priesthood in 1985 by then Bishop Herman and served as pastor at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Pottstown, PA (1985-1987), Saint Theodosius Orthodox Cathedral in Cleveland (1987-1999), and Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Elmira Heights, NY (2000-2017). He loved to celebrate the Divine Liturgy, fondly remembering Father Vladimir Borischevsky‘s advice to “live in the Liturgy.” For Father Jason, the Liturgy was “never long enough.”
In his priesthood, Father Jason used his communications skills to teach the Faith to as many people as he could reach with creativity and innovation. While at Saint Tikhon’s, he and Matushka Margaret worked on the Tikhonaire yearbook and started Your Diocese Alive magazine for the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania, producing each issue from start to finish before computers. He also worked on multimedia productions for the Orthodox Church in America, and could often be seen with a camera or microphone at church councils and other events.
Long before streaming and podcasts, he produced Everyday, a series of audio cassette tapes, for several years in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Each tape included daily installments of scripture, lives of the saints, and lecture series or interviews. With the help of his family, Everyday tapes were shipped all over the country, and even internationally. Everyday made the life of the Church more accessible, helping listeners to make it the first part of their daily routine.
Father Jason tirelessly encouraged his parishes to invest in youth activities, adult education, and fellowship. He led a full schedule of services, taught classes, organized retreats, dances, picnics, and trips. Father Jason took every opportunity to teach. His preaching balanced the mystical and the practical, and he did not shy away from boldly speaking the truth in love. He loved teaching children and led lively Faith Enrichment classes for seniors and seekers alike.
Father Jason encouraged his parishioners to live the teachings of Christ through outreach and service to their neighbors. In the 1990s, he and his faithful opened the doors of Saint Theodosius to the neighborhood for free Thanksgiving dinners, which were extremely popular events, both for volunteers and attendees. Later, in Elmira Heights, he saw a need for a weekend soup kitchen, so, through parishioners’ donations, he bought a small school bus and delighted in driving it to bring people to the parish’s Hospitality Spot.
Father Jason served the Church and lived the Faith with joy. He had an engaging personality and did everything with humor. He was a pastor, teacher, counselor, confessor, and friend to many who will miss him.
Services for Father Jason is as follows:
On Monday, June 23, 2025, family and friends are welcome at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 140 Horseheads Blvd., Elmira Heights, NY, for visitation beginning at 4:00-6:00 PM. The Funeral Service for a Priest will begin at 6:00 PM.
On Tuesday, June 24, 2025, there will be visitation from 4:00-6:00 PM followed by a Panikhida (Memorial Service) at 6:00 PM at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 6822 Broadview Rd., Parma, OH.
On Wednesday, June 25, 2025, Divine Liturgy will be served at Holy Trinity, Parma, at 9:00 AM, followed by interment at Saint Theodosius Cemetery, 8200 Biddulph Rd., Brooklyn, OH.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary or to the Saint Theodosius Cathedral fire restoration fund.
May Father Jason’s memory be eternal!