The Rev. Alexander John Minchick, O.S.B., 78, a monk at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jefferson Township, died at 4:20 p.m. Monday at Mount St. Macrina Nursing Home, Uniontown.

Born in Duquesne, June 23, 1926, he was a son of Michael and Anna Donansky Minchick.

Father Minchick was a Byzantine Catholic Benedictine priest. He entered the monastery at St. Prochopius Roman Catholic Abbey in Lisle, Ill., where he professed Sept. 2, 1945, and was ordained June 15, 1952.

He was one of the original group of monks at Holy Trinity Monastery when it was established in 1947 in Wilkinsburg. The monastery moved to Butler County in 1959.

Following his ordination, he was sent to Rome to continue his studies in classical church languages at the Russicum or Russian College. He remained in Rome for 35 years, working in the libraries of The Russicum and the Oriental Institute. He was an expert in Latin, Greek, Russian and all of the classical church languages.

He returned to semi-retirement at Holy Trinity Monastery in the late 1970s.

Father Alexander was truly a man of the church. He possessed a great love of the church, its languages and public worship.

Surviving are a twin sister, Olga Rolya of Fort Belvoir, Va.; a niece, Ann Rolya of New York, N.Y.; and several cousins.

Two brothers, Mitchell and George Minchick preceded him in death

MINCHICK - Friends of the Rev. Alexander John Minchick, O.S.B., who died Monday, Nov. 15, 2004, will be received from 2 to 4 and 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday in the foyer of Holy Trinity Monastery, 134 Trinity Lane, at the intersection of Bullcreek and Mushrush roads. A Divine liturgy will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John the Baptist Byzantine Catholic Church, 105 Kohler Ave., Lyndora. Archbishop Basil Schott, metropolitan archbishop of Pittsburgh, will officiate and the Benedictine Fathers of Holy Trinity Monastery and guests will concelebrate. Burial will be at Holy Trinity Monastery Cemetery.A parastas service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the monastery foyer.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Monastery, P.O. Box 990, Butler, PA 16003-0990.GEIBEL FUNERAL HOME is handling arrangement, and information also is available at www.geibelfuneralhome.com.