Bishop Luke of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese
Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville

Biography of Bishop Luke

Born on November 10, 1951, on the feast day of St Job, Abbot and Miracle-worker of Pochaev, in Philadelphia, PA. His father, Peter Stepanovich Murianka (1924-2001), a descendant of emigres from Carpathian Russia who arrived in the USA in the early 20th century from Austria-Hungary, and his mother, Olga Vasilievna Murianka (1926-2008), from a Rusin family which emigrated to the USA, baptized their son with the name of Mark in honor of the Apostle and Evangelist.

Education:
1965-1969, High School in Philadelphia, PA.
1969-1973, Hartwick University in Oneonta, NY, diploma in Russian language.
1975-1978, Holy Trinity Seminary, Jordanville, NY (State University of New York), Baccalaureate degree in Theology.

1979-1981, Syracuse University, Masters degree in Slavic Studies.

1999-2009, post-graduate studies at SUNY Albany. Dissertation topic: "On the Life and Legacy of Holy New Martyrs Peter, Metropolitan of Krutitsa."
Ecclesiastical service: Archimandrite Luke was reared in the Church. At Hartwick University, made the firm decision to be tonsured a monk, and having gained the consent of his parents, enrolled in HTS in 1975. On August 8, 1976, with the blessing of Bishop Laurus (Skurla), became a novice at Holy Trinity Monastery, when he commenced working in the book-binding shop and painted icons under the supervision of the renowned iconographer Archimandrite Kyprian (Pyzhov), who championed the ancient Russian style of icon-painting in the Russian Church Abroad. On January 6, 1978, ordained by Vladyka Laurus as a reader and subdeacon. On April 12, 1978, he was ordained to the cassock. On March 5, 1979, received the minor schema from Bp Laurus and given the name Luke in honor of the Apostle and Evangelist.

On January 14, 1981, the feast day of St Basil the Great, Monk Luke was ordained a hierodeacon by Bp Laurus, and on July 12 of the same year, on the feast day of SS Peter and Paul, a hieromonk.
He served as Dean at Holy Trinity Monastery for many years, later becoming the Prior and the spiritual father of the monastery.

From 2003-2007, member of the Commission on Negotiations with the Russian Orthodox Church. In 2006, a delegate of the 4th All-Diaspora Council of ROCOR, where he lectured on the topic "The Mission of the Russian Church Abroad."

By decision of the Synod of Bishops of April 18-20, 2007, appointed to the official delegation sent to Moscow for the execution of the Act of Canonical Communion.

On May 21, 2008, elected by the Spiritual Council of Holy Trinity Monastery to be its abbot, and on September 6, 2008, by decision of the Synod of Bishops, appointed Rector of Holy Trinity Seminary.
In January 2009, a delegate to the Local Council of the Russian Orthodox Church.
On June 30, 2015, at a regular meeting of the Diocesan Council of the Eastern American Diocese of ROCOR, in light of the multitude of responsibilities at HTM and HTS, released as local Dean.?

On September 13, 2015, participated in a pilgrimage to and celebration at Ladomirovo in the Presov Diocese of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia.

On December 2018, nominated as Bishop of Syracuse, Vicar of the Eastern American Diocese. On February 12, 2019, he was consecrated a bishop at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY.