Fr. Panteleimon

1943 - 2025

FR. PANTELEIMON (JAMES VOEPEL), known for most of his monastic life as Fr. Seraphim, was born on December 12, 1943 in St. Louis Missouri. He received nursing training from the Alexian Brothers and had a rewarding career as a registered nurse in Chicago and St. Louis. He served as a charge nurse for a cardiac unit.
He began his monastic life as a Roman Catholic Benedictine monk for nine years. Eventually he left the Roman Catholic monastery to become an Orthodox Christian, and in 1988 was baptized at the Church of St. John Chrysostom in House Springs, Missouri by the founder of Holy Cross Monastery, Hieromonk Kallistos (Pazalos). Fr. Panteleimon was an active member of this parish for two years.
He entered Orthodox monastic life at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Boston in 1990 and completed the three years of the novitiate there.
In 1993 entered the Hermitage of the Holy Cross in House Springs, Missouri. By that time the founder Fr. Kallistos had reposed and only one hierodeacon remained in the brotherhood.
Fr. Panteleimon was tonsured as a rassophore-monk at Holy Protection Cathedral in Chicago by Archbishop Alypy in December 1994, and was later tonsured into the small schema at the Holy Cross by Archbishop Laurus in December of 1997.
Fr. Panteleimon was ordained a deacon at Holy Trinity Monastery, Jordanville, NY by Archbishop Laurus on Annunciation in 1998, and shortly thereafter was ordained a priesthood on Palm Sunday of the same year.
In 2000, he and a handful of monks moved from St. Louis to Wayne County, West Virginia and began building what has now become a thriving Orthodox Christian monastic community known as Holy Cross Monastery. Under his guidance, Orthodox families founded the parish of Christ the Savior in Wayne, West Virginia.
After the departure of Bishop George to Australia was announced, Fr. Panteleimon was elected Abbot of Holy Cross Monastery on January 12, 2015, and was raised to the rank of Archimandrite and installed as Abbot by Bishop George with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion on Bright Monday, April 13, 2015. He served as Abbot of Holy Cross Monastery for 10 years. In total he spent 32 years as an Orthodox Christian monk.
In early March of this year, Fr. Panteleimon began experiencing symptoms that eventual led to a diagnosis of aggressive brain cancer. During the six weeks he had remaining, he experienced almost no pain and prepared himself, his monastic brotherhood and family for his imminent passing into eternity.
He fell asleep in the Lord on April 24th, just after 3 a.m. He died peacefully at home, in the cell where he has welcomed monks, clergy, and pilgrims for many years, surrounded by his devoted spiritual children. As he was nearing the end, his cell attendant read the Canon for the Departure of the Soul, and at the conclusion of the final prayer, Fr. Panteleimon quietly gave his soul back into God's hands.
He is deeply loved by a large spiritual family of beloved spiritual children, and his dear nieces and nephews. He leaves behind a legacy of deep Christian compassion for his neighbors and love for Jesus Christ. He sincerely asked for everyone to pray for him; and he prayed that all of his beloved spiritual family would be united at the Divine Wedding Banquet of the Lamb.
Funeral Services and Burial will be at Holy Cross Monastery in Wayne, WV.

Bright Friday, April 25th

5 p.m. Paschal Hour, Vespers, Matins & Hour

Bright Saturday, April 26th

8 a.m. Paschal Hour & Divine Liturgy

10 a.m. Bright Week Funeral Service for a Monastic

11:30 a.m. (approx.) Burial

All services will be held in the new church.
A memorial meal will follow the burial.
Please check the monastery website for directions and the dress code. www.holycross.org