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{{cleanup}}[[Protopresbyter]] '''Alexander Warnecke''' ([[June 2]], 1923 – [[July 1]], 2001) was a member of the [[clergy]] of the [[Orthodox Church in America]]. He is noted for his support of [[St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]], and for his role in the formation of both [[Ss. Cosmas and Damian Adult Home (Staten Island, New York)|Ss. Cosmas and Damian Adult Home]] and [[St. Andrew's Camp and Chapel (Jewell, New York)|St. Andrew's Camp]]. 

 * [[Protopresbyter]]

* Assistant Chaplain at [[Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|Saint St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]]* Rector of [[Saints Ss. Peter and Paul Church (Syracuse, New York)]]* Founder of [[St. Andrew's Camp and Chapel (Jewell, New York)]]

* Founder [[Ss. Cosmas and Damian Adult Home (Staten Island, New York)]]  

 Born June 2, 1923 , in Wilkes-Barre, PA, the son of Alexander and Anna [(Horne] ) Warnecke, he enlisted in the US U.S. Air Force after completing his secondary education. During his military service, he taught Russian at Camp Ritchie [(presently Camp Davis]), MD. He also served overseas in the Adjutant General Department , and, in the late stages of World War II, he served as military interpreter in Berlin with the Intelligence Department of the Office of Military Government for Germany.

After receiving an honorable discharge in 1946, he enrolled at [[Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary (Crestwood, New York)|Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary]] and Columbia University in New York City. In addition to his studies, he was instrumental in organizing an Orthodox Christian Fellowship at Columbia and served as the campus group's first president. In September 1948, he married the former Pauline Stepanovna Shafran of Olyphant, PA. A 1950 graduate of Saint St. Vladimir's Seminary, he was [[ordination|ordained ]] to the [[deacon|diaconate]] by His Eminence, [[Metropolitan ]] [[Ireney (Bekish) of New York|Ireney (Bekish)]], on [[July 7]], 1950 , and to the [[priest]]hood by His Grace, [[Bishop ]] [[John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco|John (Shahovskoy) of Brooklyn]] on [[July 28]] of the same year. After his ordination, he continued his ministry at the seminary where, among other duties, he served as assistant chaplain. He also helped to initiate the first English-language community at Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral, New York, NY.

In July 1951, Father Warnecke was assigned Rector of Saints Peter and Paul Church, Syracuse, NY, which was to be his only parish assignment. Through his leadership the parish prospered and grew, and the church was restored and redecorated by noted iconographer, Pimen Sofronov. He also served Saint Michael's Church, Syracuse. Through his efforts, property on Lake Oneida was acquired and developed as the home of Saint Andrew's Camp, which has offered summer programs for children and teens for four decades. He helped serve or establish other parishes in Syracuse, Cortland, and Rochester, NY. In addition to his parish duties, Father Fr. Warnecke served on the Diocesan and Metropolitan Councils and as Group Leader for the Orthodox Church in the America Pension Plan and Group Term Life Insurance Program, President of the Alumni Federation of the Orthodox Catholic Seminaries, Dean of the New York State Deanery, and bookstore manager and member of the Board of Trustees of the [[Orthodox Christian Education Commission]], a pan-Orthodox agency under the auspices of the [[Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas]]. In 1961 he was appointed Chancellor of the [[Diocese of New York and New Jersey. In 1961, Father Warnecke saw the need to provide Saint Vladimir's Seminary, which had rented space in (OCA)|Diocese of New York City for over two decades, with its own campus. He was impressed by a property in Crestwood, NY, which featured several buildings. Believing the property to be ideal, he urged seminary and Church officials to purchase it immediately, but they hesitated. Fearing a lost opportunity, he purchased the property himself, planning to turn it over to the seminary or to use it as the site of an Orthodox adult home. Subsequently, the property became -- and remains -- the site of Saint Vladimir's Seminary. For many years, he served as a member of the seminary's Financial Committee, chairman of its Building and Grounds Committee, and Corporate Secretary of the school's Board of Trustees. In the 1970s, Father Warnecke's dream to establish an adult home became a reality with the establishment of Saints Cosmas and Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY, which he continued to serve as President and executive DirectorNew Jersey]].

Father In 1961, Fr. Warnecke received saw the need to provide St. Vladimir's Seminary, which had rented space in New York City for over two decades, with its own campus. He was impressed by a property in Crestwood, NY, which featured several buildings. Believing the property to be ideal, he urged seminary and Church officials to purchase it immediately, but they hesitated. Fearing a lost opportunity, he purchased the property himself, planning to turn it over to the seminary or to use it as the site of an Orthodox adult home. Subsequently, the property became—and remains—the site of St. Vladimir's Seminary. For many awards in recognition years, he served as a member of the seminary's Financial Committee, chairman of his dedicated labors its Building and ministryGrounds Committee, including and corporate secretary of the [[jewelled cross]]school's Board of Trustees. In 2000the 1970s, he was elevated Fr. Warnecke's dream to establish an adult home became a reality with the rank establishment of ProtopresbyterSs. Cosmas and Damian Adult Home, Staten Island, NY, which he continued to serve as president and executive director.

Father Fr. Warnecke was well known for the pastoral received many awards in recognition of his dedicated labors and material assistance he freely offeredministry, especially to those in need. His generosity was felt by countless parishioners, seminarians, clergy, and including the poor and needy[[jewelled cross]]. After the fall of communism in Eastern and Central EuropeIn 2000, he sponsored and hosted many children from abroad was elevated to attend Saint Andrew's Camp, providing them with what was literally the experience rank of a lifetime''protopresbyter''.

[[Protopresbyter]] Alexander Warnecke, 78, died at 7:15 p.m. on Sunday, [[July 1]], 2001, the [[feast day ]] of Ss. [[Saints Cosmas and Damian]]

In addition to his wife Pauline, Father Fr. Warnecke is survived by two daughters, Daria and Argyra, and several grandchildren.