03/12/2026
It is with profound sadness and deep love that the faithful of Saints Peter & Paul Orthodox Church in Levittown, Pennsylvania announce the falling asleep in the Lord of our beloved priest, Very Rev. Protopresbyter Theodore Z. Mozes.
On Monday, March 9, 2026, at approximately 8:40 PM, Father Theodore peacefully reposed in the Lord after 62 years of faithful pastoral service to the Church. For generations of parishioners he was not only a priest, but a spiritual father, teacher, counselor, and friend whose life was devoted entirely to the service of Christ and His Holy Church.
On September 21, 1964, Father Theodore was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the late Metropolitan Orestes Chornock at Christ the Savior Cathedral in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. Following his ordination, he was appointed administrator of St. John the Baptist Church in Wilpen, Pennsylvania, and St. Stephen’s Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, while continuing his theological studies at Christ the Savior Seminary. During this time, he became the first resident priest in Wilpen in more than 45 years, faithfully rebuilding parish life.
In July of 1966, Father received his Bachelor of Theology degree from Christ the Savior Seminary and was appointed Spiritual Director of the Seminary, guiding and mentoring future clergy.
In June of 1969, Father Mozes was assigned to the Chicago area with the task of surveying and consolidating three small parishes into one church. When that plan did not materialize, he was appointed pastor of the mission parish in Levittown, Pennsylvania on October 15, 1969.
When Father arrived in Levittown, he found a struggling mission parish facing serious financial hardship and a rectory furnished with only two rooms of furniture. Through tireless labor, unwavering faith, and the support of the faithful, Father Mozes began transforming the parish. Fundraising efforts were organized, furnishings were purchased, church materials were completed, and the church itself was beautified with a proper altar and iconostasis.
Under his leadership, the parish mortgage was fully liquidated in March of 1972, and land was acquired for a parish center, which opened its doors in 1975, becoming a center of spiritual and community life for generations.
Father Mozes also faithfully served the wider Church in many capacities. In 1970 he was appointed Secretary to the Diocesan Council and served as Associate Editor of the Church Messenger, where he implemented early computerized mailing and maintenance programs. The publication itself was operated from the parish center in Levittown.
Throughout his ministry he held numerous leadership roles. In 1976 he became Recording Secretary of the Mid-Atlantic Deanery. From 1976 to 1984 he served as a trustee of the Fraternal Insurance Organization and as a member of the Mid-Atlantic Deanery Educational Commission, while also serving on the Diocesan Building Commission.
That same year he initiated the “Buy a Nail” project in support of Camp Nazareth, raising $17,000 for the beloved diocesan youth camp. In 1979, he was appointed Liaison Director for Diocesan Church Insurance.
At the 1979 Sobor, the parish of Levittown pledged $250,000 toward the purchase of a diocesan retirement facility. Through Father Mozes’ dedication and leadership, a 66-unit apartment complex was acquired on July 11, 1983. The late Bishop John R. Martin appointed him administrator of the facility, which became known as Bethany, located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
While serving as administrator of Bethany, Father Mozes was also a member of the Board of Trustees and the Consistory from 1982 to 1985. In 1985, he organized the first diocesan telethon for Camp Nazareth, held in memory of Bishop John R. Martin, raising $38,000 to help eliminate the camp’s mortgage.
Beyond his many diocesan responsibilities, Father Mozes was deeply devoted to the Levittown community. For decades he organized Thanksgiving food drives for families in need and Christmas outreach projects with local schools, ensuring that children and families experienced the joy and love of the Nativity season.
For 57 years, Father Theodore Mozes stood before the Holy Altar offering prayers for his flock, baptizing generations of faithful, joining couples in holy matrimony, and guiding countless souls in their journey with Christ. His legacy will live on in the parish he built, the lives he touched, and the faith he so faithfully proclaimed.
We ask the faithful to keep Pani Marjorie, daughter Sarah, grandson Reader Jeremy, and the entire Mozes family in your prayers during this time of grief, and to pray for the repose of the soul of our beloved shepherd.
Memory Eternal!
Funeral arrangements and information will be announced in the coming days
