The Very Rev.Theodore J.Geeza;pastor of St.John the Divine Russian Orthodox Church in Monessen;died at 1 p.m.Friday;April 18;1947;in the Charleroi-Monessen Hospital;following a short illness. Father Geeza came to the Monessen Church in October;1938;after serving in Portage;Pa.;Mingo Junction;O.;and Elkburn;W.Va. Born in 1890 in Austria;he came to America in 1910 and worked for a Philadelphia newspaper while studying theology at the Russian Orthodox Seminary;Tunafly;N.J. After his ordination;he came to his first pastorate at Herminie;Pa. In 1937;he was elevated to the rank of Arch-Priest by Bishop Benjamin of Pittsburgh. In 1939 Father Geeza instituted Russian Day in Monessen and annually since then thousands have gathered at City Park each summer for the celebration. In 1917 Father Geeza was married to Maria Mihajlovna;a daughter of Michael and Justina Youshock of Belle Vernon;who were among the founders of the Russian Orthodox parish of Charleroi. Besides Mrs.Geeza;six children survive;Nicholas and Boris;of Passate;N.J.;Mrs.Nadia Geletka;of Warren;Ohio;and Vera;Ralph and Eugene;at home. A sister and brother remain in Galicia and another brother in Canada. The body is lying in state in the St.John the Divine Church on McKee avenue. Services will be held there Tuesday;April 22;1947;at 9 a.m.;and will be conducted by twenty-five priests of the Pittsburgh district;New York;New Jersey and Ohio. Interment will follow in the Belle Vernon Cemetery. Joseph R.Check is the funeral director.