As a philosopher and theologian, he was regarded as one of the most scholarly Polish members of the Roman Catholic Church in the second half of the 19th century.

Peter Semenenko was born into a Ruthenian family[1] on June 29, 1814, in Dzięciołowo in north-east Poland.

In 1830, he started his studies at the University of Wilno in the Department of Philosophy, but soon interrupted them because he decided to join the November Uprising against Russian invaders.

Under his influence, Semenenko returned to the Catholic faith and became the first member of the "Jański House" in 1836, which was the beginning of the Congregation of the Resurrection.

After the early death of Jański in 1840 in Rome, Semenenko was elected the first superior and spiritual leader of the new community.

He was an expert on Polish and Eastern matters and, because of his knowledge, he was held in high esteem by popes Gregory XVI, Pio IX and Leo XIII.

He was a member of the following prestigious Papal Academies: He was an outstanding erudite and freely able to discuss even the most subtle problems.