Assiniboia SK †The Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church 1958-2016

Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, †The Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church, 1902, 1958-2016

Prehistory

The ancestry of this particular Temple of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Canada, is found in the nearby parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Flintoft-Lakenheath, (31 km or 20 mi to the southeast of Assiniboia).

After the early settlement in Flintoft (220 km/137 mi southwest of Regina), with the ageing of many people, and with the depopulation of the farming areas, some people began to move into more urban areas, such as Assiniboia and Regina. This move had begun with the beginning of the great drought of the 1930s.

In order to accommodate those who now lived in the town of Assiniboia, people began to consider establishing a Temple in the town for easier access. This town is the largest town in the extreme south of Saskatchewan which has had a large Romanian population. There had been Romanian homesteaders who farmed in very many nearby surrounding communities and districts. Later, because of the movement of people, the number of Romanians decreased.

Construction of the Temple, 1957

On 25 February, 1957, a meeting was held in the office of Radu Motors in order to decide about building a Temple in Assiniboia. It would be affiliated with Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church in the countryside near Flintoft.

Construction began on 1 August, 1957, under the leadership of Priest John Dinu, and the architect/contractor was Peder Thompson. George Sabau of California painted the iconostas. The first annual meeting of this parish was held on 23 January, 1958, and Bishop Valerian (Trifa) sanctified the Temple on 18 May. In the same year, the parsonage was moved from Flintoft into Assiniboia. From that time, weekly services were offered.

By 1959, the population of the parish reached 110. At that time, the parish president was J J Radu.

In 1960, Father John Dinu was transferred to Chicago, Illinois. Priest Virgil Parvenescu served the parish until 1967.

For some time thereafter, a priest from Moose Jaw held services in Assiniboia once a month. In addition, people would attend services at the parish of Saints Peter and Paul in Flintoft whenever they were available.

Then the parish was served by a series of priests : Priest John Shunda ; Priest Gratian Radu ; Priest Peter Avram ; Priest Constantin Tofan ; Priest Constantin Turcoane ; Priest Panteleimon Stanciu ; Priest George Treff ; Priest Daniel Nenson (who became dean of the Western Deanery) ; Priest Sorin Lanescu ; Priest Peter SanFilippo.

In 1968, the Western Deanery of the Romanian Episcopate was organised. Services were held twice a month, and they alternated between the 2 Temples.

Although there were priests who resided in the town after 1958, and who cared for both parishes, the parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Assiniboia did not have a resident priest after 1998.

In addition, because of the paving of rural highways, it was increasingly convenient for people to drive to one of the parishes in Regina (175 km/109 mi to the northeast of Assiniboia) : either Saint Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church, or Saint George Romanian Orthodox Catheral. Another alternative was, perhaps, the parish in Moose Jaw, 105 km (65 mi) to the northeast of Assiniboia.

Closure, 2016

In 2016, the population had become so reduced that the administration of the Romanian Episcopate decided to close this Temple.

Particular parish information

This parish was a part of the Western Deanery of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, of The Orthodox Church in America. The bishop was Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp).

This parish followed the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish was the Feast of Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Trinity).

In 2017, the parish was administered by the Priest Dan Hoarste until it was completely closed.

Former address :

Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church

506-6th Avenue East

Assiniboia, Saskatchewan

S0H 0B0

Directions :

Assiniboia is located about 180 km (120 mi) southwest from Regina, and the travel time by car is about 1 hour 50 minutes. Assiniboia is about 106 km (66 mi) southwest of Moose Jaw, and the travel time by car is over an hour.

From Regina, drive west on the Trans-Canada Highway until Highway #2 (Can-Am Highway) in Moose Jaw. Turn left (south) onto Highway #2. Drive south on Highway #2 until Assiniboia. Turn east on 1st Avenue West. Turn south on Centre Street. Turn east on 6th Avenue.

From Moose Jaw, drive south on Highway #2 until Assiniboia. Turn east on 1st Avenue West. Turn south on Centre Street. Turn east on 6th Avenue.

Mailing address :

Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church

PO Box 285

Assiniboia, Saskatchewan

S0H 0B0

Priest Dan Hoarste, Vicar of Canada

Episcopate Office

PO Box 309

Grass Lake, Michigan 49240

USA

Telephone : 517-522-4800

E-mail : chancery@roea.org

References

Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 9781929200146, pp. 147-148.

Patterson, G J, “Romans of Saskatchewan : Four generations of adaptation” (Ottawa : University of Ottawa Press, 1977).

Sandulescu, Archpriest George, ‘Saskatchewan's Romanian Orthodox Communities Including Dysart, Wood Mountain, Kayville, Assiniboia, Pierceland, Regina’ in “SGS (Saskatchewan Genealogical Society) Bulletin”, vol. 19, no. 1, 1988, p. 81.

Additional information :

Anderson, Alan, "Settling Saskatchewan" (Regina : University of Regina Press, 2013).

Orthodox World listing for the Descent of the Holy Spirit Church in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan

Virtual museum entry

Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America web-site

Romanian Orthodox Vicariate of Canada (ROVOC)

Romanian Orthodox Episcopate Canadian Western Deanery

Bishop Valerian (Trifa)

Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America