Deacon Alexander and Matushka Anna Sulakov
Deacon Alexander Sulakov (1965-2005)
and
Matushka Anna Sulakov (born Paloudennaya)
Alexander may be spelt Aleksander, Aleksandr, Alexandre.
Early life of Alexander Pavlovich Sulakov
On 15 August, 1965, Alexander Pavlovich Sulakov was born in Bolshie-Korani, in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in the Union of Soviet Socialst Republics (USSR), now Ukraine. Son of Priest Pavel and Matushka ___ Sulakov, Alexander was raised as an Orthodox Christian within the Ukrainian Orthodox Exarchate of the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC). He had a brother, Alexei Pavlovich Sulakov.
Alexander Pavlovich served in the Altar and as a Reader in his father’s parish as he was growing up. He received his primary education in his home village, and he received his secondary education (in a gymnasium) in Odessa.
Higher education
After graduating from the gymnasium, Alexander Pavlovich entered the Odessa Medical College. In 1990, he graduated as a doctor’s assistant.
Odessa National University
1990 coincided with the very substantial changes that accompanied the end of the Soviet Union (USSR), and the establishment of a completely independent Ukraine (as well as other republics of the former Soviet state).
At this time, Alexander Pavlovich entered and graduated from the Odessa Theological Seminary.
Odessa Theological Seminary
After completing his studies there, Alexander Pavlovich moved to Russia, where he continued his studies at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy.
Saint Petersburg Theological Academy
In 1994, Alexander Pavlovich graduated from the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy.
He then returned to Odessa in Ukraine, where he served as sacristan in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Odessa, and as a reader and preacher in his father’s parish. Father Pavel Sulakov had rebuilt several Temples in the Odessa Diocese following “perestroika”.
Marriage, ____
In ____, Alexander Pavlovich Sulakov was married to Anna Poloudennaya at ___ Church in Odessa, Ukraine. From this marriage, Alexander and Anna received 2 children : Yuriy (George) and Elisabeth.
Emigration to Canada, 2000
In 2000, Alexander emigrated to Canada, along with his wife, Anna Poloudennaya, and children Yuriy and Elizabeth.
When Alexander and Anna Sulakov and their children moved to Canada, they settled in Toronto, where Alexander began retraining so as to work as a nurse.
Immediately, the family became active in Christ the Saviour Cathedral. At that time, the rector was Archpriest Oleg Kirilov.
Christ the Saviour Sobor, Toronto
Early in the course of his nursing studies, Alexander Pavlovich was proposed as a candidate to become a deacon, which the bishop blessed.
Diaconal ordination, 2000
On 27 August, 2000, at the Divine Liturgy on the Eve of the Feast of the Dormition (Old-style), Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa and Canada ordained Alexander Pavlovich Sulakov to the Holy Diaconate in Christ the Saviour Sobor in Toronto, Ontario.
Diaconal service
Deacon Alexander Sulakov was assigned to serve as deacon at Christ the Saviour Sobor in Toronto, Ontario.
In the face of many challenges, he completed his nursing studies and was immediately employed.
Deacon Alexander and his family were had already become beloved of the parishioners of the sobor. This love was increased in the context of the visit of his father, Archpriest Pavel Sulakov. It was a memorable visit, and he brought some beneficial gifts for the parish as well.
Archpriest Pavel Sulakov
Father Pavel Sulakov was rector of the Saint Alexei Man of God Temple in the Odessa diocese. He had begun serving there in 1998, and he had quickly found the resources for the restoration of this very damaged Temple which had been desecrated by atheists.
Saint Alexei Man of God Temple, Odessa
In the context of their life and service in the parish, Deacon Alexander and his family became close to the "Starosta" of the Sobor (president of the parish council) and his wife (Alexander and Sonja Milochenko). The bonds of Christian love established then sustained the family in the future.
In the early autumn of 2005, Deacon Alexander returned to Ukraine to visit his family (and to attend to other matters).
Archpriest Pavel, Deacon Alexander Sulakov, Odessa
Repose, 2005
On 4 October, 2005, Deacon Alexander P Sulakov suddenly and unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord. He, his father and his brother had just completed a service at a cemetery and were in transit to visit an ailing uncle when their car was struck by a truck. Both Deacon Alexander and his father Archpriest Pavel Sulakov were killed in this collision ; Alexei P Sulakov, who alone survived, was very seriously injured.
The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Priest and of a Deacon were led by Metropolitan Agafangel (Savvin) of Odessa in Holy Trinity Cathedral.
Holy Trinity Cathedral, Odessa
After the completion of the services, the bodies of Archpriest Pavel Sulakov an Deacon Alexander Sulakov were interred in the parish cemetery of Saint Alexei Man of God in Odessa.
Graves of Archpriest Pavel and Deacon Alexander Sulakov
Grave-Crosses of Archpriest Pavel and Deacon Alexander Sulakov
Reflections
Sunday, 4 October, 2015 marked the 10th anniversary of the tragic death of Archpriest Pavel Sulakov, the rector of the Holy Alekseevsky Church, and ofhis son, Deacon Alexander. On this day, prayers were offered up for the repose of the souls of those who were remembered at the Divine Liturgy in Saint Alexeievsky Temple, and at the end of the service a panikhida was served.
Archpriest Pavel Sulakov accomplished much during his life. He fulfilled worthily the ministry to which he was called by the Lord Himself - to be a shepherd of Christ's flock.
Father Pavel served as rector of the Holy Alekseievsky parish for 7 years (1998 to 2005). During his tenure, he began the revival of the once desecrated Temple named in honour of the Holy Monk Alexei, Man of God. Father Paul worked especially hard in building up a community that still remembers and prayerfully honours its late teacher. Memory Eternal !
References
Biography in Russian Religious Persons Abroad
Additional information :
Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Sobor, Toronto, Ontario
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