Former Priest Panteleimon and Raifta Bozyk

Former Priest Panteleimon Bozyk (1879-1944)

and

Raifta (born Zaparnuik) Bozyk (1894-1931)

Panteleimon may be spelt Panteleon.

Bozyk may be spelt Božyk, Bozik, Božik, Bozhyk, Bozhik.

Early life of Panteleimon Bozyk

On 26 April, 1879, Panteleimon Bozyk (Bozhyk) was born in Onut, Zastavna County, Bukovina. At that time, this was part of the Moldavian Principality of the Kingdom of Romania, although in the orbit of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. He was born into one of the Ukrainian-speaking families in this largely-Romanian-speaking region.

As with almost any other family in that province, Panteleimon was baptised into the Romanian Orthodox Church, and he was raised as an Orthodox Christian.

He received his primary and secondary education in his home region.

Emigration

It is possible that Panteleimon Bozyk immigrated to Canada in 1900.

Marriage

At an indeterminate date (but perhaps in about 1910), Panteleimon was married to Raifa Zaparnuik (born 10 March, 1894). In time, they received from the Lord 4 children, Olga, Luba, Vladimir, and Paul.

Higher education

In 1908, he enrolled in the Russian Orthodox Seminary in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and he completed the required course of studies.

Ordinations, 1911

In 1911, Panteleimon Bozyk was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood.

Pastoral service

In 1911, Priest Pantelimon Bozyk was sent to serve in parishes of the “Russian Orthodox Mission” in Central Alberta. He began in Winnipeg, and then he served near Mundare, Alberta, in the Orthodox Christian parish of the Holy Apostle Jakob.

Saint Jakob’s Orthodox Church, Mundare, Alberta

Winnipeg, 1919

Between 1919 and 1924, Priest Panteleimon Bozhyk was assigned to serve the Orthodox Christian Parish of Saint Michael in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church, Winnipeg

In 1920-21, he edited and published the Winnipeg newspaper “Bukovyna”.

Apostasy from Orthodoxy, 1924

In 1924, Priest Panteleimon Bozyk left the Orthodox Christian Church, and he was received into the Canadian Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, at Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was ordained a second time, and as a married priest, he received papal dispensation to continue as a married priest (within the Ukrainian Catholic Church).

In 1925, former Priest Panteleimon Bozyk, who was serving in the Winnipeg Eparchy, called the first organisational meeting for building the new church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Building lots for the church were purchased on Boyd Avenue and Artillery Street.

Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, first building

In 1928, former Priest Panteleimon Bozyk was assigned to serve as pastor of Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Winnipeg. He was the first priest to serve this community.

Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church

Bereavement

In 1931, Father Panteleimon’s wife Raifa reposed in Christ in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

After the funeral obsequies, the body of Raifa Bozyk was interred at All Saints Cemetery in West Saint Paul.

Continued pastoral service

In 1932, Father Panteleimon Bozyk brought about the establishment of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church at Brooklands, later part of Winnipeg.

Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church

From 1932 to 1938, Canon Panteleimon Bozyk served as pastor of the Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic parish in Winnipeg. He fulfilled this responsibility either at the same time as his service at Saint Andrew’s Church, or in between 2 periods of service at Saint Andrew’s Church.

Holy Eucharist Ukrainian Catholic Church

During his time of service in Winnipeg, Canon Panteleimon Bozyk was active in the cultural and educational work. His collected poems were published as “Kanadiis’ka Muza” (“Canadian Muse”, 1935). He also wrote “Tserkov ukraiintsiv v Kanadi” (The Ukrainians’ Church in Canada, 1927), a pioneer history of the Ukrainian-Canadian religious life. (Source of this information : Kubijovyč Volodymyr, Encyclopedia of Ukraine, Volume 1, University of Toronto Press, 1984, p. 289).

Special recognition, 1944

In 1944, the Rev’d. Panteleimon Bozykwas the oldest Ukrainian priest in Winnipeg by age and residence. He was honoured by members of his congregation, and by many friends when a presentation was made at a public reception in his honour one Sunday evening in April, after the church service in the parish hall of Saint Andrew’s Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The occasion marked his 65th birthday and 20 years as a priest of the Ukrainian Catholic church in Canada. Before joining the Catholic Church, Father Bozyk had been an Orthodox Christian priest for 14 years. At that time, he had lived in Winnipeg for 35 years since his immigration from northern Bukovina.

The presentation was made by Mrs. A Kuzenko chairman of the women’s organisation of Saint Andrew’s.

Recognition of his services to the Ukrainian Catholic church and in the field of literary work was voiced in short speeches of tribute at the reception.

Through his efforts, 3 Ukrainian Catholic churches were built in Winnipeg, Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Andrew’s, and Holy Ghost in Brooklands. Canon Bozyk also organised the Markian Shashkewicz school. Father Bozyk wrote written 7 books, including 1 book of poems on Canadian life. His daughter, Olga, who was active in Winnipeg musical circles, and who became an entertainer in the USA, attended the reception (Winnipeg Free Press, 21 August, 1944).