Hubbard-Goodeve SK Chapel and Cemetery of the Holy Ascension 1915

Hubbard-Goodeve, Saskatchewan, Chapel and Cemetery of the Holy Ascension, 1915

Maksym may be spelt Maxim.

Wawruck may be spelt Wawruch.

The nickname of this Temple is "Wawruch", with reference to the name of the primary founder.

Prehistory

Several parishes (either Orthodox or Ukrainian Catholic) have intertwined and related early histories, connected with Maksym Wawruch :

 Holy Spirit, or the Musyj church ; Saint Elias, or the Pilipow church ; Holy Ascension ; Saint Wolodymyr ; 
 Saint Nicholas

The first and third of the churches were built with Maksym’s support and participation. The second, he attended as a parishioner. A fourth was planned by him but was never built, and the fifth was built despite his objections, and then only after his death in 1952.

Maxym Wawruch

Maksym Wawruch was born in 1870 in what is now the village of Koshlyaki, Ternopil Oblast of Ukraine, but which was at that time within the Province of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. With his wife Maria, who was born in the same village in 1872, he emigrated to Canada in 1899. With them they brought their daughter Rosalia, born in 1894. They first lived in Brandon, Manitoba. In 1905, they took up a homestead on SE-20-25-10-W2, which at that time was a remote wilderness in Eastern Saskatchewan. It was situated north of the planned right-of-way for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, which would be built by 1908. The Village of Hubbard was then founded in 1910, on the rail line 6.5 km (4 mi) south of this homestead.

Their close neighbours in the area where they homesteaded included other families from the vicinity of Zbarazh, in the vicinity of Ternopil. Other families from the village of Koshlyaki took homesteads nearby. In particular, the family of Nicholai and Nastia Filko, and Fred and Antonia Filko moved at the same time as Maksym and Maria Wawruch in 1905. In the same region, there were also other settlements, Lemburg and Neudorf, which were populated by German-speaking immigrants from the same region of Galicia, who also spoke the Rusyn language. At that time, they travelled by ox-team to Lemburg (named for L'viv/Lwow, in Galicia), situated on a rail line 51.5 km (32 mi) cross-country to the south-east of the homestead, to purchase supplies from the store. After the arrival of the railway, stores became available in Hubbard. With the railway, there also appeared the villages of Fenwood, Goodeve, Hubbard, Ituna, Jasmin, and Kelliher, in alphabetical order from east to west, and separated by regular intervals of distance.

These pioneers identified themselves as ethnic Rusyns (Ruthenians) and their religion as "Ruskeh" (Ukrainian pronunciation of Rusyn). Their church services were conducted in Church Slavonic (Staroslavyanskeh), Their religious affiliation was with the Uniat (Eastern Rite Catholic or Greek Catholic) church, which was the only church of the Rusyn people in Austro-Hungary.

Early services from Roman Catholic clergy

In 1910, the settlers first constructed the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Church at the land description site SW-22-25-10-W2, on 3 acres donated from the Misij farm. This was 5.6 km (3.5 mi) north and 2 km (1 mi) east of Hubbard. The first Uniat cleric to serve them was Father Noel Marie Descamps, CSSR, who was of the Redemptorist community in Yorkton. Another was Father Achille Delaere, CSSR. The building was later sanctified by the new Bishop Nykyta Budka. However, although the majority of parishioners decided to become permanently united to the Ukrainian Catholic diocese at the cost of having no married priests and greater Roman-Latin influence in their services, others had by this time heard of the path chosen by Father (Saint) Alexis Toth.

Some families move to the Orthodox Christian Church, 1913

In 1913, the ones who had heard about Father Alexis decided to affiliate with an existing Orthodox Christian community instead. These included the Wawruchs, the Filkos, the Gendzilewiches, and the Krysowtys. This community was the parish of Saint Elias at Hubbard, which was by then being served by clergy of the “Russian” Mission (the community had formerly belonged to the Presbyterian “Independent Greek Orthodox Church”).

Priest Alexei Showhaniuk

The Priest Alexei Showhaniuk was a priest who had come to Canada from Galicia. He had settled at first in Melville, Saskatchewan, from where he cared for the parish communities that had been assigned to him (along with the blessing to establish new ones). A part of his missionary endeavour involved Uniat Ukrainians who were interested in being united to the Orthodox Church.

Archpriest Alexei Showhaniuk

The history of the Saint Elias parish reports that between 1917 and 1919, Father Alexei Showhaniuk organised a parish choir which consisted of some young children of the parish. With his horse and sleigh driven by Nick Oryschak, Father Showhaniuk and the choir travelled to Fenwood, Birmingham, and to Foam Lake to sing at Divine Services. Father Showhaniuk’s residence was in Goodeve, where he lived in the Oryschuk home.

Father Showhaniuk had originally lived near the Filko family’s place of origin, not far from Ivano Frankivsk, in the vicinity of the villages of Bila Oslava and Chorna Oslava. This was in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

Father Alexei Showhaniuk had the reputation of being a strict priest. Besides the choir, he is remembered also for directing that the children stand still and in order at the front of the congregation, throughout the service. He is also remembered for homilies that emphasised the danger of damnation.

Organising the parish, 1915

When the Holy Ascension parish was established in 1915, Father Alexei Showhaniuk was the first priest to serve this new parish, which he helped to organise and to build.

The community itself was assembled by the families who lived nearby, and it included people from the Musyj Holy Spirit and Hubbard Saint Elias parishes who wished to become part of a canonical Orthodox Christian parish. Some of them had already been Orthodox Christians in their homeland. The initiators of the parish totalled 20 members.

Father Alexei Showhaniuk and his vehicle

Construction of the Temple, 1917

The actual establishment and incorporation of the parish and its cemetery occurred in 1917. The Land Description Site is NW-NW-21-25-10-W2. It is 6.5 km (4 mi) north of Hubbard. The land originally belonged to the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) as a land grant from the Government of Canada. It was Harry Malevich (stepson of Nykolai Filko) who donated the 1 acre parcel out of his quarter-section purchased from the CPR.

The Land Title was granted in the name of “The Trustees of the Russian Greek Catholic Orthodox Church at Hubbard”. The first trustees were :

Nykolai Filko, John Krysowaty and Stefan Turczynski.

The construction of the new Temple was begun in 1917 and completed in 1918, all under the leadership and supervision of Father Alexei Showhaniuk. The original contributors to the construction project included :

 Father Alexei Showhaniuk ; Fedor Chorney ; Fedor Filko ; Nykolai Filko ; Dmetro Fishiuk ; Ivan Gendzilewich ; 
 Karol Kisiviki ; Petro Krushenisky ; Ivan Krysowaty ; Stephan Lototsky ; Petro Smuk ; Stephan Turchinski ;
 Maksym Wawruch ; Gregory Wowchuk ; contributors from Fenwood ; contributions from Saint Elias Parish from 
 carolling.

The carpenters who constructed the Temple included :

 Fred Filko ; Nykolai Filko ; Maksym Wawruch.

The structure of this Temple was based on the plan used to build the Ukrainian Catholic church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Brandon, Manitoba. The interior of the Temple imitated that of the Holy Spirit (Musyj) Uniat church.

The structure of the Holy Ascension Temple (perhaps because of the political and other turmoil of the time) is unlike the usual format of other such temples in that the western section that would usually extend from the central dome section is lacking. Thus, the usual and expected cruciform shape was never completed.

Parish Founders

Years of disturbance : Bolshevik Revolution ; establishment of the UGOCC, 1917-1919

The next 2 years after 1917 were particularly difficult for Father Showhaniuk, for many other clergy, and for many parishes as well. The result of the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in the former Russian Empire resulted in the end of all financial aid from the newly-restored Moscow Patriarchate, itself now the object of persecution by the new government. The detrimental effects of the revolution persisted for many decades afterwards, but the initial years were unexpected and there had been no preparation. It was also just at this time that the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was organised in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Very soon afterwards, there began an aggressive campaign led in part by the Priest Peter Sametz to recruit parishes away from the Canadian Diocese of the “Russian Mission”.

The life of this community may be representative of that of many other communities during these years of disturbance, turmoil, competition and strong opinions and emotions. The suddenly impoverished “Russian Mission” now lacked fiscal resources for a proper administration and for the proper education of clergy. Whereas the “Russian Mission” had attempted to serve all the Orthodox on the continent, now, other more nationalistic movements quickly developed and established alternative (sometimes competitive) administrations. This increasingly complicated and confused the canonical situation in Canada and in the USA. Very soon, the Orthodox became characterised by their national and linguistic differences, rather than by their unity in the Orthodox Christian Faith.

After 1919, Father Alexei Showhaniuk was transferred from the Goodeve area, and he went on to serve as the founding parish priest for Saint Michael’s Church in Regina, which still belonged to the Diocese of Canada. He then was transferred to Ottawa, Ontario, where he served the Holy Trinity Bukovinian Orthodox Church in the same diocese.

Following Father Showhaniuk’s departure, there was no regular parish priest for the Holy Ascension parish for a time. There were itinerant priests who passed through, some appearing only once.

One priest who served several times during the 1920s was Father Wasyl Kucharowski, who was also a farmer in the Parkerview district. He made the trip of 32.2 km (20 mi) or so by horse, and by sled in the winter. He would travel the day before a service, and he would stay the night at the Wawruch farm. In 1924, he was the founding priest of the Descent of the Holy Spirit Church in Sheho, Saskatchewan (within the ROGCCNA’s Diocese of Canada).

It was approximately during this period that some personal disagreements resulted in a loss of some families. The Harasym and Turchinski families returned to the Unia. The Genzileviches were ambiguous, they participated sometimes in this parish, sometimes in another. Eventually, however, the Kashuk, Milnichenko and Navidzeilo families joined the parish.

In 1922, the first funerals and burials occurred in the cemetery of the Holy Ascension. These were of 2 young members of the Nykolai and Fred Filko families. They seem to have been victims of the influenza epidemic.

Holy Ascension Temple interior view

1922, first visit of a bishop

In 1922, there also occurred the first visitation by a bishop to this community. It occurred during the winter, and it was recalled as having been very cold at that time. This bishop could have been Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) or even Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky), but it is unlikely that it was Archbishop Adam (Philipovsky). When the bishop did arrive at the Hubbard railway station, he was quite late because the train was late arriving. Nykolai Filko transported the bishop in a horse-drawn sleigh, and the service was already half-finished when they arrived at the Temple. Nevertheless, the bishop (who had a long beard) was properly hosted in the Temple at a dinner which followed the service.

This visit occurred at a time during which there was considerable turmoil and confusion amongst parishes with regard to jurisdiction. This followed the Bolshevik Revolution (1917) and also the establishment of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (1918).

Archpriest John Zazulak

Father John Zazulak was originally based in Sheho, Saskatchewan, approximately 64.4 km (40 mi) north of the Holy Ascension Temple at Hubbard.

In 1926, he blessed the marriage of Peter Korpus and Olga Wawruck. The marriage certificate stated that the parish belonged to the Russo-Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America.

Archpriest John Zazulak

Peter Tokaruk, who had graduated from the seminary in New York/New Jersey, had then immigrated to Saskatchewan. Before coming to North America, Peter Tokaruk had been a neighbour to Father Showhaniuk in Galicia, and it was Father Showhaniuk who introduced him to the Filko family, and it was likely Father Showhaniuk who had played matchmaker for the marriage. It was he who blessed the marriage of Peter Tokaruk and Rose Filko (daughter of Nykolai Filko) at the Holy Ascension Church in 1924.

Archpriest Peter Tokaruk

Not long afterwards, both the ordinations of Peter Tokaruk to the Holy Diaconate and to the Holy Priesthood were served in Holy Ascension Church.

Father Peter Tokaruk was based in the Mazepa district, north of Yorkton, and after that, in Yorkton itself. He served in these and other places until the repose of his wife. When she fell asleep in the Lord in 1962, Rose Tokaruk was buried at the Holy Ascension Cemetery, close by her parents Nykolai and Nastia Filko.

Father Peter Tokaruk subsequently conducted annual memorial services (panikhidas) at the Holy Ascension Cemetery until his own repose in 1967. It seems that Father Tokaruk had not led services at the Holy Ascension Church before this time. Later, he was himself interred in the parish cemetery.

Archpriest Peter Tokaruk

By 1933, Father Zazulak was in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he then served in the Ukrainian Bukovinian Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Ivan Suchavsky.

This parish was founded in 1931. It became a part of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in America under the jurisdiction of Bishop Joseph (Žuk). This diocese was one which was recognised by the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Bishop Joseph had negotiated an affiliation with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, but he was in fact ordained by Archbishop Aftimios (Abdullah Ofiesh), who at that time belonged to the “American Orthodox Catholic Church” (an attempt associated with the “Metropolia” to develop a local North American Church which would embrace all ethnicities). It was undoubtedly the promise of a canonical connexion to the Greek Ecumenical Diocese that encouraged some priests of the former Russian Orthodox (“Metropolia”) Diocese in Western Canada to change their affiliation to a USA-based Ukrainian Orthodox Church in 1930 and 1931. Such a hope would have been able to hold the new diocese together following Bishop Joseph’s repose in 1934, until Bishop Bohdan (Shpylka) was ordained in 1937.

Move to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

The parishioners of the Holy Ascension Church followed their priests into the jurisdiction of Constantinople.

Priest L Solohub

On some occasions during the 1930s, the Priest L Solohub served the Holy Ascension parish. He usually stayed with the Nykolai Filko family when he was there. Father Soluhub was eventually assigned to Thunder Bay, Ontario, and he served as the Administrator for Canada of the “Bukovinian” Ukrainian Orthodox Diocese. He reposed in Christ in 1971, and he is evidently interred at Thunder Bay.

By 1940, Father Zazulak was the “archdeacon” of the Canadian Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America in Winnipeg, Manitoba. At least some of the parishes of this diocese in Canada referred to themselves as Bukovinian Ukrainian Orthodox. However, there was never an entity that was called precisely that.

Maksym Wawruck and Father Zazulak remained friends. Maksym Wawruck continued to invite him to conduct services at Holy Ascension Church even after Father Zazulak had been assigned to Winnipeg, and even after other priests had been assigned to the responsibility for the parish.

Priest Evgeniy Olendiy

A letter from the New York headquarters in February, 1940, advised that Father Evgeniy Olendiy (1895-1981), who was based in Sheho, would be the priest for Hubbard.

Father Evgeniy had studied theology in Regina,Saskatchewan, and also in the Monastery of the Holy Ascension in Sifton, Manitoba. He had been ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov) in 1927. Later, he had moved to the canonical Ukrainian Diocese under Bishop Bohdan (Shpylka). Father Olendiy had several subsequent assignments on the prairies, including 2 assignments to Saint Michael’s Church in Regina. Ultimately, he retired to Dauphin, Manitoba where he reposed in Christ.

Maksym Wawruck insisted on bringing Father Zazulak to Hubbard in July, 1940, in order to bless the marriage of his son Walter Wawruck and Adela Gorchynski. This was because the Gorchynskis belonged to the (at that time) non-canonical Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, whom Maksym called “Swystunites” (from Wasyl Swystun, a leader in the foundation of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada in 1918). From Hubbard, the whole wedding party and Father John travelled to Hampton, where the home of the Gorchynskis was situated, and where the marriage service was celebrated.

In a 1943 letter to Maksym Wawruck, Father Zazulak outlined his plan to conduct services in Hubbard for the Feast-day of Saint Demetrius in November. He also advised that the Hubbard parish would subsequently be served by the Priest Anton Radchuk, who was based in Calder, Saskatchewan. However, Father Radchuk never appeared.

Priest Peter Shwaluk

The Priest Peter J Shwaluk (1905-1996), the pastor of Saint Michael’s Church in Regina, occasionally served at Holy Ascension Church in Hubbard. Born in Manitoba, and raised a Ukrainian Catholic, he had studied theology at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Edmonton, Alberta, and he had been ordained as a Ukrainian Catholic priest. Later, he married, and he joined the Ukrainian Orthodox “Bukovinian” Diocese. He then returned to the Unia, and he served in the USA and Canada until his retirement in Winnipeg in 1992.

Priest John Mandziuk

The next priest in this parish was Father John (Ivan) P Mandziuk (1889-1975). Father Mandziuk came to Canada in 1914 from Horodok, near Zalischyky in Galicia (Halychyna). Later, he was based in Calder. In November, 1944, he wrote to Steve Kolanko, who farmed south of Hubbard, about travelling to Hubbard to conduct services. In April, 1945, a letter from Father Mandziuk described his plans to conduct a Pascha service at the Holy Ascension Church on 3 May, and he asked Steve Kolanko to advise the parishioners that there would be a blessing of the "Paskas" (special bread for the Feast of Pascha). Father Mandziuk’s name is on the list of priests at Saint Michael’s Church in Regina during the late 1940s. By 1957 or 1958, he had retired to a rural home south of Veregin, Saskatchewan, where he periodically conducted services in both the Bukovinian-Ukrainian and Metropolia parishes. He was also a friend of the Priest Peter Tokaruk. It was Father Tokaruk who blessed his marriage when he married a second time in 1948. Sometimes, Father Mandziuk substituted for Father Tokaruk in his Metropolia parishes when Father Tokaruk was not available to serve. He reposed in Christ in 1975.

In the late 1940s, the Archpriest Alexei Showhaniuk returned to Hubbard in retirement. He nevertheless served the Holy Ascension parish and other parishes in the area until his repose in Christ in 1952. His body was interred in the Holy Ascension cemetery.

Unlike some of the other priests who joined the Ukrainian/Bukovinian Orthodox Diocese under Archbishop Bohdan (Shpylka) in the 1930s, both Fathers Peter Tokaruk and Alexei Showhaniuk remained with the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (which ultimately became The Orthodox Church in America). Both priests are interred at the Holy Ascension Cemetery.

Depopulation ; shrinkage of the parish

The Nykolai and Fred Filko families were the leaders of the congregation in the 1920s, a role which Maksym Wawruck assumed through the 1930s and the 1940s. The parish, which was small to begin with, shrank through the years. By 1947, Nikolai Filko and Maksym Wawruck were the only surviving members of the original founders. Maksym Wawruck had been living in Hubbard since 1937, but he still ensured that there was at least an annual service at the Feast of Pascha and at the Feast of the Holy Ascension until his death in January, 1952. The last service attended at Holy Ascension Church by Maksym Wawruck was at some time before harvest in 1951.

Sporadic services

From 1952 onwards, services in the Holy Ascension Temple were sporadic. On one occasion, Father Olynyk of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA was visiting with the Pillipow family in Hubbard. In the absence of another venue, Father Olynyk conducted his obligatory Sunday Divine Liturgy in the Holy Ascension Temple.

There were regular services at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ituna, and there was a Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Hubbard from 1954. The rural population, which had already been declining, declined dramatically during the 1960s. Thus, the Holy Ascension Temple was essentially abandoned and it was neglected for about 30 years.

Nevertheless, the cemetery remained in use and it was properly maintained.

Restoration, renovation, 1993

In about 1993, the parish returned to its original affiliation with the Archdiocese of Canada, within what was by then the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America.

At the same time, the Priest Dennis Pihach, who was the rector of Saint Mark’s Orthodox Church in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, was given the responsibility of the pastoral care of the Holy Ascension parish (in addition to his other pastoral responsibilities).

After the repose, and the interment of his wife in the Ascension Cemetery in 1995, Brad Tokaruk, grandson of Father Peter Tokaruk, and his family repaired and painted the deteriorating building.

Members of Saint Mark’s Church in Yorkton along with the families of the priests worked to restore the Church, so that in 1997, the first Divine Liturgy since the restoration was served by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) and the Priest Dennis Pihach (later Archimandrite Alexander) of The Orthodox Church in America. This was the first time that the Divine Liturgy had been served in this Temple in very many years, and it was the first of many to come in the future.

1997 group at the restoration service

After that time, the Tokaruk family, who later moved from Yorkton to Canora, took the lead in arranging for an annual service at the Temple, and in notifying relatives of those who are buried there.

Since 1999, the services have been conducted on the 3rd Saturday of August of each year by Father Rodion Luciuk of Saint Mark’s Church in Yorkton. At this time, after the Divine Liturgy, there is the blessing of waters and the blessing of the graves. Afterwards, a lunch is served.

At first this was improvised outdoors beside the Temple. Later, the pot-luck lunch came to be served in the Hubbard Hall. This whole occasion has become a popular occasion for family and friends to gather and to socialise. Depending on the year and circumstances, the congregation may number between 25 and 45. Besides Father Rodion Luciuk, other local priests have also served on these occasions, such as the Archpriest Andrew Piasta and Igumen Vladimir (Lysak). Frequently, the Monk Tikhon (Green) participates and leads the singing. The parish of Saint Mark in Yorkton provides administration of accounts for the Holy Ascension parish.

More repairs and improvements

Under the leadership of Brad and Sandy Tokaruk, extensive repairs and upgrades were made to the Temple. In particular, both the interior and exterior were painted. A new roof was installed. New siding, trim and soffits were installed. All the windows were replaced. A new perimeter fence was installed around the property. The cupola was sheathed with copper. A new Cross was place atop the dome. Much of this work was made possible by a substantial bequest from Tony Thompson, a granddaughter of Timofay and Yarina Naumetz. The cladding for the cupola was provided by Mike Boychuk and his brother.

Original contributors to the construction of the Temple :

 Father Alexei Showhaniuk
 Fedor Chorney
 Fedor Filko
 Nikolai Filko
 Dmetro Fishiuk
 Ivan Gedzilewich
 Petro Krushelnisky
 Ivan Krysowaty
 Karol Lisiviki
 Stephan Lototsky
 Petro Smuk
 Stephan Turchynski
 Maksym Wawruch
 Gregory Wowchuk

Other contributions are merely identified as being “from Fenwood”. On succeeding pages, additional funds are shown as coming from donations by Saint Elias parishioners for Christmas carolling and from church services.

Priests who have served at Holy Ascension Church (partial) :

 Father Alexei Showhaniuk
 Father Kucharowski
 Father John Zazulak
 Father Solohub
 Father John P Mandziuk
 Father Evgenie Olendy
 Father Schwaluk
 Father Peter Tokaruk 
 Archpriest Dennis Pihach
 Archpriest Rodion Luciuk

100th Anniversary, 2017

On 19 August, 2017, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) was in the Hubbard parish for the purpose of marking the centennial anniversary of the construction of the Temple and the beginning of services there.

In traditional Ukrainian fashion, the parish greeted the bishop with a kolach and salt as he arrived. Vladyka Irénée served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and the Archpriest Rodion Luciuk and Protodeacon Jesse Isaac (from Edmonton) assisted him. Leading the singers was the Monk Tikhon (Green). A tent was set up outside to manage the overflow crowd, and chairs were provided. There was a total of about 80 people.

After the service, a lunch was hosted by the Wawruck family, and a band greeted those who then entered the town hall for the anniversary banquet. The history was compiled by Walter A Wawruck, and it was published by Max Wawruck. They are grandsons of Walter Wawruck.

Walter A Wawruck by the Temple

100th anniversary group photo

Over the course of the years, the regular Feast-day of the parish continued to be celebrated.

2020 anniversary

In 2020, in the context of the "Covid-19 virus" restrictions, it was decided to serve on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos (28 August, Old Calendar). As the rector, Archpriest Rodion Luciuk wrote ;

 What do you do when your church is over 100 years old and is a small rural church and you 
 want to have your annual Prazdnik on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos ?  With 
 the Covid-19 restrictions, you can only hold 6 to 8 people inside, way more than those who 
 would be attending.  Well, you trust God and move the service outside and continue the 
 tradition.  The ones who founded the church would have done the same without any hesitation. 
 
 The weather was great other than it being a bit windy. Those who attended were very 
 appreciative to attend and have the graves of their ancestors blessed.  Two priests who 
 served the community are buried in the graveyard.  Glory to God for His blessings !

Holy Ascension Cemetery, 1917

The Holy Ascension Cemetery has more than 33 graves, which include 2 of the former priests who served there (Archpriest Alexei Showhaniuk and Archpriest Peter Tokaruk). Several of the interments are of those who became parishioners at Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church at Hubbard.

Holy Ascension Cemetery

Grave blessings, 1999 (Father Rodion, Monk Tikhon (Green))

Parish sign

View of Holy Ascension Temple from the cemetery

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Deanery of Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Nunavut, of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Archpriest Gregory Scratch. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the Temple is the Feast of the Ascension of Christ, on the Thursday, 40 days after the Feast of Pascha.

In 2025, the pastor in charge of this parish is the Archpriest Rodion Luciuk.

Directions :

Holy Ascension Cemetery and Chapel near Hubbard, Saskatchewan, is located 42 km (30 mi) west and 8 km (5 mi) south of Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Archpriest Rodion Luciuk

310, Circlebrooke Drive

Yorkton, Saskatchewan

S3N 2T1

Telephone : 306-782-2482

E-mail : fatherrod@sasktel.net

Holy Ascension Temple

References

Archdiocese of Canada – Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church In Canada : A Chronology 1890-1988” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Wawruck, Walter A, “Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, Hubbard, Saskatchewan : Celebrating 100 years 1917-2017 ” (Yorkton, Saskatchewan : Max Wawruck et al, 2017).

“Ukrainian Orthodox Churches In the Hubbard Area”

Additional information :

Sametz, William, “My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE

Diocese listing

OCA listing

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

The Russian Mission in North America Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Saint Alexis Toth

Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Metropolitan Andrei (Kushchak)

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)

Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen