Mansonville QC Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Skete 1959

Mansonville, Québec, Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Skete, 1959

Sergei may be spelt Sergiy, Sergii, Serge, Sergeï, Sergui.

Petroff may be spelt Petrov.

Ustinov may be spelt Oustinov.

Prehistory

Although he had arrived in Canada in 1954, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), was first assigned to serve in Western Canada. There, he established several small monastic communities. In 1957, he was transferred to Montréal, Québec, and he was installed as the Bishop of Montréal and Canada.

Founding the Skete, 1959

It was in 1959 that Bishop Vitaly (Ustinov), on a visit to Mansonville and the Potton Township (near the Vermont, USA, border, in the Eastern Townships), was so enthralled by the landscape of Potton that he and his monastic brotherhood bought a large parcel of land. Here, he established a monastery (a "Skete"), and also a retreat for priests and lay members of his diocese. This idyllic piece of property was cleared of trees for growing wheat. It is bordered by a small river, the Missisquoi (and also Mud Creek).

Building the Temple, 1974-1976

Construction of the Temple, built as a gift from the cathedral parish of Saint Nicholas in Montréal was begun in 1974. The Temple was usable by 1976, and it was completed in 1979.

The Temple of the Holy Transfiguration Chapel is constructed of wood, in one of the architectural styles typical of northern Russia. Crowning the steep octagonal spire, is a half-sphere on which is situated a cylindrical cupola and a gold-coloured dome adorned with a Cross. Above the door of the Temple, a mosaic icon depicts Christ Pantocrator (from the Greek, meaning the Ruler of all). The interior of the Temple, as usual, reveals that the Kingdom of Heaven begins here on earth.

Four houses and the Temple of the Holy Transfiguration comprise the monastery’s buildings. On the grounds, there is also a cemetery. Because the monastery has suitable accommodations, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR gathered and met there several times after 1983.

Since this region was both a farming and a logging region, the brotherhood’s primary labours were farming and forestry. In the 1960s alone, the brothers planted 10,000 pine seedlings. The brotherhood accumulated all sorts of farming equipment to enable their diverse labours. In this farmstead, there was a candle-making factory. There was also a small printing shop, in the tradition of the Brotherhood of Saint Job of Pochaev. The printing equipment had moved with Vladyka Vitaly (Ustinov) in 1954 from Western Canada to Montréal. Through this print-shop, the original members of the brotherhood, together with the bishop, published various service-books, religious books, brochures, the diocesan periodical "The Orthodox Messenger", and a theological periodical “The Orthodox Observer : a Journal of Russian Orthodox Thought”. When the monks transferred to Montréal, the printing press went there as well. In the mid-1990s, it was further moved back to Western Canada.

Nevertheless, the monastery was monastically occupied latterly only during the summer months, since the brotherhood was eventually included amongst the clergy of the cathedral in Montréal (where they moved at the end), and since the brotherhood already had a “podvoriye” (representation, “metochion”) there. At this Temple, there were also parishioners.

Holy Transfiguration Temple

Archpriest Sergei Petroff

From the beginning of his days in Potton, Archpriest Sergei Petroff worked diligently to gather parishioners who lived near the Temple. He had been born in Saint Petersburg in 1917, and he lived in Bulgaria and France before moving to live in Québec in 1958.

After a 20-year career at “l’École polytechnique de Montréal”, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, and he made Potton his home. Father Petroff and his wife had received from the Lord a daughter and 2 sons. Father Petroff provided pastoral service at the Monastery until his death on 14 January, 2009, at the venerable age of 91. His body was interred in the monastery cemetery beside that of his wife, Matushka Lidia.

Archpriest Sergei Petroff

After the repose of resident Archpriest Sergei Petroff, the monastery facility was only rarely used. Visits to the property are permitted, provided that the private and sacred nature of the place is respected.

2010 Altar-Feast Day

2010 Altar-Feast Day, blessing water

Move to the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, 2001

The Russian Orthodox Church in Exile resulted from a split in 2001 with the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. Citing his declining health in 2001, Metropolitan Vitaly announced that he was going to retire the same year. During the Council of Bishops of 2001, Metropolitan Vitaly announced his resignation. Immediately afterwards, he left for his residence at the Holy Transfiguration monastery in Mansonville, accompanied by his supporters. From there, he led the opposition to the rapprochement with the Patriarch of Moscow. Thus, he became the Metropolitan of the Russian Church in Exile in November of 2001.

Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) reposed in Magog, Québec, on 25 September, 2006, at the age of 96. He was interred by the clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile in the cemetery of the Holy Transfiguration Skete in Mansonville, Potton Township. The grave is beside the Temple, near the south wall, towards the Altar.

Grave of Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)

Mosaic

Holy Transfiguration Cemetery, 1969

Burial in the Holy Transfiguration Cemetery is reserved for Orthodox clergy and laity. It is one of the most impressive in Potton. A Russian Orthodox Cross marks each grave. More than 55 persons have been buried there since 1969. White crosses mark the graves of persons without living family at the time of their death.

Cemetery photo

Cemetery painting

Particular skete information

This community belongs officially to the Diocese of Montréal and Canada of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The bishop is Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov).

Unofficially, the community is under the omophor of Archbishop Andronik (Kotliaroff) of Ottawa.

This community follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the Skete is the Feast of the Tranfiguration of Christ, 6/19 August.

Address :

Holy Transfiguration Russian Orthodox Skete

83, Chemin du Monastère

Mansonville, Québec

J0E 1X0

Directions :

From Montréal, take Highway #10 East to Eastman. At Eastman, turn south onto Highway #245 south to Mansonville. Along the way south, Highway #245 merges into Highway #243.

Follow Highway #243 south (Route de Mansonville). At Chemin de l'Aéroport, turn left. Before the aéroport, turn right at Chemin du Monastère. The skete is on the left.

Holy Transfiguration Monastery Temple

References

"Holy Transfiguration Russian Monastery" (in English)

Hopko, Thomas, ‘Monasticism’ in “The Orthodox Faith”, vol. 2.

Leduc, Gérard, et Peter Downman. “Monastère russe” (Association du patrimoine de Potton, 2002). (in French)

Orthodoxwiki article about Monasticism

Prokurat, Michael ; Golitzin, Alexander & Petersen, Michael, eds., 'Monasteries' in “The A to Z of the Orthodox Church” (Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 2010), pp. 223-224. ISBN : 978-0-8108-7602-6.

...... 'Monasticism' in “The A to Z of the Orthodox Church” (Lanham, MD : Scarecrow Press, 2010), pp. 225-227. ISBN : 978-0-8108-7602-6.

Seide, Georg, "Monasteries and Convents of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad", English translation by Theophilos Lasswell (Munich : Monastery of Saint Job of Pochaev, 1990). ISBN 3-926165-13-8

Wikipedia article about the history of Eastern Orthodox Christian Monasticism

Additional information :

ROCOR diocese listing

Orthodox world listing

Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)

Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)

ROCA listing

Russian Orthodox Church Abroad

ROCA Canada web-site

Wikipedia article about Metropolitan Vitaly

Mansonville, Québec

Wikipedia article about Potton Township, Québec