View source for Theodore and Anna Fuhr



[[File:Theodore-and-Anna-Fuhr.jpg]]

'''Theodore Pavlovich Fuhr (1864-1942)''' 

and 

'''Anna “Maria” Fuhr (born Borys) (1864-1939)'''


'''Founders of the Orthodox Christian mission in Rabbit Hill near Edmonton, Alberta'''



Theodore may be spelt Teodor, Fedor, Feodor, Fyodor.  

Fuhr has been incorrectly written Fur in some government documents.  
 

==Origin in Western Ukraine==

In 1864, Theodore Pavlovich Fuhr was born in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wysocko Wysocko], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subcarpathian_Voivodeship Subcarpathian (Podkarpackie) Woivodeship], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jarosław_County Jaroslaw County], (then and now in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland Poland]).  

The Jaroslaw County is a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podkarpackie_Voivodeship Podkarpackie Voivodeship] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland Poland], situated just west of present-day [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine], in a region generally known as "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_(Eastern_Europe) Galicia]".  This district is a part of the region that contributes to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vistula Vistula River].  Jaroslaw County itself has had historical influences from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prussia Prussia], but it was a part of the region of  Poland which, after being partitioned, belonged for a time to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire  Russian Empire].  

In the mid-18th century, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catherine_the_Great Empress Catherine II] invited many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18th-century_history_of_Germany Germans] into this region (and other regions also) of the empire in order to re-establish organised farming after the invasions by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Turkish_War_(1768%E2%80%931774) Ottomans had been repelled].    

The Fuhr family, along with very many others, assimilated into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rusyns Rusyn] environment in which they had settled.  They became immersed in the unique culture and language of the Jaroslav region of southeastern Poland, with its distinctive [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Lowland Sian Basin dialect] (“Hadayivs’ky hovir”).  They also became [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches Eastern Catholics], as their neighbours were Eastern Catholics.  

In their case, the Fuhr family were both fervent and informed Christians. 

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenian_Greek_Catholic_Church Eastern Catholic Rusyns] of this region were largely [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavs Slavic] people who had historically been [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church  Orthodox Christians].  The town of Jarosław itself had been established by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaroslav_the_Wise Yarslav the Wise], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Prince_of_Kiev Prince of Kyivan Rus'], in the early 11th century, and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] had been established in this region from that time.  It was not until the development of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Poland Kingdom of Poland] and the dominance of the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Roman-Catholicism  Roman Catholic Church] that the situation changed with the forced [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_of_Brest Union of Brest], which occurred in 1595-1596.  Although the people had been placed under the authority of the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/papacy Pope of Rome], and they constituted a large portion of the population, the Roman Catholics of the region regarded them as "second-rate", and those who were still Orthodox Christians regarded them as betrayers.  It was such situations, as well as economic uncertainties and the political uncertainties that accompany the shifting of borders between neighbouring empires that provided some impetus to considering a move when the opportunity eventually came.  

Theodore completed high school ("[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_%28school%29 gymnasium]") in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wysocko Wysocko] (Vizitzko).  He had a keen interest in history, geography and world affairs.  With his strong religious convictions and pleasant voice, he soon found a place in the Church as a “dyak” (“[https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Psalomshchik psalomshchik]”, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Reader reader], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cantor_(Christianity) cantor]).

==Marriage, 1887==

Theodore Fuhr married Anna “Maria” Borys (Borris) in 1887.  Anna was also from a family actively living and practicing their faith.  

The Borys family were known for their generous and practical sharing.  For instance, when they prepared meats for the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] or for the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity] (Christmas), they would divide it up for those in the village who had none.  

Over the years, Theodore and Anna received the following children from the Lord : William (1888), John (1890), Alexander (1892), Katherine (1895), Mary (1896), Anastasia (1897), Mary (1900), Evdokia (Eva) (1902), Anastasia (1904), [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77386390/andrew-theodore-fuhr Andrew] (1908).

It is important to understand that living the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/What_is_Orthodoxy Orthodox Christian way of life] is rooted in love for God.  It is much more than mere customs and rules (as it were).  The Way is rooted in and sustained by love which the Lord provides to those who serve Him.  

Once Theodore had come to understand the historical rightness of the Orthodox Way and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Faith], he began to promote it amongst his friends and neighbours.  He was an outspoken person.  As a consequence, he began to have difficulties with the local authorities.  In part, these difficulties arose because of the association of the Orthodox Faith in the minds of some with [https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia Russia] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire] : in other words, they implied a political relationship behind the Orthodox Christian Faith.

==Emigration to Canada, 1896==

On 12 April, 1896, Theodore set sail without his family from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamburg Hamburg], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany Germany], aboard the [https://immigrantships.net/1800/christiania980706.html SS Christiania].  By the end of the month, on 30 April, 1896, he had arrived in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  


[[File:S S ChristianiaS 1.png]]  '''S S Christiania'''


Theodore travelled the whole way together with [[Theodore and Katherine Nemirsky |Theodore Nemirsky]] and his family.  As usual, they all journeyed across the country by means of the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canadian-pacific-railway Canadian Pacific Railway] (CPR).  They stopped in [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/calgary Calgary], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/north-west-territories-1870-1905 North-West Territories] (now [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta Alberta]) and they transferred to the northbound line which brought them to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strathcona,_Alberta Strathcona] (on the south side of the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/north-saskatchewan-river North Saskatchewan River] from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton Edmonton]).  From there, instead of travelling to the northeast with the Nemirsky family and others, Theodore Fuhr travelled southwest to the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/homesteading#:~:text=Homesteading,advertisements%20of%20%22free%22%20land. homestead] for which he had applied at Rabbit Hill (north of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/leduc Leduc]).  

These families had undertaken this great upheaval in their life as a part of the famous [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ruthenian emigration] and  [http://www.provincialarchives.alberta.ca/docs/UkrainianGuide-English.pdf Oleskow settlement scheme] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Oleskiw Dr. Joseph Oleskow] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Galicia-historical-region-Eastern-Europe Galicia].  

Theodore Pavlovich had arrived in Canada early in 1896.  Theodore’s wife, Anna, arrived in Alberta with her daughter Katherine and with her mother-in-law Anna later in 1896.  Theodore’s mother was Anna Szczyrbiak, who had been born in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wysocko Wysocko], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaros%C5%82aw_County Jaroslaw], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Galicia%E2%80%93Volhynia Galicia].  She had then been married in about 1863.  

When this family arrived in Canada, they were one of many families who had emigrated from different villages of the Jaroslaw county in Galicia.  However, Theodore Fuhr and his family were alone amongst these newcomers to settle to the southwest of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton] .  There, at [https://www.rabbithill.com/ Rabbit Hills], southwest of Edmonton, Theodore received a portion of land for homesteading at : SE-2-51-25-W.4.M.  

However, he cancelled his application because he found a pre-existing [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/homesteading homestead], which by then was a developed farm, and which he bought from a [https://www.britannica.com/place/German German] family.  A couple of horses, a cow, a plough were amongst his assets.  Some neighbours, the Millers, watched over for Theodore and they taught him the ways of the land.  This property amounted to a half-section of land (1.3 square km : 320 acres, or 130 hectares).  Theodore knew [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpentry carpentry] from Galicia, and he built his own buildings from the best wood that he could find.  

His decision to settle in this region opened the way for many others to do similarly, and his presence there smoothed the way for them. 

In making this purchase, Theodore became the first [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slav Slavic] landowner in Canada.  Had he begun simply with the homestead, it would have taken several years of hard work in construction and cultivation before he would have been able to own the land he worked.  

Another immigrant family ([https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129409834/john-borys Ivan] and [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77386330/anna-borys Anna] [https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/14179/file.pdf Borys] and their son [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77386328/simeon-borys Simeon]) arrived from their homeland and settled nearby.  They were relatives of the Fuhrs.  

When Anna joined Theodore near the end of 1896, she found him already established, and the foundation of a community was just beginning to be formed.  

The Church was vital to life.  Theodore and some others now comprehended that they were no longer obligated to belong to the [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/uniat Uniat] church (as previously in their portion of Galicia).  Theodore had already begun to gather the neighbours who were willing to listen to him.  Theodore was articulate and well-read, and he was able to convince his Ruthenian neighbours about the fulness of the [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith Orthodox Christian Faith].  There was a strong positive response.

==Visit of missionaries ; reunion with the Orthodox Christian Church ; first Divine Liturgy, 1897==

At this time, in association with Theodore Fuhr, some of the other pioneers came to understand that they were under no obligation to continue to belong to the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Eastern-rite-church Greek Catholic (Uniat) Rite] as they had been while they lived under the Polish and Austrian authority in Galicia.  They, with the Fuhr family, began to follow the Faith of their forefathers, that of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Russo-Greek Orthodox Church].  

Thus, in 1897, the Rabbit Hill area was first visited by Russian Orthodox missionaries, the Priest Dimitri Kamnev, and the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_Vladimir_and_Matushka_Rose_Alexandrov Deacon Vladimir Alexandrov] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle Seattle], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_(state) Washington], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA].  


[[File:Priest Dmitry Kamnev 1902.png]]  '''Priest Dimitri Kamnev'''


In June, 1897, a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated in the home of Theodore Fuhr.  

In his report to [[Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]], Father Dimitri Kamnev wrote the following [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Roots_of_community_-_First_Divine_Liturgy about his experience] at Rabbit Hill : 
  [...] on Sunday we aimed to be with the Ruthenians who lived on the other side of Edmonton, 
  the number of which we have spoken of earlier, twenty-three families.  And in fact, while 
  still in Edmonton, we learned that they were waiting for us at Rabbit Hills.  We arrived 
  on Saturday at the home of Theodore Fuhr, a substantial dwelling, even with a verandah 
  (as he bought his farm with buildings ready-made from a German settler).
  
  Then not paying attention to the rain that came down all day, all the settlers assembled. 
  The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/All-Night_Vigil All-Night Vigil] was served, and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Matins  Matins] the next day, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Confession confession], the Rite of Union 
  with the Orthodox Church, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy], in which those who had made their confessions 
  received the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Mysteries Holy Mysteries].  In the evening an [http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/Akathist.htm Akathist to the Mother of God] was served, 
  which was sung by the whole community.  Next day there was discussion about Church affairs 
  and a request was written to His Grace to accept the newly-united into his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eparchy Eparchy], numbering 
  99 souls with women and children.  On the 16th in the morning we left via Edmonton and came 
  home on June 20th in the evening.  
  – This report was printed in the "Американский православный вестник" ("[https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_American_Messenger American Orthodox Messenger]") 
  of that year.   

Thus, Theodore Fuhr was one of the signatories of the 1897 petition signed by some others as well, which was taken by Father Dmitri Kamnev to [[Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]].  [[Theodore and Katherine Nemirsky |Theodore Nemirsky]] of the settlement northeast of Edmonton was a main signatory as well.  

In this petition, the signators requested to be received into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Church].  They also requested that missionary Russian Orthodox clergy come and serve the new settlers in Canada.  Theodore, as others, was well aware of the history of his family’s Orthodox Faith in the past, and of the historical links with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kievan_Rus%27 Kyivan Rus’].  

At the beginning, services were held right in the Fuhr home, and newly-born Anastasia Fuhr was baptised by Father Dimitri Kamnev when he arrived to serve the Faithful there.   

Despite the repeated suggestions of various bishops that Theodore be ordained, Theodore did not accept the possibility.  Rather, he continued to gather people and to teach them.  Because of his efforts, either directly or indirectly (much as with [[Saint Alexis Toth]] in the USA, hundreds of persons came into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada].

==Holy Ascension Temple, 1898==

Theodore Fuhr, together with his wife, Anna, of the Rabbit Hill community near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta] (south of the city, west of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisku,_Alberta  Nisku]), were amongst the key leaders in building one of the first Orthodox missions in Canada (the [[Nisku AB Holy Ascension Russo-Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1898-1910 |Church of the Holy Ascension]]).  

The Orthodox missionaries, Father Dmitri Kamnev and [[Archpriest Vladimir and Matushka Rose Alexandrov |Deacon Vladimir Alexandrov]], who held their first service in the summer of 1897, wrote in their report that they had stayed at the Fuhr home.  Father Kamnev and Deacon Vladimir had been first sent to Western Canada (following letters of request from the pioneers) in 1897 by [[Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco], the head of the "[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America Russian Mission]" in [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America].  

The talents of the Fuhrs were fully laid out before the Church according to the need at hand : a table or a bed for visitors, a letter written on behalf of neighbours, performing the duties of a church [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Reader reader], or holding services in their home.  All was done for the glory of God.  

In addition, by establishing where he did to the south of Edmonton, Theodore also enabled the immigration of several hundred other people from his homeland to this same region of Alberta.  It became a substantial settlement, although not as large as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna-Star_colony Edna-Star settlement] northeast of Edmonton.  

Indeed, the Fuhr family opened their home to those who were newly-arriving in this region, and they gave people food and shelter as they arrived to prepare their land and establish their homes.

His new home would serve for some time as the church.  Then Theodore donated an acre of land for the building of the first Orthodox Temple, dedicated to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Ascension of our Lord].  All this time, the parish was increasing with converts to Orthodoxy, a sort of parallel to the American experience of [[Saint_Alexis_Toth|Father Alexis Toth]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis Minneapolis], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota Minnesota], USA.  

'''1898 : a Ukrainian Catholic cemetery ; a favourable government report'''

During these days, also, there was a real concern about establishing cemeteries in which to bury the departed Orthodox or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches Greek Catholic] faithful, because other [https://www.cccb.ca/the-catholic-church-in-canada/ Roman Catholic] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_in_Canada Protestant] churches would not accept the burial of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Catholic_Churches Uniat] or [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian Orthodox] in their cemeteries.  

On 29 June, 1898, the Feast of [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2019/06/29/101840-the-holy-glorious-and-all-praised-leaders-of-the-apostles-peter Saints Peter and Paul], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Greek_Catholic_Church Ukrainian Greek Catholic] Priest Pavlo Tymkiewicz (of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_Catholic_Archdiocese_of_Edmonton Diocese of Saint Albert]) consecrated a 2-acre parcel of land on NE 20-50-25-W of 4 as a cemetery to be used by the [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Slavic Slavic] community.  This was to be the beginning of the Nativity of the Theotokos Parish that still exists on that location today.  This parish later was united with the Holy Ascension Parish as one Orthodox Christian parish.  

On 3 December, 1898, Dominion Colonisation Agent C W Speers reported to Ottawa : 
  Theodor Fuhr – Section 4-51-25-W.4.M. – Has been there three years ; has 700 bushels 
  of grain in the granary ; 7 cattle $175 ; 3 horses $150 ; 15 pigs $50 ; house, stable 
  and granary $400 ; all good ; wagon, binder, plough, sleigh and harrows $300 ; 40 acres 
  under cultivation ; 30 tons of hay ; 100 bushels of potatoes.  Came in April 1896 
  with $500 capital.  
Theodore Fuhr was the [https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/14501/file.pdf first Ukrainian in Canada] to own land and to hold the clear title to the land (he had paid in cash).  

By 1898, Theodore Fuhr and his family had been joined in this region by the Dobko, Pidhirny, Olekshy (also spelt Olekshii), Sereda, Borys, Workun (also spelt Vorkun), Pyrch, Manchak, Khimera, Fytsovych families, and many others.

'''Establishment of a Ukrainian Catholic parish nearby, 1900'''

In the month of January, 1900, local community families resolved to begin the task of building a Temple.  A sum of 100 dollars was raised, and construction was to begin on 26 March, 1900.  The name of the new Temple was to honour the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity_of_the_Theotokos Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God].  

On 18 December, 1900, the newly-constructed temple was consecrated by the Ukrainian Catholic Priest Ivan Zacklynski.

==Construction of the Orthodox Temple of the Holy Ascension, 1902==

During the course of these developments, because he had fulfilled the requirements, Theodore Fuhr had been granted [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/british-subject-status Naturalisation as a Canadian British Subject] on 5 November, 1900. 

In 1902, the Temple for which the land had been donated by Theodore Fuhr was later erected, and it was named after the [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/05/29/42-the-ascension-of-our-lord Feast of the Holy Ascension].  Space for a cemetery was included in the property donated.  


[[File:20170425Holy Ascension Church Rabbit Hill AB s 1.jpg]]  

'''Holy Ascension Church Rabbit Hill'''

==Visit of Bishop Tikhon, 1902==

In 1902, [[Saint_Tikhon_(Belavin)|Bishop Tikhon of the Aleutians and North America]] (who later became the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarch Patriarch] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Moscow Moscow] and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia/ all Rus’], and who was in time [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Glorification glorified] as a [https://en.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saint]) visited the congregation.  

In 1904, Vladyka Tkhon visited the Rabbit Hill area again, and he led services at Holy Ascension Church.  This time, he stayed at the Fuhr home, and he presented Theodore Fuhr with a commendation (a “gramota”), dated 12 August, 1904, for his efforts in building the [[Nisku AB Holy Ascension Russo-Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1898-1910 |Holy Ascension Church]], and for his work towards the return of many Uniats to Orthodoxy.  It was during this visit that [[Saint_Tikhon_(Belavin)|Bishop Tikhon]] helped the family by watching over the children while the parents did work in the harvest-season.  The children remembered this encounter with the holy bishop for the rest of their lives.  

Forty more fruitful years followed before the repose first of Anna in 1939 and then of Theodore in 1942.

==Archimandrite Arseny ; receiving a Ukrainian Catholic community ; harmony, 1910==

By the end of the first decade in the new century, many families from the Greek Catholic Parish of Saint Mary’s (usually identified with Nisku) wished to unite with the Orthodox congregation of Holy Ascension.  With the spirit of Orthodoxy growing in strength, the union of the 2 parishes took place under the condition that the future services were to be held in Saint Mary’s Church (formally known as the Nativity of the Theotokos Church), since it was the larger building.  The day of unification, in 1910, was a very solemn and highly emotional event.   It was led by [[Saint Arseny (Chahovtsov) |Archimandrite Arseny (Chahovtsov)]], who wrote about this event.  Theodore’s grandson, the [[Archpriest Orest and Matushka Oksana Olekshy |Archpriest Orest Olekshy]] outlined his mother [https://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=TLS3&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&indiv=1&dbid=60527&gsfn=Eva&gsln=Olekszy&new=1&rank=1&uidh=000&redir=false&gss=angs-d&pcat=34&fh=0&h=1757688&recoff=&ml_rpos=1&queryId=53e92da6c700299736dbb7ed641a4a5a&geo_a=r&geo_s=us&geo_t=ca&geo_v=2.0.0&o_iid=41015&o_lid=41015&o_sch=Web+Property Evdokia’s] recollection : 
  It came to the place that grandfather decided to close down his chapel now that they had the buildings of the 
  Catholic parish, and my mother remembered as a girl St. Arseny giving her an icon to carry, and all the Orthodox 
  that had already been converted in years prior to that in my grandfather’s chapel started walking with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khorugv banners] 
  and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Processional_cross#Eastern_Orthodoxy Crosses] and [https://orthodoxwiki icons] and the Catholics who were ready to get converted left their church with banners and crosses 
  [...] and my mother often said she could not understand why it was such a powerful thing but she said she just 
  thought that this was a historical event, [...] she knew it.  And they met in the middle of the field and all 
  she could remember was that [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Scripture Scriptures] were read and then everyone started crying and embracing and from that 
  point where they met they all continued back to the Catholic church and that established a much larger community 
  which became [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nisku_AB_Nativity_of_the_Theotokos_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1898 St. Mary’s in Nisku].  


[[File:Aerial view small 2016 2.png]]  

'''Saint Mary's Church, Nisku (Rabbit Hill)'''


[[Nisku AB Nativity of the Theotokos Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1898 |Saint Mary’s Russo-Greek Orthodox Church]] at Rabbit Hill was officially registered with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Diocese of the Aleutians and North America] on 2 August, 1917.  It was included under the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_Ordinances_-_1903,_1904 incorporation of the bishop] which had been achieved by [[Saint_Tikhon_(Belavin)|Bishop Tikhon]] in Alberta in 1903 (when it was still part of the Northwest Territories).  


[[File:20170425Theodore Fuhr home Rabbit Hill AB s 1.jpg]]  

'''Home of Theodore and Anna Fuhr at Rabbit Hill''' 


[[File:20170221 NiskuAB Ascension Cemetery s.jpg]]  '''Holy Ascension Cemetery Rabbit Hill'''


[[File:Saint Mary's Cemetery Nisku 2.png]]  

'''Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Rabbit Hill-Nisku (new Temple)'''

==Repose of Anna, 1939==

On 22 October, 1939, Anna Fuhr [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353125/anna-fuhr reposed in the Lord] in “Sprucedale”, Alberta.  

The [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-orthodox-lay-persons Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person] were offered at the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nisku_AB_Nativity_of_the_Theotokos_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1898 Nativity of the Theotokos Church] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nisku Nisku], Alberta.

After the funeral services, the body of Anna [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353125/anna-fuhr was interred] in the [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2414659/saint-mary%27s-russian-greek-orthodox-cemetery cemetery of Saint Mary’s Church], Rabbit Hill, near Nisku, Alberta.

==Repose of Theodore, 1942==

Oon 2 June, 1942, Theodore Fuhr [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353154/theodore-fuhr reposed in the Lord] in “Sprucedale”, Alberta.

The [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-orthodox-lay-persons Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person] were offered at the Nativity of the Theotokos Church at Nisku, Alberta.

After the funeral services, the body of Theodore was [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353154/theodore-fuhr interred] in the [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2414659/saint-mary%27s-russian-greek-orthodox-cemetery cemetery of Saint Mary’s Church], Rabbit Hill, near Nisku, Alberta. 


[[File:Fuhr grave marker 1.jpg]]  '''Grave-marker for Theodore and Anna Fuhr'''

==Reflections==

Theodore and Anna Fuhr were certainly enterprising persons with strong faith in God.  In moving to Canada, they were not forced out of their homeland as others were.  Perhaps the practical choices of their ancestors in moving to eastern Poland in some way prepared them.  What would have been particularly appealing would have been the possibility to own their own land, and to have freedom of choice in the exercise of their Christian Faith.  Moreover, because of the primacy of this Christian Faith in their lives, they would not likely have undertaken such a major move without being first convinced in their hearts that God had blessed this undertaking.  

Upon arriving in Canada, Theodore and Anna did not travel to the area northeast of Edmonton in which the majority of the other newcomers were settling.  Rather, they settled in an area to the southwest of that city, and they were quickly joined by many other families from their homeland who were also arriving in Canada.  To make such a decision would also require a clarity of perception of the circumstances, as well as an acute awareness of what God was blessing them to do.  Those who settled to the northeast of Edmonton had the advantage of participating in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edna-Star_colony Edna-Star Block Settlement], whereas Theodore and Anna and the others who settled nearby had no such advantage.  

As with their fellow immigrants northeast of Edmonton, those who were similarly motivated seized the opportunity to embrace the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith].  As Theodore and Anna, some already knew this to be their true spiritual home.  Others were quickly convinced that this was so by Theodore and by the visiting clergy.  Thus, what happened at that time in the Edna-Star Bock Settlement happened also in the Rabbit Hill area.  

It is significant that Theodore and Anna, together with their neighbours, were deeply faithful, Christ-loving Christians, and that their lives were focussed on the daily practice of their Orthodox Christian Faith.  They [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Prayer prayed] frequently and daily ; they read the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Scripture Holy Scriptures] ; they talked with one another freely about the activity of God’s [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Grace Grace] in their lives.  As with other Orthodox Christians, the whole of life is lived in the seeking of God’s blessing and support.  In living thus, this family and their neighbours brought with them the seeds of faith which would be shared more broadly, and which would bear fruit (by the Grace of God) in ways which they could not possibly foresee.

==References==

Archdiocese of Canada – Orthodox Church in America, “[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/res/publications/TheOrthodoxChurchInCanadaChronology1980-1988.pdf The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology]” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).  
 
[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/8936-2/ ‘Priest V Alexandrov :  Journey to Canada – A Priest’s Diary’ in “Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada”]    

Sharko, Emily ; Fedor, Hope : St. Mary's Russian Greek Orthodox Parish (Nisku) Historical Society, “Echoes of Faith : St. Mary’s Russian Orthodox Church, Nisku, Alberta’ (Nisku : St. Mary’s Russian Greek Orthodox Parish (Nisku) Historical Society, 1985). ISBN 0889254990.

“[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America The Russian Mission in North America]”

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.


'''Additional information :'''

Cremeens, Timothy B, “[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40830489-marginalized-voices Marginalised Voices : a History of the Charismatic Movement in the Orthodox Church in North America 1972-1993]” (Eugene, Oregon : Pickwick Publications, 2018), pp. 132-134.  ISBN : 978-1-5326-1708-9.  

Czumer, William A, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/14501/file.pdf Recollections About the Life of the First Ukrainian Settlers in Canada]”  (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, 1981), pp. 26, 41. 

Kay, Vladimir J, ed., "[http://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/14179/file.pdf Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta, 1891-1900]" (Edmonton, AB : The Ukrainian Pioneer’s Association of Alberta, 1984). (Theodore Fuhr (Theodor Fur), p. 86.) 

……, Early Ukrainian Settlements in Canada 1895-1900 : Dr. Josef Oleskow's Role in the Settlement of the Canadian Northwest (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1964). ISBN : 9781487576554.  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Roots_of_community_-_Community_Leaders Roots of Community : Theodore Fuhr of the Rabbit Hill Community near Edmonton]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nisku_AB_%E2%80%A0Holy_Ascension_Russo-Greek_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1898-1910 †Holy Ascension Russo-Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery (Rabbit Hill), 1898-1910, Nisku, Alberta]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America (OCA)]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Nisku_AB_Nativity_of_the_Theotokos_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1898 The Nativity of the Theotokos Russo-Orthodox Church, Nisku, Alberta] 

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/parishes/orthodox-ix/churches/st-marys-parish-nisku/ Patriarchal Parishes of Canada listing for the Nativity of the Theotokos Church, Nisku, Alberta]   

[https://www.orthodox-canada.com/ Patriarchal Parishes of Canada web-site]    

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchial_Parishes_in_Canada Wikipedia article about the Patriarchal Parish of Canada]    

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Nicholas_(Ziorov) Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Tikhon_(Belavin) Saint Tikhon (Belavin)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_(Saint)_Arseny_(Chahovtsov) Saint Arseny (Chahovtsov)]    

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Platon_(Rozhdestvensky)  Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Theophilus_(Pashkovsky) Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Boris_(Vik) Metropolitan Boris (Vik)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Volodymyr_(Sabodan) Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Alexander_(Nemolovsky) Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Evdokim_(Meschersky) Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Adam_(Philipovsky) Archbishop Adam (Philipovsky)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Panteleimon_(Rudyk) Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Jonathan_(Kopolovich) Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovich)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Joasaph_(Skorodumov) Bishop Ioasaph (Skorodumov)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Makary_(Svistun) Bishop Makary (Svistun)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Job_(Tyvoniuk) Bishop Job (Tyvoniuk)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ireney_(Seredniy) Bishop Ireney (Seredniy)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Kliment_(Kapalin) Bishop Kliment Kapalin]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Nikolai_(Shkrumko) Bishop Nikolai (Shkrumpko)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Paul_(Ponomarev) Bishop Paul (Ponomarev)] 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Mark_(Petrovtsiy) Bishop Mark (Petrovtsiy)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Smakouz) Bishop Job (Smakouz)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Matthew_(Andreev) Bishop Matthew (Andreev)] 

Priest Dmitri Kamnev  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_Vladimir_and_Matushka_Rose_Alexandrov Priest Vladimir Alexandrov]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Theodore_and_Katherine_Nemirsky Article about Theodore and Katherine Nemirsky]   

[https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2414659/saint-mary's-russian-greek-orthodox-cemetery Findagrave reference for Saint Mary’s Cemetery]  

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353154/theodore-fuhr Findagrave reference for Theodore Fuhr]  

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/129353125/anna-fuhr Findagrave refrence for Anna Fuhr]  

[http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Timeline.pdf Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity : Vita of Archbishop Arseny], pp. 18-20.  

[http://www3.telus.net/public/vgfedor/FedorGen/FedorFamilyTreev2p2.html Fedor family]

[http://www.torugg.org/History/history_of_galicia.html History of Galicia] 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Germans_in_Russia,_Ukraine_and_the_Soviet_Union Wikipedia article : History of Germans in Russia, Ukraine and Soviet Union]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaros%C5%82aw Wikipedia article about Jaroslaw, Poland]

[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/church_history/history_archdiocese_canada.htm Orthodox Research Institute article about the history of the Archdiocese of Canada]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Oleskiw Wikipedia article about Joseph Oleskiw]

[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/oleskow_j.shtml Manitoba Historical Society article about Josef Oleskow]

[http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/pasttopresent/opportunity/ukr_edna_star.html Alberta Archives article about the Edna-Star settlement]  

[https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/eppp-archive/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/pasttopresent/opportunity/opening_west.html Alberta Archives article about the Opening of the West]   

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]  

[https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians  Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Diaspora]  

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainians-homesteading-in-the-parkland-feature Canadian Encyclopaedia article about the Ukrainian settlement in the Canadian Prairies]  




 

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