Rouyn-Noranda QC †Saint George Russian Orthodox Church 1954-1982

Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, †Saint George Russian Orthodox Church, 1954-1982

Theodore may be spelt Théodore, Féodor, Fyodor, Fedor.

Oustoutchenkov may be spelt Ustutschenkow, Ustuchenkov, Ustuchenko.

Shevchenko may be spelt Shevtchenko.

Gratitude is expressed that Dr. Paul Ladouceur has founded the web-site “Pages Orthodoxes la Transfiguration”, and that he has published therein many articles with regard to the life and history of the Orthodox Church in Québec, besides liturgical, theological, and other historical texts.

Prehistory

(Abitibi-Témiscamingue is an Algonquian region of western Québec, Canada, which adjoins a region of similar name in northeastern Ontario. This region was originally part of New France, which established Fort Témiscamingue in 1720. This region became part of the Rupert’s Land territory of the Hudson’s Bay Company, and remained so until 1868, when it was purchased by Canada, and became part of the North-West Territories. It became part of Québec in 1898 (since it had always been part of Lower Canada). It was by then that settlement had begun, along with the introduction of agriculture and of forest industries. It was yet later that mining interests were introduced.

Rouyn

The city of Rouyn is situated at the southwestern end of Lac Osisko in the Abititi region. Rouyn was developed after 1917, when a copper deposit was discovered, and mining began.

The city of Rouyn takes its name from the eponymous canton in which it is located. The name of "Rouyn" is intended as a tribute to Sieur Jean-Baptiste de Rouyn, knight, Lord of Saint-Maurice, in Lorraine, France, infantry captain and member of the Régiment Royal Roussillon of General Louis-Joseph de Montcalm in 1759. Seriously injured during the Battle of Sainte-Foy in 1760, he received the Cross of Saint-Louis. Then, he returned to France, where he died subsequently.

Nearby Noranda (named by a contraction of "north" and "Canada") developed around another mine and a foundry. Both cities were merged in 1986. By that time, Rouyn-Noranda had become the regional capital (Abitibi-Témiscamingue), the site of a university, and the seat of a Roman Catholic bishop and diocese.

Immigration

As was the case in Val-d’Or, a group of Russians and Russian-speakers arrived in Rouyn. These persons were from the “second wave” of immigration, which followed the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution in Russia.

Father Oleg Boldireff and missionary development

Soon after this time, Archpriest Oleg Boldireff arrived in Montréal, Québec, from Paris, France. An experienced parish priest who had done a considerable amount of work caring for refugees in displaced persons’ camps in Europe, he was aware of their plight, and he was ready to meet their needs as they also began to emigrate to Canada. This constituted the “third wave” of immigration to Canada of Russian- and Ukrainian-speakers.

Besides his duties at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Montréal, Father Oleg helped with the establishment of many parish communities in order to accommodate the many Russian-speakers who were arriving. In his capacity of Dean of Québec and Ontario, he did this with the blessing of the bishop.

First, there was Holy Trinity Church in Québec City (1950) ; then there came the Abitibi region Temples (1954) : Saint Nicholas' Church in Val-d’Or (1954), followed almost simultaneously by Saint George's Church in Rouyn, Québec, Holy Transfiguration Church in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, and Saints Peter and Paul's Church in Kearns, Ontario (all in about1954). One year later (1955), he helped to establish Saint Nicholas Church in Ottawa, Ontario ; and then the following year (1956), he established the community of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Rawdon, Québec. It seems that it was also through his personal contacts (and the blessing of the bishop) that he was able to bring to Canada various clergy to care for these communities.

Theodore Koulomzine

It is quite evident that Dr. Theodore Koulomzine was instrumental in the development not only of this parish, but also of the other 3 in the Abitibi region. This assertion is supported by the fact that his post-office box was the first mailing address ; that the Temple of Saint Nicholas was built next to his home, and that when he moved to Montréal, Archpriest David Shevchenko lived in that house. It is probable that Theodore Koulomzine was involved in the architectural designing of this Temple. The other Temples (erected in Rouyn, Kirkland Lake, and Kearns) resembled the Temple in Val-d’Or in essence, although they had extensions on the west end which allowed for a larger narthex/vestibule, above which was a belfry.

Theodore Iakovlevich Koulomzine was brother to Nikita, Yaroslav, Ekaterina, Ekaterina, Elizaveta, and Seraphima Koulomzine. This family had originated in the Kostroma Governorate of the Russian Empire, and they were active in Saint Petersburg. They had become refugees after the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution.

Establishment of the parish, 1954

The development of the parish of Saint George in Rouyn was directly related to the development of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Val-d’Or. Between Father Oleg Boldireff and Theodore Koulomzine, the plans were developing towards the establishment of the missions in Rouyn, Kirkland Lake, and Kearns.

Archpriest Theodore (Fyodor) Oustoutchenkov

In 1954, Father Theodore Oustoutchenkov had arrived in Canada from displaced person camps in Europe, and he had been assigned to serve in Abitibi by Bishop Nikon (de Grève) of Toronto and Canada.

Father Oustoutchenkov supervised the erection of this small Russian Orthodox church designed along the lines of traditional architectural principles with two superimposed cupolas.

The building plans were designed by Théodore I Koulomzine engineer-geologist of Val-d’Or. The essential space of this Temple (as with the ones in Kirkland Lake and in Kearns) was similar to that in Val-d’Or ; but whereas the Temple of Saint Nicholas in Val-d’Or had a simple entry, those of Rouyn and Kirkland Lake each had an extended entrance which provided a vestibule, over which there was a belfry. Each of them was unique. The Temple of Saint George in Rouyn is the largest of the 4. It is situated atop a rocky hill, and it has a basement beneath it as well.

Sketch of the Temple

As it was in the other parishes, the construction work was directed by Archpriest Theodore (Fyodor) Oustoutchenkov.

The construction of Saint George Russian Orthodox Church started in 1955 after the appointment of Father Theodore (Fyodor). Several fund-raising campaigns were launched to raise financial support for the construction of the Temple, which ended in 1957.

The Temple under construction

Besides the construction, Father Theodore was responsible for making the iconostas. He had already done this in Val-d’Or, and he did so now in Rouyn, Kirkland Lake, and Kearns. He made and decorated this iconostas with his own hands and hand-tools.

An iconostas is a large screen with 3 doors, separating the Altar from the nave, which is covered with icons, and behind which the priest leads the services during religious ceremonies.

Iconostas

An interpretation centre devoted to the immigrants has been created in the basement and it is rich in picturesque details about this community by way of videos and explanatory panels.

Bereavement, 1957

In 1957, Father Theodore Oustoutchenkov fell asleep in the Lord unexpectedly.

The Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest was led by Archpriest Oleg Boldireff at Saint Nicholas Church, Val d’Or.

After the conclusion of the funeral obsequies, the body of Archpriest Theodore Oustoutchenkov was interred at the “Golden Valley” Cemetery at Val-d’Or.

Archpriest David Shevchenko, 1957

In 1957, Archpriest David Shevchenko was assigned to serve the Orthodox Christian communities of Val d’Or, Rouyn, Kirkland Lake and Kearns/McGarry. He did so from Val-d'Or by bus.

Scholar, specialist in Russian military and political history, writer of personal memoirs for Columbia University in New York, David Shevchenko was ordained a priest at the age of 54. Significantly, he concluded each Divine Liturgy with a prayer for the tsar.

Twentieth anniversary, 1974

On the 20th anniversary of the construction of the Temple, there were about 15 people attending the commemorative Divine Liturgy.

By this time, many original parishioners had retired to other places, and the youth had moved elsewhere for better educational and vocational opportunities, as enabled by their parents.

Temple interior (left) ; Cupola with the chandelier (right)

Bereavement, 1982

On 16 April, 1982, Archpriest David Shevchenko fell asleep in the Lord in Val-d’Or, Québec, at the age of 90.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Priest were offered in the Temple of Saint Nicholas at Val-d’Or.

It was reported that, following the funeral obsequies in Val-d’Or, the body of Archpriest David Shevchenko was transported to a cemetery in Toronto, Ontario, for interment.

Father David Shevchenko had served this community faithfully and diligently for 25 years, as he did also the other 3 communities in the Abitibi region.

Because of the small number of Faithful who now remained in the Abitibi region, no priest was assigned to replace Father David. Therefore, all 4 parishes (which were in a similar condition by then) were affected.

Particular parish information

This parish was a part of the Québec Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada, in The Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish followed the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish was the Feast of Saint George the Victorious, 23 April (6 May).

Address :

Saint George Russian Orthodox Church

201, rue Taschereau Ouest

Rouyn-Noranda (Québec)

J9X 2V6

Directions :

Rouyn-Noranda is situated about 630 km northeast of Montréal, Québec. The driving time is about 7 hours.

Rouyn-Noranda is accessible by air at the Rouyn-Noranda Aeroport from Montréal, Québec. The flight time is about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

By car :

From Montréal, Québec :

Drive northwards on either Decarie Boulevard or Boulevard de l'Acadie, and follow the signs to Route Transcanadienne/Autoroute 15 North. Follow Autoroute #15 northwards. After Saint-Agathe-des-Monts, the name of the road changes to Highway #117. Continue on this highway. Pass through the La Vérendrye Wildlife Reserve, and then through Val-d'Or. Do not deviate from Highway #117. Continue driving for another hour or so. When the highway passes to the south of Lac Rouyn, it arrives at a round-about, where Highway #117 turns to the north (and circles north and westwards around the city). Instead, follow the round-about until the second exit, which takes one effectively straight on, now onto Avenue La Riviere/Route McWatters. Follow Roue McWatters until the intersection with Rue Monseigneur Latulipe Est. Turn left (west) onto Rue Monseigneur Latulipe Est. At the junction with Avenue Dallaire, turn right (north) onto Avenue Dallaire. After 2 blocks, at the intersection with Rue Taschereau Est, turn left (west) onto Rue Taschereau Est. The Temple is on the left.