Anna Kuzmenko

Anna Kuzmenko (1926-2016)

“Anna Kuzmenko – Her 90-Year Journey in the Orthodox Faith”

— Edited from a biography compiled by Lynn Stegman and Monk Tikhon (Green).

This biography shows how one woman followed Christ.

Early life of Anna Kuzmenko

On 27 July, 1926, Anna Kuzmenko was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was the middle daughter of David and Lukia (Oleynik) Kuzmenko.

According to their official documents, her parents and older sister Tina immigrated to Canada from Jzybuliow, Kiev Province, in the Russian Empire. At the time when they were born, Kiev (or Kyiv) was within the Russian Empire. However, by the time they left, this region had become the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Anna's father had first been sent to Edmonton as an injured World War I veteran and refugee. Her mother and sister arrived in Canada years later. Her parent’s life-story was one of poverty, struggle, long separation, and fear. They strove for a safe life together. When reunited in Edmonton, the family joyfully grew to include Anna in 1926 and Irene a year later in 1927.

Family life

Anna’s roots in the Orthodox Christian Faith started in her home. She had a small family, who were building a life in a new country, far away from relatives and friends. They were, however, grateful to God for a new beginning. Anna was baptised in Saint Barbara’s Russo-Greek Orthodox Church in Edmonton. Anna and Irene were so close in age they were nicknamed the “Russki twins”. Anna was the first to speak and to write in English. She took on the responsibility of family spokesperson at a very young age. She adored her father, and she was proud to attend Legion parades, which recognised his military service.

The 3 sisters grew up with a very sick father who struggled with a chronic lung condition. Anna was a serious young girl, focussed on caring for her family. She fondly recalled the long rides on streetcars to attend Feast-days at Saint Barbara’s Orthodox Christian Church in downtown Edmonton.

Saint Barbara's Cathedral (before 1962)

Adulthood and work

Later, Anna worked for a time in "Aircraft Repair Ltd" during World War II. At that time the USA armed forces had a significant presence in the city, since they were building the Alaska Highway for continental defence purposes. By that time, the Royal Canadian Air Force had also increased its presence in the city.

Edmonton had for a long time also been the main centre for the supply of communities in the far north of Canada. Very many northern communities were accessible only by air and only sometimes during the year. Supplies for shops and larger business enterprises had to be flown in after they were ordered by telephone, telegraph or mail. Few could afford to fly in personally for shopping at that time. People and supplies arrived in Edmonton, from almost anywhere, and then they were transported northwards. There was a very limited supply possible by surface (usually by special vehicles), since roads to the far north began to appear only around the time of Word War II. Many Edmontonians were employed in the work of maintenance and supply for these operations.

Then she taught evening classes at Concordia College (now a university). After this, she had a 40-year career with the Hudson’s Bay Company. Her primary work during that time was as a book-keeper. However, because she was tall, slender, and good looking, she was sometimes asked to model clothes for the company. This was, for her, a pleasant side-line. Anna was always as attentive to her personal appearance, just as she was about everything else.

Re-awakening faith, 1970s

After the deaths of her oldest niece June in 1958 and her father in 1964, Anna began to explore other churches, as she sought comfort and friendship in her bereavement. However, her brother-in-law, the Archpriest Michael Andruchow, gently guided her back to the Orthodox Christian Faith.

Thus, she came to join the Ladies' Aid of All Saints Russian Orthodox Church in northeast Edmonton. There, she participated in the bake sales, dinners, perogy sales and catering that generated income in order to pay off the mortgage. It was there that she first became interested in the choir and the music of the Orthodox Church.

Bereavement, 1975

Father Michael Andruchow fell asleep in the Lord suddenly in 1975. With the help of the central office of The Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) sent Father Benedict deSocio (a graduate of Saint Vladimir's Seminary in 1967) to guide the parish. Father Benedict introduced serving the Divine Liturgy in English, and he explained the Orthodox Christian Faith to the parishioners.

He encouraged Anna to ask questions and to learn about the Orthodox Faith, which started a lifetime of learning about Orthodoxy, and of faithful service in her parish.

Intensive life of Christian service, 1976

There arose a congregational dispute in 1976 in the Parish of All Saints, which concerned the use of the English language in worship. Father Benedict deSocio returned to New York.

Because of this, Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) sent to the parish a young missionary priest, Father Jaroslav Roman (a recent graduate of Saint Vladimir's Seminary). However, his pastoral aim was the same as that of Father Benedict deSocio, and of Father Michael Andruchow before him. The use of the English language was crucial so that people would understand their Faith and their worship. Some leading parishioners resolutely resisted this direction, and they insisted on the use of Church Slavonic.

As a consequence, the majority of parishioners were excluded from the building, and along with Father Jaroslav Roman, they soon established the Saint Herman of Alaska Mission. Anna was one of the 10 founding families. With fierce determination, she practiced with fellow parishioners so that they all could sing the inherited Slavonic services in English. She prayed for guidance and blessings when this new parish started in the basement of the home of her sister and brother-in-law (George and Irene Tkachuk). Anna offered her sewing skills to make Altar-cloths and servers’ robes to adorn the Altar of every Temple that was established throughout the years. She tithed to support the purchase of parish property. Adorning, landscaping, cleaning, fundraising and seeking donations to support the first English-language Orthodox parish in Alberta, her faith was ignited.

First, small Temple of Saint Herman of Alaska

Father Stephen Keaschuk succeeded Father Jaroslav Roman in 1980. Father Stephen Keaschuk was also a graduate of Saint Vladimir's Seminary. With Father Stephen’s leadership, the congregation grew ; and so did the parish’s buildings : from Ellerslie, the parish moved into the main part of the city at 103 Avenue and 147 Street.

The second Temple of Saint Herman of Alaska

Finally, the parish constructed its own Temple in an Orthodox manner, at 100 Avenue and 167 Street.

Saint Herman of Alaska Sobor, Edmonton

Anna volunteered to help Father Stephen in the office. He patiently taught her to take responsibility for organising the music books, and the service-books that were used by the congregation weekly. She worked with talented choir directors. Greg Fedor, the principal leader of the singing, kindly helped her. She took great pride in changing music in these books each week (sometimes twice in a day) and maintaining the music books and files. She was very good at recruiting help : almost everyone in the parish took a turn, even the children. Many graciously learned to change the books and to pass her inspections. Anna’s sister Irene Tkachuk, Monk Tikhon (Green), her friends Dora Franchuk, Mila Gladwin, Lillian Trefan, Dianne Storheim, Sharie Baggett, Phillippa Byfield, Anna Altmann, her nieces and great nephews deserve special mention as they were called on more than most to help change the books. The music and the books had to be perfect, for she would tolerate no mistakes in the worship services. Eventually, her back was bent with osteoporosis and her fingers were weakened with arthritis, but she never complained about her long hours working in the parish office.

In 2001, there was an Archdiocesan Assembly in Edmonton, which was hosted by the Sobor Parish of Saint Herman of Alaska. As usual, Anna was very much involved in the preparatory work and in the details of the assembly itself. The concluding Divine Liturgy of the assembly was served on Friday, 27 July. Anna's birthday fell on this day, and along with others, at the conclusion of the service, she received the singing of "Many Years" from the participants in the assembly and the parishioners who were there.

At the concluding Divine Liturgy of the 2001 Archdiocesan Assembly

2002, Medal of Saint Tikhon

In recognition of her long and dedicated service to the Lord in her parish, Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) bestowed upon her the Archdiocesan Medal of Saint Tikhon of Moscow. This was done at the end of a Divine Liturgy at Saint Herman's Sobor in Edmonton on 22 December, 2002. At the same time, he also bestowed the same medal on Emily Demkiw, another parishioner who had always worked with similar devotion to the Lord, albeit with her own particular gifts.

Anna and Emily Demkiw after receiving the Saint Tikhon Medal

Anna was eager to serve, and she was happiest when she was working with the priests of Saint Herman’s including : Fathers John Scratch, Dennis Pihach, Phillip Eriksson, Vincent Lehr, and the monk Tikhon (Green). Father Stephen Keaschuk made her the parish “ecclesiarch” early in his pastorate (1981), and he taught her what was necessary to do in preparation for the services. Learning the service rubrics, checking service schedules with the priests, preparing the service schedule and organising the readers were all ways in which she expressed her gratefulness for the Orthodox Faith.

This work was done without a computer (most of the foundational work was done before their availability). She used a typewriter, often retyping many times so that the service texts and schedules would look their best in the service-books and other documents. When Anna was about 80 years old, her typewriter wore out and it had to be replaced. She was shocked when she went to buy a new one, only to learn that they only had 2 left, since no one bought typewriters anymore. She bought the last 2 typewriters and a supply of typewriter ribbons that would last her lifetime.

The amount of work involved in her self-offering can be illustrated by the fact that in order to facilitate congregational participation, half-size binders were acquired for as many as usually attended, and some extras for visitors. In these binders were the texts and melody lines commonly used for the Divine Liturgy. In addition, each week the proper texts for that week were inserted into these binders, so that everyone could participate. Mercifully, by this time the parish had its own photocopier.

Anna and the Saint Herman's Choir, after making a CD in 2003

She was invited to speak at a Lenten Retreat about her journey in the Orthodox Christian Faith. She wrote :

I was brought up in the Orthodox Faith by a saintly mother and a father who gave clear direction
and constructive discipline. They taught me to treat others with love, respect, kindness and
honesty.

My family attended a Russian Orthodox Church. As a young person at that time we had no Church
school, no Bible study, so the extent of my participation in church was attending Sunday Liturgy,
Christmas and Pascha services. Communion was infrequent and seemed to be only for the elders.
Church was a great mystery. I craved more. Years later my prayers were answered when priests
trained in the seminary started St Herman’s. I was thankful to God for sending a priest who loved
us and who taught with kindness and patience. He helped me to recognise and repent sins. He
guided me to confirm and strengthen a Christian life with frequent sincere prayer and above all how
to renew faith through the life-giving sacraments of the Body and Blood of Christ at each Liturgy.
I began to read the Bible with understanding. I desired this life enrichment very deeply and knew
it would take much time, much effort, much patience and much prayer. It was through reading the
Bible and attending Bible classes that I consciously received the first seeds of the word of God in
my soul. Until this time I simply and easily believed that God was, but I didn’t know Him. The
most precious thing in the world is to know God and understand His will, even only in part.

Anna and 2 nieces at Saint Herman's dinner

The Ways and Means (WAM) Committee led by Bill Tanasichuk was her entertainment. WAMburger sales, perogy suppers and bake sales were important social gatherings, and they were usually fundraisers too. Her joy was to count the money after each event and then to report the profit. Anna was the godmother or sponsor to many people. She also enjoyed being the parish photographer. She left Saint Herman’s parish a chronological 30-year history in photos. Every baptism, wedding and special occasion in the first 30 years was documented. Anna often said, “Thanks be to God for allowing me to know the clergy and for allowing me to witness the blessings that took Saint Herman’s from a mission in a basement to this glorious Temple. This church is so beautiful”.

Anna in the choir at Vespers

Anna's 90th birthday gathering

Emily Demkiw, Anna Kuzmenko, Lil Trefan

Anna never married. However, she was a very special aunt to 2 surviving nieces, a nephew and their children. She was the strict and loving matriarch of her extended family, cheering every achievement and praying for guidance and strength through their troubles. Her faith and courage were the inspiration of her family and her friends.

As Anna became more fragile because of the osteoporosis, she had to leave her home and enter an assisted care facility. After her birthday celebrations, some health complications developed from an infection, which sent her to the Royal Alexandra Hospital. There, she received frequent visits and pastoral care during the suffering that accompanied the infection. She was frequently visited by the Archpriest Vincent Lehr, and by the Archpriest Stephen Keaschuk in particular.

Repose, 2016

Anna Kuzmenko fell asleep in the Lord in hospital on 15 September, 2016.

Panikhidas were served for Anna both in the hospital and in the Temple.

Funeral services for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered for her at Saint Herman's Sobor on 23-24 September, 2016. The services were led by the Archpriest Vincent Lehr, and many other clergy served with him, including the Archpriest Stephen Keaschuk.

After the funeral services, her body was interred in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens cemetery.

Sharon Hample and Lynn Stegman are her nieces (and their families) ; her nephew is Ron Tkachuk (and his family).

May her Memory be Eternal !

Reflections

Anna Kuzmenko is a good example of how the God-given gifts of a person may be used for the benefit of the Faithful within any community, and for the glory of God. This was at the foundation of Anna's attitude. Once she had "found the True Faith" (in her own heart, that is), she lived accordingly in a serious way. Nor was she alone in her parish. There were many others who, moved by the love of Christ, and nurtured by loving pastors, worked together with each other, supporting each other, as they worshipped the Lord, developed the parish family, and drew others into this family through love.