Archimandrite Philip (Speranza)

Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) (1947-2019)

Early life of Philip Joseph Speranza

On 19 March, 1947, Philip Joseph Speranza was born at the Saint Charles Hospital in Aurora, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, to Samuel (30 January, 1913-26 May, 1996) Speranza and his wife Mary (born Mondello, 4 May, 1921-14 December 2017) Speranza. This couple also received from the Lord a daughter, Joanne. Philip was baptised in the Roman Catholic Church.

The Speranza family is of Sicilian-Italian origin. Because his family had originated in Sicily, there is a very strong possibility of Philip’s having Greek ancestry, as do very many Sicilians and southern Italians. In Greek, the root word of the family name means "draw a sword". In Latin, the root meaning of the name would be “hope”. In both cases, the ancient root is the same or similar, despite the later, very different meanings.

Philip’s mother was born in Chicago. His father was born in Yatesboro, Pennsylvania, but he grew up in Villa Rosa, Enna Province, in Sicily. Samuel returned to the USA in 1929, at the age of 16. He was drafted into the US Army in 1942, and he was sent to the European Theatre of World War II, where he took part in liberating the village in which he had grown up. Samuel and Mary were married after the end of the war.

The child Philip : with father, with sister Joanne

Philip was raised in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburban city just west of Chicago, where he received his primary and secondary education. From the age of 8, he had been convinced that he wanted to become a priest. He enrolled in the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Geneva, Illinois, where he completed his high school courses. Because he was enrolled in a private high school, he worked on the Northwestern Railroad (out of Chicago) in order to help to pay for his tuition. This is clearly the source of his love for old pocket-watches in particular. Besides these, he enjoyed reading books, and watching science fiction films. He was particularly fond of his mother’s homemade ravioli. Throughout his adult life, although he most often lacked this delicacy, he did (both in reality and with humour) favour Italian cuisine.

Student Philip, parents, sister Philip and relatives

Higher education

After this formation, Philip also studied at the graduate school of Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Illinois.

Although he had had such a formation, Philip was not ordained in the Roman Catholic Church. His interest in the Orthodox Christian Faith had begun early. He had been interested in comparative religions, unusually by the age of 18. His interest in the Orthodox Christian Church came about, in fact, because during his time at the private high school, he was exposed to the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. The brothers there had a blessing to serve the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, and they would do so on a regular basis. As an altar boy he, along with others, would arrange their chapel so that they could serve the Divine Liturgy correctly.

He said later that he fell in love with the Divine Liturgy, and he would eagerly await the next scheduled offering of the Divine Liturgy. This was one of the factors that drew him to inquire more fully into the Orthodox Church and eventually to join it.

Thus, he was eventually received into the Orthodox Christian Church. His reading about the Orthodox Faith did not stop. He read widely, and he took courses as possible. It is appropriate that Philip found the Orthodox Christian Faith, in that there are many Orthodox Christian saints in Sicily. He would later suggest, perhaps in jest, that there were no saints in Sicily (this is true about officially recognised Orthodox saints since the time of the Norman Count Roger I, who began his conquest of Sicily in 1071). There are, however, saints recognised by the Orthodox Church before Roger I. These saints include : Virgin Martyr Agatha of Palermo ; Virgin Martyr Agrippina of Mineo ; Birillus ; Calogerus the Anchorite ; Virgin Martyr Christina of Bolsena (or Tyre) ; Martyr Corebus ; Hieromartyr Eleutherius and his mother Martyr Antia ; Monk-evangelist Elias of Enna ; Hierodeacon Euplus (Euplius) of Catania ; Virgin Martyr Euthalia of Leontini ; Monk Filarete of Calabria ; Abbot Joseph the Hymnographer ; Leoluca of Corelone, Abbot of Mula ; Hieromartyr Libertinus, First Bishop of Agrigento ; Virgin Martyr Lucy ; Mamilian, Bishop of Palermo ; Patriarch Methodios I of Constantinople ; Nicodemus, Bishop of Palermo ; Martyrs Tryphon, Respicius, and Nympha ; Virgin Martyr Olivia of Palermo ; Hieromartyr Ovidius, Bishop of Braga ; Hieromartyr Pancras (Pancratius) of Taormina ; Pantaenus ; Confessor Philip of Agira, Apostle to the Sicilians ; Martyr Trofimena ; Martyr Vitus.

Philip encountered the Bulgarian Diocese of The Orthodox Church in America, and he came to know Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev).

Diaconal ordination, 1973

In January, 1973, Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) ordained Philip Speranza to the Holy Diaconate.

Presbyteral ordination, 1973

On 21 January, 1973, Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) ordained the Deacon Philip Speranza to the Holy Priesthood.

Patoral service

The Priest Philip Speranza was assigned to serve in a Bulgarian parish in Toronto, Ontario, as second priest, and he did so for some time.

Calgary

Later, he moved to Calgary, Alberta, where he was working in a secular job for a long time. During this period, he kept in contact with Archbishop Kyril (Yonchev).

In the Archdiocese of Canada, 1992

On 1 January, 1992, the Priest Philip Speranza was received from the Omophor of Archbishop Kyrill (Yonchev) into the Archdiocese of Canada.

The Priest Philip Speranza was attached at the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Mission in Calgary, Alberta.

There, he helped with the pastoral and theological formation of this community, and he also helped greatly with informing the parishioners about how to sing the services.

Saint Peter's first Temple, 1992 (it later became Antiochian)

Rural Central Alberta, 1993

In 1993, the Priest Philip Speranza was transferred, and he was assigned to serve a group of rural parishes (now known as the "https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/power-archimandrite-gerasim Century Orthodox Parishes]"), approximately an hour's drive northeast of Edmonton. During this time, he devoted one of the rooms in his tiny home in Andrew, Alberta, to be a domestic chapel. In this domestic chapel, he would offer services which were not possible to be offered in any of the various Temples (because of various complications). People would often come to pray with him, especially for Vespers on Saturday evening.

At that time, the Archpriest Vasyl Ostashek (his predecessor) was still living with his wife in the same town in retirement, and he and his wife were both regularly present at Sunday services. It was also at this time that the Archpriest Michael Fourik was serving the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in the same region. They lived in Lamont. During those years, the Fourik family established a close and lasting spiritual bond of love in Christ with Father Philip. It was a similar situation with the family of the Archpriest Larry Reinheimer who were also living in Andrew. Father Larry served other rural parishes of the Archdiocese of Canada in that region.

Father Philip had undertaken to serve 8 rural parishes at once, a somewhat lower number than his predecessor, Father Vasyl, and he scheduled Sunday services at alternate Temples. A priest who had converted to Orthodoxy was a new concept in the community and there was initial resistance as Father Philip began to instil Orthodox teaching in his precise way. He had arrived there at a time when the main focus of parishioners was to ‘look after my church’ as congregations were growing smaller and fewer people understood the Slavonic services. Father Philip brought the parishes forward by serving in English, and providing choir books so the cantors and singers could learn new music for the services, while keeping some Church Slavonic to help with the transition. At that time, all the rural communities were still thinking in terms of supporting and attending services only in their Temples in which their families had historically worshipped. Father Philip taught them that it was more important to attend services weekly and "if there is no service in your church, you go to the church where there is a service".

Father Philip in rural Alberta

From this developed, over the years, the idea of a "travelling congregation" which brought with it a healthy spiritual life to all the parishes. He taught them well. For the first time in a lifetime of attending Church services, they could understand the Divine Liturgy, and they learned about their Orthodox Christian Faith. It was a difficult process for everyone, and the parishioners admit that Father Philip had to deal with the hardest part of it. The parishioners recall that "we had our share of celebrations, but we also weathered our storms". His pastoral work laid a good foundation for future development. The communities in which he served were : Dickie Bush, Kysylew, North Bank, Pakan, Sachava, Shandro, Smoky Lake, Wasel. This group of parishes later became known as the "Century Parishes", and the other, similar group of parishes became known as the "Saint Tikhon Parishes".

It was at about this time that he was offered a burial place in the Smoky Lake cemetery for future use.

Rural Temples served by Father Philip : (left to right, top to end) Saint Michael, Sachava ; Holy Dormition, Shandro ; Nativity of the Theotokos, Kysylew ; Saint Elias, Pakan ; Holy Trinity, Smoky Lake ; Holy Transfiguration, North Bank ; Holy Ascension, Wasel ; Saints Peter and Paul, Dickie Bush.

Calgary, 1997

In June, 1997, the Priest Philip Speranza was transferred back to Calgary, and he was blessed to serve in the parish of Saint Peter the Aleut as an attached cleric, together with the Archpriest Larry Reinheimer. This parish was growing quickly, and another priest was needed.

On 15 November, 1999, the Priest Philip Speranza was assigned to be Second Priest at the Church of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut in Calgary, Alberta.

Saint Peter's second Temple, 1997 (it was sold in 2015, when the parish moved to a larger building) ; Father Philip in the second Temple

Photos of Father Philip (as priest and then Hieromonk/PriestMonk, and the Priest Larry Reinheimer at Saint Peter's

Monastic Tonsure, 2000

During 2000, the Priest Philip Speranza was tonsured to be a monk. He was given the name Philip (but with a different saint, this time the Holy Apostle Philip).

Priest-Monk (Hieromonk) Philip (Speranza

Although he had already lived a semi-monastic life, from this time on, the Hieromonk Philip (Speranza) took completely to heart the priority of a monastic routine in his daily life. He began immediately to develop a way in which he could even more seriously than before live a life of prayer and worship. He would rise in the very early morning (about 4:00 a.m.) and offer the services of the canonical hours in solitude. He would also offer the evening services, usually in solitude. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he continued in this pattern of life for the remainder of his days.

Edmonton, 2003

In September, 2003, the Hieromonk Philip (Speranza) was assigned to provide pastoral service to the parish of Holy Trinity Church in Edmonton, Alberta. From the beginning, he had a sense of both the difficult history of this community and of its potential in the centre of the city, in a depressed area. He began to educate them and to lead them firmly and lovingly towards a renewed life in Christ.

Holy Trinity Temple

On 25 December, 2004, at Saint Herman of Alaska’s Sobor in Edmonton, Alberta, the Hieromonk Philip (Speranza) was elevated to the dignity of igumen.

On 10 November, 2005, in consideration of the 50th anniversary of the parish, and of the fruits of his time served there, the Igumen Philip (Speranza) was named Rector of Holy Trinity Church, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Group photo of parishioners, 2005

Homily at the Feast of the Nativity

With the guidance of Father Philip, the community at Holy Trinity moved towards the greater use of the English language in the services. The parish began to recover its original sense of direction as it became an inclusive community in which a common ethnicity is not required. The parish has thus been grateful to have visitors and members whose home countries have been as diverse as Romania, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Europe, and the USA.

Under Igumen Philip’s pastoral guidance, Holy Trinity Church continued to move towards being a truly Canadian parish, which reaches out to all Orthodox Christians. It continues to enfold those who seek the Truth, and who wish to worship God as the early Christians did. Igumen Philip helped to develop meetings for continuing Christian education on a regular basis. The principal form of these was a bi-weekly Bible-study, which provided plenty of useful information about Church life in general.

Igumen Philip became very visible and present, not only at the Sobor of Saint Herman of Alaska, but also in other Orthodox Christian Temples throughout the city. He was a frequent visitor at Saint Barbara’s Cathedral. In addition, because there are many other Christian presences on the same street as Holy Trinity Church, he visited the clergy of some of these on a friendly basis. He befriended new priests to the city of any jurisdiction, and he was the confessor and/or spiritual father to several local Orthodox priests of various jurisdictions.

On 24 May, 2006, the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America gave Igumen Philip (Speranza) the award of the Jewelled Cross.

On 25 November, 2008, Igumen Philip (Speranza) was released from his attachment at the Monastic Community of Saint Silouan in Johnstown, Ontario. He was installed as Abbot of the Hermitage of the Protection of the Theotokos in Edmonton, Alberta (in addition to his other responsibilities).

On 10 May, 2012, the Holy Synod elevated Igumen Philip (Speranza) to the dignity of archimandrite.

As time passed, Father Philip had found it frequently necessary to sit while preaching homilies, because of the increasing difficulties he experienced with his legs.

Giving a homily

In August, 2013, at the Archdiocesan Assembly in Ottawa, Ontario, Igumen Philip (Speranza) gave a homily at one of the Divine Liturgies.

Clergy serving at the 60th Anniversary of the parish, 2015

In the late spring of 2017, Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) gave the blessing to 2 seniors (one a parishioners of Holy Trinity Church, the other of Saint Herman's Sobor) to drive (as they had requested) to Montana, USA, from where they would bring back the Holy Fire from the Feast of Pascha in Jerusalem. This Holy Fire had been shared from New York City throughout the USA, and it was brought by them to Calgary and to Edmonton. From Holy Trinity Church, the Holy Fire was shared with other parishes and parishioners. Many keep their home lamps burning until now from this fire, as does the parish itself.

Father Philip's family

On 29 October, 2017, Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) gave a talk based on 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, “Reformation Service : A New Reformation” at the West End Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton. He opened to them the Orthodox Christian Faith during his comments.

In December, 2017, Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) led the Christmas Retreat at Saint Peter’s Church in Calgary, under the theme “Our Purpose as Orthodox Christians”.

Pascha, 2018

Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) was well-known for having strong opinions about various matters, and for being able to support his opinions with canonical and theological references. He kept abreast of current events within Church life, and when there were controversies, he did all he could to become properly informed and to express what he understood to be the proper and traditional way of addressing the situation. He was not offended when people had a different opinion, and he could accept being corrected ; but the correction had to be on a firm foundation. He was a Christ-loving pastor “who was no marshmallow”, as one parishioner described him. He certainly was not a pushover.

He loved his parishioners, and he guided them with a firm hand. He was patient, but there were clear limits. His parishioners would say that this firm love enabled them to grow in a way that they otherwise would not likely have done. In fact, Father Philip and the parishioners had formed bonds of love in Christ which both the parishioners and Father Philip felt was like the love of a family. When Father Philip had been sent on to Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Sobor in Toronto, Ontario, he admitted to them also that he missed his spiritual family in Edmonton. Nevertheless, obedience takes first place, and he set about loving this new community in a similar fashion.

On the Feast of Pentecost, 2018

By this time, Archimandrite Philip had developed over many years several significant health concerns which had begun to make some tasks more difficult. Over a period of some years, he had begun to consider retirement. Because of painful knees, he had begun to walk with a cane, and occasionally with two. It was in 2018 that he mentioned this concern to Archbishop Irénée (Rochon). However, included in everything was the fact of a very minimal pension possibility.

Father Philip's last homily at Holy Trinity Church, 23 September, 2018

Toronto, 2018

At the end of September, 2018, Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) was transferred, and he was assigned to serve as Second Priest at Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario. In this capacity, he was primarily responsible for serving the Divine Liturgy in English on Sunday mornings (in advance of the Slavonic service), and other services as needed.

Christ the Saviour Sobor

This situation involved less responsibility than he had carried before ; but as he might also say, it is usual for retirees to be like a retired fire-station horse : still ready to go when the bell rings. In the same way as before, Archimandrite Philip began to participate in events in other Orthodox Christian parishes in the city. This included visits to the University of Toronto. On one occasion, a car backed up from parking and struck him, which injured his knee-cap. As a consequence, he was more frequently walking with two canes.

After his arrival in Toronto, one of the parishioners said about him that “his presence in the parish was like spring driving away the snows of winter ! He was everything the parish could need in terms of knowledge, wisdom, ability to manage, moral strength, integrity, strength of character – this list could go on and on ! His gift of irony and humour was particularly welcome – it added special zest to the brilliance of his preaching !” and also “Father Philip was like an angel from heaven ! His sermons were a delight, made all the more so by his infectious sense of humour ! He was the right person for the parish at the right time !” These comments express as well the appreciation of the parishioners at Holy Trinity Church in Edmonton, and they seem to do the same for both the rural Alberta communities and for Saint Peter's in Calgary. He was the right person who was sent by the Lord at the right time.

Another person wrote that “although I never really got to know him, I certainly knew his reputation as a no-nonsense pastor whose knowledge of Canons and Ecclesiastical life, was only exceeded by his compassion for those who sought the healing love of Christ. If you ever had a chance to hear his sermons or read some of his writings, you would understand”. Another person commented about Archimandrite Philip that “he was a superlative homilist, and he was one priest I always admired and respected”.

On 23 November, 2018, in Hamilton, Ontario, Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) spoke at the "Orthodox Institute on the Family 2018-2019" in the All Saints of North America parish there, on the theme, "Giving Thanks Through Clenched Teeth”.

Repose, 2019

On Monday, 4 February, 2019, at about 10:00 p.m., Archimandrite Philip (Speranza), 71, Associate Pastor of Toronto's Russian Orthodox Christ the Saviour Cathedral, fell asleep in the Lord in Toronto.

On Sunday, 3 February, after the Divine Liturgy, he had said that he felt quite unwell, but he did not indicate to which hospital he was going to go. It seems that he was beginning to suffer from heart failure in the later evening of that day. Only his sister Joanne was able to be in contact with him until Monday morning, and not afterwards. He had, however, neglected to tell even her precisely where he was. Because of various communication failures (the principal one being on the part of the hospital), this painful turn of events was not known for several days by Father Philip's sister, or by Archbishop Irénée, or by the parishioners, or by anyone else. Even when his sister and a parishioner reported him missing to the police soon afterwards, there was no progress, and the hospital (the actual one was one amongst the very many that were contacted by the police and by his sister) denied that he was there. Only on Saturday, 9 February, did that particular hospital report to the police that they had Father Philip in their morgue.

These facts caused considerable consternation and confusion for his family, and for all the parishioners who knew and loved him, as well as for many others. Nevertheless, when the situation was finally known, thanks in part to Mrs. Anna Miller, Vladyka Irénée's secretary, and despite the shock, all concerned set about preparing the funeral arrangements. Father Philip's sister was particularly grateful to the undertakers for their skilful work, since a body which has lain in a hospital morgue for 5 days is hardly likely to be good condition. This group of people made it possible for the coffin to be kept open as customary at the funeral.

That such unexpected and strange things could happen at such a time are often understood as an indication that the dark powers are displeased by the good things that Father Philip said and did ; but the Lord overcomes such obstacles, as He did in this situation, because of His love.

On Sunday, 10 February, 2019, a "Parastas" was served for Archimandrite Philip at Holy Trinity Church in Edmonton, Alberta ; at the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Parish in Calgary ; in Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto, Ontario ; and at Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor in Vancouver, British Columbia.

As the time of the funeral approached, so also did a substantial winter storm which produced a very large amount of freezing rain and snow for Southern and Eastern Ontario. The storm was fierce enough that Father Philip's sister had a great many difficulties in getting from Florida to Toronto. The delays caused her to miss the evening service on Tuesday. Her flight was diverted from Toronto to Buffalo, where she rented a car and drove through rain, ice and snow to Toronto. She would have been late for the funeral itself, but Vladyka Irénée compassionately delayed the service until she could arrive. Moreover, the rector of the parish had been out of the city for the whole week on a pre-arranged trip, and had been unable to return in time for the funeral.

On Tuesday, 12 February, there was a visitation held at Christ the Saviour Cathedral, 823, Manning Avenue, Toronto from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. At 7:00 p.m., a Panikhida (memorial service) was offered.

On Wednesday, 13 February, at 8:30 a.m., Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa and Canada presided at the Hierarchical Memorial Divine Liturgy, with the Archpriests Geoffrey Korz and Geoffrey Ready, the Priests Alexei Vassiouchkine, Nicolas Svetlovsky and Anatoliy, as well as with Protodeacon Jesse Isaac and Deacon Yuri Hladio.

At 10:00 a.m. on the same day, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) also presided at the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest, and other clergy served together with him.

Photos by Mark Petasky and by Masha.

After these services, the body of Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) was transported to the Saint Seraphim Cemetery in Rawdon, Québec, for interment there.

Grave-marker of Archimandrite Philip (Speranza)

It was certainly understandable why the interment was in Québec (because of the urgency for interment), but many in Alberta were also understandably very disappointed that Father Philip's body would not be interred where his former parishioners could care for his grave and pray for him there. Father Philip's sister, aware of the pain felt by the parishioners in Alberta, wrote to them a letter in order to explain the situation, and to ask for their forgiveness and prayers. This unusual act was not expected, but certainly, in doing so, she demonstrated her Christian heart in a way that all could understand.

In Alberta, it was announced by the Dean of Alberta that for the Alberta Deanery, a special Memorial Divine Liturgy with Lity and a Memorial Meal would be served at Holy Trinity Church in Edmonton on Saturday, 2 March, 2019. After this, a Memorial Divine Liturgy would be served at Holy Trinity Church in Smoky Lake on 9 March, 2019, near the date of the 40th day since his repose. Then conversations began about erecting a local memorial in Smoky Lake upon the grave that had been reserved for him long previously.

Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) was survived by his sister, Joanne Speranza Walker (and her husband Larry), of Inverness, Florida ; by his nephew Eric P Walker (and his wife Michelle) and their daughters Heather and Hannah, of Kingston, Illinois ; and by numerous cousins in Belgium, Brazil, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Sicily and Texas. He was further survived by his spiritual families at the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Temple in Calgary, at the rural Alberta parishes, at the Holy Trinity Temple in Edmonton, and by his newly-developing spiritual family at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto.

Grave-marker in Rawdon

Video of the blessing of the grave-marker

Reflections

Father Philip's sister Joanne later wrote :

 The church community was, indeed, his family of choice.  He was blessed with blood family and church family 
 who loved him, yet challenged him to grow through adjustment to life on life's terms.

It is not widely known, but with what little money Archimandrite Philip (Speranza) earned, he managed to live simply, and at the same time to share his meagre resources with other persons who were in need. This was done invisibly, and only now begins to be known to some extent.

A mission parish had been receiving his weekly homilies by e-mail, and publishing them anonymously in the weekly bulletin. One of the readers wrote this, amongst other things : “He was obviously gifted by the Holy Spirit in expressing the Truth. I have looked forward to each new week to read his sermons and by God’s Grace gleaned much from them over time. I have saved most if not all of them, and have passed them on to others. I’m sure they will continue to be circulated. I am very grateful for this gift I’ve received over time, and my prayers will reflect that gratitude”.

In Toronto