Archpriest Anastasy and Matushka Trudi Richter

Archpriest Anastasy Richter (1968-2021)

and

Matushka Trudi Richter (born Goertzen) (1971-____)

Stacey may be spelt Stacy.

Early life of Stacey Richter

On 22 December, 1968, Stacey Richter was born with his identical twin brother Kirby to Wendell Richter and Catherine Degelman Moore in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Stacey received his primary and secondary education in Winnipeg.

Stacey and his brother Kirby were raised without any faith whatsoever. Their mother was a lapsed Roman Catholic and their stepfather, Scotty Allen Jarvis, was an atheist. Their biological father who lived nearby was also an atheist. Later, Stacey said, "My dad was a militant atheist. He really did not like Christianity". An absence of faith did not mean that Stacey was happy or at peace. He admitted that his parents were constantly arguing, and that there was very little noticeable love in the home where he grew up.

Then, unexpectedly, he heard about a summer camp that some friends were attending. His encounter with the camp and the campers planted a seed. The fact that people seemed to love and care for one another was a new experience for him.

Then, when he was 14 years old, his grandmother came to the end of her life. The funeral obsequies for his grandmother included a funeral mass. This "prompted his mother to have him and his brother baptised as Catholics" (that is, into the Ukrainian Catholic Church) at age 15.

Nevertheless, his inward struggles continued.

 My understanding of faith was in its infancy.  I didn't read the Bible.  I didn’t 
 have an understanding of the concept of Grace.  I thought that to get into heaven, 
 you had to be perfect.  It frustrated me, so I left.

Brothers

Higher education

After he had completed his secondary education at an early age, Stacey entered the University of Manitoba to study geological engineering. By that time, he was an agnostic, as he reported later.

It was once he was in the midst of his studies that he clearly began to suffer from a significant depression. As he later reported,

 I had a poor self-image, and I felt unloved.  I had no purpose.  I felt empty.

At the end of his first year of studies, he paused his education, and he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve. His sense of emptiness and purposelessness continued. During a deployment in Victoria, British Columbia, he contemplated suicide. He said,

 I thought about suicide all the time.  The next time we went on the rifle range, 
 I was planning to shoot myself.

However, the scheduled training was cancelled. He said about this that

 I was in desperate straits.  I really wanted to end it.

In 1988, Stacey first met Trudi Goertzen (his future wife), at Camp Arnes (an inter-denominational Christian camp) near Gimli, by the southwestern shore of Lake Winnipeg, north of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. However, there was no further contact between them until later.

Trudi Goertzen

Trudi Goertzen was born on 23 February, 1971, to Mennonite parents in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

Her family, which originated in Molotschna, South Prussia, emigrated first to Minnesota, USA, and then to Manitoba, Canada. Her grandparents then moved to Paraguay in about 1927, where children were born. Trudi’s parents were born in Paraguay, and they later moved to Bolivia. They ultimately received 10 children from the Lord. Trudi and her brother Ike (born in 1971) were the last of 3 sets of twins.

In 1980, the family moved back to Canada and to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Then they moved to Steinbach, Manitoba.

In 1982, the family received Canadian citizenship.

During the summer of 1988, Trudi was at the summer camp at Camp Arnes, where she first met Stacey (her future husband).

Return to university studies

During his second year of studies, Stacey picked up a tract from the “Campus Crusade for Christ”, an international outreach for teens and college-age adults. Amongst other things, it said :

 God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

He dismissed what was written, but he really wanted to believe that.

Providentially, a debate on campus between a Campus Crusade for Christ leader and a philosophy professor occurred. It became a turning point for him. What impressed him was that the fellow from Campus Crusade for Christ kept calm during the debate while the professor became so agitated that he did not make sense. Although the debate did not convince him intellectually, Stacey felt that he wanted to have what the Campus Crusader had.

Stacey eventually came to accept Christianity. This change produced a sharp interior change.

 I accepted Christianity. It was a radical change for me. I went from death
 to life. [...] For me, it was the unconditional love of God.  I wasn't a cosmic
 accident or a mistake, though my parents said so.  My dad made it clear I
 wasn't planned.

Of course, the irony is that if the parents did not plan for him, they received 2 children instead of one (they were identical twins as well).

He later recalled (with some humour) :

 When I connected with Christianity, my father said, 'I can't believe one of
 my sons could be so stupid' !

Once he accepted that he was a Christian, Stacey began going about and visiting various churches : Lutheran, Baptist, Pentecostal, Anglican, non-denominational and back to Uniat Roman Catholicism. At this time, he hadn't yet visited an Orthodox Christian parish. However, since he had become an active reader of the Holy Bible, the various doctrines of the churches he had encountered raised some difficulties for him. Later, he said,

 What brought me to Orthodoxy was early Church history, the writings of the 
 early Church Fathers.

Stacey often spoke about the fact that, well before finishing his engineering degree, he had felt a calling to service in the Church. He was encouraged by a good Lutheran pastor (Pastor Roland) to complete his degree before entering seminary.

In September, 1991, Trudi and Stacey began to see one another socially. It was after she had returned from a missionary journey to Venezuela (she had been subsidised for this work, called “New Tribes Mission” in the forests there). He was interested in hearing about her experience.

In March, 1993, he graduated with a B. Eng. degree in Geological Engineering from the University of Manitoba.

Marriage, 1993

On 8 May, 1993, Stacey Richter was married to Trudi Goertzen at the Chortitzer Mennonite Church in Steinbach, Manitoba.

R Chortitzer Mennonite Church, Steinbach

Mr. & Mrs. Richter

In time, Stacey and Trudi received from the Lord 3 daughters : Michal, Sarah and Anika.

Further spiritual searching

Near the time of the marriage, Stacey’s reading had led him to references to the Orthodox Christian Church. Once he had seen this, he felt that if it still existed, he had to find it. With Trudi, he visited various Orthodox parishes in Winnipeg. There was the usual obstacle of languages they did not comprehend. Providentially, they visited Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Transcona, Winnipeg, where the services were in English.

Saint George Orthodox Temple, Transcona, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Their encounter with Protopresbyter Mirone and Preoteasa Lillian Klysh and their parish family helped them to know that they had found the pearl they sought [see Mathew 13:44-46]. They began catechetical studies with Father Mirone.

Stacey had been working for Environment Canada.

Engineering work at Leaf Rapids, Manitoba, 1995

In January, 1995, he found work as a mining and ventilation engineer at Leaf Rapids in northern Manitoba. Leaf Rapids is situated about 1,000 km (621 mi) north of Winnipeg. Other cities in that part of northern Manitoba are Thompson (also about 1,000 km north of Winnipeg) and Lynn Lake (1075 km north of Winnipeg). Thompson (the largest city in northern Manitoba) is 271 km southeast of Leaf Rapids. Lynn Lake is 106 km southeast of Leaf Rapids.

In August, 1995, their first daughter Michal was born in Leaf Rapids.

Meanwhile, as Stacey worked in the mines, he used his break-times in the tunnels to read the Holy Scriptures. This became his favourite life-time occupation. Father Mirone would travel by bus to Leaf Rapids in order to continue their Orthodox Christian catechesis and formation. Father Mirone and Stacey would walk along the road that encircles the town as they spoke about the Orthodox Christian Faith and the Holy Scriptures.

Entry to the Orthodox Christian Church, 1996

In December, 1996, the family went to Winnipeg for the Christmas break, and at that time Stacey and Trudi were chrismated, and Michal was baptised into the Orthodox Christian Church at Saint George Orthodox Temple in Transcona, Winnipeg.

In August, 1997, the family returned to Winnipeg from Leaf Rapids, and with the help of Father Mirone Klysh, Stacey began seminary studies at Saint Andrew’s College in Winnipeg. Saint Andrew's College is a theological college (seminary) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC). At that time, there were other anglophone students at the college.

Saint Andrew's College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba

On page 5 of the Autumn, 1999, issue of the “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, in an article ‘Building Christ’s Church’, Stacey and Trudi Richter (with Michal) were introduced to the diocese, in conjunction with a series of articles about other seminarians of that time :

Christ is faithful in calling men along with their wives to the priesthood. Subdeacon Stacey Richter with wife Trudy
and daughter Michal are one of those families in this time of study and preparation. Stacey found the Orthodox Church
after a very persistent search through a maze of denominational experiences, and brings to the Church a healthy respect
for the fact that God accomplishes His will through people who desire to serve Him.

Stacey was deeply affected - literally ‘grabbed’ he says – by the liturgical worship at a Ukrainian Catholic funeral.
Something inescapable took hold of him. With no prior exposure to Christianity in his home, he, as a young teen,
accepted baptism and chrismation in the Ukrainian Catholic Church. In his late high school years, he left the church,
but at university he was again drawn to Christ. During his seven years of engineering studies, he became very actively
involved in Campus Crusade for Christ as well as several other Evangelical Protestant groups. Zeal and dedication
marked his commitment and service to God, and through his personal studies, he sought to know Him more fully. That
pursuit fostered a love of theology – in fact, it was and still is his ‘spare time reading enjoyment’. During that
time he became aware that engineering was not where his heart was. He was being called in a different direction.
There were many questions for which he was not finding answers. While continuing toward a degree in engineering,
his hunger for spiritual answers kept him reading and searching. Bishop Kallistos Ware’s The Orthodox Church was
pivotal in solidifying and settling many loose ends and in a real way ended Stacey’s search. He recalls thinking :
‘If what Bishop Kallistos says is true, my search is ended’.

Earlier, during his second last year of university, Stacey met his future wife. Although born in Bolivia, Trudy was
raised in the Steinbach area of southern Manitoba, in a Protestant Christian family. Trudy also had a love for Christ
and a desire to serve God. Soon after meeting Stacey, she realised that a life with him would be a life of service
in the Church. At the time, the idea of being Orthodox had never crossed her mind, let alone being a priest's wife.
Her commitment to Christ, however, has sustained her along the sometimes difficult and uncertain path that she and
Stacey have travelled toward the Orthodox Church.

Both Stacey and Trudy knew that the Lord’s plan for their lives included Stacey’s serving as a pastor. If his
questions were really answered by Bishop Kallistos in his book, it meant that that service would be in the
Orthodox Church. The first step was taken at St George Romanian Orthodox Church in Winnipeg where Stacey and
Trudy were chrismated and Michal was baptised. Upon completing his engineering degree and working for three years
in the engineering field, Stacey and Trudy moved back to Winnipeg to begin theological studies at St Andrew’s Seminary.

A buildup of personal savings and financial help from various sources, including family support, has meant that loans
have not been necessary to finance the past two years of Stacey’s studies. By putting Michal in day-care, Trudy has
been able to work full-time to further support the family. However, this September, Stacey plans to return to
St Andrew’s for his third year and has had to apply for a student loan.

Stacey and Trudy are anticipating a life of service in the Orthodox Church. They are working and doing their best
to fulfil God’s call and meet the Church’s requirements to prepare themselves. The pathway to priesthood in our
Archdiocese is a costly and difficult one. Since having adequately prepared priests is an indispensable component
of the construction of Christ’s Church, let us together find ways to prayerfully support and encourage them. If the
cost is borne by all, the joy that comes as a result of this God-blessed work will be shared by all !
– Presbytera Myra Reinheimer, Calgary, Alberta

Stacey, Trudi, Michal

Subdeacon Stacey and Trudi Richter at Sandy Lake, July, 2000

Saint Nicholas Temple, Sandy Lake

Diaconal ordination, 2000

On 15 July, 2000, Subdeacon Anastasy Richter was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) in Saint Nicholas’ Temple at Sandy Lake, Manitoba.

Diaconal ordination, Saint Nicholas, Sandy Lake

Diaconal service

Deacon Stacey Richter was assigned as deacon to Saint Nicholas’ Temple at Narol, Manitoba (not far north of Winnipeg). He received mentorship from both Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh and Archpriest Robert S Kennaugh. In this parish also, the English language was almost the only language used by that time.

Archpriest Robert S and Matushka Dianne Kennaugh, at Narol

After this, Deacon Stacey continued his studies at Saint Andrew’s College, from which he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies in the spring of 2001.

During all the time of preparation and study, and also for some time afterwards, Father Mirone and Preoteasa Lillian were loving and attentive benefactors for this family.

Deacon Stacey participated with others from Manitoba in the Archdiocesan Assembly, 24-27 July, 2001, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Manitoba representatives at the archdiocesan assembly, at a social moment

l to r : Mel, David Rystephanuk (Sandy Lake) ; Deacon Stacey Richter, Matushka Dianne, Archpriest Robert Kennaugh (Narol) ; Archpriest Anatoly Melnyk, Spencer Estabrooks (Winnipeg)

Presbyteral ordination, 2001

On 4 August, 2001, Deacon Anastasy Richter was ordained by Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) to the Holy Priesthood in Saint Nicholas’ Temple at Narol, Manitoba.

Saint Nicholas Temple, Narol, Manitoba

Father Mirone, Lillian Klysh ; Father Stacey, Trudi Richter

Father Mirone Klysh : main mentor of Father Stacey from earliest days in the Orthodox Church in Winnipeg

Pastoral service

Priest Stacey Richter was attached at first to Saint Nicholas’ Temple at Narol, Manitoba.

On 1 September, 2001, Priest Anastasy Richter was assigned to serve as third priest at Saint Herman of Alaska’s Sobor in Edmonton, Alberta. There, he received mentorship from Archpriest Dennis Pihach.

Saint Herman of Alaska Sobor, Edmonton, Alberta

On 1 December, 2001, Priest Anastasy Richter was assigned to serve as Youth Director of the Archdiocese of Canada.

From the beginning, Father Stacey and his family were loved by the parishioners in Edmonton, and this would be a consistent experience in the future. In every responsibility, through his teaching and joyful example, Father Stacey did his best (with the help of his wife) to kindle the fire of love for the Lord, and to fan the fires as they grew.

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, 2002

On 1 September, 2002, Priest Anastasy Richter was released from his responsibilities at Saint Herman of Alaska’s Sobor in Edmonton, Alberta.

He was transferred, and assigned to serve as Priest-in-Charge of Holy Trinity Temple in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Moose Jaw is situated 73 km (45 mi) west of Regina, Saskatchewan ; 110 km (68 mi) northwest of Kayville, Saskatchewan ; 110 km (68 mi) east of Swift Current, Saskatchewan.

Holy Trinity Temple, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

He received encouragement and support from his predecessor Archpriest Svetislav Balevich and his wife Matushka Eva Balevich. The Richters had the benefit of learning first-hand about the life and witness of the previous pastor and his wife, and about the nature of the community they were beginning to serve.

Serving with Father Svetislav and another priest

On page 9 of the summer, 2003, issue of "The Canadian Orthodox Messenger", there appeared a report about "Pan Orthodox Winter Camp held in Saskatchewan" :

On 14 February, 2003 an enthusiastic group of young people travelled to Camp Kadesh on Christopher Lake, Saskatchewan,
for another Pan Orthodox Retreat weekend. In an effort to foster continuing relationships for those who have graduated
from high school, the retreat staff had worked to create a format where they can continue to participate in teen retreats.
This has resulted in holding separate teaching sessions for those of college and career age (high school graduates and up).
Our chaplain, Fr Stacey Richter – who is the Youth Director for the Archdiocese of Canada – and our speaker, Rod Tkachuk,
a lawyer from Edmonton. rose to the challenge of a rigorous schedule, each of them speaking to the two age groups at various
times throughout the weekend.

Our topic this retreat was 'Relationships : the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat'. Rod Tkachuk pointed out that
life is about relationships and exhorted everyone to understand that there are choices before us and to 'know that the real
you exists in God'. Fr Stacey encouraged the youth, pointing to St Augustine : 'You have formed us for Yourself, O God,
and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You'. He also shared several recommendations for spiritual
growth, practical steps toward relationship with God.

Thirty-two teens and eleven college and career-aged youth gathered from Alberta (Edmonton, Smoky Lake, Spruce Grove, St Albert)
and Saskatchewan (Outlook, Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Yorkton). With the chaplain, speaker and nine staff members, our group
totalled fifty-four this retreat. Along with daily prayers, thought provoking lectures and good food, there were games
of snow football, music, plenty of social time, improv games, fun and laughter. – By Lorraine Grier, Saskatoon

Father Stacey speaking at the Winter Camp, 2003

On 1 June, 2003, twin girls Sarah and Anika were born in Moose Jaw, where they were also baptised at Holy Trinity Church.

By this time, the health of Father Svetislav was declining significantly. Father Stacey was an attentive pastor to him and to his wife.

Repose of Archpriest Svetislav Balevich, 2003

On 28 November, 2003, Archpriest Svetislav Balevich fell asleep in the Lord. Father Stacey and Matushka Trudi were involved in the preparations for the funeral, and Father Stacey was amongst the many clergy who participated in the services in Moose Jaw.

Archdiocese of Canada assembly, Saskatoon, 2004

On 20-23 July, 2004, the triannual Archdiocesan Assembly met in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. At this meeting, Father Stacey Richter (who by this time had been blessed to tutor an assistant, Becky Machnee, of Saskatoon) made a presentation to the assembly delegates and observers with regard to the youth work developing in the diocese. As was reported in the "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" :

 Fr Stacey pointed out that all over the world, 19 out of 20 people who are coming to Christ are under 25 years old, 
 so why are we not pouring more effort into our youth ? There is a rule in church growth, he said, that if you get 
 the young people to church, you will get the older folk too, but this does not work vice-versa.  The older ones 
 are the pillars of our Church and very important, but if we target the youth, we will get the others also.  Youth 
 are not just the future of our Church, they are the present ; and if we do not have them now, we will not get them 
 later.  We must begin to work on this, Fr Stacey said.  Ms Machnee spoke about what is presently being done for and 
 with youth at both the diocesan level and the OCA level, and she presented a 'wish list' of things which she thinks 
 will help in the Archdiocesan Youth Department’s ministry (an annual budget, a youth workers’ conference, retreat 
 assistance, a part-time paid youth worker in the diocese, and a youth representative at diocesan council meetings).

Later, there were 3 resolutions passed by the assembly members in response to this report :

 (1) '[...] that a line item be added to the Archdiocesan annual budget immediately for the Youth Department, the 
 amount and purposes to be determined by the Bishop in consultation with the Council and with the Youth Director' ; 
 (2) '[...] that a Youth Representative be nominated by the Youth Director and proposed to the Bishop and Council 
 to be present at Council meetings' ; and (3) '[...] that an annual appeal [special collection in the parishes] be 
 made to assist the Youth Department of the Archdiocese. The first appeal will be to help youth attend the All-American 
 Council on 17-22 July, 2005, in Toronto'.

Father Stacey, Youth Director, and his assistant, Becky Machnee, archdiocese assembly, 2004

Transfer from Moose Jaw, 2004

On 31 October, 2004, Priest Anastasy (Stacey) Richter was released from his responsibility as Rector of Holy Trinity parish, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, and as Rector of Holy Trinity Temple in Kayville, Saskatchewan, and its dependencies.

Holy Trinity Temple, Kayville, Saskatchewan

Priest Anastasy Richter was transferred to the omophor of Archbishop Job (Osacky) and to the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2004

In November, 2004, Priest Stacey Richter was assigned to serve as second priest with Archpriest Andrew Morbey at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Saint Mary's Cathedral, Minneapolis, Minnesota

While Father Stacey was in Minneapolis, his brother Kirby was received into the Orthodox Christian Church.

Priest Stacey and Kirby Richter

During his time at Saint Mary’s Cathedral, Father Stacey’s main responsibilities were visiting the parishioners and organising and leading the annual summer youth camp. He also initiated a winter youth camp (a week-end retreat), which continued long after his time there. Meanwhile, Matushka Trudi initiated a group for young mothers in the parish.

After their future moves, the daughters of Father Stacey and Matushka Trudi annually returned to Saint Mary's OCA Camp (organised through the Orthodox parishes in Minneapolis-Saint Paul) located at Wapogasset Lake, Wisconson.

Canton, Ohio, 2009

In 2009, Priest Stacey Richter was released from his responsibilities in Minneapolis, and he was transferred to Holy Assumption parish in Canton, Ohio. Canton is situated 100 km (62 mi) south of Cleveland, Ohio ; 149 km (93 mi) northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Holy Assumption (Dormition) Temple, Canton, Ohio

While he was serving in this parish, Father Stacey took a part-time engineering job for the sake of income. As always, in his break-times, he was reading the Holy Scriptures.

In connexion with his own regular Bible-reading, Father Stacey initiated a group for the weekly study of the Holy Scriptures. This group became particularly popular amongst the younger people. His enthusiasm through love for the Holy Scriptures and for the Orthodox Christian Faith was authentically contagious.

On 18 December, 2009, Archbishop Job (Osacky) fell asleep in the Lord suddenly and unexpectedly. Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen) became the Locum-Tenens of the diocese. From 2011-2013, Bishop Mattias (Moriak) was the Diocesan Bishop of Chicago and the Midwest, and he was followed by Bishop Paul (Gassios) in 2014.

In 2013, Father Stacey accepted to be interviewed by the "Canton Repository". The result was an article published on 24 October, 2013, “Priest recalls journey from atheism to priesthood”. It was published on a page headed “From death to life”. Many details from this interview may be seen in this biography.

Minot, North Dakota, 2017

In 2017, Priest Stacey Richter was released from his responsibilities in Canton, and he was transferred to the parish of Saint Peter the Aleut in Minot, North Dakota. Minot is situated 806 km (500 mi) northwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota ; 177 km (110 mi) north of Bismark, North Dakota ; 466 km (290 mi) southwest of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Saint Peter the Aleut Temple, Minot, North Dakota

The parish in Minot had had only part-time service for a couple of years before their arrival. In such circumstances, a pastor faces a considerable amount of work in attempting to renew regular parish life and activity. In his characteristic manner, Father Stacey initiated a Bible-study group which bore fruit ; he increased the number of services, and he visited the parishioners at home and/or in hospital.

Father Stacey, Matushka Trudi, at a parish fund-raising event

Chesterton, Indiana, 2019

In 2019, Priest Stacey Richter was released from his responsibilities in Minot, and he was transferred to the parish of Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr in Chesterton, Indiana. Chesterton is situated 88 km (55 mi) southeast of Chicago, Illinois ; 33 km (21 mi) east of Gary, Indiana ; 37 km (23 mi) northeast of Merillville, Indiana.

Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Temple, Chesterton, Indiana

Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Temple interior

Parishioners, Saint Elizabeth parish

Food preparation

During a service at Saint Elizabeth's parish

The previous pastor had recently departed from the parish. The parish had therefore been served only by "supply priests" for about 9 months. When Father Stacey and Matushka Trudi arrived, there appeared at about the same time adequate funds for the renovation and proper decoration of the Temple. The building was thus far only barely adequate for Orthodox Christian worship, and it lacked an iconostas and icons. Very quickly, Father Stacey and the parish administration set about remedying the situation. After considerable renovation and reconstruction, the Temple became beautiful, and it began to support Orthodox Christian worship. The surroundings became uplifting to the worshippers. The new iconostas, icons and the whole Altar area now were normal.

In addition, Father Stacey initiated a Bible-study and catechetical work. He was also involved in parish social activities. The parish included a large number of young people. A youth-group made an early appearance, and there were soon parishioners ready and willing to participate in the leadership and nurturing of the group.

Covid-19 virus : 2020-2021

From about March, 2020, the effects of the Covid-19 virus pandemic began to be felt throughout the world, including in the USA. Various restrictions and limitations on gatherings were implemented (depending on local regulations), which involved "social distancing", and the numbers permitted for any gathering. Over all, such measures are similar to those that were taken in the past, in various parts of the Orthodox world, during the time of a plague. The conditions surrounding the virus affected the parish, parishioners and all society.

Regardless, even though there were many services that had to be served only via the internet (even at the Feast of Pascha, 2020), all the active catechetical and pastoral work remained possible. Sometime after Pascha, 2020, the restrictions began to be relaxed somewhat and gradually. Besides the services, the internet was for a period of time used for Bible-study, the Women's Book Club and other parish groups.

The parishioners felt deep gratitude that so much was being accomplished so quickly. Even more than the renovation of the building, the parishioners felt the great joy in Christ that came through Father Stacey's pastorate. Most particularly, confessions became much more approachable, immediate, natural and healing in his presence.

Pascha, 2021

Because conditions so allowed in 2021, the services of Holy Week and the Feast of Pascha were available in person to the parishioners. At this time, the children in particular commented on the exceptionally effervescent and exuberant joy that Father Stacey expressed. Furthermore, as is one custom, he scattered rose-petals throughout the Temple on one occasion, which emphasised this joy.

Pascha, 2021

Archpriest Stacey, Matushka Trudi Richter

Repose, 2021

On Sunday, 5 September, 2021, Archpriest Anastasy Richter suddenly and unexpectedly fell asleep in the Lord in Chesterton, Indiana. He was preparing to begin serving the Divine Liturgy in Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Temple when he collapsed. Archpriest John Russin (a retired priest who often served with Father Stacey), who was mostly kept away by the medical persons, did manage to anoint Father Stacey somehow. Father Stacey was taken to hospital, but he was declared to have reposed (from a heart-attack, as it was later clarified).

Father John Russin, who had completed the serving of the Divine Liturgy and also a scheduled wedding, hurried to the hospital. Having heard the news, he served the first panikhida at the hospital beside Father Stacey and with the family.

The news of this event spread quickly, and panikhidas were served soon afterwards in the various parishes in Canada and the USA where Father Stacey had served.

On the evening of 7 September, 2021 (the eve of the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos), Archbishop Paul (Gassios) of Chicago served the previously-scheduled Vesperal Divine Liturgy in and for the parish, after which he served a panikhida for the newly-departed rector. He then sat down with the gathered parishioners, and after a substantial conversation, he visited with Matushka Trudi in her home.

On 14 September, 2021, the body of Archpriest Anastasy Richter was brought to the Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church (8600 Grand Boulevard) in Merrillville, Indiana, at 2:30 p.m., and a panikhida was served.

Then, at 6:30 p.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest was served by Archbishop Paul (Gassios). He was assisted by other clergy. The homily was preached by Archpriest Paul Jannakos, Chancellor of the Diocese of Chicago and the Midwest.

On 15 September, 2021, at 9:30 a.m., at Protection of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Merrillville, Indiana, the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served by Archbishop Paul (Gassios). He was assisted by other clergy. The homily was preached by Priest Jonathan Lincoln of Christ the Saviour parish in Chicago.

A final Litya for the Departed was served after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, and Archbishop Paul (Gassios) spoke.

After the conclusion of the funeral services, the body of Archpriest Anastasy Richter was interred at Chesterton Cemetery, 300 East Porter Avenue, Chesterton, Indiana.

Funeral service with Archbishop Paul (Gassios) and clergy

Archpriest Paul Jannakos, chancellor, giving a homily

Reflections

Father Anastasy Richter was survived by his immediate family : his wife Matushka Trudi (Goertzen) Richter ; his daughter Michal and her fiancé Carlos ; his twin daughters Sarah and Anika ; his identical twin brother Kirby, his sister-in-law Loretta and his nephew Alex ; his parents Wendell and Jean Richter ; his mother-in-law Katherine Goertzen, and many beloved brothers- and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews and cousins. He was predeceased by his mother Catherine Degelman Moore ; his step-father Scotty Allen Jarvis ; his father-in-law Johann Goertzen ; his grandparents Arthur Moore and Cecilia Ann Degelman, and Henry Emil Richter and Doreen Jessie Kelly.

Richter family, summer, 2021

As was immediately published, people were requested in lieu of flowers to make donations to “complete Father Stacey’s vision” which was to complete the iconography in Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Orthodox Church in Chesterton, Indiana.

Besides this, after the sudden repose of Father Stacey, a parishioner (John Maddex) organised an internet funding appeal for the sake of supporting the family. The goal was to raise $75,000.00. Such was the love for the family that this amount was raised within 3 days, and subsequent giving surpassed this amount. It proved to be a Providential support for the grieving family.

 Archpriest Anastasy (Stacey) Richter was truly a father to many, and by God’s Grace 
 many souls were brought to the Faith through his life, teaching and witness. 
  
 Father Stacey was always learning and reading about theology, and he was especially 
 dedicated to studying Biblical scripture in Greek and Hebrew.  Anyone who has seen his 
 personal daily prayer sessions can attest that these could easily last hours.  He was 
 genuine and authentic in his faith, not only ‘talking the talk’, but ‘walking the walk’.  
 He did his best to be free of judgement towards others.  He treated his neighbour with 
 Christ-like love, and through his love for Christ and His Church, he lived as a free man. 
 Truly his faith never wavered.  
 
 Stacey loved being outside, watching trains at the railyard, going on adventures, swimming, 
 riding his bike, and learning about the stars.  Anika would like everyone to know that he 
 was a pain to watch movies with.  He loved his wife and daughters (including their dog Lady) 
 very deeply.  He will always be remembered as a vibrant, lively person, often accompanied 
 by a frequent and booming laugh.  He laughed especially hard at his own jokes.  Father Stacey 
 will be missed more than words can describe.

Father Stacey’s love of studying the Holy Scriptures in both Greek and Hebrew bore fruit in the Bible-studies he led. This love inspired many of those who participated in the studies. Some of them went to study at seminary. In addition, he helped and tutored people by e-mail with their Greek studies.

A reason that both Father Stacey and Kirby enjoyed watching trains is that both their father and their step-father had worked in the Transcona Railyards in Winnipeg. The joy of watching the functioning of railway trains was ingrained in them from early childhood. That he enjoyed watching the stars in the night sky were related directly to the deep interest of his brother Kirby, and they had telescopes available for viewing the stars.

Their annual week-long camping trip together was for both brothers a highly-anticipated adventure. They travelled by canoe in the wilderness are of Minnesota known as "the Great Boundary".

Father Stacey’s forgiveness, joy and exuberance were authentic expressions of who he truly is. However, as with most people, there are other factors influencing life that are not generally seen. He suffered (as others who follow Christ) from frequent spiritual attacks, attempts to overcome his joy with the memory of the intense pain of the past. His determined clinging to Christ, and his hoping on Christ express the early words of the Gospel according to John : the darkness did not overcome the light. Joy was evident to his last breath. The unconditional love with which he embraced the people sent to his parishes by the Lord is an expression of his perception of the unconditional love in which the Lord had embraced him. As he had responded in love to the Lord’s love, so others responded in love to the love he shared with them, which, he was well aware, was supplied by the Lord. Those who saw him praying before the Holy Icons with focus and devotion learned from his example to do so themselves. He would constantly repeat that “prayer is the most important thing”.

His emphasis on prayer was a natural expression of his love for the Lord, and his desire to be in the presence of the Lord. That he would spend substantial time before the Holy Icons is a natural Orthodox habit which tends to foster the same habit (as well as the love that it expresses) in those nearby. Others who have seen this practice in their families often refer to it.

Father Stacey put very much emphasis on the importance in the Christian life of reading the Holy Gospels. He would say : "You should always be reading through the Gospels, and when you come to the end of the fourth Gospel, you go back to the Gospel according to Matthew and begin again". Matushka Trudi and parishioners recall that especially in his last homilies, Father Stacey was stressing the importance of "always having a Gospel on the go".

Following the repose of Father Stacey, the parishioners quickly began to pay close attention to the consolation and spiritual support of Matushka Trudi and her family.

Also following the repose of Father Stacey, a medical report indicated that his unexpected departure had been caused by a congenital heart condition about which no-one was aware. After this report, Kirby quickly had his heart tested, and he was found to have a heart condition also. This Providential discovery led his physician to say to him : "your brother has saved your life". Kirby was as fit as Father Stacey, and he had no reason to suppose that there was any danger.

Priest Jonathan Lincoln was cited in the Facebook page of Saint George Serbian Orthodox Church in Canton, Ohio, as having said :

 I would not be an Orthodox Christian nor a priest if it were not for Fr. Stacey. In the years 
 following my journey to seminary and ordination, he was a good mentor and friend.  He taught 
 me how to be patient, how to love those who are hurting, how to pray, how to battle temptations, 
 even how to preach.  
 
 My prayers are with his family and parish.  I cannot imagine their grief at this time.  May the 
 Lord God remember His newly-departed servant the Archpriest Stacey in His Kingdom.

The following is a slightly edited copy of the the notes that Father Anastasy had prepared for the homily on the day of his repose. It is a homily that he did not preach, but it is an example of his love for the Holy Scriptures and of his pastoral care.

‘The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant’ (Matthew 18:21-35)
Sermon Notes, Sunday 5 September, 2021
Saint Elizabeth the New Martyr Church, Chesterton, Indiana
[For technical reasons, the Greek text is not reproduced in the same way as in the original.]

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

In many of our church services we pray for peace. We begin the Divine Liturgy, saying : ‘In peace, let us pray
to the Lord’. We want to collect ourselves, settle ourselves, and as much as possible begin our prayer in a
state of peace. We continue :
‘For the peace from above, and for the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord’. What we are asking for
is God's peace. The peace from above, the peace that passes understanding. And yet for many of us, this peace
eludes us. We ask for it Sunday after Sunday, and yet, we may not have it.

Why not ? Well, a major reason, something that will destroy inner peace all the time, is unresolved resentments.
Unforgiveness. You can't have peace with God while you are not at peace with your neighbour, your brother, your
fellow human. This is critical to understand. Your neighbour in a very real sense is Christ. If you have
broken, wounded relationships, unless you have come to complete forgiveness of them, you won't be at peace.
You see, unforgiveness is holding onto anger. Often, it's buried. You may not feel it. But if it's there,
you won't be at peace and you won't be happy.

You see, without forgiveness, the wound can't be healed. The hurt that the other person caused you, keeps on
hurting you. Unforgiveness keeps the wound open. It can never really heal. You will never have peace until
you surrender, let it go, forgive, and learn to love the person who offended you.

In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus tells us a parable. It can be called the parable of the unmerciful servant,
or the parable of the unforgiving servant (or slave). Jesus tells this parable in response to a question by
Peter. If we go back a couple of verses to verse 21 [also printed in your handout] it says :

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35 ‘UBSS’)

21 ‘Τοτε προσελθων ο Πετρος, ειπεν αυτω·’
Then Peter came and said to Jesus :
‘Κυριε, ποσακις αν αμαρτηση εις εμε ο αδελφος μου και αφησω αυτω; εως επτακις;’
‘Lord, how many times should I forgive my brother if he sins against me, up to seven times ?’
22 ‘Λεγει αυτω ο Ιησους· Ου λεγω σοι εως επτακις, αλλ' εως εβδομηκοντακις επτα.’
Jesus replied : ‘I do not say to you “up to seven times”, but up to seventy times seven times’ [which means
an unlimited amount of times].
23 ‘Δια τουτο ωμοιωθη η βασιλεια των ουρανων ανθρωπω βασιλει, ος συναραι^[1] λογον μετα των δουλων αυτου.’
Then Jesus tells a parable. It begins with ‘therefore’, but the word here in Greek is not the usual word for
‘therefore’. It’s much stronger. It's an emphatic connection. I would translate this, ‘For this reason, the
Kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves [it's actually “slave”
in Greek, not “servant”]’.
24 ‘αρξαμενου^[2] δε αυτουν συναιρειν^[3] προσηνεχθη αυτω εις οφειλετης μυριων ταλαντων.’
And when he began to settle accounts a certain debtor was brought to him who owed him many thousands of talents.
[In modern terms this amount of money is an impossibly huge amount. Billions.] There is no way, Jesus is
deliberately exaggerating here. An impossible amount. An unrepayable amount.
25 ‘μη εχοντος δε αυτου αποδουναι^[4] εκελευσεν αυτον ο κυριος πραθηναι^[5] και την γυνηαικα και τα τεκνα και
παντα οσα εχει, και αποδοθηναι^[6].’
And as he could not repay it, the Master ordered him to be sold [remember he was a slave] along with his wife
and children and all that he had and repayment to be made.
26 ‘Πεσων ουν ο δουλος προσεσυνει αυτω, λεγων· μακροθυμησον επ’ εμοι, και παντα αποδωσω σοι.’
But the slave fell at his feet and begged him saying, ‘Be patient with me [give me time] and I will repay it
all to you’.
27 ‘Σπλαγχνισθεις^[7] δε ο κυριος του δουλου εκεινου, απελυσεν αυτον και το δανειον αφηκεν εις αυτον.’
But the Lord felt compassion for that slave and released him and forgave him the debt. [This means he cancelled
it ! All of it !]
28 ‘εξηλθων δε ο δουλος εκεινος ευρεν ενα των συνδουλων αυτου, ος ωφειλεν αυτω εκατον δηναρια,’
But (notice the ‘but’) then that slave went out and found a fellow slave of his who owed him a hundred denarii.
[In modern amounts this would be 10 to 20 thousand dollars. A significant amount, but by all means repayable.]
‘και κρατησας αυτον επνιγεν^[8], λεγων· Αποδος ει τι^[9] οφειλεις.’
And he seized him and was choking him and saying : ‘Repay me what you owe me !’
29 ‘Πεσων ουν ο συνδουλος αυτου παρακαλει αυτον λοιπον ο συνδουλος αυτου εις τους ποδας αυτου, παρεκαλει^[10]
αυτον λεγων·’
But his fellow slave fell at his feet and begged him, saying :
[notice the pattern – this is exactly what the first slave did.]
‘Μακροθυμησον εις επ’ eμοι, και αποδωσω σοι.’
‘Be patient with me [give me time] and I will repay you’.
30 ‘ο δε ους ηθελεν αλλ’ απελθων^[11] εβαλεν αυτον εις φυλακην εωσ αποδω^[12] το οφειλομενον^[13].’
But the first slave was not willing, but went and had him put in prison until he should repay the debt.
31 ‘Ιδοντες ουν οι συνδουλοι αυτου τα γενομενα ελυπηθησαν^[14]] σφοδρα και ελθοντες διεσαφησαν^[15] τω κυριω εαυτων
παντα τα γενομενα.’
When therefore his fellow slaves saw what had happened they were very upset and they came to their Master and
told Him everything that had happened.
32 ‘Τοτε προσκαλεσαμενος αυτον ο κυριος αυτου, λεγει αυτω· Δουλε πονηρε, πασαν την ωφειλην εκεινην αφηκα σοι,
επει παρεκαλεσας με·’
Then the Lord summoned the first slave and said to him :
‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all of your debt because you begged Me to.
33 ‘ουκ εδει και σε ελεησαι^[16] τον συνδουλον σου, ως καγω σε ηλεησα;’
Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you ?’
34 ‘Και οργισθεις^[17] ο κυριος αυτου παρεδωκεν αυτον τοις βασανιστας^[18], εως ου αποδω παν το οφειλομενον.’
And the Lord was very angry and he handed over the first slave to the torturers [to be tormented] until he
could repay all that he owed. [Meaning never, because it was an impossibly huge amount.] Basically this fellow
gets thrown into hell. You see the result of unforgiveness.
This ends the parable, and then Jesus summarises and says :
35 ‘Ουτως και ο Πατηρ μου ο ουρανιος ποιησει υμιν, εαν θελει καμει εις εσας, εαν δεν συγχωρησητε εκ καρδιας σας
εκαστος εις τον αδελφον αυτου τα πταισματα αυτων.’
‘So also will my heavenly Father treat you, unless each of you forgives his brother [or neighbour – any other
human person] from your heart.

Several Points :
• This parable is speaking about us. All of us. Everyone of us has received an incredible amount of forgiveness
from God. No matter how much our neighbour sins against us, it is always much less than we have sinned against
God. The trouble is, that often we just don't see this, because it's so easy to justify myself, make excuses for
myself, and just not see my own sin very clearly. Yet we usually don't have this problem with other people. We
see their sins and faults usually very clearly.
We can be just like Jesus when He said that those who judge their neighbour are like those who see a speck of
dust in their brother's eye, but don't notice that they have a log in their own. This is the way fallen human
nature operates. We look at others with a microscope, but make excuses for ourselves. This is why humbling
ourselves, examining ourselves, and really seeing our own sin, is actually very healthy. Then we can confess it,
and get rid of it. But also :
the more you see your own sinfulness, the less likely you will be to judge your neighbour, and it will be much
easier to forgive others. Saint Ignatius Brianchaninov wrote that ‘It is the Grace of the Holy Spirit that
enables us to see our own sin’. Ask for this Grace.
• Another point is that even though the parable is speaking about financial debt, it is really speaking about
the debt of sin, our moral debt, which is our failure to love both God and our neighbour. To give them their
due. Remember that in the Greek, the Lord's Prayer actually says ‘forgive us our debts, as we forgive our
debtors’. [A debtor in this sense is someone who has failed to give us the love we should have received from
them.]
• Another point is that we are called to forgive our neighbour from the heart. This means our attitude. We must
cultivate an ‘attitude’ of love and forgiveness toward our neighbour.
• So if we want inner peace, we must forgive our neighbour. All of our brothers, sisters, people. In particular,
I recommend 4 things :

1. Surrender. This means to stop fighting what happened, and accept what happened to you. We have to
surrender our rebellion, our fighting back, our wanting to get even, our wanting that the other person be
punished.
2. We need to let it go. Because unforgiveness is a holding on to the wrong, often with a desire for revenge.
We have to let it go.
3. We must forgive. Jesus commands us to forgive. So out of obedience we should forgive, but also because it
is to your benefit. Usually, the person that you are hurting the most by your unforgiveness is yourself. So we
make a decision to forgive, and forgive them in Christ. Because in Christ, we can forgive.
4. Ask God to give you love for the person. One of the best ways is to pray good things for that person. Every
time bad thoughts toward them come into your head – pray good things for them.
No-one said it was going to be easy. But this is what we are called to as we follow our Master, who not only
loved with a perfect love, and forgave even those who tortured and crucified Him, but who gave Himself up as a
sacrifice for sin, so that all people and all sins could be forgiven. And if we work at it, we will have His
peace, the peace from above through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

End-notes :
[1] ‘Συνααραι’ : to settle (accounts)
[2] Αρξαμενου : αρχω : rule. But the middle voice : being. This is a genitive absolute.
[3] Συναιρειν : ‘PAN’
[4] Αποδουναι : ‘AAN’
[5] Πραθηναι : ‘APN’ ; πεπρασσω – sell
[6] Αποδοθηναι : ‘APN’
[7] Σπλαγχνισθεις : ‘APPNSM’ : σπλαγχνιζομαι
[8] Επνιγεν : ‘3SIA’I πνιγω (3xNT) – choke, drown
[9] Ει τι : ει with the indefinite pronoun – see ‘BDAG’ ει 7 p. 279. Here, ‘everything that’, or ‘whatever’.
[10] Παρακαλει : 3SIAI’
[11] Απελθων : attendant circumstance
[12] Αποδω : ‘3SAAS’
[13] Οφειλομενον : ‘PPPASN’
[14] Ελυπηθησαν : λυπεω – grieve, but commonly in passive form : be distressed, be grieved, be sad
[15] Διεσαφησαν : διασαφεω – tell plainly, tell in detail
[16] Ελεησαι : ‘1SAAI’
[17] Οργισθεις : οργιζω – (19x) in our literature, commonly in passive form : be angry. Aorist : ωργισα ; Aorist Passive : ωργισθειν
[18] Βασανιστας : torturers, tormentors

Father Stacey and Matushka Trudi, summer, 2021 : parish celebration of 20 years of priesthood

2 Corinthians 9:6-11 :

 ‘He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully’.  
 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity ; for God loves a cheerful 
 giver, and God is able to make all Grace abound towards you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all 
 things, may have an abundance for every good work.  As it is written : ‘He has dispersed abroad ; He has 
 given to the poor ; His righteousness endures unto the ages’.  Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, 
 and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,
 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.