Dmytro and Ahafia Derhak

Dmytro Derhak (1866-1954)

and

Ahafia Derhak (born Sheeska) (1866-1948)

Dmytro may be spelt Dmitri, Dmitry, Demetrios, Dimitrius, Dimitrie.

Ahafia may be spelt Agatha, Agafa, Hafia.

Early life of Dmytro Derhak

On 8 November (“Листопад”), 1866, Dmytro Derhak was born to Adrei and Ahafia Derhak in the village of Panivtsi (also spelt Paniowce) in the Ternopil district of the semi-autonomous province of Galicia in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. It is about 150 km (93 mi) southeast of Ternopil City, about 44 km (27 mi) southeast of Borshchiv, about 33 km (21 mi) northeast of Khotyn, about 100 km (62 mi) northeast of Chernivtsi, in what is now Ukraine. Panivtsi is 432 km (268 mi) southwest of Kyiv, and it is only a little north of the Dniester River (which was historically the border with Romania). On the south of this river is the beginning of the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains. Panivtsi is north of Suçeava, Romania.

Before World War I, this region was a part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Ludomeria, which was itself a constituent crown-land of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This region of Western Ukraine is generally called “Galicia”, or “Halychina”.

Dmytro was raised in the Orthodox Christian Faith in a community of the Russian Orthodox Church in that region (although at that time within the Austro-Hungarian Empire’s territory).

As he grew up, Dmytro became an Orthodox pillar of light and knowledge for the Derhak family in this, his ancestral village. He was one of the few literate villagers. Not many families in Panivtsi were Orthodox : many had been taken into Uniatism in the 1800s. However, Dmytro’s father Andrei Derhak (born between 1820 and 1830) had been serving in his parish for a long time as a “dyak”(a cantor, a reader), and he had taught his son likewise how both to read and to sing the services of the Church. Dmytro carried on this custom. As a consequence, there came about 4 straight generations of “dyaks”, the last 3 having served at Saint Nicholas’ Church, Sandy Lake, Manitoba, Canada.

The 4 generations :

 Andrei Derhak (in Ukraine) ; his son Dmytro Derhak ; his son John (Ivan) Derhak ; his son Steven Derhak.

To marry, or not to marry Ahafia Sheeska

As a youth, Dmytro had said that he did not want to be married, because he wanted to be an Orthodox Christian monk. However, his widowed mother, Hafia, did not want to be left alone, so she had encouraged him to marry. If, after the death of her husband, her son Dmytro would have gone to be a monk, then she would have been in a position similar to that of the Widow of Nain (see Luke 7:11-18) when her only son died.

Pilgrimage to Kyiv, 1890

Dmytro took the situation very seriously, and he wanted to do what was in accordance with God’s will. Therefore, before deciding whether or not to marry, in 1890, he walked the more than 400 km to the Pecherskaya (caves) Lavra in Kyiv, in order to speak with one of the “staretzes” (elders). The Staretz advised him to marry, and to take his elderly mother and his future family to Canada.

After the conversations, he walked back to Panivtsi.

Upon his return, he prepared to marry Ahafia (Hafia) Sheeska (born 6 November (“Листопад”), 1866), who was a “simple” person (that is, she was an ordinary, illiterate young villager). Ahafia was an orphan who had been raised by her older brothers, since her parents had died when she was young. Because they had been born in the same village, at least Dmytro and Hafia knew who each other was.

Marriage, 1890

When he arrived home, he married Hafia (or Ahafia) Sheeska. From their union, 2 children were born while they were still in Ukraine : Ivan and Tatiana. In a few years, the family would move to Canada to begin a new life, and the Canadian Orthodox would receive 3 devoted readers !

Emigration to Canada, 1902

Their move to Canada happened in this way. Dmytro had a sister, Tatiana, married to Ivan Klym, and in 1898, the Klyms decided to emigrate to Canada. As did all pioneers from there, they travelled from Europe by ship, and then by train all the way from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Strathclair, Manitoba.

Then they ventured out into the wilderness by horses and wagons to the Horod district (Harrison Park Municipality) in West-central Manitoba, where they stayed with friends and relatives who had arrived there earlier. Then they went on to the Sandy Lake area of the Province of Manitoba, and they settled west of Beaufort Lake on the south-east quarter of section 18, township 18, range 20 west of the first meridian. Tatiana wrote to Dmytro, her brother, and she told him about the land available in Canada.

Although it may not have been the case with the Derhak family, there were other families who came to Canada from the same region as a consequence of the enticements of the Government of Canada as conveyed there by Dr. Josef Oleskow.

In 1902, Dmytro with his wife, his elderly mother, Ahafia, his sister Petrina, his daughter Tatiana and 10-year-old son, Ivan (John), emigrated from Panivtsi to Canada. They settled next to the Ivan Klym farm on the north-west quarter of the same section of land (a section of land is roughly a square of 1 mile on each side). The land upon which they settled is approximately 1 km north of the settlement of Sandy Lake, Manitoba.

It is useful to understand that when the Derhaks arrived, they were not even the first of a large number of people by this name. Already some Derhaks had arrived in Manitoba from the same region of Halychina, from Paniowce, Borschiw and Ternopol, and they had begun to settle in the Sifton, Fork River, and Valley River regions.

When Dmytro saw nothing but dense bush and marshes and the sky above him, he cried out, “Chomu ya lishiv svii ridnii krai ?” (“Why did I ever leave my homeland ?”) However, with a strong will, and believing in God that everything in life came through hard work, he cleared enough land to plant a garden and grow a little grain to feed his family. They survived many hardships, and in time, built a good home and other buildings, and had a good living. They had one more daughter, Maria, born in Canada.

Founding the Temple of Saint Nicholas in Sandy Lake, 1900

Dmytro was one of the founding members of the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, the first Orthodox Temple in Sandy Lake. The “pioneer church” was built of logs, on land belonging to Ivan Klym and his wife, Dmytro’s sister Tatiana. Near this small Temple was a pre-existing cemetery which became the cemetery of this new community. However, this original structure was both very small, and on a site that was not very favourable for various reasons (including accessibility).

Therefore, after a few years, the original structure was moved to another, more accessible site on the Derhak property (adjacent to the Klym property). There, a larger structure was added, and the original portion became the entrance porch (narthex) for the newer Temple. The new site was somewhat to the east of the original site at the original “pioneer cemetery” (north). A road of sorts passed by it between the Sandy Lake settlement and points north. On the new site, a new area was set aside for a cemetery which was near the new Temple.

Because the Temple was established to the north of the settlement of Sandy Lake, and because other church buildings were later built in the village, this Temple came to have the nickname, “North Church”. Moreover, the original cemetery became known both as the “Old Saint Nicholas Cemetery”, and as the “Pioneer Cemetery North”.

Dmytro’s father was a choir master in the Old Country, and he had reposed in the Lord some time before the family emigrated to Canada. Dmytro was also a reader (a “dyak”, cantor), and he continued to use his talent in Canada when the Saint Nicholas Church was built. (The word “dyak” has its root-meaning in the Greek word for “deacon”, and its root-meaning is “servant” or “service”.)

Saint Nicholas, Sandy Lake, First Temple

In this photo may be seen the extended Temple with its porch

Dmytro was naturalised as a Canadian in 1906. In addition to raising his family, he also taught his son, Ivan, the Divine Liturgy, and how to read and write, since there were no schools in the area at the time. Dmytro was a very stern, but loving and much-respected father and grandfather. Thus, as had been the case in Ukraine, so it was in Sandy Lake, Manitoba, that Dmytro became the Orthodox pillar of light and knowledge for the Derhak family, and for the village. This was evident in the way he served as a dyak, and in how he lived his Christian life.

This could be said as well about his wife Ahafia. Her descendants described her as a very endearing and loving person. Her part in forming their children and grandchildren was as significant as that of her husband.

Dmytro had a connection with Holy Trinity Orthodox Sobor at 643, Manitoba Avenue (at the corner of Manitoba Avenue and McKenzie Street) in Winnipeg. The few times he had to travel to Winnipeg, he always attended Divine services there.

After his repose, Dmytro’s son, Ivan, took over his duties in the Church services ; and after Ivan, Dmytro’s grandson, Steven, was also a “dyak”. This makes a total of 4 generations of readers in one family ! Steve was later president of the Sandy Lake parish for 27 years.

Pilgrimage from Canada to the Holy Land, 1927

At one time, Dmytro became very restless with his farm duties, and in 1927, at the age of 60, he felt spiritually compelled to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He became the first Canadian Ukrainian immigrant to make a pilgrimage from Canada to the Holy Land.

From the time of his arrival in Canada, Dmytro had continued to correspond with an old friend from his homeland, Ivan (John, Johannes) S Benske. This Orthodox friend had already emigrated to the USA in 1890. Although he had been born and baptised in about 1865 as Johannes Dzubinsky, he had changed his name to John Benske when arrived in the USA. There, he was also known as Ivan or John. It is not known where they met. However, there were friends of Dmytro from Paniowce where Dmytro was born, who lived in Scranton, Pennsylvania who worked in the coal mines. After his arrival, Ivan had lived for a time in Scranton, and he had later settled in Detroit, Michigan, USA, where he reposed in Christ in 1937.

Already in 1913, Ivan had travelled from Detroit to Sandy Lake in order to visit Dmytro. By the mid-1920s, Ivan had been widowed, and in their correspondence they had discussed the possibility of making a pilgrimage together to the Holy Land. They then agreed on a date and a possible itinerary.

When Dmytro made his departure from Sandy Lake at the time of harvest in 1926, he travelled by railway to the east, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. There, Ivan Benske met him, and they sailed from there across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe.

Together, Dmytro and his old friend Ivan travelled through Europe to Jerusalem (which at that time was a part of the Ottoman Empire).

'While they were in Jerusalem, Dmytro and Ivan visited a Russian Monastery, and a staretz (who rarely spoke to pilgrims) saw and counselled Dmytro. Dmytro brought back with him a medallion of Saint Seraphim of Sarov and 2 golden Easter Eggs with the Resurrection painted on them.

He brought with him also many lithographs of old icons from Jerusalem, and 2 of the Virgin Mary visiting Mount Athos. He also brought a Slavonic [1] (Book of the Psalms, with various prayers) from which he would read. This Pslater-Book is now kept in the Sandy Lake Ukrainian Museum, along with some other items that Dmytro had brought with him from the pilgrimage.

Included in the items he brought with him was a golden pectoral Cross that was associated with the glorification of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. This Cross was made of a soft metal, and it was gold in colour only. Some of the lithographs include :

 • Saint Ignatius with lions (Odessa)
 • Saint George & dragon (Odessa}
 • Nativity of Christ (Odessa)
 • Archangel Michael (1909, Jerusalem)
 • 2 Stations of the Cross (Odessa)
 • Holy Trinity (July, 1902, Moscow)
 • Saint Nicholas (likely Moscow)
 • Christ Blessing (17 July, 1908, Kiev)
 • Mount Athos  (22 September, 1889, Moscow)
 • Theotokos visiting Mount Athos in a boat, with lengthy commentary in Ukrainian/Russian (5 October, 1888, Kiev)
 • Last Judgement (7 February, 1903, Odessa)
 • Mount Athos with 10 Monasteries (17 February, 1885)

In all, they visited England, France, Jerusalem, Palestine, Egypt, Greece and Italy.

Dmytro returned home to his family from the pilgrimage on 18 July, 1927. However, his friend Ivan remained in Europe for a time. He travelled to Poland, where he was married again, and he then returned to the USA. Ivan lived in the USA together with his new wife until his repose in Christ in 1937 in Detroit. His funeral services were held in one of the Russian Orthodox Churches in the city (very likely Saints Peter and Paul Sobor).

Making a pilgrimage was not at all unusual for Orthodox believers in Dmytro’s homeland, and in 1898, Dmytro himself had already made a pilgrimage to Kyiv from Panivtsi. It was commonplace that people would walk even for hundreds of kilometres to worship in one or another monastery or holy place, and venerate there the Holy Relics of saints and wonder-working icons. Fewer would travel as far as Mount Athos or Jerusalem, but some people did do this. From North America, it was unusual to do this ; in Canada, it was perhaps even more unusual than in the USA.

After his return from the pilgrimage, his granddaughter Ann Rystephanuk McIntyre said that a reporter from the “Winnipeg Free Press” newspaper had heard of his pilgrimage, and came to Sandy Lake to interview him about his experiences. Dmytro was likely one of the very few Canadian people of Ukrainian heritage to have embarked on the journey in those years. However, Dmytro refused to answer specific questions. As he said, it was a “holy and private experience” which could not be shared in words. This article was never published.

The Orthodox treasures which he brought home were at first kept safely in the home of his daughter Tatiana Derhak and her husband Nikifor Rystephanuk in Sandy Lake. They are now in the home of Dmytro's great-grandchild, and displayed with reverence with other family photos and memorabilia.

When he returned, Dmytro always said that he wanted to go back again, and to spend the rest of his days on Mount Athos in Greece. However, with failing health, his wishes were not fulfilled.

Items brought back by Dmytro from his pilgrimage

2 golden eggs from Jerusalem

Saint Seraphim Cross, obverse, reverse

Lithograph Nativity of Christ

Lithograph Saint George

Lithograph Archangel Michael

Lithograph Saint Nicholas

Lithograph Hospitality of Abraham, the Holy Trinity

Lithograph of the Resurrection of Christ, Scenes of the Passion

Lithograph Icon of Christ

Lithograph Last Judgement

Lithograph Jerusalem

Lithograph Theotokos approaches Mount Athos

Lithograph view of Mount Athos

1889 iconographic style lithograph of Mount Athos

Archpriest Y Efimy Moseychuk

Beginning in 1941, Archpriest Efimy Moseychuk began to serve the Saint Nicholas, Sandy Lake parish. He served the parish on a regular basis (along with other parishes he cared for), as well as returning for services of special need. He continued to serve the parish thus (except for 2 years) until 1979, when he retired.

Father Yoachim V Efimy Moseychuk (born in 1900, and a graduate of the Sifton Pastoral School) known for his distinctive kindness, spoke English and Ukrainian, and he was ready to use either language. Furthermore, he knew the Divine Liturgy by heart in the Slavonic Language which was customarily used at that time. It was reported that the liturgical books were open in the Altar, but he never turned the pages. Some have such a gift. In addition, when someone would attend who spoke only English, he would be ready and able to give the homily in English.

Bereavement, 1948

On 21 May (“Травень”), 1948, Hafia Derhak fell asleep in the Lord.

After the panikhidas (memorial services) and the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person, her body was interred in the Saint Nicholas Cemetery to the north of the Temple.

The first Temple was burnt, 1953

In 1953, the original Temple was struck by lightning, caught fire, and was burnt. Immediately, the parishioners galvanised their resources, and they quickly replaced the destroyed Temple with a newer style timber-frame structure (rather than logs) over a basement. The new Temple was on the present site, on higher ground than the first Temple.

The second Temple of Saint Nicholas, Sandy Lake, constructed 1953

Interior of the second Temple

Besides the construction of the second Temple, the parishioners organised themselves in order to construct a parish hall near the entrance to the property from County Highway #250 North. This parish hall became the site of very many social events, not only for the parishioners, but also for nearby residents of the county (who contributed rental fees). Fundraising activities of several sorts were also undertaken in these facilities. This hall was used also for Deanery meetings of the Archdiocese of Canada. From this hall, one has a good view of the Temple and cemetery at the top of the hill, and a good view of the lake across the road to the west.

View of the Temple and cemetery from the parish hall at the entrance

Repose, 1954

On 14 December (“Грудень”), 1954, Dmytro Derhak fell asleep in the Lord (6 years after the repose of his wife, Ahafia).

The panikhidas (memorial services) and the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered in the new Temple. This was the first funeral to be served in the new Temple, even though it was yet incomplete.

After the funeral services, his body was interred in the Saint Nicholas Cemetery to the north of the Temple.

Memory Eternal. Blessed be their memory.

Anyone wishing to discuss details about the Derhak family from Panivtsi, Ukraine, may contact Linda McIntyre by e-mail at :

mcintyre1231@hotmail.com

Grave-markers : Dmytro Derhak, and Ahafia Derhak (Born Sheeska)

North Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church and Cemetery, Sandy Lake, Manitoba

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cemetery, 2014

Photo of the plaque at the original pioneer cemetery of Sandy Lake (on land west of the current cemetery)

Reflections

Dmytro and Ahafia Derhak would not likely claim that they were somehow particularly special. They went about their lives in the usual matter-of-fact manner of Orthodox Christians who have confidence in the Lord for His love, His blessing, His protection, His direction. Their lives were not likely very distinguishable from their neighbours and from other parishioners. Indeed, the many who worked together to establish the Temple of Saint Nicholas north of the village of Sandy Lake were like one family.

As with others, they had no help from the government to establish themselves in Canada, apart from the availability of land. They had left their homeland and families in moving to Canada, and they settled in a society that was not very friendly towards them. In the midst of every difficulty, however, they trusted in the guidance and the provision of the Lord.

Even in the 21st century, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land is not an easy undertaking (despite the speed and convenience of these times). On a pilgrimage, many things occur which were not planned, but which were nevertheless blessed. It is usual that the unplanned variants provide greater blessing than the original itinerary. Dmytro and his old friend John had been prepared to encounter this by their life-formation as Orthodox Christians in their time and in their homeland. Pilgrims of this century may learn from the pilgrims of the last century, and follow their example.

Their devotion to the Lord and to living a life pleasing to Him has inspired others, and it has encouraged their descendants to try to do likewise. Others may be encouraged to persevere in their lives in Christ through reading about Dmytro and Ahafia.

References

The information recorded here was provided by the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of Dmytro and Ahafia Derhak.

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part I

Roots of Community

The Russian Mission in North America

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Additional information :

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba”

Kowalchuk, Edward, and Coulson, Joyce, ‘A History of Sandy Lake and District, 1984 : The Story of Sandy Lake’ in “University of Manitoba Digital Collection, Manitoba Local Histories” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba, 1984), pp. 16-17.

Martynowych, Orest T, “Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Years, 1891-1924” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, University of Alberta, 1991).

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Sandy Lake, Manitoba

Archdiocese listing of Saint Nicholas Parish

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America listing

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

(Belavin) Archbishop (Saint) Tikhon (Belavin)

Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)