Farusy AB Saint John the Baptist Russo Church and Cemetery 1904

Farusy, Alberta, Church in the Name of Saint John the Baptist, 1904

Farusy, Alberta, Saint John the Baptist Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery, 1904

Prehistory

The history of the Russo-Greek Orthodox parish of Saint John the Baptist at Farusy, Alberta, Canada, begins in the early 20th century. At that time, the early Bukovinian-Ukrainian pioneers wanted a place for worship, because worshipping the Lord was the centre of all their life.

Organising the community, 1904

The newcomers were of both Romanian and Ukrainian nationalities. They banded together and decided to build a Temple as soon as possible. They received the title for 40 acres of land in 1904, which was and is not far from the Village of Andrew. The name of the place is related to the Farus family, several of the founding families.

Farusy Temple

The founding members of the parish include :

 Nikolai Babiak ; George Cholak ; Wasyl Cholak ; Todor Drebit ; Maxim Farus ; Ivan Farus ; Wasyl Farus ; 
 Nikolai Fedorak ; John Fedun ; Nikolai Gordey ; Todor Gordey ; George Gelech ; Ivan Horobetz ; John Hudema ; 
 Lazar Hudema ; Flora Kuryk ; Wasyl Kostichuk ; Sam Kuliavych ; George Mandiuk ; Peter Mandiuk ; 
 Wasyl Nikiforuk ; Eli Pipella ; Ivan Pipella ; John Pipella ; Constantine Pipella ; Ivan Romanko ; 
 George Ropchan ; John Ropchan ; Gregory Paulencu ; George Skoreyo ; Sava Sarafinchan ; Jacob Tymchuk ; 
 Fedor Zaharuk ; Ivan Zbykley ; Hrynko Zbykley ; Wasyl Zalitach.

 The first chairman of the parish was Mr. Maxim Farus.  In order to take office, it 
 was required that he take an oath before Mr. O M Biggar, Commissioner of Oaths for 
 Alberta, on 3 August, 1907.
 The first secretary was Mr. Niklai Gordey.
 The first trustees were : Eli Pipella ; John Ropchan ; Constantine Pipella.

Construction of the Temple, 1907

Once the initial organisation of the parish was completed, the parishioners hired Valentine Henning to serve as the head carpenter of the construction project. The members of the community voluntarily assisted in the work required. The building was completed in 1907.

By the year 1920, there were more than 40 members.

Exterior prayer-table

Addition to the Temple, 1964

In 1964, an addition to the Temple was constructed. A coal-fired furnace was installed.

In 1974, a propane furnace was installed to replace the coal.

In 1978, the interior of the Temple was remodelled by the installation of wall-to-wall carpeting and wall-panelling.

Until about this time, the parish was served by clergy of the "Metropolia" (the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America) and its successor, The Orthodox Church in America ("OCA"). The last of these was the Archpriest Vasyl Ostashek (†1998).

Service by the Moscow Patriarchate clergy

Then clergy of the Canadian Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate began to serve the parish.

Farusy Temple, aerial view

Memorial Monument Cross

Saint John the Baptist Russo Greek Orthodox Cemetery, 1904

There are more than 225 known interments in this cemetery.

The first interments in the cemetery were of Mary Horbec in 1904 ; Safta Farus in 1906 ; Eli Pipella in 1911 ; Nancy Drebit in 1912.

The oldest person interred in this cemetery is George Ropchan, who reposed in Christ in 1987, at the age of 108.

Saint John the Baptist Russo Greek Orthodox Cemetery

Land description site SW-22-55-16-W4, Range Road #163

Lamont County, Alberta

The parish cemetery

The priests who have served in this parish include (in order of service) :

 Priest John Zazuliak ; Priest Alexander Kiziun ; Priest Antony Zeminoff ; Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky ; 
 Archpriest Thaddeus Ewachniuk ; Archpriest Peter Vdovochenko ; Priest Theodore Varkhol ; 
 Priest Michael Danilchuk ; Priest Wasyl Boyko ; Archpriest John Kowalchuk ; Archpriest John Karateew ; 
 Igumen Germogen (Cherkasin) ; Igumen Antony (Vasilev) ; Archpriest Vasyl Ostashek ; Priest Nikolai Zaetsev ; 
 Priest Anthony Chilkowich ; Archpriest Nikanor Shymko ; Archpriest Feodor Kobyliatski ; Archpriest Michael Fourik ; 
 Archpriest John Shandra ; Priest Alexey Surayev.

Particular parish information

This parish is served by the Patriarchal Parishes of Canada. The bishop is Bishop Matthew (Andreev).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, 7 July/24 June.

In 2022, the pastor of the parish is the Priest Alexey V Surayev (Matushka Anastasia).

Address :

Saint John the Baptist Russo Orthodox Church

Land description site SW-22-55-16-W4, Range Road #163

Lamont County, Alberta

Directions :

From Andrew, the Temple is found 11 km (7 mi) south, 2 km (1 mi) east, and 2 km (1 mi) south.

From Edmonton, Saint John the Baptist's Church is about 115 km (72 mi) northeast of Edmonton, and southeast of the Village of Andrew, Alberta. This journey takes approximately 1½ hours. From Edmonton, the faster route is to drive eastwards on Highway #16 to Mundare, and then to turn left (north) on Secondary Highway #855, and drive north to the intersection of Highway #855 and Highway #29. Drive 2 km (1 mi) east and then turn right (south) on Range Road #163. The Temple is on the left side. Otherwise, Andrew may be approached by driving from Edmonton on Highway #15 to Highway #45, or to Highway #29. The directions for Highway #45 follow next, here :

Follow Highway #45, which begins at Highway #15 northeast of Edmonton (or another approach to it), until arriving at the Village of Andrew. (Highway #45 continues eastwards to the Saskatchewan border.)

From the Village of Andrew, and from the intersection of Highway #29 and Secondary Highway #855 (four-way-stop), drive 2 km (1 mi) east and then turn right (south) on Range Road #163. The Temple is on the left side.

The mailing address of the parish is the address of the priest.

Please contact the priest for specific information.

Priest Alexey Surayev, Pastor of the parish

5003-46 Street, PO Box 483

Lamont, Alberta

T0B 2R0

Telephone : (780) 895-2149

Mobile : (780) 991-4981

E-mail : aleksurus@gmail.comv

Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh,

Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

Addresses :

10812-108 Street

Edmonton, Alberta

Canada

Telephone : (780) 420-9945

OR :

67, Ennismore Gardens

London, SW7 1NH

United Kingdom

Telephone : 011-44-207-584-0096

E-mail : sourozhdiocese@me.com

References

“Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, 100 Years of Orthodoxy in Canada 1897-1997 : Pictorial Memories” (Edmonton : Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada, 1997).

Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, “Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’” (Edmonton : Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, 1988). ISBN: 0-88925-830-9.

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Original article

Additional information :

A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part 1

Moscow Patriarchate parishes in Canada web-site

MP listing

History of Patriarchal Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada

Wikipedia article about Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada

Patriarch Saint Tikhon (Belavin)

Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)