John and Sophie Barchyn

Reader John W Barchyn (1920-2007)

and

Sophia (Sophie) Barchyn (born Semenchuk) (1924-2016)

— by the Archpriest Robert Kennaugh, Dean of Manitoba/Saskatchewan (edited)

Early life of John Barchyn

On 22 June, 1920, John Barchyn, born at Narol, in what is now the Rural Municipality of Saint Clements in Manitoba, 23 km (15 mi) northeast of Winnipeg (at 5635, Henderson Highway). He was the last child of a family of 6 born to William (Wasyl) and Magdalene Barchyn. He recalled that when he was a youngster, his mother kept the teapot filled for the saintly Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsov) while he chatted with the family at the kitchen table on the eve of a feast or of a Sunday (the Archbishop would stay with this family overnight). John lived his entire life in the place where he was born, on the family farm, just north of Saint Nicholas' Orthodox Church, Maniotoba, Canada.

Early life of Sophia Semenchuk

On 18 July, 1924, Sophia (Sophie) Semenchuk was born at Narol, Manitoba, to Panteleimon and Pearl (Parasceva) Semenchuk. Sophie had 7 siblings, of which she was born second-last. The siblings were : her sisters, Marion, Anna, Katherine, and Emilie ; her brothers, Arthur, Jack and Henry. When she was a young woman, Sophie worked in a sewing-factory in Winnipeg. There, she learned how to make gowns and to do other fine tailoring, so that she could later make clothes for her children, and coverings for the Holy Table and other furniture in the Temple.

Sophie was married first to Wilfred Gluck, who reposed in 1951.

When it came time for her to marry John, Sophie returned to Narol.

Temple of Saint Nicholas, Narol, Manitoba

Marriage, 1956

John Barchyn and Sophie Semenchuk, who were married in 1956, raised their children on the farm at Narol. As their hands were joined at their Crowning, so they lived their life together hand-in-hand.

Sophie's works

Sophie was able, because of her time working in the factory, to take on sewing projects at home which could supplement the family’s income. Because in those days the Temple of Saint Nicholas could not accommodate any social functions (there was no basement or hall), all cooking, and much of the eating happened at the Barchyn farm.

In the days before refrigeration, cooked food was kept cool in the summer by hanging it in long, narrow containers from the edge of the well, and suspending them just above the level of the water. Of course, these products included “perogies” and “holubtsi”.

Even in her senior years as a widow, Sophie continued to teach the younger people about the methods for making these and other foods, and in particular how to par-boil cabbage for the “holubtsi”.

John's works

Except for a short stint in the army during World War II, John was a market-gardener who belonged to the Manitoba Vegetable Producers Marketing Board (now "Peak of the Market").

At local markets, when his produce would be compared with that of mass-producers, John was well-known for his high-quality zucchini, cucumbers, potatoes, onions, peas, and tomatoes, all of which were hand-picked and highly appreciated. John always maintained his fields well : weeds were not acceptable. As with other such small farms, pigs and poultry were very present.

He also served as the Secretary-Treasurer for the Grower’s Co-op from 1944 to 1982, until suburban housing development in the area forced its closure. During these years, when finances for the family were sometimes too limited, John would find work in the winter-time in a sugar-beet factory, in order to supplement the income.

Social life

John loved to go dancing with Sophie. Dance-halls were to be found everywhere in earlier days. He had good shoes just for dancing. He stood as best man at many weddings. Many pictures from them were to be found in the Barchyn house. John also became godfather to many.

He had a very lively sense of humour ; he loved to laugh ; he loved to hear a funny story, and he loved to tell one. During hard times, the family saw little money, if any. Nevertheless, they were able to grow or to raise what they needed, and the Barchyns were always known for their hospitality, no matter how hard the times.

John and Sophie, with Archpriest Robert and Matushka Dianne Kennaugh, at Sophie's 80th birthday celebration

John and Sophie Barchyn with grandsons Jonathon and Anthony

John and Sophie on Sophie's birthday, with grandsons Jonathon and Anthony

Together at Saint Nicholas Church

John was always an active member of the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol. He was a tonsured reader, and he sang in the choir. Sophie sang in the choir with him, and she never stopped. Produce grown by John and Sophie would arrive at church for blessing at the summer feasts of the Transfiguration and the Dormition. At Thanksgiving, John provided a “horn of plenty” for the church.

The Temple had been originally a simple, rectangular structure. After the organisation of the community was begun in 1911, the Temple was able to be constructed from local wood after 1913. John saw the first Temple destroyed by fire in 1946. It had been struck by lightning, and burnt to the ground because there was no equipment available to fight the fire.

During the following years, there were fund-raising efforts, and then John helped to build the present Temple, which was completed in 1951.

Thereafter, John was regularly there to clean the Temple, to maintain the building and property, to cut the grass in the summer, and to clear away the snow in the winter. He did this as a matter of course in his life : a personal love-offering without any fanfare at all. Others have followed his example.

The family

John and Sophie received from the Lord 2 children, Derek and Marlene. Later on, after completing his education, Derek moved to Airdrie, Alberta (because of having found work there). Marlene married Mervyn Enns and settled on Henderson Highway across from where her parents lived. When their grand-children began to arrive, it was Sophie (helped by John) who would care for them much of the time, because both parents had jobs that took them away every week-day. The grand-parents particularly nurtured them. They would give them breakfast before school, look after them and give them snacks during after-school hours, and care for them at other times as well. This took considerable pressure off the parents.

The Barchyn home was near the Temple

Participation in the renovations

John saw, and he also participated in the renovation and reconstruction works of the more recent years on the Saint Nicholas Temple (which were led by Steve Bilan). This reconstruction included the major work of raising the Temple-building, constructing a basement, and placing the existing building on that basement. This ambitious undertaking allowed for the introduction of “indoor-plumbing” and electricity.

There is now a very functional kitchen (as required by law) and a social-hall. An elevator was installed near the entrance to the Temple in June, 2007, and John was one of the first to try it out. However, he made use of it only a few times prior to his repose. John was a big supporter of the elevator because of his own declining health, and also because of his concern for the many others who would benefit from it.

Repose of John, 2007

The Reader John Barchyn, a lifetime member of the Church of Saint Nicholas in Narol, Manitoba, reposed in the Lord on 23 July, 2007, at the age of 87. John was predeceased by his parents, Wasyl and Magdalene, who were amongst the founders of the parish. Surviving and remembering him were his wife Sophie, son Derek, daughter Marlene (and her husband Merv), and grand-sons Jonathon and Anthony (who have been altar-servers at Saint Nicholas), as well as numerous nieces and nephews. After 2007, Derek married Ingrid, and they have a daughter Thuany.

A Panikhida was served on Thursday, 26 July, at the Cropo Funeral Chapel in Winnipeg.

On Friday, 27 July, 2007, at 10:00 a.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person were offered on Friday, 27 July, also at this chapel (because of space), led by the Archpriest Robert Kennaugh.

Due to the anticipated large numbers of people for the memorial and funeral services, these services were held in a Winnipeg funeral home. Nevertheless, John’s coffin was brought home to the family farm for a brief prayer, then into the Temple for a Panikhida prior to the interment in the Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church Cemetery, where many departed of his family are buried, and which he helped to tend lovingly over many years. The cemetery is behind (east of) the Temple.

Sophie continues her life of love and service

After the repose of John, Sophie continued to live alone in their home for many years. As before, their daughter Marlene lived across the road, and she and her family were thus able to help Sophie at any time. Sophie also continued to be present, singing and working in the Temple of Saint Nicholas, as she always had done. Sophie continued always to be available to lend a hand regardless of whether it was church-related or helping out in the family.

Sophie remained on the family farm until the summer of 2015, when she took up residence at Red River Place in Selkirk, Manitoba. By this time, she needed some help with daily details and medications. She had been cared for spiritually by the Priest Gregory Scratch.

Repose of Sophie, 2016

Early in the morning of 26 May, 2016, Sophie Barchyn fell asleep in the Lord.

On Sunday, 29 May, at 6:30 p.m., a Panikhida was offered for Sophie by the Priest Gregory Scratch at the Cropo Funeral Home (1442 Main Street).

On the following morning (Monday, 30 May), at 9:30 a.m., a Memorial Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service for a Lay-person was served at the Temple of Saint Nicholas in Narol.

Immediately afterwards, her body was interred next to that of her husband, John, in the Saint Nicholas Cemetery (next to the Temple).

Afterwards, a memorial meal was served in the basement of the Temple.

For John and for Sophie : Memory Eternal ! “Vichnaya Pamyat” !

View of the Saint Nicholas Cemetery

Reflections

An important lesson that John and Sophie's children learned from them was always to be truthful and honest, and always to be fair in their dealings with others.

In addition, both John and Sophie's family, the parish family, and others who knew them could see through their way of life the joy that is a central part of living an Orthodox Christian life. They offered loving, joyful hospitality in their home, and this was also the characteristic of parish hospitality. As is normal for Orthodox Christians, their home life and parish life were all of one piece. They lived as normally and naturally as breathing as Orthodox Christians, and their example still encourages others to follow in their path.

References

‘John Barchyn : Memory Eternal’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, Summer, 2008 , pp. 6-7

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

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba”

The Russian Mission in North America

Additional information :

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.

Archdiocese of Canada (OCA) listing for Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in Narol, Manitoba

Orthodox Church in America (OCA) listing

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)