Johnstown ON †Saint Silouan the Athonite Orthodox Chapel 1992-2016

Johnstown, Ontario, †Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite, 1992-2016

Background

The original purchase of the property on which this chapel subsisted had been undertaken by the Archdiocese of Canada (The Orthodox Church in America) in 1988 at the direction of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada. After the retirement (in 1981) of Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) of Montréal and Canada, Metropolitan Theodosius had been the Locum-tenens bishop of the Archdiocese of Canada. He was concerned that the future bishop of the archdiocese be able to live in a place that was distinct from any particular parish of the archdiocese. Since the establishment of the diocese in 1916, the bishops and their offices had always been dependent upon one or another parish for living quarters and office space.

The original house (with its several additions) had been constructed in about 1850, and it was situated beside County Road #44, formerly known as the King's Highway #16, near Johnstown, Ontario. It was situated just to the south of the unincorporated hamlet Crystal Rock (formerly called "Limekilns" because burning limestone was a local industry in the 19th century).

The original structure had received several additions during its history, and the chapel and its entrance foyer (which connected it to the main house) was the last of them.

The building was part of a farmstead which included a barn and another work-shop building. The whole property, mostly woodland, consisted of about 40 acres. Within the property there was a small marsh, a small swamp, as well as a creek which drained the marsh in the springtime. The land itself was not well-suited to agriculture because of the prevalence of limestone beneath a generally shallow layer of soil.

Improvised oratory, 1988-1998

For the first years, the chapel as such (more like a domestic oratory) was limited to some icons and a table in one corner of the dining-room of the house which was purchased in 1988.

It was after a brief time that a movement began to try to establish a distinct structure which could serve as a more usual sort of chapel. This project in itself became more complicated than anticipated, since conformity to the county's by-laws required that this chapel be physically attached to the main house.

Naming the chapel, 1990

In 1990, the improvised chapel was named for Saint Silouan the Athonite, after having received the blessing to do so from Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov) (founder of the Monastery of Saint John the Baptist, Tolleshunt Knights-by-Malden, Essex, England). The naming at this time anticipated the construction of a proper oratory or chapel which would continue to bear this name.

Preparation, construction of the chapel, 1997-1998

During the course of the further development of the property, under the guidance of the "Metamorphosis Project", it was decided to construct a more "normal" chapel which would be able to serve as a proper spiritual home not only for the residents, but also for the monks and clergy who were attached to it, and for the Orthodox Christians in the region who were already attending some of the services when they were made known.

On the day when the land was blessed, Archbishop Mark (Petrovtsiy), the bishop of the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in Canada, was present with the others who participated.

The foundation of the chapel being prepared

Although the chapel was originally constructed as a separate building, the rules of the county required that it be joined to the main building, and this took time to accomplish. Thus, the chapel became an addition to what was the archdiocesan centre of the Archdiocese of Canada (The Orthodox Church in America) and the offices and the residence of the bishop (at that time, Bishop Seraphim (Storheim).

Article excerpt about the 1998 completion of the construction

The chapel was completed and blessed in 1998, and from then on there were more and more services offered therein.

For about 20 years after the construction, the chapel served as the bishop’s domestic chapel ; as a home focus for those of the Monastic Community of Saint Silouan the Athonite ; as a place of attachment of various clergy ; and as a site of visible testimony for the Orthodox Christian Faith to the Township of Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and Leeds-Grenville County in Ontario. From the beginning, many people in this region would attend services, and especially the Divine Liturgy, on whatever day it would be offered (Sunday, Saturday, week-days). The chapel served either as a primary place of worship for such persons, or as an additional place of worship when their own Temple might not be offering a service. People would travel from Ottawa, Kemptville, Kingston, Brockville, Prescott and Cornwall.

The chapel came to serve the Faithful in New York State who lived along the Saint Lawrence River, including Canton and Ogdensburg. In addition, it fostered the development of the Mission of Saint Olympia in Potsdam, New York. For a long time, it was the same hieromonk who would serve both in Saint Silouan’s Chapel and in the mission in Potsdam.

Some parishioners and visitors, 2006

For several years, the chapel served also as the spiritual home for the monastic residents of the Monastery of Saint Silouan who lived in the attached building.

View from the north

Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, 2015

On 5-6 August, 2015, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ was served in the Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite. On Thursday, 6 August, Archimandrite Luke (Majoros) served the Divine Liturgy. The following are photos of the end of the Divine Liturgy, and of the partaking of blessed food afterwards in the refectory (photos thanks to Jane Szepesi).

Notable contents of the chapel

The chapel contained historical items from other parts of the Archdiocese of Canada.

The table-top of the Holy Table in the chapel came from the Holy Table of the Monastery of the Holy Ascension in Sifton, Manitoba. The Proskomedia table and 2 smaller tables came from the former Hermitage of the Transfiguration when it had been at Fitch Bay, Québec. The seven-branched candelabra came from the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Ottawa. It had been commissioned and made by a local black-smith, Daniel Kerrem, but the cathedralites later preferred their original old one.

The cantor-stand came from Holy Trinity Bukowinian Sobor in Ottawa (from the original Temple). The historical candle-stand in the midst of the nave came from Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Two analoys were made by Robert Kanerva of Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto especially for the chapel.

The cupola-and-Cross atop the roof over the narthex came from Holy Ascension Monastery in Sifton, Manitoba.

From dead trees on the property that had been felled by him, Phillip Bodnar milled the wood into boards from which he constructed the iconostas. The folding analoy used in the chapel was from Saint Nicholas Church in Ottawa. The reading-stand in the Altar was from Holy Transfiguration Mission in Ottawa. The large central lampada above the Royal Doors was from Holy Ascension Monastery in Sifton, Manitoba. The curtains of the iconostas were prepared from Chinese silk velvet by Katya Szalasznyj. The icons on the iconostas were written by Tatiana Ianovskaya of Toronto.

The icon of Saint Silouan (which usually rested on the central analoy) was commissioned from Greece by a donor. The icon of the Blessed Matushka Olga of Kwethluk, Alaska was donated by the Bess Chakravarty iconographer Bess Chakravarty (later, this icon was moved to the Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa).

The base of the Holy Table and the extra supports for the Holy Doors were built by the monk Pierre (Vachon).

Between the platfom on which the Holy Table rested and the Royal Doors, there was a hand-woven wool carpet that had been bought in the Hutsul region of Ukraine. In addition, there were hand-crocheted rugs in several places in the chapel, which had been worked by Mother Dorofea (Mirochnitchenko). The whole chapel and narthex were originally constructed and finished by the sons and daughters of the Igumen (former archpriest) John (Scratch) of Ottawa, together with their friends.

Chapel interior

Royal Doors

Particular chapel information

This chapel was part of the Ontario Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The bishop was Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

The monastery chapel followed the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the chapel was the Feast of Saint Silouan the Athonite, 24 September.

The monastery was closed in 2016. Services were ended in the chapel, and in 2017, the property was offered for sale by the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada. It is reported to have been sold in 2018 to a private family.

Photos of the monk Silouan

Address :

Saint Silouan the Athonite Orthodox Chapel

2801, Newman Road RR #5

Spencerville, Ontario

(Township of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal)

K0E 1X0

Directions :

The site (now private property) is about an hour's drive south of Ottawa, Ontario, in the Town Plan of Johnstown, Ontario, in the postal service region of Spencerville, Ontario, in the township of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal, Ontario. It is about 9 km (6 mi) distant from Spencerville and also from Prescott. Spencerville is about 80 km (50 mi) south of Ottawa, via Highway #416.

From Toronto by car, the driving distance is approximately 350 km (219 mi).

Drive on Highway #401, along the Saint Lawrence River to exit #721B, “Highway #416, Bridge to USA”. Take exit #721B. Drive a bit north, past the cloverleaf, and immediately make a right turn onto Leeds-Grenville County Road #44 at Angelo’s service station and diner. Turn left immediately (north) on County Road #44 ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road. The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road.

From Ottawa by car, the driving distance is approximately 90 km (56 mi).

Drive on Highway #416 south (past Spencerville) to Exit #1, “Highway #401E, bridge to USA”. Follow Exit #1 to the access to [Leeds-Grenville County Road #44 County Road #44] at Angelo’s service station and diner. Turn left immediately (north) onto County Road #44 ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road. The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road

From Montréal by car, the driving distance is approximately 195 km (121 mi).

Drive on Autoroute #20 west, and continue straight on, on Highway #401 west towards Toronto. After Cardinal, take Exit #721 north. Turn right immediately towards Angelo’s service station and diner. Turn left immediately (north) onto Leeds-Grenville County Road #44 ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road. The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road.

For information regarding the chapel, contact :

Archdiocese of Canada

3441-15th Avenue

Rawdon, Québec

J0K 1S0

Telephone : 450-834-2870

Christ addresses the Monk Silouan

Saint Silouan the Athonite

Saint Silouan the Athonite (written by Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), now a saint)

References

Monastic Community of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos

Wikipedia article about Saint Silouan the Athonite

Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Silouan the Athonite

Additional information :

(Sakharov), Archimandrite Sophrony “Saint Silouan the Athonite” (Crestwood, NY : Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1999). ISBN : 0881411957 (ISBN13 : 9780881411959).

……, “Wisdom from Mount Athos : The Writings of Staretz Silouan 1866-1938” (Crestwood, NY : St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1975). ISBN : 0913836176.

Saint Sophrony (Sakharov)

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

The Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

Igumen John (Scratch)

Matushka Suzanne Scratch

Archdiocesan Centre, Fair Haven

Wikipedia article about Leeds-Grenville County