Ottawa ON †Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990

Ottawa, Ontario, †Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission, 1985-1990

Prehistory

The history of the Holy Epiphany Orthodox Mission in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, is closely related to the details of the life of its founding and only priest, the Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson (1916-2014). Because of this proximity, more information about this remarkable man and his wife Vera is given in this article than usually would be provided.

Archpriest Daniel and his wife Vera Matheson

Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera

Born in 1916 on a Pictou County farm in Nova Scotia, Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born Sutherland).

Daniel Matheson received his B.A. in 1940 from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He received his M.Div. degree from Pine Hill Divinity Hall (now merged with others into the Atlantic School of Theology), also in Halifax.

In 1967, the United Theological College of Montréal, Québec, conferred on him the degree of Doctor of Divinity (“honoris causa”).

Daniel was ordained into the ministry in the United Church of Canada in 1942, in the same year that he married his wife, Vera (who had been born in Reston, Manitoba). Vera had been baptised and raised in the Presbyterian Church (which afterwards merged into the United Church of Canada), just as had her husband. Her Christian faith was always central in her life, as it was in that of her husband. Together, they then faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Ontario. When he had come to understand that the Orthodox Way had to be his way, Daniel retired from pastoral ministry in the United Church at age 69. This was far from easy for him because of the nature of his pastoral service. Nevertheless, it is also the case that his pilgrimage to the Orthodox Church covered many stages that lasted about 40 years. It was for him, as it is and has been for others, a long process ; and it is to be recalled that especially at that time, the Orthodox Church was not very easy for a westerner to approach.

The beginning of the mission, 1984

In 1984, Father Daniel initiated a Bible-study for a small group of people who, as he, were concerned about the direction being taken by the so-called main-line churches at that time (a direction which has not yet changed). This study-group consisted of persons from more than one background. The group met in the small Matheson sitting-room, and it was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H. ; Glenn M. ; Leslie S. ; Jane S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y. Some of the participants were Anglicans who had met Father Daniel as a Chaplain of the Order of Saint Luke the Physician. This is a fellowship of people who pray for the healing of themselves and of others. One person described Father Daniel as "an amazingly insightful and understanding confessor".

In November, 1985, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera were received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church (EOC) in Indiana, USA. However, this entrance into the Orthodox Christian Church caused their children, relatives and friends from before to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this situation began to be ameliorated.

In 1985, Father Daniel created the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission in western Ottawa. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know Father Larry Reinheimer and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

For the next 2 years, members of the mission participated in study-groups at the Holy Transfiguration Mission which later, through a merger, became the Annunciation Cathedral. Sometimes, they attended services there. In addition, there were visits by Bishop Gregory Rogers and by Father Peter Gillquist of the EOC in order to teach the members of the new mission.

Visit of Bishop Gregory, 1986

In November, 1986, Bishop Gregory Rogers of the EOC visited the Bible-study group, and gave teachings about the Church, mostly from the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and also about the "brothers and sisters of the Lord" as being cousins or some similar relationship with Christ. He also made reference to other scripture passages.

Three photos of the Bible-study group at the Matheson home, with EOC Bishop Gregory

In 1987, Bishop Gregory Rogers made another visit to the community while he was attending an Order of Saint Luke conference in the area.

Two photos of the 1987 visit

1987 study group at "Temple Pastures Retreat Centre" near Ottawa

1987, Reception into the canonical Orthodox Christian Church

On 21 March, 1987, Father Daniel and Vera were chrismated into the Orthodox Church, and he was ordained both to the subdiaconate and to the Holy Diaconate. On 22 March, 1987, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

All this was done by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) in Indiana, USA.

As Father Daniel, himself, related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. It was the culmination of decades of hope. Soon after the Feast of Pascha, 1987, members of the mission already began to be received into the canonical Orthodox Church within the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese by Father Daniel.

Father Daniel continued to nurture, to serve, and to lead this community for the following years. Not long after their return to Ottawa, the Roman Catholic nun Clotilde (who had heard about their reception) invited the mission to use the chapel at “La Maison Jeanne d’Arc” at 360 Kenwood Avenue (near Melbourne Avenue and Churchill Avenue) in Ottawa. Sister Clotilde (of les Soeurs de l'Institut Jeanne d'Arc) had been Father Daniel’s French-language teacher. Thus, the community moved from a tiny living room on Tweedsmuir Avenue to a chapel in the convent. As has happened with other missions, they had to wait for the nuns to finish their service. However, the nuns were very hospitably generous in their provision of fellowship space afterwards.

Presbytera Vera (as she was now called) was the leader of the singing throughout the life of the mission. She had to learn everything from the beginning. She and her husband were always working complementarily as a team. It is written of Presbytera Vera :

 Vera was a tower of strength to Fr Dan and a huge support for all of us who knew and loved them.  We tended to 
 take for granted all that she did in the early days : preparing the music, giving us meals, organizing things !

The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the Holy Transfiguration Mission) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in a Montréal parish, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing). This arrangement continued until the end of 1990, when the mission was closed on the eve of Father Daniel's retirement.

Closure of the mission, 1990 ; retirement, 1991 ; next steps

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired. Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa. However, he blessed the parishioners of Holy Epiphany to go where they might feel more comfortable, given that Arabic was the main language of worship at Saint Elias. Nevertheless, he continued to be a spiritual father to his former parishioners for some years.

Father Daniel was appointed to serve as the second priest at Saint Elijah’s (as it was then called). As always, Vera was with him all the time. Now, she had to get used to being called “Khouria” (the Arabic word for a priest’s wife), and she was glad not to have any more leadership responsibility. From time to time over the years, he and Presbytera Vera would visit the Annunciation Cathedral in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission.

Closing lunch of the mission

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) to be the Priest-in-charge of Saint Elijah Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip announced that the Archpriest Ghattas Hajal would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July.

Bereavement, 2010 : Presbytera Vera's illness, and repose

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she was limited but still mobile and at home. Under these conditions, Father Daniel had to learn to cook, and to care for his wife (who tried to help him as a supervisor). However, in 2001, she suffered from another stroke, from which she did not in fact recover to any great extent, and she had to be cared for in a nursing home (much to the grief of her husband). Presbytera Vera was a very competent and strong person. She always supported her husband, and they always worked together as a team of equals. When she was incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly.

On Sunday, 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year (at New Orchard Lodge) in Ottawa.

On Wednesday, 4 August, 2010, at the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home, there were opportunities to pay respects from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During the evening visitation, a Panikhida (memorial service) was served.

On Thursday, 5 August, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was led by Archpriest Ghattas Hajal and Archpriest Daniel Matheson.

After the conclusion of the funeral service, Presbytera Vera's body was taken to the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, and the interment was in the Saint Nicholas section of that cemetery (the section associated with Annunciation Cathedral).

Together with her husband, Presbytera Vera had served Christ in various parishes for 68 years. She was a devout Christian woman and, in her physically handicapped last years, she lived a life of prayer and devotion. She was a loyal and loving member of the parish of Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral. This parting was grievous, but it also was tempered by Christian joy and hope. Trusting and depending on Christ her Saviour, she reposed on a Sunday, which in that year was also the Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross.

Last years and repose (2014) of Father Daniel

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in Valley Stream Manor in Ottawa. Characteristic of his personality is this remark, “In his last months he might not always have remembered what he had for breakfast but he always remembered the name of the person who served it to him”.

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord. There were prayer services for him in the funeral home, and then the services for “The Funeral of a Priest” were offered on 9 and 10 July. The service for the burial of a priest was offered for the Archpriest Daniel at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral on Friday, 10 July, at 11 a.m.

Particular parish information

The Holy Epiphany Mission community was part of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The bishop was Metropolitan Philip (Saliba).

This mission followed the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the Parish was the Feast of the Theophany (Epiphany), 6 January.

The founding and only priest of this community was the Archpriest Daniel Matheson.

References

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’, in “Toward the Authentic Church”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN 1-880971-10-0.

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

Additional information :

Gillquist, Archpriest Peter, “Becoming Orthodox : A Journey to the Ancient Christian Faith” (Chesterton, IN : Conciliar Press, revised edition, 1992). ISBN 10 : 0962271330. ISBN 13 : 978-0962271335.

The obituary of Presbytera Vera Matheson was published in the “Ottawa Citizen” on Tuesday, 3 August, 2010 on p. 30

The obituary of Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson was published in the “Ottawa Citizen” on Monday, July 7, 2014 on p. 25.

Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary

Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary

Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary

Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary by “Lebanese in Ottawa”

Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary

Orthodoxwiki : Introduction to Orthodox Christianity

Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Wikipedia article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America

Antiochian Diocese of Ottawa, Upstate New York and Eastern Canada