Protopresbyter Volodymyr and Dobrodijka Halina Sluzar

Protopresbyter Volodymyr and Dobrodijka Halina Sluzar

Protopresbyter Volodmyr Sluzar (1919-2014)

and

Dobrodijka Halyna (born Machuha) Sluzar (1921-2008)

Volodymyr may be spelt Wolodymyr, Vladimir, Valdemar.

Halyna may be spelt Galina, Galene, Helen.

Dobrodijka may be spelt Dobrodyka.

Early life of Volodymyr V Sluzar

On 8 April, 1919, Volodymyr Sluzar was born into the family of pious parents Vasyl and Anna Sluzar, in the village of Dubravka, in what is now the Lviv oblast (not far from Ivano-Frankivsk), Ukraine. At that time, it was part of the independent West Ukrainian People's Republic, which later became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

When Volodymyr completed primary school, his parents, who saw their son’s interest in further study, sent Volodymyr to Lviv to the Ukrainian gymnasium there, for his secondary education. He successfully completed the final exams of his gymnasium studies in 1938.

Higher education

Then Volodymyr began eagerly studying for post-secondary studies.

However, when World War II broke out in 1939 and Western Ukraine was annexed to the eastern soviet Ukraine, post-secondary education institutions were opened in Lviv in the autumn of 1939.

Volodymyr registered to study, first, at the Franko University, and then transferred to the Pedagogical Institute after the first semester. He successfully completed this first sememster in 1941, a week before the Soviet-German war began.

Franko University

Teaching ; exile

During the German occupation of Ukraine, Volodymyr taught at the school in the village of Bortynky ; but in 1944, he fled to the West because of the war.

In exile, Volodymyr fled first to Austria, and then later to Bavaria in Germany.

After hostilities ceased, Volodymyr lived in a refugee camp (displaced persons’ camp) in Straubing, Bavaria, Germany.

Early life of Halyna Machuha

Halyna was born on 6 July, 1921, to Hryhory and Alexandra Machula in the village of Pavlivka (Zaporrhizka Ooblast) (Ukraine was still in the Yekaterinoslav Governorate at that time). She was the eldest of 4 siblings.

Exile

During the time of forced collectivisation by the Soviet government, her family was exiled to labour camps in Northern Russia.

Later, Halyna's family moved to Stavropol, Stavropol Krai, in the Caucasus region, where Halyna completed her secondary schooling.

Then she began post-secondary education in the Stavropol Medical School.

Stavropol Medical School

With the onset of war between Germany and the USSR, Halyna was forced to abandon her studies.

Further exile

With the retreat of the German army from Eastern Europe, Halyna and her family found themselves in Germany as forced labourers. After the end of the Second World War, Halyna and her family remained as refugees in Germany.

In 1946, at the refugee camp where they lived in Bavaria, Halyna met her future husband, Volodymyr Sluzar.

Marriage

On 21 May, 1946, Volodymyr Sluzar and Halyna Machuha were crowned in marriage in Bavaria.

Emigration

Later in 1948, Volodymyr and Halyna were sponsored for emigration to Canada (through UNHCR), and they settled first in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Later, they moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

In their home, they continued as before, with regular prayers. They also continued actively participating in liturgical services, and religious education in primary and secondary schools.

Continuing education

Because World War II had interrupted his aspirations, it was only after his arrival in Canada that Volodymyr could realise his heart's desire.

Living in Winnipeg, Volodymyr was able to embark on the study of theology at Saint Andrew’s College, where he supplemented the course work, and prepared himself for ordination.

Ordinations

On Sunday, 22 March, 1953, based on his academic and theological preparations, Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko) (of blessed memory) ordained Volodymyr Sluzar to the Holy Diaconate in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

On Sunday, 28 March, 1953, Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko) ordained Deacon Volodymyr Sluzar to the Holy Priesthood at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Pastoral service

A few weeks after ordination, Metropolitan Ilarion assigned Father Volodymyr to serve as parish priest at the Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, now called the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, because the priest of that parish was on sick-leave.

Holy Trinity Cathedral. Saskatoon

The parish was large, and well-organised. It had a Sunday School, a Ukrainian School, a CYMK youth organisation, a branch of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, a Self-Reliance Association, and an excellent parish choir.

In addition to the parish community, Saskatoon also had the Saint Petro Mohyla Institute, which provided, and continues to provide housing mostly for university students. Thus, this environment provided plenty of pastoral work.

Petro Mohyla Institute

Canora

In 1957, there came the opportunity to move to the Holy Trinity Parish in the town of Canora, Saskatchewan. This was a new parish in the town, with several smaller country parishes attached. It proved to be a good place for living and working for Father Volodymyr, Dobrodijka Halyna, and their children.

Holy Trinity Church, Canora

Parish membership in the district consisted mostly of farming families who were good neighbours, and who harmoniously carried out their church and community work. There, in Canora, Father Volodymyr and Dobrodijka Halyna, with the help of interested parents and family members, renewed the Sunday School, the Ukrainian School, and the women’s and men’s organisations within the parish. At the same time, the Canora community built a modern Temple. Parish life was developing well and moving forward.

Winnipeg

At the end of June, 1965, Father Volodymyr received by telephone a proposal from Metropolitan Ilarion that he become dean of the Holy Trinity Cathedral parish in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He considered this proposal with Dobrodijka Halyna and his children ; and bearing in mind their future education, Father Volodymyr and his family moved to Winnipeg. Father Volodymyr embraced his pastoral duties at the cathedral parish. There was even more pastoral work in this large urban community.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Dobrodijka Halyna provided much assistance in caring for the Sunday School and Ukrainian School. She was involved in all aspects of parish life. She taught the youth in the Church School, and in the Ukrainian Language School ("Ridna Shkola"). She took an active part in many cultural and educational programmes, and she served on the executive of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada (UWAC). For her service in the community, she was formally recognised and honoured by both the Church and the UWAC. Dobrodijka Halyna's life was one of devotion and dedication to God, her family, and her community. Her strong Christian faith sustained her throughout life's many hardships. She was proud of her Ukrainian heritage, and she strove to pass this tradition on to her children and grandchildren, as well as to the children she taught in Ukrainian and Sunday schools. She also recognised the value of higher education, and she encouraged her children and grandchildren in their schooling.

Consistory Office

In 1973, Father Volodymyr was released from his pastorship of the cathedral, and he was assigned to work as Secretary of the Office of the Consistory.

Winnipeg Consistory Office

On Sundays, he served in one of the pastoral congregations of the Winnipeg rural district.

Vita district parishes

Then, in September, 1981, Father Volodymyr was released from his responsibilities at the Consistory.

He was transferred to the pastoral service in the Vita parish district, where he served until August, 1986.

Then, he spent the last stage of his active parish work serving in the Winnipeg rural district, in the congregations of Gonor, Poplar Park, Tyndall, and Beausejour. In the summer of 1998, this district was dissolved.

Retirement

In 1998, Father Volodymyr was given retirement, and he was attached to the Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg as a priest-emeritus.

During his years of service, Father Volodymyr carefully had prepared for all his pastoral services – the Divine Liturgy, Sacramental needs, sanctifications, sermons, catechism, and youth work ; and he carried them out with spiritual inspiration. He was honoured by the UOCC for his dedicated and longstanding pastoral service with many Metropolitan Hramota (Gramota/Blessing Certificate) awards, and he received all the clergy awards, including the title of Protopresbyter.

Bereavement

On 25 June, 2008, Halyna Sluzar, beloved wife of Protopresbyter Volodymyr Sluzar, fell to sleep in the Lord, at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg.

On Sunday, 29 June, 2008, at 7:00 p.m., a Panikhida (Memorial Service) was offered at the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 1175 Main Street, Winnipeg.

On Monday, 30 June, 2008, at 9:30 a.m., the Funeral Service for a Lay-person was offered at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Dobrodijka Halyna Sluzar was taken to the Glen Eden Memorial Gardens for interment. Cropo Funeral Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Dobrodijka Halyna Sluzar was survived by her husband, Protopresbyter Volodymyr (after 62 years of marriage) ; her children George (Joanne) of Ottawa, Ontario, and Vera (Brett MacIntyre) of Richmond Hill, Ontario ; her beloved grandchildren Tara, Maia, Andrew and Mark ; brother Ivan (Raisa) Machula (Toronto, Ontario), her sister-in-law Maria Sluzar and their families ; and Irene Strilchuk (Yorkton, Saskatchewan) and many family members in Ukraine.

Repose of Father Volodymyr

On Thursday, 30 July, 2014, Protopresbyter Volodymyr Sluzar fell asleep in the Lord at the MacKenzie Health Centre in Richmond Hill, Ontario (at the age of 95, years and in his 61st year of priesthood).

On Wednesday, 6 August, 2014, at 7:00 p.m., a Panikhida (Memorial Service) for the newly-departed Protopresbyter Volodymyr Sluzar was offered at Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity, 1175 Main Street, Winnipeg.

On Thursday, 7 August, at 10:00 a.m., a Memorial Divine Liturgy was offered for the newly-departed Protopresbyter Volodymyr Sluzar at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg.

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Protopresbyter Volodymyr Sluzar was taken to the Glen Eden Memorial Gardens for interment next to that of his wife. Cropo Funeral Chapel was entrusted with the arrangements.

Father Volodymyr Sluzar was survived by his family : son George (Joanna) and children, Tara, Maia and Andrew from Ottawa, Ontario ; daughter Vera (Brett MacIntyre) and son Mark in Toronto, Ontario ; his sister Barbara and her family in Ukraine.

Grave-marker