Schema-Hierodeacon Theophanes (Constantine)

1 Schema-Hierodeacon Theophanes (Constantine) (1949-2016)

Theophanes may be spelt Theophan, Theofan, Feofan.

Seraphim William Constantine was born in Edmonton, Alberta, in 1949. He was one of 4 brothers.

As a child, he attended school in Edmonton, and he graduated from Strathcona Composite High School in 1965.

Education ; employment

Seraphim then attended Reed College in Portland, Oregon from 1966 to 1970, where he received a B.A. in Mathematics.

From 1973-1977, he attended McGill University in Montréal part-time while working full-time, and he received a Graduate Diploma in Public Accounting.

In 1978, Seraphim qualified as a Chartered Accountant in the Province of Québec, from where he later enrolled in the Ontario Institute of Chartered Accountants.

In the period 1972-1982, he acquired 10 years of full-time work experience, first as a computer programmer and systems analyst, and then as an articling student-in-accounts for the Chartered Accountancy designation, and then as a computer auditor for a major oil company.

In 1982-1983 Seraphim attended the London Graduate School of Business Studies (London Business School) of the University of London in the United Kingdom, where he read for the M.Sc. (Applied) in Economics (M.B.A.).

Mount Athos, 1983

At the end of the first year of the 2-year programme, with the counsel and encouragement of his confessor Seraphim took a leave of absence from the university in order to go to Mount Athos to test his vocation. He then spent 6 months in Thessaloniki, Greece, in intensive lessons in the Modern Greek language.

In January of 1984, Seraphim formally entered the Monastery of Simonopetra (Simonos Petra) on Mount Athos as a novice. He remained on the Holy Mountain until 2004.

Monastic tonsure, 1990

In 1990, Seraphim William Constantine was tonsured to be a monk of the Great Schema with the name Theophanes by Abbot Aimilianos (Vapheides) of Simonopetra Monastery.

Prior to his tonsure, he had withdrawn from all accounting organisations and designations.

Monastic service

The Monk Theophanes (Constantine) was enrolled in the Monastery of the Great Lavra, Mount Athos, and he lived in the Skete of Kavsokalyvia, a dependency of the Great Lavra, from 2004-2013.

Return to Canada, 2014

In 2014, after having spent 30 years on the Holy Mountain, the Monk Theophanes (Constantine) returned to Edmonton, Alberta, where he attended the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Barbara.

He has written a work, “Psychological Basis of Mental Prayer in the Heart”.

A new work, “Introduction to the Jesus Prayer”, is currently under consideration for publication, and there are other writings being likewise prepared for publication.

In the spring of 2016, Father Theophanes (Constantine) led an Alberta Men’s Retreat, entitled : “The Way of Repentance”. This was so well-received that he was asked to return in 2017. He, himself, saw to the formatting of his retreat material into book form, and it was then published. Some prototypes were made available to those who participated in the retreat.

Diaconal ordination, 2016

In July, 2016, the Great Schemamonk Theophanes (Constantine) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate at Saint Barbara’s Cathedral by Bishop Job (Smakouz) of Kashira, Bishop of the Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada.

Repose, 2016

However, on 25 December, 2016, Great Schema-Hierodeacon Theophanes (Constantine) fell asleep in the Lord at the age of 67 years.

Father Theophanes was survived by his brothers, John, Dr. Wallace and Leo. He was also survived by his spiritual son, the Priest Raphael Johnston, and numerous brother clergy.

A panikhida for him was served at the Park Memorial Chapel on Friday, 30 December, at 7:00 p.m.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierodeacon were offered at Saint Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton (10105-96 Street) on 31 December, at 10:00 a.m. Bishop Job (Smakouz), Bishop of Kashira and of the Canadian Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada led the services, and he was assisted by the other clergy who were present.

The interment took place afterwards in Saint Barbara’s Russian Orthodox Cathedral Cemetery at Nisku.

Funeral service

Reflections

At the funeral of Schema-Hierodeacon Theophanes (Constantine), Bishop Job (Smakouz) included the following in his words :

 We are gathered here today in order to respectfully and sincerely say goodbye to Fr. Theophanes, 
 born in Edmonton, whom with the blessing of his spiritual father Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware), 
 for more than 30 years, in great schema, laboured on Mt. Athos.  He returned to his birthplace 
 for healing and in the Altar of this cathedral found spiritual peace and was ordained to the 
 Holy Diaconate. [...]
 
 The last path of Fr. Theophanes towards God began on the morning of December 24th, when he left 
 his apartment/kelia towards the temple to serve God during Liturgy.  But he suddenly slipped and fell. 
 When he was taken to the hospital and no serious problem was found, he called Fr. Igor in the evening, 
 asking him to give me a message, that he would soon be serving again.  But God called him for continued 
 service in a better place, in Heaven ! It is of great happiness to die on the way to church or from church. 
 Now the soul of the newly departed Fr. Theophanes is released from the body, and has received real freedom 
 and joy in Christ in the Heavenly Homeland.

Writings :

“The Psychological Basis of Mental Prayer in the Heart”, 3 vols. (Mount Athos : Timeos Podromos, 2006). ISBN-10: 9608893305 ; ISBN-13 : 978-9608893306.

“The Spiritual Road of Repentance” (Mount Athos : Timios Podromos, 2016). ISBN-10 : 198834204X ; ISBN-13 : 978-1988342047.

“Introduction to the Jesus Prayer” (manuscript unpublished).