Wood Mountain SK Holy Transfiguration Romanian Orthodox Church 1913/1928
Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, Holy Transfiguration Romanian Orthodox Church, 1913/1928
Romanian may be spelt Roumanian.
Dobrogea may be spelt Dobrodgea, Dobruja.
Bucovina may be spelt Bukovina.
Moldavia may be spelt Moldova.
Bugea may be spelt Bujea.
Prehistory
Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, Canada, is a village in the Rural Municipality of Old Post No. 43 in Southern Saskatchewan.
The name of the municipality “Old Post” seems to refer to the Northwest Mounted Police (ancestor of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police) detachment called “Wood Mountain Post”. This is publicly presented in the Wood Mountain Post Provincial Park, which is located not far southeast from Wood Mountain village.
This post was involved in the supervision of the sojourn of Chief Sitting Bull and his tribe of several thousand Lakota Sioux people, who sought refuge for a time in Canada (1877-1891).
During the early years of the twentieth century, the federal government encouraged people from Europe to settle in Western Canada.
Thus, a large number of people from Romania settled in the Wood Mountain, Elm Springs, and Flintoft areas southwest of Assiniboia. When the settlements became established, the pioneers built Romanian Orthodox Temples.
Around 1908 to 1910, the farming community expanded to the Wood Mountain region. This was enabled in part by the development of a railway line in the region.
It was written that "the Wood Mountain Romanian Orthodox Cemetery marks this expansion of settlers who had been brought to the Assiniboia and Wood Mountain region because of their rail line endeavours".
Settlement of Wood Mountain
The people who arrived at Wood Mountain, Saskatchewan, had emigrated mostly from the Regions of Bucovina and Dobrogea in Romania (at that time, the Kingdom of Romania).
According to Dr. E Bugea, it is evident that in 1909. there was early correspondence with the Church in Romania about receiving the blessing to begin building a Temple, and receiving the services of a priest. There is also evidence that Archimandrite Gennadie (Gheorghiu) had served in the Wood Mountain area in 1913. There is further evidence that Priest Filaret Gheorghiu was serving in this region at about that time. Furthermore, a letter had been sent to Metropolitan Pimen (Georgescu) in Romania to inform him that Priest Dionisie Nichifor had suffered an accident that disabled him from serving liturgically. In addition, there was a letter that indicated that a bishop of the “Russian Mission” had ordained Priest Marin Postelnic, whom they did not want to accept, since they reckoned that he had received no, or insufficient, theological education.
Preparing for a Temple
Romanian homesteaders in the Wood Mountain region began working on establishing an Orthodox parish and Temple from the mid-1920s.
Incorporation of the parish
The parish was organised and incorporated in 1929. The Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church was constructed from 1928-1929.
Sanctification of the Temple
Upon completion, the Temple was sanctified on 6 August, 1929, by Bishop Arsenie (Chahovtsov).
Holy Transfiguration Temple, parish parsonage
The Priest Glicherie Moraru served in this parish from 1928 to 1932, but parishioners were dissatisfied with his service.
In 1932, Priest Dumitru Erina (Irina) had been ordained, and he was serving in this region through 1942.
Rural depopulation
From the 1930s, there had begun a steady depopulation of the rural areas of Saskatchewan, which included the region of Wood Mountain. Mechanisation reduced the need for manual labour, and farms began to be consolidated into larger “operations”. This process, once begun, has not ceased.
In 1951, the parish lacked a resident priest.
In 1960, the Wood Mountain Ladies’ Auxiliary was formed in the parish ; it was led by Mrs. E Marcenco. There was also an active choir of 8 members.
In about 1960, the parish was represented at a Diocesan Assembly by Priest Martin Ionescu, Andrei Bizovi, and John Aldea.
Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church had regular services with local priests until 1962. Two of the church’s long serving priests were Father Erina and Father Oncescu.
Fewer services, fewer priests
After 1962, the Holy Transfiguration Parish was served by priests from other communities. In 1963, Priest Alexandru Zaba served the parish sometimes.
Father Dumitru Diaconescu from Kayville attended the parish from 1964 until 1983.
From 1985 to 1987, the parish was served by Priest Gheorghe Sandulescu and Priest Iordache Oncescu. At that time, the parish council president was George Giocia, and the cantor was Donald Punga. Service by priests from a distance
After this, during the last decade of the century, and the beginning of the following century, the parish was served priests from various communities, including Saskatoon, Moose Jaw, and Regina.
This decrease in apparent pastoral stability reflected the continuing decline in the rural population on one hand, but on the other hand, a pastoral desire to care for the Faithful who remained.
Nevertheless, the celebration of the Divine Liturgy became increasingly infrequent. Throughout the years, services continued to be held in Wood Mountain on a rather regular basis.
In 2001, further renovations took place. Presently, the Temple is considered to be by far the best looking building in Wood Mountain.
Museum
A museum commemorating the Romanian settlers is part of the Wood Mountain Stampede and Rodeo Ranch Museum in the Wood Mountain Regional Park.
90th anniversary
On 10 August, 2019, there was a special celebration to mark the 90th anniversary of the construction of the Holy Transfiguration Temple. The Divine Liturgy was served on this occasion, as the central focus.
This took place on the Sunday nearest to the Feast of the Transfiguration on 6 August. This Altar Feast-day (or “Hram”) is the main regular anniversary of the parish.
There are special services held annually in the summer season, and 6 August is the principal one of them.
Holy Transfiguration Romanian Orthodox Cemetery, 1937
The parish also established an Orthodox cemetery south of Wood Mountain in 1937.
SW 8-5-3 W3
Rural Municipality of Old Post, #43
Saskatchewan
S0H 4L0
Particular parish information
This parish is part of the Western Deanery of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas, in the Patriarchate of Romania. The bishop is Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru).
This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, 6 August.
Address :
Holy Transfiguration Romanian Orthodox Church
SW 8-5-3 W3
Wood Mountain
Rural Municipality of Old Post #43
Saskatchewan S0H 4L0
Parish Council President : George Ciocea
Telephone : 306-266-4325
Directions :
References
Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6.
McLennan, David “Our Towns : Saskatchewan Communities from Abbey to Zenon Park” (Regina, Saskatchewan : Canadian Plains Research Centre, 2008). ©2008 Canadian Plains Research Center. ISBN : 978-0-88977-209-0.
Sandulescu, Archpriest George, ‘Saskatchewan’s Romanian Orthodox Communities Including Dysart, Wood Mountain, Kayville, Assiniboia, Pierceland, Regina’ in “SGS (Saskatchewan Genealogical Society) Bulletin”, vol. 19, no. 1, 1988.
Additional information :
Anderson, Alan, “Settling Saskatchewan” (Regina : University of Regina Press, 2013).
Anderson, Alan, “Settling Saskatchewan” (Regina : University of Regina Press, 2013).
Anderson, Alan, ‘Ethnic Block Settlements in Saskatchewan’ in “Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan”.
‘Archimandrite Eughenie (Ungurianu)’ in “Romanians in Canada”, pp. 89, 113.
Pacurariu, Mircea, ‘Romanian Christianity’ in “The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity” (Oxford : John Wiley & Sons, 2007). ISBN 10 : 0631234233 ; ISBN 13 : 9780631234234.
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.
Sasktoday : “Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church is celebrating their 90th Anniversary”
Saskgenweb : “Romanian Saskatchewan Genealogy Roots”
Findagrave reference for Wood Mountain Romanian Orthodox Cemetery
Blog article about Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church
Orthodoxwiki List of Orthodox Parishes in Saskatchewan
Communitystories article about Wood Mountain church
Information about Wood Mountain
Emigrare Canada list of Romanian parishes
Blog article about the Wood Mountain Romanian Orthodox Cemetery
Wikipedia article about Wood Mountain
Wikipedia article about the RM of Old Post #43