Canadian Orthodox History Project - User contributions [en]

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

2026-09-28T19:29:37Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:MetropolitanApostolosNJA 2.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)'''

==Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis==

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes Island of Rodes], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece Greece] (not far from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], and one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese Dodecanese Islands]), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople]).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

==Higher education==

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the [https://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/patmos/sightseeing/patmian-ecclesiastic-school/ Ecclesiastical School of Patmos] where he studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_music Orthodox Byzantine Music], and [https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MusicandOrthodoxTheology Hymnology].

[[File:Patmiada School 2.jpg]] '''Patmadia School of Patmos'''

This school is near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Apocalypse Cave of the Apocalypse], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_John_the_Theologian Monastery of Saint John the Theologian].

[[File:Cave of the Apocalypse 2.jpg]] '''Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse'''

[[File:Chora di Patmos con il Monastero di San Giovanni il teologo. 1.JPG]] '''Monastery of Saint John the Theologian'''

==Monastic tonsure==

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tonsure tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Apostolos.

==Diaconal ordination==

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

==Diaconal service==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierodeacon Hierodeacon] Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

==Further education==

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki University of Thessaloniki] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Greece northern Greece].

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

==Pastoral service==

At first, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Thessaloniki Metropolitan of Thessaloniki], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panteleimon_(Chrysofakis)_of_Thessalonica Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis)].

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity Degree].

==Move to USA, 2001 ; further education==

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States of America] for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_North_and_South_America by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)], who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the [https://boston.goarch.org/about_us/ Holy Metropolis of Boston].
In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University Boston University] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusets].

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Theology Master of Sacred Theology Degree] from the [https://www.bu.edu/sth/ School of Theology of Boston University].

[[File:BostonUniversity 1.jpeg]] '''Boston University'''

==Continuing pastoral service==

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the [https://www.facebook.com/stdemetriosastoria/ Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine] in the historic Community of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York]. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

[[File:Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral 2.jpg]] '''Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral'''

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_of_the_Greek_Revolution Greek Independence Day] celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the [https://helleniccenter.org/ Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre] of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

[[File:Atoria-poitistiko 2.jpg]] '''Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria'''

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] (Protosyngellos) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_San_Francisco Metropolis of San Francisco] under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimos_Michaleas Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas)].

==Episcopal ordination==

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

On 28 November, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] unanimously elected him to become Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Medeia], as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)].

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar Phanar], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by members of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople], including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

==Episcopal service==

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Bishop of Medeia].

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis)] of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/ladies-philoptochos-society Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America].

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey], including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dethronement dethronement] (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis)]. He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Greek_Orthodox_Church_(Manhattan) Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan Manhattan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City], since its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks destruction on 11 November, 2001].

[[File:SaintNicholasGOCManhattan 2.jpg]] '''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan'''

==Metropolitan of New Jersey==

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople] to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey]. He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans metropolitan].

On 16 September, 2023, [https://easterndiocese.org/news_230925_3 Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned] in the [https://www.stjohntenafly.org/ Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey], as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/705/show Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis)] of Rhodes, Representative of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew], and [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/693/show Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)] of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[[File:SaintJohnTenaflyNJ 1.jpg]] '''Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey'''

Following the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Enthronement Rite of Enthronement], a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian], which included greetings from The Honourable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Murphy Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey] ; His Excellency [https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassywashington/en/the-embassy/ambassador/ Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States] ; and The Honourable [https://www.thenationalherald.com/konstantinos-konstantinou-consul-general-in-new-york-sends-farewell-message/ Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece] in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey].

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Eparchial Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America#Archdiocesan_structure Holy Archdiocese of America].

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first [https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey] since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, [https://hellenicnews.com/2024/04/04/new-chancellor-of-the-metropolis-of-nj-appointed-as-archimandrite-of-the-ecumenical-throne/ Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras)].

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration [https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-10th-anniversary-of-metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jerseys-episcopal-ordination/ in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination] of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian Catering Hall] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Jersey Garfield], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].

==Archbishop of Toronto and Canada==

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)] earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-canada-preserve-and-cultivate-the-precious-gift-of-ecclesiastical-unity/ a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners] of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at [https://www.saintnicholasgochurch.org/ Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] in [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Ontario Scarborough], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

On 10 September, 2026, [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada-honored-at-farewell-banquet/ a grand banquet of farewell was served] for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis)] of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

'''Enthronement'''

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas)] had assigned [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitas_Lioulias Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias)] of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

==Enthronement in Toronto==

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

[[File:Enthronement19ix26Toronto 2.png]] '''The enthronement service'''

[[File:Kanada enthronisi 2.jpg]] '''The bishops present at the enthronement'''

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis)]. Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]. Succeeded by : ____.

==References==

[https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/1454/show Orthodoxia.ch record of Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Koufallakis Wikipedia article about Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/biography-his-eminence-archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Biography : Archbishop Apostolos of Canada]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_Toronto_(Canada) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto]

[https://www.gometropolis.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate)]

[https://www.patriarchate.org/ Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/ Greek Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diaspora Greek diaspora]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada_(Greek) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic]

[https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Grokipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada]

[[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bartholomew_I_(Archontonis)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]

[[Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)]]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Christophoros_(Rakintzakis) Bishop Christophoros (Rakintzakis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Athenagoras_(Salmas) Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

Montreal Greek Times : [https://greektimes.ca/16475/Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

Orthodox Times : [https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-as-the-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

UOJ News article : "[https://uoj.news/news/metr-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada]" (22 July, 2026)

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/statement-by-the-archons-in-canada-on-the-election-of-a-new-archbishop/ Statement by the Archons in Canada on the Election of a new Archbishop] (22 July, 2026)

Video : [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYIfDpLzwks Enthronement of Archbishop Apostolos] (19 September, 2026)

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:GODT]] [[Category:GOA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-28T17:33:46Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old (1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

Then Daniel had a call to the contrasting place of Sydney Mines — a coal-mining town, where Neil was born. We lived in a
manse next door to a Roman Catholic family who offered to look after Neil while I went to church, I gratefully accepted and
Mary slept in a carriage during the service, in the narthex.

One morning about two or three years later there were strangers in the congregation — folks from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island],
interested in calling Daniel to the church in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerside,_Prince_Edward_Island Summerside]. That summer we moved there, for five of our happiest years.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love, and faith, and personal relationship with the Lord, returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Peter was born in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. He had the usual problems of growing up ; but like the others, he came through them well. He had advancement in his chosen business, and he was a thoughtful son to both Daniel and Vera.

Another expansion of Daniel's personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

By this time, clearly, as Vera wrote in her memoir,
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

Vera's recollections in her memoir add to this :
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

Before 1997, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited, but still mobile, and able to be at home. Father Daniel had to learn to cook, and to care for his wife (who tried to help him as a supervisor).

In 1997, Vera concluded her recollections in her memoir as follows :
So after retirement Daniel set up a study in our home for those who were interested in learning more about Orthodoxy.
Eventually we were invited to use a nearby Roman Catholic chapel for our small Orthodox worship on Sundays.

Rather soon Daniel and three other interested persons went down to New York to speak to the Metropolitan, and to attend
a fully organized and established Orthodox worship, and coming home with encouragement concerning Daniel’s being
accepted as an Orthodox priest. Thank the good Lord !

Meanwhile, at home, I had experienced a relatively mild stroke, was hospitalized for approximately a month and then came
home, bringing with me a whole new set of circumstances with which Daniel coped very well.

As it worked out our little congregation was absorbed by already existing parishes. Daniel and I went to the Antiochian
Jurisdiction, where Daniel, newly ordained, assisted the priest.

Our whole family is established in and around Ottawa and carrying on their varied lives happily.

However, in 2001, she suffered from another stroke, from which she did not actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-28T17:32:01Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Early life of Vera Ready */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old (1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

Then Daniel had a call to the contrasting place of Sydney Mines — a coal-mining town, where Neil was born. We lived in a
manse next door to a Roman Catholic family who offered to look after Neil while I went to church, I gratefully accepted and
Mary slept in a carriage during the service, in the narthex.

One morning about two or three years later there were strangers in the congregation — folks from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island],
interested in calling Daniel to the church in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerside,_Prince_Edward_Island Summerside]. That summer we moved there, for five of our happiest years.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love, and faith, and personal relationship with the Lord, returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Peter was born in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. He had the usual problems of growing up ; but like the others, he came through them well. He had advancement in his chosen business, and he was a thoughtful son to both Daniel and Vera.

Another expansion of Daniel's personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

By this time, clearly, as Vera wrote,
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

Vera's recollections add to this :
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

Before 1997, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited, but still mobile, and able to be at home. Father Daniel had to learn to cook, and to care for his wife (who tried to help him as a supervisor).

In 1997, Vera concluded her recollections as follows :
So after retirement Daniel set up a study in our home for those who were interested in learning more about Orthodoxy.
Eventually we were invited to use a nearby Roman Catholic chapel for our small Orthodox worship on Sundays.

Rather soon Daniel and three other interested persons went down to New York to speak to the Metropolitan, and to attend
a fully organized and established Orthodox worship, and coming home with encouragement concerning Daniel’s being
accepted as an Orthodox priest. Thank the good Lord !

Meanwhile, at home, I had experienced a relatively mild stroke, was hospitalized for approximately a month and then came
home, bringing with me a whole new set of circumstances with which Daniel coped very well.

As it worked out our little congregation was absorbed by already existing parishes. Daniel and I went to the Antiochian
Jurisdiction, where Daniel, newly ordained, assisted the priest.

Our whole family is established in and around Ottawa and carrying on their varied lives happily.

However, in 2001, she suffered from another stroke, from which she did not actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-26T01:33:12Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Official retirement, 1991 */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

Then Daniel had a call to the contrasting place of Sydney Mines — a coal-mining town, where Neil was born. We lived in a
manse next door to a Roman Catholic family who offered to look after Neil while I went to church, I gratefully accepted and
Mary slept in a carriage during the service, in the narthex.

One morning about two or three years later there were strangers in the congregation — folks from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island],
interested in calling Daniel to the church in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerside,_Prince_Edward_Island Summerside]. That summer we moved there, for five of our happiest years.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love, and faith, and personal relationship with the Lord, returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Peter was born in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. He had the usual problems of growing up ; but like the others, he came through them well. He had advancement in his chosen business, and he was a thoughtful son to both Daniel and Vera.

Another expansion of Daniel's personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

By this time, clearly, as Vera wrote,
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

Vera's recollections add to this :
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

Before 1997, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited, but still mobile, and able to be at home. Father Daniel had to learn to cook, and to care for his wife (who tried to help him as a supervisor).

In 1997, Vera concluded her recollections as follows :
So after retirement Daniel set up a study in our home for those who were interested in learning more about Orthodoxy.
Eventually we were invited to use a nearby Roman Catholic chapel for our small Orthodox worship on Sundays.

Rather soon Daniel and three other interested persons went down to New York to speak to the Metropolitan, and to attend
a fully organized and established Orthodox worship, and coming home with encouragement concerning Daniel’s being
accepted as an Orthodox priest. Thank the good Lord !

Meanwhile, at home, I had experienced a relatively mild stroke, was hospitalized for approximately a month and then came
home, bringing with me a whole new set of circumstances with which Daniel coped very well.

As it worked out our little congregation was absorbed by already existing parishes. Daniel and I went to the Antiochian
Jurisdiction, where Daniel, newly ordained, assisted the priest.

Our whole family is established in and around Ottawa and carrying on their varied lives happily.

However, in 2001, she suffered from another stroke, from which she did not actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-26T01:23:17Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Continuing pastoral ministry */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

Then Daniel had a call to the contrasting place of Sydney Mines — a coal-mining town, where Neil was born. We lived in a
manse next door to a Roman Catholic family who offered to look after Neil while I went to church, I gratefully accepted and
Mary slept in a carriage during the service, in the narthex.

One morning about two or three years later there were strangers in the congregation — folks from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island],
interested in calling Daniel to the church in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerside,_Prince_Edward_Island Summerside]. That summer we moved there, for five of our happiest years.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love, and faith, and personal relationship with the Lord, returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Peter was born in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. He had the usual problems of growing up ; but like the others, he came through them well. He had advancement in his chosen business, and he was a thoughtful son to both Daniel and Vera.

Another expansion of Daniel's personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

By this time, clearly, as Vera wrote,
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

Vera's recollections add to this :
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T19:41:25Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Continuing pastoral ministry */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

Then Daniel had a call to the contrasting place of Sydney Mines — a coal-mining town, where Neil was born. We lived in a
manse next door to a Roman Catholic family who offered to look after Neil while I went to church, I gratefully accepted and
Mary slept in a carriage during the service, in the narthex.

One morning about two or three years later there were strangers in the congregation — folks from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island Prince Edward Island],
interested in calling Daniel to the church in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summerside,_Prince_Edward_Island Summerside]. That summer we moved there, for five of our happiest years.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love, and faith, and personal relationship with the Lord, returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Peter was born in 1967, Canada’s centennial year. He had the usual problems of growing up ; but like the others, he came through them well. He had advancement in his chosen business, and he was a thoughtful son to both Daniel and Vera.

Another expansion of Daniel's personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

By this time, clearly, as Vera wrote,
Our church life has had an interesting and happy change that has occurred over recent years. As Daniel’s retirement was
coming up, our beliefs had become farther and farther from the official United Church doctrine. We found that through
study and a chance visit by an Orthodox priest to Ottawa that here, indeed, was the already established church in Canada,
the original church, established in the East by the apostles. To say it briefly, we experienced Orthodox worship in
Saskatoon, Sask. and realized that this is where we should belong.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T19:14:46Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Marriage, 1942 */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in [https://digitalcollections.lib.umanitoba.ca/islandora/object/uofm%3A2651494/datastream/PDF/download Desford United Church]. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T19:11:15Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Marriage, 1942 */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in Desford United Church. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

[[File:Desford Church MB 1.png]] '''Desford church'''

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

File:Desford Church MB 1.png

2026-09-25T19:10:07Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T18:54:10Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Continuing pastoral ministry */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in Desford United Church. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bissett,_Manitoba Bissett, Manitoba]. Vera described Bissett as “a great place for a newly married couple to get acquainted, though not an easy pastorate”. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

According to Vera, “At the end of that first year Daniel was called to a prairie town in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Manitoba southern Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waskada Waskada] — a delightful place where we spent three happy years”.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia.

From there we went to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwick,_Nova_Scotia Berwick] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annapolis_Valley Annapolis Valley] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], a dramatic change, with our very new daughter Mary.
Berwick was far removed from pioneer life. It was a two-point charge. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harbourville,_Nova_Scotia Harbourville], over the North Mountain
on the Bay of Fundy had one remarkable woman, Mabel Spicer, who really kept that church going. It was an entirely new
setting for a prairie girl. The manse was very beautiful, with a cherry tree, but cold in the winter, especially with a tiny
baby. Mary had her first three years there.

There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T18:25:25Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Marriage, 1942 */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

On 30 June, 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married in Desford United Church. The reception was in the home of the Ready family.

'''Ordination, 1942'''

Soon afterwards in 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia. There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T18:22:56Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Early life of Vera Ready */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

However, when I went home for holidays after the second year, there was the new minister at Desford United Church !
Each summer there was a camp back at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lake_Provincial_Park Lake William], one for girls and one for boys. I was asked to be camp leader, and
Daniel reluctantly agreed to be lifeguard — a romance started. We really got acquainted at that camp. Of course Daniel
had to go back for his last year of theological studies, and I had to teach another year to pay off my education fees to the
same grandfather from whom my Dad had bought the farm.

==Marriage, 1942==

In 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married.

'''Ordination, 1942'''

In 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia. There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T18:16:39Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Early life of Vera Ready */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready was born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_people Scots] in that town.

When she was 5 years old ((1923), the family moved to a farm about a mile from [https://mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/desford.shtml Desford] (a village about 161 km/100 mi west of Reston). Her father had bought it from his father-in-law, Andrew Cossar, who himself was a pioneer, who helped to open up the prairies for farming. Since their farm-house had just 4 rooms, her father bought an available house in Desford, and moved it to the farm, while she was sent to stay at my cousin’s farm nearby.

Since I was an only child until I was eight, I started out as a loner. School started at six years of age, and I travelled those
two miles either on horse-back, a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bennett_buggy Bennett wagon], or ‘[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shank%27s_mare shanks ponies]’, as we called walking. Since this was
a very flat part of the prairies, our school games had to accommodate, hide and seek was too limited, so we played our own
versions of games. One I remember was sliding on the “rubber ice” in a nearby slough in the spring time. A punishment I
remember occurred when I ran in to the horse barn chasing a gopher. I did catch him as he tried to exit, but he bit me.
I let him go, but had to tell the teacher the story, as she bandaged the cut. But going into the barn was a “no-no” unless
necessary. I arranged the bandage as well [as] I could before I received my strapping ! We also played “Anti-I-Over” the school
and never broke a window !

High school time presented a problem in those [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression depression years]. I took my grade nine and ten by [https://www.oxfordcollege.ac/news/history-of-distance-learning/ Correspondence]
from Winnipeg at the home of a retired teacher, a quarter of a mile beyond the school. Grade eleven I took at home.
Mom gave me our dining room for my classroom and I worked it through there myself, quite a year ! But still I needed
grade twelve to go to Teacher’s College in Brandon, so I took that year in [https://ca.locale.online/boissevain-school-1759855139.html Boissevain High School], boarding with a family
friend, and with extra help from another student.

Though I had to start Teacher’s College before I knew whether I’d passed the required year, God was good, I had scraped
through. Teacher’s College was a comparative sinch [sic], and now to get a teaching job. Applied to and got [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs//sites/poplarhillschool.shtml Poplar Hill]
country school just seven miles from Brandon where I taught for three years.

==Marriage, 1942==

In 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married.

'''Ordination, 1942'''

In 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia. There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Archpriest Charles Daniel and Presbytera Vera Matheson

2026-09-25T17:44:52Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:Fr Daniel Matheson in Jerusalem for Holy Week s.jpg]] '''Archpriest Charles Daniel Matheson 1916-2014'''

and

[[File:Vera Matheson in Jerusalem s.jpg]] '''Presbytera Vera Matheson (née/born "Ready") 1918-2010'''

==Early life of Charles Daniel Matheson==

Born on 6 January, 1916, on a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pictou_County,_Nova_Scotia Pictou County] farm in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hopewell,_Nova_Scotia Hopewell], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nova_Scotia Nova Scotia], Charles Daniel Matheson was the youngest of 4 children born to Charles and Annie Matheson (born/née "Sutherland"). The family into which he was born was of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterianism Presbyterian] tradition, and descended from immigrant families displaced by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Clearances Highland Clearances] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Scotland Scotland]. Although he later understood that he had been born on the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Feast of the Epiphany] (Theophany), he wrote that his family did not understand anything about this feast-day. Nevertheless, his mother always referred to this date as “Old Christmas”, as did others in those days. The term refers to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_1752 Old Calendar date] which was still remembered by people (even though the change from the Old Calendar to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New Calendar] had occurred in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Great-Britain-island-Europe Britain] in 1752). From his mother's perspective primarily of the 19th century, Christmas was indeed celeberated on the Old Calendar 6 January, and began to be kept on 7 January after 1900. He also paid attention to the fact that the church in which he had been baptised was named for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columba Saint Columba]. He reckoned that this had something to do with his life-long sense of the communion of [https://fr.orthodoxwiki.org/Saint saints].

Because he had a speech difficulty (stuttering), Daniel Matheson felt that he was not fit to pursue a path towards pastoral ministry (despite the encouragement of others to do so), and so he prepared to become an accountant. However, he was uncomfortable in this, and during the 1930s, he undertook a successful speech therapy of his own devising (much as did [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_VI King George VI] after him — although the king's therapy was developed by others). Such therapies were in their infancy in those days. Once he had managed to put this hurdle behind him, he prepared to obey what he felt was the direction of the Lord spoken through many others. He began to prepare himself for pastoral service.

==Higher education==

He entered [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dalhousie_University Dalhousie University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax,_Nova_Scotia Halifax], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nova-scotia Nova Scotia], where he took concentrated studies in philosophy and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ancient_Greek Classical Greek].

He received his B.A. in 1940.

This was followed by 3 years more of study at [http://marconf.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pine-Hill-Divinity-Hall.pdf Pine Hill Divinity Hall] (now merged with others into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_School_of_Theology Atlantic School of Theology]), also in Halifax. There, the strongest emphasis was on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Systematic_theology Systematic Theology], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homiletics Homiletics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Old_Testament Old Testament] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/New_Testament New Testament]. He admitted that Church History was not a priority in this school.

He received his M.Div. Degree (Master of Divinity) from Pine Hill Divinity Hall.

He wrote later that when he understood the need, he took post-graduate courses in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics] and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/sacrament/Theology-and-practice-of-sacraments-in-Christianity Sacramental Theology].

It was to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reston,_Manitoba Reston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], that Daniel Matheson had been sent as a student minister, and it was there that he met Vera Ready. It was a true case of love at first sight.

==Early life of Vera Ready==

Vera May Ready had been born in Reston, Manitoba, in 1918. She was the daughter of Harold and Amelia (Cossar) Ready. This family was of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_diaspora Irish] origin, unlike the larger numbers of originally [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berwickshire Berwickshire] Scots in that town.

==Marriage, 1942==

In 1942, Charles Daniel Matheson and Vera Ready were married.

'''Ordination, 1942'''

In 1942, the same year as their marriage, Charles Daniel Matheson was ordained to be a minister in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Church_of_Canada United Church of Canada] (the result in 1925 of a union of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodists] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregational_Christian_Churches_in_Canada Congregationalists]).

==Continuing pastoral ministry==

Immediately after their marriage in 1942, and the subsequent ordination, the young couple was sent to a northern gold-mining town. This experience would prove to be a severe test. The living conditions were challenging. They lived in a small cabin which they described as “two rooms and a path” in an isolated region which had no roads. Vera was teaching the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations indigenous] children in a 1-room school provided by the mining company for them. Access to the town was by air or by water, and periodically there was no access at all. These details were no obstacle for the young couple. There was considerable natural beauty in the area.

The miners were not generally approachable, nor were the indigenous people (a scattered population of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cree/ Cree], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ojibwa/ Ojibwe] and [http://esask.uregina.ca/entry/saulteaux.html Salteaux]). In fact, there were no church buildings, and it was during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II]. Father Daniel wrote that they were the 6th couple to serve there during 10 years.

One September, the death of a neglected aboriginal child was the catalyst of a “crisis of faith” for Daniel. He realised that somehow, during his studies, his faith had become over-intellectualised. Some spiritual fathers might say that the thoughts and theories of his mind overwhelmed his heart and numbed his sense of a lively, loving relationship with the Lord. He admitted that he had become confused about basics. Such a turn of events has happened to very many persons throughout all history. Isolation from any counsel did not help. However, Vera did find the way to help him. She talked to him until he began to pray and to ask for help. He persisted, and the help came after they had served for 4 years in Manitoba, and then returned to Nova Scotia. There, Vera introduced him to an [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/first-nations Anglican] missionary-evangelist who was visiting. By merely being in his presence, the light of love and faith and personal relationship with the Lord returned with power to his heart. He never ceased to be grateful.

This “turning a corner” produced good fruit. Having grown up in a tradition in which preaching is important, he now became determined to do his best for the sake of the souls entrusted to his leadership. He did his best to give each person in the congregation substantial spiritual food for living. It was gratefully received. Because of his reading and research, he had discovered the history and importance of [https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/znqck2p/revision/1 liturgical worship] (that is, worship services with a set structure and set prayers), and he began to introduce some elements from the prayers of the United Church’s “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Order Book of Common Order]”. Those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyterian_Church_in_Canada Presbyterian] formation (more than those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methodist_Church,_Canada Methodist] formation) are wary of formal and printed prayers. They expect the prayer to be spontaneous and direct from the heart of the one who is praying, not the recitation of the prayer of someone else. For such a reason, Daniel found that he often received expressions of discomfort from parishioners. Indeed, they did not comprehend what he had long previously learnt : that "[https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/extempore ex tempore]" prayer quickly becomes rote anyway.

Nevertheless, since he was involved in dialogue with Anglicans, and his appreciation of liturgical worship was increasing, he tried to express this appreciation in his congregations by continuing to include some liturgical elements in Sunday worship. He did make some progress, and he participated in the development of the new United Church “[https://www.amazon.com/Service-People-Committee-Worship-United/dp/B001CZF5CA Service Book]”. It was at this time, in 1967, that the United Church, through the [http://www.utc.ca/ United Theological College] of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=Cj0KCQiApaXxBRDNARIsAGFdaB-jYSqPKNh3lpU4PLmFKZqWS2l01KAhmfSONLZI91oxWtrCOuHaiEQaAkXZEALw_wcB Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/Quebec Québec], conferred on him the degree of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] (“[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]”) because of his pastoral work.

Another expansion of his personal experience and ministry was related to his periodic appearance as an occasional speaker at the "Temple Pastures" Mission (50 acres of woods and meadows in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau_Hills Gatineau Hills], 20 minutes from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa]). It was situated at RR #1, Pointe Gatineau, Québec (one of the municipalities which were amalgamated with [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hull Hull], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aylmer-ont Aylmer], etc., to become what is now called Gatineau) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gatineau Gatineau], Québec.

[[File:Temple Pastures 8 Dr. Frank Uhlir 2.png]] '''Dr Frank Uhlir at "Temple Pastures"'''

He gave some talks for a time after the death in 1980 of its founder, [http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html the Rev'd Dr. Frank Uhlir]. After 1986, the retreat centre was an official Anglican entity in the [https://ottawa.anglican.ca/ Anglican Diocese of Ottawa], and operated as a meeting place for assorted groups until it was closed.

In his own congregation, Daniel introduced more liturgical worship, and he began to wear liturgical vestments. He continued to be considered by others as remarkable for his love for the Lord. They say that he showed it in his manner of living and preaching. He was highly respected by many people.

'''Expanding horizons'''

In the course of his work, he encountered many other sorts of Christians. However, it took a long time before he encountered the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians]. He commented that he reckoned that the reason that it took so long for him in particular was related to a certain tendency towards cultural and linguistic stubbornness or insularity on the part of the Anglophones (himself included). However, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodox Christians] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada in Canada] have not been very visible nor easy to contact during the last century (and especially after the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_Revolution Bolshevik Revolution]), and it was only since about 1980 that the English language became more widely used in some of those communities. Nevertheless, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Worship manner of worship] in Orthodox Christian communities is quite different from what any Protestant would ever experience, and quite different even from more [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_liturgy liturgically-minded Christians] of the West such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholics], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anglicanism Anglicans] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lutheranism Lutherans]. People now often joke (along with [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]) that the Orthodox Christian Faith is the best-kept secret on the continent.

Even Daniel's first liturgical experience of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom] was not amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodoxy Orthodox Christians], but rather amongst the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melkite_Greek_Catholic_Church Melkite Christians] who belong to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] communion.

His first real encounter was when he was in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City] with Vera, at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Museum_of_Art Metropolitan Museum], where he met some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russians who were Orthodox]. They invited them to attend [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] with them. Although all was in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Slavonic], his heart sang in harmony with the service. This encounter was reinforced by his introduction to the book “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Way_of_a_Pilgrim The Way of a Pilgrim]”, which he had borrowed in its French translation, “[https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Récits_d%27un_pèlerin_russe Le Pèlerin Russe]”. From this, he began to learn inner prayer, and the book and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Prayer Jesus Prayer] led him to other English-language Orthodox books.

Then, during an exhibition of Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography iconography] in a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian] hall in Ottawa, he met an icon of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theotokos Theotokos]. At this meeting, he found that he had established a relationship with the Mother of God, so he bought and began to pray before this icon. Later, during a surprise encounter with a difficult person, he realised that he had reflexively made the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sign_of_the_Cross sign of the Cross] on himself. He naturally continued to do so in the correct manner.

All these events influenced the way in which he led the large congregation in his care. It became more and more liturgical. However, he also came to understand that although he loved the Orthodox Church, his relationship with that Church was still only academic. He also somehow felt that becoming Orthodox was unthinkable. He was in a difficult situation. However, the situation of the United Church by this time was so radically different from how it was when he began ministry (and so far from the Orthodox Way), that he understood that something had to change. That change had to be in him.

==First retirement==

As a consequence, both he and Vera understood that retirement was necessary. Even more, they understood that retirement from serving the congregation would also mean departing from the United Church as well. Together, they had faithfully served congregations in Manitoba, [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-edward-island Prince Edward Island], Nova Scotia and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. They were as yet unsure of their destination. The double departure was a very painful experience, and it remained so in recollection. The pain came from the separation from hundreds of people whom they loved and whom they had both served for more than 40 years (including 2 decades in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church] in Ottawa). There followed later yet more pain. After having taken this step (he was now 69 years of age), they visited an Anglican church for a time while they tried to understand what to do. Regardless of the pain they felt, it must be understood that they never stopping loving and praying for persons they had known in every parish to which they had belonged or served.

==Work in retirement : Bible-study, 1984==

In 1984, 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). It included some persons from his former parish of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_United_Church_(Ottawa) Westboro United Church], as well as some Anglicans. This study-group, which met in the Matheson sitting-room, was fruitful for all concerned. The main participants in this group during its existence were : Micheline B. ; Sutherland D. ; Karen E ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Donna H ; Glen M. ; Jane S ; Leslie S. ; Pat and Joanne T ; Eleanore Y.

At about this same time, there was an encounter with a leader of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church] which led to a visit by Daniel and Vera to a parish of this group in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and to a meeting in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Chicago Chicago], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Illinois-state Illinois]. This engendered much soul-searching.

Then, when he was reading [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_of_Sinai Saint Gregory of Sinai], the phrase “Become what you are” stood out to him, and his heart comprehended what had to be done. For this reason also, he described his journey to Orthodoxy as one of revelation. His heart longed for the Truth, and step by step it was revealed to him and to Vera. The unthinkable had become thinkable. He was received into the Evangelical Orthodox Church in November, 1985, and he was ordained.

==A new mission, 1985==

In 1985, Father Daniel created the [[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]]. He named it because of the nature of missionary work, and because his birthday was on this feast-day. As he wrote, through the naming, he had given the small mission his own birthday. During his time in the Evangelical Orthodox Church, Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera came to know [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/reinheimer-archpriest-lawrence Father Larry Reinheimer] and Mother Myra, who became long-time friends thereafter.

However, their entrance into the Orthodox Church caused their children, relatives, and friends from before this to withdraw to a distance. It took some time before this began to be ameliorated to some extent.

Nevertheless the time of major changes was not yet ended. His entry into the EOC happened near the completion of the conversations between the EOC and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]. As he wrote in his reflection on his life, “They had laboured, and I had ‘entered into their labours’”. He remained profoundly grateful to the clergy and others of the EOC.

In 1986, Bishop Gregory of the EOC visited the mission and he spent a good amount of time with the community.

[[File:1986 visit of Bishop Gregory, Father Daniel, Presbytera Vera 1.png]] '''Father Daniel and Presbytera Vera during a lunch at the 1986 visit'''

[[File:1986 Bishop Gregory et al at visit 1.png]] '''Bishop Gregory at lunch during the 1986 visit'''

Then, in 1987, the greater part of the EOC (under the leadership of then-bishop [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Gillquist Peter Gillquist]) was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation received by chrismation] into communion with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese], and it became the Antiochian Evangelical Orthodox Mission (AEOM), a distinctive group of parishes which has since been regularized into normal status within the archdiocese.

[In 2002, [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/his-eminence-archbishop-job-archbishop-of-chicago-and-the-midwest Bishop Job (Osacky)], of Chicago [https://www.oca.org/files/PDF/DOC-PUB/VIGIL/vigil23_1-2_2002.pdf received several EOC parishes] into [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America], and then [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dmitri_(Royster)_of_Dallas Archbishop Dmitri (Royster)] likewise received several other parishes.]

[[File:19891100 02 Closing lunch of Holy Epiphany Mission s 1.jpg]] '''Closing lunch of the mission'''

==Reception into the Orthodox Church ; ordinations, 1987==

On 21 March, 1987, Daniel and Vera Matheson were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chrismation chrismated] into the Orthodox Christian Church, and Daniel was ordained both to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdiaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

He immediately was impressed by the exhortation by [[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]] (who received him and who ordained him) that he hold his [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orarion orar] high, since it represents the wings of the angels.

On 22 March, 1987, Deacon Daniel was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) of the Orthodox Church in the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese.

On this occasion, the new priest was impressed by the exhortation (addressed to every ordinand) that he take the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamb_(liturgy) Eucharistic Lamb] and "Hold this; you will have to answer to our Lord one day as to how you have guarded it".

All this was done in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Indiana-state Indiana], USA.

==Pastoral service==

As Father Daniel himself related, the words said to him were most significant and moving : “Welcome home”. Soon after [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], members of the Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission began to be received by Father Daniel into the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese. This process was hastened when people understood that until they did so, they would not be any longer in communion with their beloved pastor.

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 “[http://www.canada.com/story_print.html?id=bc38094b-6a7d-4019-9f8c-bb5c2bfa5443&sponsor= 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, organising things !
The main participants in the mission were : Bob D. (who also went to the [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]]) ; Sutherland D. ; Dougald and Susan G. ; Glen M. ; Jane S. ; Leslie S. In addition, Karen Y., a parishioner in Montréal, was moved to support the mission, to which she sometimes travelled for worship. Another form of support came from parishioners of the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] on Clarey Avenue, who gave spiritual support and other sorts of coaching (particularly with regard to the singing).

==Official retirement, 1991==

In January, 1991, Father Daniel officially retired (at age 75). Because he had been received by the Antiochian Archdiocese, he then began his years of service in [[Ottawa ON Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral 1929 |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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic 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 “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Khouria]” (the Arabic word for “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 [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in a neighbourly fashion. This was the destination of many of the members of the Epiphany Mission, which had closed in 1990, on the eve of Father Daniel’s retirement.

On 1 January, 1992, Father Daniel was assigned by [[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]] to be the Priest-in-charge (a priest who serves temporarily in the place of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proistamenos rector] of a community) of Saint Elijah Church. This was a major undertaking for him, since this parish was much larger than even his final, quite large pastoral responsibility in the United Church.

On 11 June, 1992, Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) announced that the [http://steliasc.orthodoxws.com/priests.html Archpriest Ghattas Hajal] would assume the pastorate of Saint Elijah Church, effective 1 July. This allowed Father Daniel to step back again from major pastoral responsibilities. It is also perhaps not insignificant that the meaning of Father Ghattas’ name is “epiphany” (and he, too, was born on 6 January, the Feast of the Epiphany).

[[File:1989_Father_Dan_%26_Vera_at_Clarey_Avenue_Church_s_1.jpg]] '''Father Dan and Vera at Annunciation Cathedral on Clarey Avenue'''

In about 1998, Presbytera Vera suffered from a stroke, after which she became limited but still mobile and able to be at home. 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 actually recover, and she had to be cared for in the New Orchard Lodge 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. This was so, even in her weakened state. Nevertheless, when she became incapacitated, Father Daniel’s whole world and “modus operandi” had to change suddenly. He was a constant and attentive visitor.

[[File:Archpriest Daniel Matheson 1.jpg]] '''Father Daniel at Saint Elias Cathedral'''

==Repose of Presbytera Vera, 2010==

On 1 August, 2010, Father Daniel’s wife of 68 years, Presbytera Vera, fell asleep in the Lord in her 92nd year. Together with her husband, she 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 this year was also the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Procession_of_the_Cross Feast of the Procession of the Life-giving Cross]. She was survived by her husband Father C Daniel Matheson, their daughter Mary Sharp (Crawford) ; their sons Neil and Peter ; their grandchildren Rawni Sharp (Matthew Young), David Sharp (Lucie), Heather Matheson and Danielle Matheson ; and their great-grandchildren Katherine and Samuel Young. She was also survived by her brother John Ready (Rubie), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brandon,_Manitoba Brandon], Manitoba.

On 4 August, 2010, there were prayers in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 5 August, 2010, at 10:00 a.m., in Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral, the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Lay-person was offered.

Afterwards, her body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral's section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Daniel spent the last years of his life living in [https://reveraliving.com/en/live-with-us/ontario/nepean/valley-stream Valley Stream Manor] in Ottawa.

Father Daniel continued as ever with his particular sense of humour and his loving compassion. He was a "gold mine" of wisdom gained through his long pastoral life and his life of prayer. Christ was certainly present in him, along with ready reference to many a Scriptural passage.

Characteristic of his personality is this remark by the staff of the residence in which he lived : “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”.

==Repose of Father Daniel, 2014==

On 5 July, 2014, the Archpriest Daniel Matheson fell asleep in the Lord.

On 9 July, 2014, there were prayer services for him in the McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home at 7:00 p.m.

On 10 July, 2014, there was a prayer service for him at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 7:00 p.m.

On 11 July, 2014, the Funeral Service for “The Burial of a Priest” was offered at Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral at 11:00 a.m.

Afterwards, Father Daniel's body was interred in the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, next to the grave of his wife.

[[File:Matheson 20170415 110255 hdrS 1.jpg]] '''Headstone'''

==Reflections==

Father Daniel Matheson was a sincere, Christ-loving pastor throughout his life, and Presbytera Vera lived and worked together with him on the same foundation of faith and love. They were greatly loved and highly respected. The Lord brought considerable good fruit from their labours offered during the course of their lives. Many people were strengthened, encouraged, and nourished through their prayers and their efforts.

Despite the fact that their last missionary effort faded away as an entity at the time of their entry into the Canonical Orthodox Church, the people who had been part of it were not abandoned, but rather, most of them found their way into other, existing, Orthodox Christian communities.

Those who remember Father Daniel may well recall that he spoke about his own vivid memory of the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion Halifax Explosion]" on 6 December, 1917. Of course, he was very young (almost 2), but he had a gift for remembering, and such a catastrophic event would leave a memorable impression.

The Archpriest James Griggs recalled a conversation with Father Daniel, the subject of which had been shared with several other people. It was about a conversation with his mother, when he was a young boy :
He told me that one day he asked his mother whether Saint Columba had been Presbyterian. His mother answered,
'No, he was before that'. 'So Saint Columba was a Catholic then ?' 'No, he was before that'. Father Dan said
that it certainly puzzled him, but that when he found Orthodox Christianity, he found 'what was before that !'

Many friends and parishioners of both the cathedral and the Saint Elias parish in Ottawa visited Father Daniel almost to time of his repose. They all recount how these visits were occasions of significant blessing for them.

[[File:Father Daniel Matheson 2.png]] '''Father Daniel Matheson'''

==References==

Matheson, Father Daniel, ‘The Mirage Becomes a Pool’ in “[https://www.amazon.com/Toward-Authentic-Church-Christians-Conversion/dp/1880971100 Toward an Authentic Church]”, Thomas Doulis, ed. (Minneapolis : Light and Life, 1996), pp. 131-171. ISBN : 1-880971-10-0.

Matheson (born Ready), Vera, transcribed by Still, Leslie, "Autobiography" (Ottawa : 1995)

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/ottawa-on/the-very-reverend-matheson-6036106 Archpriest Daniel Matheson obituary]

[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/39544336/obituary_for_presbytera_vera_matheson/ Presbytera Vera Matheson obituary]

[http://lebaneseinottawa.com/obituary-father-daniel-matheson/ Saint Elias obituary]

[http://ww1.antiochian.org/memory-eternal-very-rev-dr-daniel-matheson "Memory Eternal" at antiochian.org]

'''Additional information :'''

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

[[Ottawa ON Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission 1985-1990 |Holy Epiphany Mission, Ottawa]]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Annunciation_to_the_Theotokos-Saint_Nicholas_Cathedral,_1955,_1988 Annunciation Cathedral]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Holy_Epiphany_Evangelical_Orthodox_Mission,_1985-1990 Holy Epiphany Evangelical Orthodox Mission]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa,_ON,_Saint_Elias_Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Cathedral,_1929 Saint Elias Antiochian Orthodox Christian Cathedral]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Evangelical_Orthodox_Church Evangelical Orthodox Church]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Antiochian_Orthodox_Christian_Archdiocese_of_North_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America]

[[Bishop Antoun (Khouri)]]

[[Metropolitan Philip (Saliba)]]

[http://www.newlife.ca The Rev'd Frank Uhler] ("Temple Pastures")

[http://www.newlife.ca/introducing-frank-uhlir.html The Rev'd Frank Uhler (2)]

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Nova Scotia]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:AOCA]]

Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada 1959

2026-09-24T15:18:37Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Bishops of the Western Eparchy */

<center>[[File:UOCCBanner 2.png]]</center>

'''Western Eparchy of the UOCC'''

==Definition==

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Western_Canada is an eparchy (diocese ) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada Western Eparchy] is an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eparchy eparchy] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diocese diocese] ) of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC) under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople]. It was established in 1958.

==Components==

The Western Eparchy consists of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provinces_and_territories_of_Canada Canadian provinces] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia British Columbia]. It has about 74 parishes (most of them country churches), with 2 cathedral churches :

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Vancouver, British Columbia].

The ruling bishop of the Western Eparchy is styled as “Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], and the Western Eparchy”.

[[File:Wesern Eparchy office and residence 2.png]]

'''Bishop’s residence and Western Eparchy office'''

==Bishops of the Western Eparchy==

The '''first''' bishop of the newly-established eparchy was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Bishop Andrew (Metiuk)] in 1959. He had been assigned previously (1958) as administrator of the new eparchy. He became Metropolitan of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in 1975.

The '''second''' bishop of the eparchy was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych)], who was transferred to the eparchy in 1975. He served in this eparchy until his repose in Christ in 1984.

The '''third''' bishop of the eparchy was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Bishop John (Stinka)]. He was transferred to the eparchy in 1985. It was during his episcopal service that the Western Eparchy established a permanent residence in Edmonton for the bishop, which served also as the office of the bishop and the eparchy.

'''Change of name, and reception into the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada” changed its name to the “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]”. In the same year, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was received into communion with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and all the bishops became a part of that patriarchate.

Archbishop John (Stinka) served in the eparchy until 2005, when he became Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

The '''fourth''' bishop of the eparchy was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)]. He was transferred to the eparchy in 2008.

Although he became Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in 2022, at that time, he retained in addition his residence in and leadership of the Western Eparchy in Edmonton.

==Contact information==

Western Eparchy

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

11404-112 Avenue NW

Edmonton, Alberta

T5G 0H6

Telephone : (780) 455-1938

Fax : (780) 454-5287

E-mail : info@we-uocc.ca

Web-site : we-uocc.ca

==References==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Western_Canada Wikipedia article about the Western Eparchy]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[http://uocc.ca Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://we-uocc.ca/ Western Eparchy of the UOCC web-site]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Central_Eparchy_of_the_UOCC Central Eparchy of the UOCC]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Eastern_Eparchy_UOCC Eastern Eparchy of the UOCC]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Western_Eparchy_of_the_UOCC Western Eparchy of the UOCC]

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

[[Category:Eparchies]] [[Category:Alberta]] [[Category:British Columbia]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:EP]]

Protopresbyter Oleg Alexander and Dobrodijka Maria (born Sup) Krawchenko

2026-09-24T15:01:41Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

[[File:OKrawchenko_2.png]]

'''Protopresbyter Oleg Alexander Krawchenko (1935-2024)'''

and

'''Dobrodijka Maria (born Sup) Krawchenko (1942-20__ )'''

Oleg may be spelt Oleh.

Maria may be spelt Marusia, Mary.

Krawchenko may be spelt Kravchenko.

==Early life of Oleg Krawchenko==

In 1935, Oleg Alexander Krawchenko was born to Antonina and Alexander Krawchenko in [https://infodon-org-ua.translate.goog/uzovka?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp Iuzovka] (presently [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donetsk Donetsk]) in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donbas Donbas region] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine]. His sister Ludmilla was also born there. Oleg was baptised and raised in an [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian] family, and he was formed in the bosom of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Church].

Oleg was the eldest of 3 children. His sister Ludmilla was born in Ukraine, and his brother [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohdan_Krawchenko Bohdan] was born in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany Germany].

With the outbreak of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II] (the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Patriotic_War_(term) Great Patriotic War]), the family was displaced by the movements of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_Army_(1935%E2%80%931945) Nazi German Army] and of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Army Soviet Army]. Thus, they left their Ukrainian home city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berdiansk Berdiansk] (by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_of_Azov Sea of Azov]).

After several years of nomadic life, and movement towards the west, they found themselves in 1946 in a [https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/articles/13619 refugee camp] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Germany West Germany]. Until this time, Oleg was tutored at home (as were his siblings) by Alexander Krawchenko.

There, Oleg began at last his formal education. In 1948, the family moved to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France], where once again Oleg had to learn a new language, and re-learn the basics in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French]. He received a full scholarship from the French government to attend a technical high school (in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forestry Forestry]) ; but a year before graduation, his education was interrupted when his family emigrated to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].

Alexander Krawchenko had preceded the family in emigration, and he had prepared the way for them.

==Emigration to Canada, 1951==

In 1951 Oleg Alexander, together with the rest of his family, joined his father in Canada. They settled in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal Montréal], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec Québec], where their knowledge of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French language] made their adjustment to their new homeland much easier. It was in Montréal that Oleg completed his high school education.

==Higher education==

In 1952, Oleg Alexander enrolled in [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew’s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology]. Thus began an academic relationship with Saint Andrew’s that would span more than 60 years.

In 1956, Oleg Alexander graduated with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Licentiate_(degree) Licentiate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] ; and immediately, he enrolled in the Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy Philosophy] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universit%C3%A9_de_Montr%C3%A9al University of Montréal]. There, he completed his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Philosophy Bachelor of Philosophy] degree “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_honors magna cum laude]”, in 1958. Parallel to the above-mentioned programme, he was also taking courses in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_studies Slavic studies] at the same university.

==Marriage, 1959==

In the summer of 1959, Oleg was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Marriage#Office_of_Crowning crowned] in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Marriage Holy Matrimony] with Maria Sup of Montréal (daughter of [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/218492672/emilia-sup Harry and Emilia Sup)].

==Ordinations, 1959==

On 9 August, 1959,Oleg Alexander Krawchenko was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] at [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/st-george-parish-2/ Saint George’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dauphin,_Manitoba Dauphin], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], First Hierarch of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada].

On 16 August, 1959, Deacon Oleg Krawchenko was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Mary_the_Protectress_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Sobor_1923 Saint Mary the Protectress Sobor] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko).

==Pastoral service==

'''Ontario'''

Priest Oleg Krawchenko and his young bride Dobrodijka Maria moved to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Frances Fort Frances], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], where he served the communities of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atikokan Atikokan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainy_River,_Ontario Rainy River], and Fort Frances. They served there from September, 1959 until June, 1961.

'''Québec'''

In 1961, they returned to Montréal, where Father Oleg continued his programme in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_studies Slavic Studies] at the University of Montréal. Father Oleg was granted a leave-of-absence for study, which extended from June, 1961, until September, 1964. During this time, he was attached to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in Montréal.

'''Saskatchewan'''

In 1964, Father Oleg was assigned to serve in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=north-battleford-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc North Battleford Mission District] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan]. There, he served several communities, including [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Glaslyn_SK_Saints_Peter_and_Paul_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1912 Glaslyn], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meadow_Lake,_Saskatchewan Meadow Lake], [https://mapcarta.com/24289582 Hatherleigh], [https://www.roadonmap.com/ca/where-is/Whitkow,saskatchewan Witkow], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cando,_Saskatchewan Cando], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biggar,_Saskatchewan Biggar], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Battleford North Battleford]. He served in this region from September, 1964, until August, 1966.

In 1965, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) gave Father Oleg Krawchienko the right to wear the purple [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards skufia].

'''Petro Mohyla Institute ; All Saints Church, Saskatoon'''

In August, 1966, Father Oleg Krawchenko and his family were transferred once again, this time to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], Saskatchewan. There, Father Oleg was assigned to serve as Rector of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Petro Mohyla Institute]. He served there until June, 1967.

[[File:Mohyla Institute 2020 2.png]] '''Saint Petro Mohyla Institute'''

During his tenure, Father Oleg started to hold regular Sunday Services in the chapel of the Institute. He supplemented this with periodic religious classes for both students and the mission community. Regular Divine services took place at the chapel of the institute (because it was conveniently available), and conversations began about how and where to establish this mission as a second parish in the city. These actions provided the early genesis for the establishment of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_All_Saints_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1967 All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church Parish] in Saskatoon.

Then Father Oleg was enrolled at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan], in the College of [https://grad.usask.ca/ Graduate Studies]. His studies were guided by the well-known professor, [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/andrusyshen_ch.shtml Dr. C H Andrusyshen].

In May, 1968, Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) gave Father Oleg Krawchenko the right to wear the purple [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards kamilavka].

In 1969, he completed his studies, and he received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Arts Master of Arts] (M.A.) degree in Slavic Studies. In doing so, he became the first M.A. graduate in Slavic Studies from this university.

Meanwhile, Father Oleg began to serve as an instructor in Slavic Studies at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon.

Following his departure from the Petro Mohyla Institute, Father Oleg continued as an instructor at the university, and he served as a priest in such rural communities as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vonda,_Saskatchewan Vonda], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smuts,_Saskatchewan Smuts], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Meacham_SK_Dormition_of_the_Virgin_Mary_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1922 Meacham], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kindersley Kindersley], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prelate,_Saskatchewan Prelate] in Saskatchewan, and in the community of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oyen Oyen], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta]. In addition, he continued in active involvement with youth and young adult ministry, by serving as a chaplain of “CYMK” ([https://www.cymk.ca/about-us-1 Canadian Ukrainian Youth Association]) National Executive in Saskatoon and as editor of the periodical “SUMKivetz”.

During this period of time, Father Oleg served in parishes of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=saskatoon-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Saskatoon Rural District] from August, 1967, until July, 1971.

In 1971, Father Oleg moved with his family to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina,_Saskatchewan Regina], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], in order to teach. He continued his career as a lecturer in the Department of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language German] and Slavic Studies at the Regina campus of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan] (now the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Regina University of Regina]). At the same time, he served the parishes of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moose_Jaw Moose Jaw] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candiac,_Saskatchewan Candiac], Saskatchewan.

Father Oleg Krawchenko served there from July, 1971, until 1973. Meanwhile, he served the parishes in Moose Jaw and Candiac from September, 1972, until July, 1973.

==Move to Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Saint Andrew’s College==

At the invitation of both the Board of Directors of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] and the [http://www.uocc.ca Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada], Father Oleg and his family moved to Winnipeg in order to take up the position of Assistant Professor in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian].

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]] '''Saint Andrew’s College'''

On 7 January, 1973, Archbishop/[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)] awarded Father Oleg Krawchenko the right to wear the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards Golden Cross].

In the autumn of 1973, Father Oleg was appointed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(education) Dean] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faculty_of_Arts_(disambiguation) Arts] ([https://www.britannica.com/topic/humanities Humanities]), with his duties being expanded in 1974 to include the Deanship of the Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology]. Thus, he became Dean of Studies (Arts and Theology).

Father Oleg Krawchenko served as Assistant Professor (Ukrainian and Theology), Dean of Studies (Arts and Theology) and Chaplain from July, 1973, until 1981.

At this time, a much greater task was put before him – that of organising an Arts (Humanities) Faculty, and re-organising the existing Theology courses at Saint Andrew’s, in order to bring them to standards required for affiliation of Saint Andrew’s College with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba].

This was an enormous challenge, and one which he fulfilled with unflagging determination. The University of Manitoba required that Saint Andrew’s provide appropriate Arts courses – but not to duplicate the courses already taught in the Department of Slavic Studies or any other of the university’s departments. Saint Andrew’s was to recruit appropriately qualified instructors for all courses, again in order to meet university-level requirements. In addition, the theological courses already taught were to be adjusted to this new reality. All this was done.

In 1977, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)] elevated Priest Oleg Krawchenko to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archpriest archpriest].

In 1980, Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) awarded Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko with the right to wear the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards Jewelled Pectoral Cross].

By 1980, Saint Andrew’s College was offering 17 courses in 7 different areas of study in the Humanities : language, literature, religion, history, geography, political science, and fine arts.

In January 1981, under his leadership, Saint Andrew’s College signed an Agreement of Affiliation with the University of Manitoba, based on its accredited Arts programs, which was formally organised into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies], a teaching unit of the University of Manitoba. Father Oleg Krawchenko held the directorship of the Centre until January, 1982.

Then Father Oleg turned his energies to revising the programme of studies in the Faculty of Theology, the better to reflect the necessary higher academic standards. This reform was completed in 1982, and the College began to follow the theological teaching curriculum of other reputable theological institutions throughout North America, most of which were officially recognised within the [https://www.ats.edu/ Association of Theological Schools].

In 1981, Father Oleg was promoted to the status of Associate Professor in Theology, and he served as Rector of the College and Chaplain. In 1983, he was given the status of [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/tenure tenured] professor in the Faculty of Theology. He served in this capacity until 1985.

During this period, from 1984 until 1987, he served several parish communities in the Winnipeg Rural District, and in Northern Manitoba, namely : [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/dufrost-282174208 Dufrost], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beausejour,_Manitoba Beausejour], Sandhill, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyndall,_Manitoba Tyndall], [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/holytrinitypoplarpark.shtml Poplar Park], [https://weather.com/en-MU/weather/tenday/l/Stead+MB+CAXX8848:1:CA Stead], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Selkirk East Selkirk], [https://mapcarta.com/24271318 Gonor], Pleasant Home, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage_la_Prairie Portage la Prairie], [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/oldpoplarfield.shtml Poplarfield], [https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/city/ca/manitoba/ledwyn/current Ledwyn], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Pas The Pas], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flin_Flon Flin Flon], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thompson,_Manitoba Thompson].

In 1984, Father Oleg Krawchenko received the degree [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity] (M.Div.) from Saint Andrew’s College, University of Manitoba (which it was now able to grant).

In 1985, Father Oleg Krawchenko was elected to the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/administration/ Board of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], and he became secretary of the Presidium which lasted for 2 consecutive 5-year terms.

In 1986 he was, finally, granted a year’s sabbatical in order to work on his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctorate Ph.D.] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Free_University Ukrainian Free University] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munich Munich], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany Germany]. He completed the doctoral programme in 1993, with a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thesis thesis] about the Ukrainian philosopher, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hryhorii_Skovoroda Hryhoriy Skovoroda].

In 1987, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] presented Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko with a Metropolitan’s [https://www.wordhippo.com/what-is/the-meaning-of/russian-word-b420919c85af949cc07269a4d78e7116e7bc5477.html Gramota] (certificate with blessing).

In 1988, Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) awarded Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko the right to wear a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards mitre].

In 1993, Father Oleg Krawchenko received the degree [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Philosophy Doctor of Philosophy] at the Ukrainian Free University, Munich, Germany.

Father Oleg returned from the sabbatical to the College in 1987, and to the post of Associate Professor of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogmatic_theology Dogmatic Theology] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Canon_law Canon Law]. He also taught such courses as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Scripture Holy Scriptures], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ethics Ethics], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patristics Patristics], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_theology Comparative Theology], as well as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic], [https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CP%5CO%5CPolemicalliterature.htm Ukrainian Polemical Literature], and Major Thinkers in the Eastern Christian Tradition. He continued, with his widowed father, the newly-ordained [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232161726/alexander-krawchenko Priest Alexander Krawchenko], as the College Chaplain.

In addition, he served as priest-in-charge of the Vita District. He served such communities as [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/dufrost-282174208 Dufrost], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarto,_Manitoba Sarto], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rosa,+MB+R0A+1N0/@49.2443406,-96.8472327,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52c1ab6e7cb19801:0x1c60294bda384c6f!8m2!3d49.244315!4d-96.826633!16s%2Fg%2F1tgxt5qn?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Rosa], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Senkiw,+MB+R0A+1N0/@49.2075337,-96.8919886,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52c1a883e885cba7:0x77a64a6a1aa323b0!8m2!3d49.207508!4d-96.8713889!16s%2Fg%2F1tk62s5w?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Senkiw], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolstoi,_Manitoba Tolstoi], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardenton,_Manitoba Gardenton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vita,_Manitoba Vita], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sundown,_Manitoba Sundown], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Sirko,+MB+R0A+1A0/@49.0159488,-96.2675367,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52c0ed49a2a495e1:0x977d8cdb0eb4b87c!8m2!3d49.015923!4d-96.246937!16s%2Fg%2F1xtf16jh?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Sirko], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Arbakka,+MB+R0A+2K0/@49.0535187,-96.4918307,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52c0faf28b5aba81:0x42a46e9e9cee0d58!8m2!3d49.053493!4d-96.471231!16s%2Fm%2F05mrdfh?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Arbakka], and also [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembina,_North_Dakota Pembina], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota North Dakota], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA].

In 1990 Father Oleg was relieved of these responsibilities, and he was assigned to serve [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_All_Saints_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1924 All Saints UOCC Parish] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona Transcona], Winnipeg.

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further pastoral responsibilities==

'''Chancellor of the Praesidium of the UOCC, 1995-2000'''

Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko was elected Chairperson of the Presidium of the Consistory (Chancellor) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in 1995.

In 1995, Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko was attached to [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg.

During his 5-year tenure, he embraced a wide programme of transparency in the office : he strengthened the Consistory’s communications strategy ; he provided the finance committee and treasurer with a strong position on financial responsibility and orderliness. Included in this was the fulfilment of the 1995 UOCC Sobor resolutions ; preparation for the Second Millennium of Christianity (2000), the celebration of the end of the second millennium of the [https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/2802.htm Incarnation of the Word of God] ; and assistance with the strong mandate for the strategic planning committee, and its final document – “Vision 2000”. In addition, a great amount of [https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/computerization computerisation] of the central administration was undertaken at this time.

Father Krawchenko maintained excellent contacts on church relations within Canada, the United States, and other international churches.

On 1 March, 1999, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] elevated Mitred Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards protopresbyter].

In 2000, Archpriest Oleg Krawchenko returned to Saint Andrew’s College as a full-time professor of Theology, and as occasional lecturer at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies].

==Retirement, 2004==

Although Father Oleg Krawchenko retired officially in 2004, he continued to teach sessionally in the Faculty of Theology. He continued to serve parishes at the same time, and last of all [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Gonor_MB_Saint_Nicholas_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1904 Saint Nicholas Church], [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Gonor,+MB+R1C+0C1/@50.0693832,-96.9677566,14z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea61706bbf0445:0xfde5b6245ef1634e!8m2!3d50.069358!4d-96.9471569!16s%2Fg%2F1tlmmzw6?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Gonor].

By this time, Father Oleg had served as a pastor in almost all the Ukrainian Orthodox parishes in Manitoba, and many of the parishes in Saskatchewan.

In 2013, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)] awarded Protopresbyter Oleg Krawchenko with the right to wear a second [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Clergy_awards Jewelled Cross].

During the following years, Father Oleg’s health began to weaken steadily.

==Repose, 2024==

On 13 May, 2024, Protopresbyter Oleg Krawchenko [https://necrocanada.com/deces-2023/the-right-reverendprotopresbyter-dr-oleg-alexander-krawchenko-1935-2024/ fell asleep in the Lord] in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Memorial Services ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/res/reading/memorial/Panikhida_for_Adult.pdf Panikhidas]) were served for Father Oleg during the following days.

On Friday, 17 May, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., the first part of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/res/reading/funeral/Funeral_Bishop_or_Priest.pdf Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest] was offered at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg. The service was officiated by 7 priests and 3 deacons. [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Archpriest Taras Udod] gave a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eulogy eulogy] afterwards.

[[File:ProtOAKrawchenkoFuneral 2.png]] [[File:ProtOAKrawchenkoFuneralA 2.png]]

On Saturday, 18 May, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., the Memorial [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served by the same clergy at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg. This was followed by the conclusion of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/res/reading/funeral/Funeral_Bishop_or_Priest.pdf Funeral Service for the Burial of a Priest]. [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk] preached a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Homily homily].

[[File:ProtOAKrawchenkoFuneralLiturgy 2.png]] [[File:ProtOAKrawchenkoFuneralFinalLitiya 2.png]]

Both services were live-streamed via the Cathedral’s [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/ Facebook page], and [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGv7lDwNkRlt7t7SB4VOlyQ/ YouTube Channel].

Following the funeral obsequies, the body of Protopresbyter Oleg Krawchenko was taken to [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2193914/glen-eden-memorial-gardens Glen Eden Memorial Gardens] (4477, Main Street, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_Municipality_of_West_St._Paul West Saint Paul], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]) for interment. The funeral arrangements were entrusted to [https://cropo.com/ Cropo Funeral Home of Winnipeg].

Father Oleg Krawchenko was survived by his wife of 65 years Dobrodijka Maria ; his 5 children : Olenka Krawchenko (Rick Mantey), The Honourable Mr. Justice John O Krawchenko (Iris), Natalka Mayba (Dr. John Mayba), Lesia Kruk (Yury), Nadia Krawchenko-Chaput (Father Deacon Thomas Chaput) ; 14 grandchildren : Mark Shawarsky (Mika), Dr. Adriana Shawarsky (Dr. Mark Nassar), Augustine Krawchenko (Christian Zelewski), Dominique Krawchenko (Aaron Baker), Sebastian Krawchenko (Amelia Wat), Dr. Julia Mayba, Katherine Mayba, Dr. Andrew Mayba (Anna), Alexander Mayba, Mykola, Danylo and Halyna Kruk, and Tamara and Oksana Chaput ; and 5 great-grandchildren : Matthew and Melania Shawarsky, Rhodes Baker, and Charles and Henry Nassar.

Father Oleg Krawchenko was also survived by his sister Ludmilla Weaver (Dr. John Weaver) of Victoria, British Columbia, and by his brother [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohdan_Krawchenko Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko] (Cholpon Nogolbaeva) of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan]. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law Val Kolsun of Victoria, British Columbia ; Lucy Sup of Montréal, Québec ; Helena Parada of Los Angeles, California, and his brother-in-law Johnny Sup of Montréal, Québec ;and numerous nieces and nephews.

Father Oleg was predeceased by his parents [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232161726/alexander-krawchenko Priest Alexander and Dobrodijka Antonina Krawchenko], by his parents-in-law Mr. and Mrs. Harry and Emilia Sup, brothers-in-law Mike Kolsun, Daniel Sup, and Daniel Parada ; sister-in-law Pauline Bourassa-Sup and nephew Michael Parada.

==Reflections==

During his 60 years as a priest in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and his 40 years of professorial vocation and pastoral service at Saint Andrew’s College, Father Oleg Krawchenko was a central actor in this institution’s history. For these and very many other accomplishments throughout his career, he gave thanks to God that the Lord had blessed him with many gifts, and that he had received the Lord’s [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Grace Grace], teachings, and the guidance of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Spirit Holy Spirit] throughout his life.

Father Oleg Krawchenko was a member of many organisations, including being a founding member of the Saint Andrew’s College Foundation ; a long-time member of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/st-andrew-website Order of Saint Andrew] ; of the [https://www.usrl-cyc.org Ukrainian Self-Reliance League of Canada] (CYC), including TYC. He served as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain Chaplain] for [https://www.ukrainianmanitoba.com/item/plast-ukrainian-youth-association-of-manitoba/ Plast Ukrainian Youth Association of Manitoba]. He was a member of the [https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianAcademyofArtsandSciences.htm Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences] – UVAN (YBAH) where he was a long-time president, general-secretary and the UVAN representative to the national board of directors of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress ; a member of the [https://slavists.ca/ Canadian Association of Slavists], of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Theological_Society_in_America Orthodox Theological Society in America], and of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Andrey_Sheptytsky_Institute_of_Eastern_Christian_Studies Canadian Association of Eastern Christian Studies].

Protopresbyter Oleg Krawchenko participated and presented in numerous conferences in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Switzerland Switzerland], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany Germany], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium Belgium], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France France], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England England], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy Italy], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine Ukraine], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil Brazil], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia Australia].

As a priest, professor, “Tato” (father), “Dido” (grandfather), or in a friendly chat, Father Oleg Krawchenko always stressed the importance of higher education in a person’s life. He would use his own life story as an example of what can be accomplished by faith in God, and confidence in oneself in order to make a better and fulfilling life.

It was never lost on him the important decision he made in 1951 when he began preparing for the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] : that he was answering the call of his Lord to deny himself, to take up His Cross, and to follow Him. As he reminded his brothers in the priesthood, “While the foremost important factor to considering the calling of the priesthood is LOVE – love of God and His People – a pastor also is called to be a leader, and a teacher. His instrument is the word, and of utmost importance is the ability to communicate well and knowledgeably. Thus, higher education and greater intellectual development are not simply desirable but, indeed, most necessary”.

'''Recollection about Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)'''

During the course of his pastoral and academic work, Father Oleg produced a reflection on the service of the very influential and significant [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)], as follows :

It was the fall of 1952, precisely one year after my arrival from France (Paris) to Canada (Montreal),
that I had the opportunity to become acquainted with Metropolitan Ilarion. I had arrived in Winnipeg
to study at St. Andrew’s College. At that time the College was located in the North-End of Winnipeg,
close to the current location of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

Metropolitan Ilarion was nearly seventy, while I was only seventeen. Perhaps it was in part due to
my youth that this man left such an immeasurable impression which has remained with me my
entire life. Here before me was a statesman, a celebrated scholar (professor, researcher and linguist),
and above all, a Metropolitan. One of the most distinguishing features of Metropolitan Ilarion,
aside from his encyclopaedic knowledge and interests, was his love and dedication to work. His work
had a pious character to it and appeared to be his personal service of God. He truly was labourious
and was never without a task. I recall him being regularly at his desk, either busy reading or writing.

Among other things, he was also a gracious host. One could always count on him putting down his work
and offering a cup of tea. His conversations were always fruitful and meaningful. This was not a man
who spoke of trivial matters. As students, we always enjoyed being treated by our professor and Metropolitan.
For four years (1952-1956) I was guided by this individual, at what we later would call ‘the Old College’.

Those were to be my formative years. His lectures, which he would deliver whilst sitting, were presented
clearly and calmly by reading his own notes. Not only did I listen attentively, but also transcribed
precisely that which he stated, for even then I knew that God does not send such teachers and
mentors very often. Despite the fact that I was the youngest of the students, Metropolitan Ilarion
exhibited a particular esteem towards me and soon I became his ‘sub-deacon’. I was familiar with this
responsibility and privilege from my time in Paris ; there I had the opportunity to serve under
[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Polikarp_(Sikorski) Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorsky)]. This was how it came to be that I took part in canonical visits
conducted by the Metropolitan, as well as a means and purpose for regularly being at his residence.

Notwithstanding my age, and the fact that this was my professor, we would engage in open and
frank discussions on a wide array of topics. These were an extension of his lessons and of my
studies. Recognising that I was still in the process of learning, very often my help would be
needed more in a physical sense than with intellectual and philosophical matters. This was
around the same time that Vladyka was publishing ‘Faith and Culture’ and he needed help in
taking things to the publishing house (Christian Press) or bringing them back.

Metropolitan Ilarion was not only my teacher but also my consecrator. He consecrated me not only
into the diaconate but also into the priesthood. I was ordained a deacon in Dauphin and a
presbyter in Winnipeg, at the Sobor of St. Mary the Protectress. This took place in 1959, some
years after my completion of studies at St. Andrew’s College as I had decided to pursue a
University education. I studied at the French language Universite de Montreal (B. Phil.) and
graduated with distinction (magna cum laude).

It should be noted that the Metropolitan was not in favour of this ; not because he discouraged
education, but rather because he worried that I would choose a secular life. At graduation, while
handing me my diploma, he forcibly said : ‘Son! Return to the Church !’

Upon analysing the historical role of Metropolitan Ilarion, one can conclude that his arrival to
Canada marked a new era in the history of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada. Our
Church would grow and become a Metropolia consisting of three eparchies (dioceses) : the Central
eparchy – centred in Winnipeg under the direct jurisdiction of Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) ; the
Eastern eparchy – centred in Toronto under the jurisdiction of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy)] ;
and later, the Western eparchy, centred in Edmonton under the jurisdiction of
[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Bishop Andrew (Metiuk)] – a student and confidant of the Metropolitan.

The period during which Metropolitan Ilarion was actively doing the bulk of his pastoral work was
the twenty-year period starting in the l950s and culminating at the end of the 1960s. This was
the golden age of our Church in Canada and God sent him to us at the most opportune moment.
This was a time when we needed to broaden and strengthen our church life in Canada.

Furthermore, in 1951, by becoming ‘Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all of Canada’, Vladyka Ilarion
started routinely and systematically visiting every corner of this vast country settled by
Ukrainians. He would lecture, preach and teach anywhere and everywhere. His, as he called
them, ‘canonical visits’ were always well thought out and planned. Each one had its own specific
goal and purpose. It was this way, that in a relatively short period of time, he came to know every
priest and parish as well as each community’s individual potential and needs.

Metropolitan Ilarion, of blessed memory, was a multifaceted individual. As a bishop he sought to
establish canonical order as well as proper liturgical practices. He took many opportunities to
speak, lecture, write, preach and teach on those topics. As a scholar (‘of the old school’), he – as
was previously mentioned – distinguished himself with his vast knowledge and wide-ranging
interests. One can find evidence of this in his works in numerous disciplines, including : linguistics,
history, religion, culture and so on. As a professor and dean of the Theological Academy (this is
how he referred to the Faculty of Theology at the Old St. Andrew’s College), Vladyka Ilarion
shaped an entire generation of earnest clergymen. A celebrated scholar, excellent teacher, ardent
patriot and caring bishop (he called each one of us ‘his sons’), Metropolitan Ilarion became the
pillar of Orthodoxy in Canada. For us as Canadians, he was the new Petro Mohyla. His authority,
knowledge, pastoral care, canonical discipline and liturgical order placed our Church at a high
standard. The ‘Era of Ilarion’ was – beyond doubt – the ‘Golden Era’ in the history of the U.O.C.C.

Metropolitan Ilarion invested over two decades of pious, tireless work and dedication to our
Church in Canada. His repose (the 29th of March, 1972) was felt by all as a great loss. He did,
however, leave behind quite an impressive following. Although he has passed on, Metropolitan
Ilarion’s labour, to which he devoted so much time, often under difficult circumstances,
continues.

In North America we have two Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolias – in the U.S.A. and in Canada.
They are like two sisters but yet remain distinct. Their individuality can be attributed to both of
their long-serving primates. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mstyslav_Skrypnyk Metropolitan Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)] in the United States and
Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) in Canada. In other words each Church’s distinctiveness is a
reflection of the latter’s influence and persona. The importance and stature of the blessed
memory Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) will forever live in the heart and history of our Church in
Canada. This was a man of an era. His legacy not only enriches us spiritually in Canada, but
has also started to garner attention in Ukraine. This is a source of great pride for all members of
the U.O.C.C.

Personally I am grateful to God for having granted me the opportunity, whilst still in the formative
stages of my life, to interact and learn from such a great person. I believe that that which I am
today, is in great part a result of his influence, and for that I am eternally thankful.

'''Reflection by Archpriest Gregory Scratch'''

This past week the The Right Reverend Protopresbyter Oleg Alexander Krawchenko fell asleep in the Lord, surrounded by his loving family. Many people reading this email will have not known who Fr. Oleg was beyond his name being on our prayer list or his relation to Dn. Thomas Chaput (father-in-law). Beyond his many accomplishments (which are numerous) Fr. Oleg articulated in many respects the unity between Orthodox clergy and faithful that many of us take for granted. Despite struggles and distractions that historically were the sources of division and disunity (especially between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Archdiocesan (OCA) Churches), Fr. Oleg was to one degree or another, willing to see past them and celebrate as he was able to, the unity of our faith. In many respects his work as a teacher at St. Andrew’s college inspired many of his students (some of whom I consider my closest friends) also to see the unity of the “Church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15) in other jurisdictions regardless if they are Ukrainian, Russian, Greek, Serbian, Romanian, or the OCA. It wasn’t as if his Ukrainian heritage was abandoned in this – certainly not! Rather it provided a perspective that reconciled every difference as being the diversity of grace.

I hold dear to my heart, the few times Fr. Oleg would show up at St. Nicholas with his wife (Dobrodika Maria), having just served at the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Gonor (also called St. Nicholas!). Each and every time he would radiate joy in greeting and blessing our faithful, as if he was their pastor, and they were his flock! Nothing was held back, or reserved in walking into a Church more full of strangers, than people he knew (I have heard other stories like this from other priests in Winnipeg). This has always been a source of inspiration for me, in my relationships with other Churches and clergy, compelling me to always look at what we do (as unique as it might be) as being truly united with what other Orthodox Christians are doing (as unique as they might be) in serving the Lord.

Politics and culture will always surround our Churches, seeking to pull us apart – yet Fr. Oleg’s example should inspire us to recognize that although there are differences of politics and culture (some great and some small), we have been baptized into the same death and been raised in the same newness of life of Christ; we all confess our sins and are forgiven by the same Lord; and we all receive His Body and Blood from the same cup. Glory to God!

Truly may the Lord bring peace and mercy to His newly departed servant, healing what was broken, and reconciling that which was lost; and glorifying that which was of love, and exalting that which was of mercy.

Our hearts and prayers go out to his Dobrodika Maria, and their five children, and our blessed brother Dn. Thomas. Memory Eternal! Вічная Пам’ять! Christ is Risen! Христос воскрес!

==Writings==

Father Oleg A Krawchenko was the author of more than 40 major studies on cultural, religious, philosophical, and other related themes, published in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Wikipedia English], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French].

'Memories of Metropolitan Ilarion' in "Ukrainian Canadian Studies"

'''Awards :'''

Father Oleg Krawchenko received all the awards of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada that can be given to a priest.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Skouphos Skufia] : 1965 – Metropolitan Ilarion

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Kamilavka Kamilavka] : May, 1968 – Metropolitan Ilarion

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pectoral_cross Golden Cross] : 7 January, 1973 – Archbishop/Metropolitan Michael

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archpriest Archpriest] : 1977 – Metropolitan Andrew

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pectoral_cross Jewelled Cross] : 1980 – Metropolitan Andrew

[https://collegeofarms.euclid.int/the-traditional-art-of-the-russian-orthodox-gramota/ Metropolitan’s Certificate] : 1987 – Metropolitan Wasyly

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Miter Mitred Archpriest] : 1988 – Metropolitan Wasyly

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archpriest Protopresbyter] : 1 March, 1999 – Metropolitan Wasyly

Second Jewelled Cross : 2013 – Metropolitan Yurij

In addition, he was awarded the “[https://www.ucc.ca/program/shevchenko-medal-award/ Shevchenko Medal]” by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadian_Congress Ukrainian Canadian Congress] for his outstanding higher education leadership ; and the “CYC Merit Award” by the [https://www.usrl-cyc.org/ Ukrainian Self Reliance League of Canada] for his dedicated and outstanding community work.

In 2020, Father Oleg Krawchenko received a "[https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/manitoba150.shtml Manitoba 150 Award]" on the occasion of the [https://canadiangeographic.ca/articles/manitoba-celebrates-its-150th-anniversary/ 150th anniversary of the Province of Manitoba].

==References==

[https://uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ UOCC biography]

'''Additional information :'''

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada on the Occasion of the 90th Anniversary of the Church (1918-2018)]”

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=http://zarubezhje.narod.ru/kl/k_278.htm&prev=search&pto=aue Listing in Russian Religious Figures Abroad web-site]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rs5sz-HkghM Funeral Service for Protopresbyter Oleg Krawchenko]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/232161726/alexander-krawchenko Priest Alexander and Antonina Krawchenko] (Findagrave reference)

[https://uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://uocc.ca/about/history/ UOCC Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Article about Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg, Manitoba]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/orthodox-church-of-canada-marks-its-centennial-with-sobor-and-gala-banquet/Centennial Celebration of the founding of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-august-23-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-divine-liturgy-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-edmonton-ab/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John The Baptist – Edmonton, AB] (23 August, 2026)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-toronto-19-september-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-attends-enthronement-of-his-eminence-archbishop-apostolos-of-canada-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-canada/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion Attends Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos of Canada (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada)] (19 September, 2026)

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category: Manitoba]] [[Category:Quebec]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Category:UOCC

2026-09-24T14:37:47Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

'''Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

The former name before 1990 was the "Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada".

Church web-site was : http://uocc.ca

See also the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopedia of Ukraine article].

This metropolitanate is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The local exarch for the patriarchate is [[Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]].

Patriarchate web-site was : https://www.patriarchate.org

==History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)==

The seed of the Orthodox Faith was sowed on the Canadian land, not by missionaries, but by simple peasants, who came from Ukraine and established themselves, primarily on the Canadian prairies. It is on the simple, but at the same time deep, faith of the Ukrainian peasants-pioneers, who started to immigrate to Canada at the end of the nineteenth century, that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was established.

'''The Period of Genesis'''

Most of the first Ukrainian settlers came to Canada from Halychina (where most of them had been Greek-Catholics) and from Bukovina (where they generally belonged to the Orthodox Church). The "Halychany", settling in Canada, were visited once in awhile by Greek-Catholic priests, but the Vatican wished to attach them to the Roman-Catholic Church which was already in existence, and which would have assimilated them. The Bukovinians arriving in North America usually incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Mission [1], which was already in existence. Nevertheless, many of the Ukrainian immigrants desired to have a Church with a Ukrainian character, which would be closer to the spiritual and cultural needs of the Ukrainian people, and this led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada [2].

Some members of the “Ukrainian Union of Teachers in Canada” [3] established the newspaper “The Ukrainian Voice” [4]. They called national conventions ("narodni zyizdy") at which they discussed the need to organise the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”. [5] In July, 1918, the National Committee ("Narodny Komitet") called a meeting in Saskatoon, at which it was resolved to establish the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada” [6]. This meeting formed a brotherhood, and condemned the Union of Brest of 1596 [7].

Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop. Thus, the brotherhood contacted [[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Mission in North America] — who initially accepted to become the temporary bishop of the UGOCC [8] and to preside at its first “Sobor” [9], but who later refused. [10] The first “Sobor” took place anyway on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop [11] and this led to the establishment of the first seminary, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [12].

'''Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)'''

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, with the presence of the Antiochian [[Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)]] [13], who accepted to head the UGOCC until such a time that would have its own bishop [14]. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924 [15].

In 1924, [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]] arrived in the USA from the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church], to lead the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA]. Knowing about the presence of a Ukrainian bishop on the American continent, the fourth Sobor of the UGOCC, held on 16-17 July, 1924, decided to invite Archbishop John to become the ruling bishop of the UGOCC. He accepted, and he thus began visiting Canada during the summers. During his absence in winter, when he was in the USA, his administrative functions were carried out by a priest-administrator at the consistory (headquarters offices) in Winnipeg, Father Semen Sawchuk [16].

However, soon Archbishop John became the subject of polemics regarding his uncanonical ordination to the rank of bishop [17]. For this reason, he was forced to resign from his office as ruling bishop in 1946 [18].

In 1947, during an extraordinary Sobor, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] was accepted as Archbishop of Winnipeg and all Canada [19]. He was ordained during the administration of the Warsaw Metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands in 1942. But, because of some misunderstandings between him and the Consistory, he was forced to resign from his office in 1950, at the Tenth Sobor [20].

Then the Consistory asked [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]], who presided at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, ordained by the administration of the Warsaw metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands, (and in the aftermath of the war found themselves in the emigration), for assistance. He agreed then to lead the UGOCC.

'''The Formation of the Metropolitanate'''

In 1951, up to the time of the extraordinary Sobor, the Consistory had found four candidates for the office of ruling bishop. They were all canonically elected and ordained by the Holy Synod of the Warsaw Metropolitanate (Autocephanous Orthodox Church in Poland). Of these candidates, 3 came to Canada : the [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliasha Ilarion (Ohienko)]], who fled with his flock during the war, and came to Canada in 1947 at the invitation of the Holy Protectress Cathedral (Sobor) in Winnipeg ; [[Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) |Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy)]], who came to Canada in 1951 at the invitation of the Consistory ; and [[Bishop Platon (Artemiuk)]] who came to Canada in 1951 with the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), but who prematurely fell asleep in the Lord. The extraordinary Sobor decided to follow the canonical system of a metropolitanate to administer the UGOCC, creating thus a metropolitanate with 3 eparchies (dioceses) : central, east, west.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)'''

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada, and Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became the Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy [21].

More is to be said about Metropolitan Ilarion. He was, in fact, the first ruling bishop of the UGOCC in the full sense of the term, since he was permanently living in Canada and taking care of the spiritual needs of his spiritual children. Therefore, he became the pillar upon which the further development of the UGOCC leaned. Having become the metropolitan of UGOCC, he took care of his spiritual children with great pastoral love, and with an understanding of their good will and efforts in the organisation of the UGOCC. However, he paid particular attention to the canonical-disciplinary order and the liturgical life of his flock. As a new “Petro Mohyla,” he began to administer the Church with great authority, and thus brought the UGOCC into canonical order and he normalised the liturgical life by the publication of liturgical books.

He also developed the Faculty of Theology of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew's_College,_Manitoba Saint Andrew’s College] (founded in 1946). He served as its dean for several years, and thus raised the level of knowledge of the clergy. He also kept in mind the spiritual and educational growth of the faithful, for whom he published informative pamphlets and booklets [22].

Thus, the metropolitanate was growing, and the need for new bishops arose. In 1959, [[Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) |Archimandrite Andrew (Metiuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy. In 1963, [[Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) |Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy [23].

After 21 years of zealous archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Ilarion fell asleep in the Lord on 29 March, 1972. His departure was perceived to be a great loss for the UGOCC.

'''Metropolitan Michael'''

Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) was chosen to replace him, and he was at the head of the Metropolitanate until 1975, when he resigned from the office of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_(bishop) primate] [24].

'''Metropolitan Andrew'''

Then Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) became the primate of the UGOCC. He remained its metropolitan for 10 years, until his blessed repose on 2 February, 1985 [25]. During the time of his administration new bishops were ordained : [[Archbishop Nicholas (Debryn) |Bishop Nicholas (Debryn)]] in 1975 [26] ; [[Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) |Bishop Wasyly (Fedak)]] on 16 July, 1978, who became the primate of the UOCC after the death of Metropolitan Andrew in 1985 [27] ; and [[Metropolitan John (Stinka) |Bishop John (Stinka)]] on 27 November, 1983.

'''Metropolitan Wasyly'''

During the term of office of Metropolitan Wasyly, [[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) |Archimandrite Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon on 22 October, 1989 [28].

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

'''Canonical Ordering'''

Fulfilling the desires and intentions of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Ilarion, Metropolitan Wasyly, assisted by the Consistory, and with the help of God, concluded the canonical ordering of the UOCC [29].

After a few visits and discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC was received into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in 1990, during the time of the service of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios I]. Thus, the UOCC came into normal relations with the other Orthodox Churches. This happened officially on 1 April, 1990, when Bishop Yurij celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Istanbul Istanbul]) and received Holy Communion from the common Cup. The faithful of the UOCC received this historical act positively, by approving this establishment of eucharistic and canonical union almost unanimously at the Eighteenth Sobor of the UOCC, in July, 1990. In this way, they showed their trust in their Church leaders [30].

According to the Patriarchal Decree [31], upon entering the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC remained a metropolitanate with full internal autonomy, having as its canonical head the Ecumenical Patriarch to whom it has canonical reference in all things. This status recalls the days when the Kyivan Metropolitanate was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and when there were very close Church relations between Constantinople and Kyiv, for the good of these 2 important Church centres.

The following written by the Mitred Archpriest Ihor George Kutash presents some information about these events :

'How the Eucharistic Communion Between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople came about : Articles of Agreement Between the UOC of Canada and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' (Eclessia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2000)

The achievement of canonical relations by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - that is, the
normalization of its life in the fabric of world Orthodoxy - is a matter of colossal significance. It
was achieved by UOCC representatives, Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) and Protopresbyter Stephan JARMUS
concelebrating the Divine Liturgy and communing from one Chalice with the clergy of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople in the Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, and by the UOCC's XVIII Sobor in 1990
ratifying the Articles of Agreement...

Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have made numerous attempts throughout the twentieth century to obtain some
sort of recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current successful achievement of this goal
grew from a decision, as we prepared to celebrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Millennium (1988), to inform
Eastern Orthodox leaders about our Church (and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in general), to invite
them to celebrate with us, and to propose our formula for rapprochement with them.

Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) proposed that we visit these leaders. This idea, expressed during the
spring Consistory Meeting May 7-9, 1987, was approved...

Some interesting matters transpired regarding this visit. Although the idea of visiting Orthodox
centres by the Metropolitan and Fr. S. Jarmus was not widely publicized, it must have come to the
attention of Moscow for on June 15, 1987, only five weeks after the above-mentioned Consistory Meeting,
the Consistory received an unexpected visit from Metropolitan Nicodemus of L'viv and Ternopil. During
his visit he suggested that we need not go to Constantinople for recognition. He guaranteed that we
could receive autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Moscow. He dismissed any doubts about our
canonicity: 'We build fences but God's sun warms us on one side and the other' ....

'''Metropolitan John'''

After the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John (Stinka) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan John served as the primate of the UOCC until 2010, when he retired.

'''Metropolitan Yurij'''

After the retirement of Metropolitan John in 2010, Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan Yurij led the UOCC until his retirement in 2021.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion II'''

In 2022, Bishop Ilarion was elected to serve as the primate. He was raised to the dignity of metropolitan, and he became known as Metropolitan Ilarion II (to distinguish him from the earlier Metropolitan Ilarion).

==Perspectives for the future==

The greatest heritage of the 100-year history of the UOCC is probably the successful fulfilment of the canonical ordering of this Church body, which was organised by people of good will — faithful Ukrainian immigrants, who came to the Canadian prairies at the end of the nineteenth century. During the relatively short period of its existence, the UOCC found its natural place in the commonwealth of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and today it is in full communion with all the Orthodox world. This status within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be considered to be the fruit of that seed, which was planted in good ground a century ago, and which yielded a crop.

We can only expect now that the faithful of the UOCC, under the leadership of their clergy, will develop and intensify their contacts with the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with other spiritual centres of world Orthodoxy (such as the Holy Land, Holy Mount Athos, other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches) and especially the holy places of the Ukrainian nation.

Nevertheless, we have to be conscious of the fact that although we should remember the origins of the seed, we ought not to neglect the land on which it was sowed. We must concentrate all our efforts to make sure that the ground is good, and that the seed yields a crop a hundred-fold. For the purpose of the sowed seed is not to conserve it, but to yield a crop and multiply. For this reason, we have to cultivate and multiply the Holy Orthodox Faith, which has been passed down to us from our ancestors on our Canadian land.

We have to save our children as well as the entire Canadian people in the Holy Orthodox Faith. And here we are confronted with thorns that are trying to choke the seeds : the thorns of materialism and hedonism, which encourage us to care only about material goods, forgetting about spiritual wealth and eternal beatitude ; the thorns of [http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Aeonism aeonism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism secularism], which teach us to think in worldly categories, not in spiritual categories. Such thorns try to choke us with the greatest illusion : to forget that the Church of Christ, although it is in the world, is not of this world.

Thus, there is a great mission for the future ahead of us : to clear the ground from the ruining thorns, so that they do not choke the seeds and so that the seed can yield a crop. Against such thorns only a spiritual sickle is efficient : the weapon of prayer and fasting — so often suggested by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel. For this reason, according to the Commandments of the Lord, which are in fact the commandments of love (John 15:12), we ought to follow the rule of prayer and fasting. Prayer, according to our Holy Fathers, is indeed the best weapon against evil. In this we could seek help from the spiritual fortresses — holy monasteries, and genuine monastics — spiritual elders. We have to pray the Lord sends us such ascetics of piety, who could take on the task of founding holy monasteries all across our Canadian land.

May the Lord help us in our spiritual warfare, through the prayers of His All-Pure Mother and of all His saints.

==Centennial==

The year 2018 marked the first 100 years since the foundation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. During this year, there were various celebrations throughout the country. The chief of these was in the form of an Extraordinary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 9-12 August. There were sessions at the Mohyla Institute, All Saints Church, and at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

'''Endnotes :'''

[1] Known today as “The Orthodox Church in America” (OCA).

[2] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, (Discussion paper – Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, June 28-29, 1989), pp. 1-3.

[3] Established in 1907.

[4] Founded in 1910.

[5] Ibid., p. 4.

[6] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді” Календар Рідна Нива на 1978р. / Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1978, pp. 91-92.

[7] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 7.

[8] The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. We will use this abbreviation.

[9] Thus, they are called clergy-laity conferences, at which the bishops, the priests and the laity participate.

[10] O. Trosky, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”, (Winnipeg, 1968), pp. 17-18.

[11] It is interesting to note that although this conference took place without the presence of a bishop it was numbered as the first “Sobor” of the UGOCC.

[12] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, pp. 92-93.

[13] Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi) was a metropolitan of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Antiochian Orthodox Church] who was living in the USA for many years.

[14] Ibid., pp. 93-94.

[15] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 14.

[16] Ibid., pp. 15-16 ; T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 94-95.

[17] Не was “ordained” bishop by the first “bishops” of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, who were not ordained according to the canons and Sacred Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. In fact, they were “ordained” by priests and lay people, as the canons of the Holy Orthodox Church clearly state that a bishop should be ordained by at least two or three other bishops (1st Canon of the Holy Apostles).

[18] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 18.

[19] Ibid., p. 20.

[20] Ibid., p. 21.

[21] Ibid., p. 23-24; T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 53. Read the life of Metropolitan Ilarion.

[22] Ilarion in the calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1997, pp. 215-216.

[23] T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 99-100; Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 24.

[24] Metropolitan Michael remained Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy until his blessed repose on May 18, 1977.

[25] Ibid., pp. 24-25.

[26] Ordination to the episcopate: December 21, 1975 ; fell asleep in the Lord on March 30, 1981. T. Міненко “Українська Іреко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 103.

[27] Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 25.

[28] Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 145.

[29] We should note that the name “UGOCC.” was changed to “UOCC.” (the term “Greek” being omitted) at the 1985 Sobor.

[30] [Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 131.

[31] Ibid., pp. 117-119.

[http://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Eastern Eparchy history of the UOCC]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]] [[Category:Autocephalous Churches]]

Category:UOCC

2026-09-24T14:32:29Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

'''Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

The former name before 1990 was the "Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada".

Church web-site was : http://uocc.ca

See also the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopedia of Ukraine article].

This metropolitanate is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The local exarch for the patriarchate is [[Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]].

Patriarchate web-site was : https://www.patriarchate.org

==History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)==

The seed of the Orthodox Faith was sowed on the Canadian land, not by missionaries, but by simple peasants, who came from Ukraine and established themselves, primarily on the Canadian prairies. It is on the simple, but at the same time deep, faith of the Ukrainian peasants-pioneers, who started to immigrate to Canada at the end of the nineteenth century, that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was established.

'''The Period of Genesis'''

Most of the first Ukrainian settlers came to Canada from Halychina (where most of them had been Greek-Catholics) and from Bukovina (where they generally belonged to the Orthodox Church). The "Halychany", settling in Canada, were visited once in awhile by Greek-Catholic priests, but the Vatican wished to attach them to the Roman-Catholic Church which was already in existence, and which would have assimilated them. The Bukovinians arriving in North America usually incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Mission [1], which was already in existence. Nevertheless, many of the Ukrainian immigrants desired to have a Church with a Ukrainian character, which would be closer to the spiritual and cultural needs of the Ukrainian people, and this led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada [2].

Some members of the “Ukrainian Union of Teachers in Canada” [3] established the newspaper “The Ukrainian Voice” [4]. They called national conventions ("narodni zyizdy") at which they discussed the need to organise the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”. [5] In July, 1918, the National Committee ("Narodny Komitet") called a meeting in Saskatoon, at which it was resolved to establish the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada” [6]. This meeting formed a brotherhood, and condemned the Union of Brest of 1596 [7].

Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop. Thus, the brotherhood contacted [[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Mission in North America] — who initially accepted to become the temporary bishop of the UGOCC [8] and to preside at its first “Sobor” [9], but who later refused. [10] The first “Sobor” took place anyway on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop [11] and this led to the establishment of the first seminary, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [12].

'''Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)'''

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, with the presence of the Antiochian [[Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)]] [13], who accepted to head the UGOCC until such a time that would have its own bishop [14]. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924 [15].

In 1924, [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]] arrived in the USA from the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church], to lead the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA]. Knowing about the presence of a Ukrainian bishop on the American continent, the fourth Sobor of the UGOCC, held on 16-17 July, 1924, decided to invite Archbishop John to become the ruling bishop of the UGOCC. He accepted, and he thus began visiting Canada during the summers. During his absence in winter, when he was in the USA, his administrative functions were carried out by a priest-administrator at the consistory (headquarters offices) in Winnipeg, Father Semen Sawchuk [16].

However, soon Archbishop John became the subject of polemics regarding his uncanonical ordination to the rank of bishop [17]. For this reason, he was forced to resign from his office as ruling bishop in 1946 [18].

In 1947, during an extraordinary Sobor, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] was accepted as Archbishop of Winnipeg and all Canada [19]. He was ordained during the administration of the Warsaw Metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands in 1942. But, because of some misunderstandings between him and the Consistory, he was forced to resign from his office in 1950, at the Tenth Sobor [20].

Then the Consistory asked [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]], who presided at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, ordained by the administration of the Warsaw metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands, (and in the aftermath of the war found themselves in the emigration), for assistance. He agreed then to lead the UGOCC.

'''The Formation of the Metropolitanate'''

In 1951, up to the time of the extraordinary Sobor, the Consistory had found four candidates for the office of ruling bishop. They were all canonically elected and ordained by the Holy Synod of the Warsaw Metropolitanate (Autocephanous Orthodox Church in Poland). Of these candidates, 3 came to Canada : the [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliasha Ilarion (Ohienko)]], who fled with his flock during the war, and came to Canada in 1947 at the invitation of the Holy Protectress Cathedral (Sobor) in Winnipeg ; [[Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) |Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy)]], who came to Canada in 1951 at the invitation of the Consistory ; and [[Bishop Platon (Artemiuk)]] who came to Canada in 1951 with the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), but who prematurely fell asleep in the Lord. The extraordinary Sobor decided to follow the canonical system of a metropolitanate to administer the UGOCC, creating thus a metropolitanate with 3 eparchies (dioceses) : central, east, west.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)'''

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada, and Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became the Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy [21].

More is to be said about Metropolitan Ilarion. He was, in fact, the first ruling bishop of the UGOCC in the full sense of the term, since he was permanently living in Canada and taking care of the spiritual needs of his spiritual children. Therefore, he became the pillar upon which the further development of the UGOCC leaned. Having become the metropolitan of UGOCC, he took care of his spiritual children with great pastoral love, and with an understanding of their good will and efforts in the organisation of the UGOCC. However, he paid particular attention to the canonical-disciplinary order and the liturgical life of his flock. As a new “Petro Mohyla,” he began to administer the Church with great authority, and thus brought the UGOCC into canonical order and he normalised the liturgical life by the publication of liturgical books.

He also developed the Faculty of Theology of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew's_College,_Manitoba Saint Andrew’s College] (founded in 1946). He served as its dean for several years, and thus raised the level of knowledge of the clergy. He also kept in mind the spiritual and educational growth of the faithful, for whom he published informative pamphlets and booklets [22].

Thus, the metropolitanate was growing, and the need for new bishops arose. In 1959, [[Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) |Archimandrite Andrew (Metiuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy. In 1963, [[Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) |Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy [23].

After 21 years of zealous archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Ilarion fell asleep in the Lord on 29 March, 1972. His departure was perceived to be a great loss for the UGOCC.

'''Metropolitan Michael'''

Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) was chosen to replace him, and he was at the head of the Metropolitanate until 1975, when he resigned from the office of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_(bishop) primate] [24].

'''Metropolitan Andrew'''

Then Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) became the primate of the UGOCC. He remained its metropolitan for 10 years, until his blessed repose on 2 February, 1985 [25]. During the time of his administration new bishops were ordained : [[Archbishop Nicholas (Debryn) |Bishop Nicholas (Debryn)]] in 1975 [26] ; [[Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) |Bishop Wasyly (Fedak)]] on 16 July, 1978, who became the primate of the UOCC after the death of Metropolitan Andrew in 1985 [27] ; and [[Metropolitan John (Stinka) |Bishop John (Stinka)]] on 27 November, 1983.

'''Metropolitan Wasyly'''

During the term of office of Metropolitan Wasyly, [[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) |Archimandrite Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon on 22 October, 1989 [28].

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

'''Canonical Ordering'''

Fulfilling the desires and intentions of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Ilarion, Metropolitan Wasyly, assisted by the Consistory, and with the help of God, concluded the canonical ordering of the UOCC [29].

After a few visits and discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC was received into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in 1990, during the time of the service of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios I]. Thus, the UOCC came into normal relations with the other Orthodox Churches. This happened officially on 1 April, 1990, when Bishop Yurij celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Istanbul Istanbul]) and received Holy Communion from the common Cup. The faithful of the UOCC received this historical act positively, by approving this establishment of eucharistic and canonical union almost unanimously at the Eighteenth Sobor of the UOCC, in July, 1990. In this way, they showed their trust in their Church leaders [30].

According to the Patriarchal Decree [31], upon entering the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC remained a metropolitanate with full internal autonomy, having as its canonical head the Ecumenical Patriarch to whom it has canonical reference in all things. This status recalls the days when the Kyivan Metropolitanate was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and when there were very close Church relations between Constantinople and Kyiv, for the good of these 2 important Church centres.

The following written by the Mitred Archpriest Ihor George Kutash presents some information about these events :

'How the Eucharistic Communion Between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople came about : Articles of Agreement Between the UOC of Canada and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' (Eclessia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2000)

The achievement of canonical relations by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - that is, the
normalization of its life in the fabric of world Orthodoxy - is a matter of colossal significance. It
was achieved by UOCC representatives, Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) and Protopresbyter Stephan JARMUS
concelebrating the Divine Liturgy and communing from one Chalice with the clergy of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople in the Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, and by the UOCC's XVIII Sobor in 1990
ratifying the Articles of Agreement...

Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have made numerous attempts throughout the twentieth century to obtain some
sort of recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current successful achievement of this goal
grew from a decision, as we prepared to celebrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Millennium (1988), to inform
Eastern Orthodox leaders about our Church (and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in general), to invite
them to celebrate with us, and to propose our formula for rapprochement with them.

Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) proposed that we visit these leaders. This idea, expressed during the
spring Consistory Meeting May 7-9, 1987, was approved...

Some interesting matters transpired regarding this visit. Although the idea of visiting Orthodox
centres by the Metropolitan and Fr. S. Jarmus was not widely publicized, it must have come to the
attention of Moscow for on June 15, 1987, only five weeks after the above-mentioned Consistory Meeting,
the Consistory received an unexpected visit from Metropolitan Nicodemus of L'viv and Ternopil. During
his visit he suggested that we need not go to Constantinople for recognition. He guaranteed that we
could receive autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Moscow. He dismissed any doubts about our
canonicity: 'We build fences but God's sun warms us on one side and the other' ....

'''Metropolitan John'''

After the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John (Stinka) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan John served as the primate of the UOCC until 2010, when he retired.

'''Metropolitan Yurij'''

After the retirement of Metropolitan John in 2010, Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan Yurij led the UOCC until his retirement in 2021.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion II'''

In 2022, Bishop Ilarion was elected to serve as the primate. He was raised to the dignity of metropolitan, and he became known as Metropolitan Ilarion II (to distinguish him from the earlier Metropolitan Ilarion).

==Perspectives for the future==

The greatest heritage of the 100-year history of the UOCC is probably the successful fulfilment of the canonical ordering of this Church body, which was organised by people of good will — faithful Ukrainian immigrants, who came to the Canadian prairies at the end of the nineteenth century. During the relatively short period of its existence, the UOCC found its natural place in the commonwealth of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and today it is in full communion with all the Orthodox world. This status within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be considered to be the fruit of that seed, which was planted in good ground a century ago, and which yielded a crop.

We can only expect now that the faithful of the UOCC, under the leadership of their clergy, will develop and intensify their contacts with the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with other spiritual centres of world Orthodoxy (such as the Holy Land, Holy Mount Athos, other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches) and especially the holy places of the Ukrainian nation.

Nevertheless, we have to be conscious of the fact that although we should remember the origins of the seed, we ought not to neglect the land on which it was sowed. We must concentrate all our efforts to make sure that the ground is good, and that the seed yields a crop a hundred-fold. For the purpose of the sowed seed is not to conserve it, but to yield a crop and multiply. For this reason, we have to cultivate and multiply the Holy Orthodox Faith, which has been passed down to us from our ancestors on our Canadian land.

We have to save our children as well as the entire Canadian people in the Holy Orthodox Faith. And here we are confronted with thorns that are trying to choke the seeds : the thorns of materialism and hedonism, which encourage us to care only about material goods, forgetting about spiritual wealth and eternal beatitude ; the thorns of [http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Aeonism aeonism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism secularism], which teach us to think in worldly categories, not in spiritual categories. Such thorns try to choke us with the greatest illusion : to forget that the Church of Christ, although it is in the world, is not of this world.

Thus, there is a great mission for the future ahead of us : to clear the ground from the ruining thorns, so that they do not choke the seeds and so that the seed can yield a crop. Against such thorns only a spiritual sickle is efficient : the weapon of prayer and fasting — so often suggested by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel. For this reason, according to the Commandments of the Lord, which are in fact the commandments of love (John 15:12), we ought to follow the rule of prayer and fasting. Prayer, according to our Holy Fathers, is indeed the best weapon against evil. In this we could seek help from the spiritual fortresses — holy monasteries, and genuine monastics — spiritual elders. We have to pray the Lord sends us such ascetics of piety, who could take on the task of founding holy monasteries all across our Canadian land.

May the Lord help us in our spiritual warfare, through the prayers of His All-Pure Mother and of all His saints.

'''Centennial'''

2018 marked the first 100 years since the foundation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. During this year, there were various celebrations throughout the country. The chief of these was in the form of an Extraordinary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 9-12 August. There were sessions at the Mohyla Institute, All Saints Church, and at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

'''Endnotes :'''

[1] Known today as “The Orthodox Church in America” (OCA).

[2] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, (Discussion paper – Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, June 28-29, 1989), p. 1-3.

[3] Established in 1907.

[4] Founded in 1910.

[5] Ibid., p. 4.

[6] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді” Календар Рідна Нива на 1978р. / Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1978, p. 91-92.

[7] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 7.

[8] The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. We will use this abbreviation.

[9] Thus, they are called clergy-laity conferences, at which the bishops, the priests and the laity participate.

[10] O. Trosky, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”, (Winnipeg, 1968), p. 17-18.

[11] It is interesting to note that although this conference took place without the presence of a bishop it was numbered as the first “Sobor” of the UGOCC.

[12] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, p. 92-93.

[13] Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi) was a metropolitan of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Antiochian Orthodox Church] who was living in the USA for many years.

[14] Ibid., p. 93-94.

[15] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 14.

[16] Ibid., p. 15-16; T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 94-95.

[17] Не was “ordained” bishop by the first “bishops” of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, who were not ordained according to the canons and Sacred Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. In fact, they were “ordained” by priests and lay people, as the canons of the Holy Orthodox Church clearly state that a bishop should be ordained by at least two or three other bishops (1st Canon of the Holy Apostles).

[18] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 18.

[19] Ibid., p. 20.

[20] Ibid., p. 21.

[21] Ibid., p. 23-24; T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 53. Read the life of Metropolitan Ilarion.

[22] Ilarion in the calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1997, p. 215-216.

[23] T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 99-100; Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 24.

[24] Metropolitan Michael remained Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy until his blessed repose on May 18, 1977.

[25] Ibid., p. 24-25.

[26] Ordination to the episcopate: December 21, 1975; fell asleep in the Lord on March 30, 1981. T. Міненко “Українська Іреко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 103.

[27] Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 25.

[28] Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 145.

[29] We should note that the name “UGOCC.” was changed to “UOCC.” (the term “Greek” being omitted) at the 1985 Sobor.

[30] [Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 131.

[31] Ibid., p. 117-119.

[http://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Eastern Eparchy history of the UOCC]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]] [[Category:Autocephalous Churches]]

Category:UOCC

2026-09-24T14:27:02Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

'''Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

The former name before 1990 was the "Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada".

Church web-site was : http://uocc.ca

See also the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopedia of Ukraine article].

This metropolitanate is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The local exarch for the patriarchate is [[Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]].

Patriarchate web-site was : https://www.patriarchate.org

==History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)==

The seed of the Orthodox Faith was sowed on the Canadian land, not by missionaries, but by simple peasants, who came from Ukraine and established themselves, primarily on the Canadian prairies. It is on the simple, but at the same time deep, faith of the Ukrainian peasants-pioneers, who started to immigrate to Canada at the end of the nineteenth century, that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was established.

'''The Period of Genesis'''

Most of the first Ukrainian settlers came to Canada from Halychina (where most of them had been Greek-Catholics) and from Bukovina (where they generally belonged to the Orthodox Church). The "Halychany", settling in Canada, were visited once in awhile by Greek-Catholic priests, but the Vatican wished to attach them to the Roman-Catholic Church which was already in existence, and which would have assimilated them. The Bukovinians arriving in North America usually incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Mission [1], which was already in existence. Nevertheless, many of the Ukrainian immigrants desired to have a Church with a Ukrainian character, which would be closer to the spiritual and cultural needs of the Ukrainian people, and this led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada [2].

Some members of the “Ukrainian Union of Teachers in Canada” [3] established the newspaper “The Ukrainian Voice” [4]. They called national conventions ("narodni zyizdy") at which they discussed the need to organise the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”. [5] In July, 1918, the National Committee ("Narodny Komitet") called a meeting in Saskatoon, at which it was resolved to establish the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada” [6]. This meeting formed a brotherhood, and condemned the Union of Brest of 1596 [7].

Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop. Thus, the brotherhood contacted [[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Mission in North America] — who initially accepted to become the temporary bishop of the UGOCC [8] and to preside at its first “Sobor” [9], but who later refused. [10] The first “Sobor” took place anyway on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop [11] and this led to the establishment of the first seminary, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [12].

'''Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)'''

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, with the presence of the Antiochian [[Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)]] [13], who accepted to head the UGOCC until such a time that would have its own bishop [14]. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924 [15].

In 1924, [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]] arrived in the USA from the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church], to lead the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA]. Knowing about the presence of a Ukrainian bishop on the American continent, the fourth Sobor of the UGOCC, held on 16-17 July, 1924, decided to invite Archbishop John to become the ruling bishop of the UGOCC. He accepted, and he thus began visiting Canada during the summers. During his absence in winter, when he was in the USA, his administrative functions were carried out by a priest-administrator at the consistory (headquarters offices) in Winnipeg, Father Semen Sawchuk [16].

However, soon Archbishop John became the subject of polemics regarding his uncanonical ordination to the rank of bishop [17]. For this reason, he was forced to resign from his office as ruling bishop in 1946 [18].

In 1947, during an extraordinary Sobor, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] was accepted as Archbishop of Winnipeg and all Canada [19]. He was ordained during the administration of the Warsaw Metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands in 1942. But, because of some misunderstandings between him and the Consistory, he was forced to resign from his office in 1950, at the Tenth Sobor [20].

Then the Consistory asked [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]], who presided at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, ordained by the administration of the Warsaw metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands, (and in the aftermath of the war found themselves in the emigration), for assistance. He agreed then to lead the UGOCC.

'''The Formation of the Metropolitanate'''

In 1951, up to the time of the extraordinary Sobor, the Consistory had found four candidates for the office of ruling bishop. They were all canonically elected and ordained by the Holy Synod of the Warsaw Metropolitanate (Autocephanous Orthodox Church in Poland). Of these candidates, 3 came to Canada : the [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliasha Ilarion (Ohienko)]], who fled with his flock during the war, and came to Canada in 1947 at the invitation of the Holy Protectress Cathedral (Sobor) in Winnipeg ; [[Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) |Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy)]], who came to Canada in 1951 at the invitation of the Consistory ; and [[Bishop Platon (Artemiuk)]] who came to Canada in 1951 with the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), but who prematurely fell asleep in the Lord. The extraordinary Sobor decided to follow the canonical system of a metropolitanate to administer the UGOCC, creating thus a metropolitanate with 3 eparchies (dioceses) : central, east, west.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)'''

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada, and Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became the Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy [21].

More is to be said about Metropolitan Ilarion. He was, in fact, the first ruling bishop of the UGOCC in the full sense of the term, since he was permanently living in Canada and taking care of the spiritual needs of his spiritual children. Therefore, he became the pillar upon which the further development of the UGOCC leaned. Having become the metropolitan of UGOCC, he took care of his spiritual children with great pastoral love, and with an understanding of their good will and efforts in the organisation of the UGOCC. However, he paid particular attention to the canonical-disciplinary order and the liturgical life of his flock. As a new “Petro Mohyla,” he began to administer the Church with great authority, and thus brought the UGOCC into canonical order and he normalised the liturgical life by the publication of liturgical books.

He also developed the Faculty of Theology of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew's_College,_Manitoba Saint Andrew’s College] (founded in 1946). He served as its dean for several years, and thus raised the level of knowledge of the clergy. He also kept in mind the spiritual and educational growth of the faithful, for whom he published informative pamphlets and booklets [22].

Thus, the metropolitanate was growing, and the need for new bishops arose. In 1959, [[Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) |Archimandrite Andrew (Metiuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy. In 1963, [[Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) |Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy [23].

After 21 years of zealous archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Ilarion fell asleep in the Lord on 29 March, 1972. His departure was perceived to be a great loss for the UGOCC.

'''Metropolitan Michael'''

Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) was chosen to replace him, and he was at the head of the Metropolitanate until 1975, when he resigned from the office of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_(bishop) primate] [24].

'''Metropolitan Andrew'''

Then Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) became the primate of the UGOCC. He remained its metropolitan for 10 years, until his blessed repose on 2 February, 1985 [25]. During the time of his administration new bishops were ordained : [[Archbishop Nicholas (Debryn) |Bishop Nicholas (Debryn)]] in 1975 [26] ; [[Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) |Bishop Wasyly (Fedak)]] on 16 July, 1978, who became the primate of the UOCC after the death of Metropolitan Andrew in 1985 [27] ; and [[Metropolitan John (Stinka) |Bishop John (Stinka)]] on 27 November, 1983.

'''Metropolitan Wasyly'''

During the term of office of Metropolitan Wasyly, [[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) |Archimandrite Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon on 22 October, 1989 [28].

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

'''Canonical Ordering'''

Fulfilling the desires and intentions of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Ilarion, Metropolitan Wasyly, assisted by the Consistory, and with the help of God, concluded the canonical ordering of the UOCC [29].

After a few visits and discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC was received into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in 1990, during the time of the service of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios I]. Thus, the UOCC came into normal relations with the other Orthodox Churches. This happened officially on 1 April, 1990, when Bishop Yurij celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Istanbul Istanbul]) and received Holy Communion from the common Cup. The faithful of the UOCC received this historical act positively, by approving this establishment of eucharistic and canonical union almost unanimously at the Eighteenth Sobor of the UOCC, in July, 1990. In this way, they showed their trust in their Church leaders [30].

According to the Patriarchal Decree [31], upon entering the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC remained a metropolitanate with full internal autonomy, having as its canonical head the Ecumenical Patriarch to whom it has canonical reference in all things. This status recalls the days when the Kyivan Metropolitanate was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and when there were very close Church relations between Constantinople and Kyiv, for the good of these 2 important Church centres.

The following written by the Mitred Archpriest Ihor George Kutash presents some information about these events :

'How the Eucharistic Communion Between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople came about : Articles of Agreement Between the UOC of Canada and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' (Eclessia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2000)

The achievement of canonical relations by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - that is, the
normalization of its life in the fabric of world Orthodoxy - is a matter of colossal significance. It
was achieved by UOCC representatives, Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) and Protopresbyter Stephan JARMUS
concelebrating the Divine Liturgy and communing from one Chalice with the clergy of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople in the Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, and by the UOCC's XVIII Sobor in 1990
ratifying the Articles of Agreement...

Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have made numerous attempts throughout the twentieth century to obtain some
sort of recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current successful achievement of this goal
grew from a decision, as we prepared to celebrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Millennium (1988), to inform
Eastern Orthodox leaders about our Church (and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in general), to invite
them to celebrate with us, and to propose our formula for rapprochement with them.

Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) proposed that we visit these leaders. This idea, expressed during the
spring Consistory Meeting May 7-9, 1987, was approved...

Some interesting matters transpired regarding this visit. Although the idea of visiting Orthodox
centres by the Metropolitan and Fr. S. Jarmus was not widely publicized, it must have come to the
attention of Moscow for on June 15, 1987, only five weeks after the above-mentioned Consistory Meeting,
the Consistory received an unexpected visit from Metropolitan Nicodemus of L'viv and Ternopil. During
his visit he suggested that we need not go to Constantinople for recognition. He guaranteed that we
could receive autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Moscow. He dismissed any doubts about our
canonicity: 'We build fences but God's sun warms us on one side and the other' ....

'''Metropolitan John'''

After the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John (Stinka) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan John served as the primate of the UOCC until 2010, when he retired.

'''Metropolitan Yurij'''

After the retirement of Metropolitan John in 2010, Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan Yurij led the UOCC until his retirement in 2021.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion II'''

In 2022, Bishop Ilarion was elected to serve as the primate. He was raised to the dignity of metropolitan, and he took the style Metropolitan Ilarion II.

==Perspectives for the future==

The greatest heritage of the 100-year history of the UOCC is probably the successful fulfilment of the canonical ordering of this Church body, which was organised by people of good will — faithful Ukrainian immigrants, who came to the Canadian prairies at the end of the nineteenth century. During the relatively short period of its existence, the UOCC found its natural place in the commonwealth of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and today it is in full communion with all the Orthodox world. This status within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be considered to be the fruit of that seed, which was planted in good ground a century ago, and which yielded a crop.

We can only expect now that the faithful of the UOCC, under the leadership of their clergy, will develop and intensify their contacts with the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with other spiritual centres of world Orthodoxy (such as the Holy Land, Holy Mount Athos, other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches) and especially the holy places of the Ukrainian nation.

Nevertheless, we have to be conscious of the fact that although we should remember the origins of the seed, we ought not to neglect the land on which it was sowed. We must concentrate all our efforts to make sure that the ground is good, and that the seed yields a crop a hundred-fold. For the purpose of the sowed seed is not to conserve it, but to yield a crop and multiply. For this reason, we have to cultivate and multiply the Holy Orthodox Faith, which has been passed down to us from our ancestors on our Canadian land.

We have to save our children as well as the entire Canadian people in the Holy Orthodox Faith. And here we are confronted with thorns that are trying to choke the seeds : the thorns of materialism and hedonism, which encourage us to care only about material goods, forgetting about spiritual wealth and eternal beatitude ; the thorns of [http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Aeonism aeonism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism secularism], which teach us to think in worldly categories, not in spiritual categories. Such thorns try to choke us with the greatest illusion : to forget that the Church of Christ, although it is in the world, is not of this world.

Thus, there is a great mission for the future ahead of us : to clear the ground from the ruining thorns, so that they do not choke the seeds and so that the seed can yield a crop. Against such thorns only a spiritual sickle is efficient : the weapon of prayer and fasting — so often suggested by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel. For this reason, according to the Commandments of the Lord, which are in fact the commandments of love (John 15:12), we ought to follow the rule of prayer and fasting. Prayer, according to our Holy Fathers, is indeed the best weapon against evil. In this we could seek help from the spiritual fortresses — holy monasteries, and genuine monastics — spiritual elders. We have to pray the Lord sends us such ascetics of piety, who could take on the task of founding holy monasteries all across our Canadian land.

May the Lord help us in our spiritual warfare, through the prayers of His All-Pure Mother and of all His saints.

'''Centennial'''

2018 marked the first 100 years since the foundation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. During this year, there were various celebrations throughout the country. The chief of these was in the form of an Extraordinary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 9-12 August. There were sessions at the Mohyla Institute, All Saints Church, and at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

'''Endnotes :'''

[1] Known today as “The Orthodox Church in America” (OCA).

[2] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, (Discussion paper – Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, June 28-29, 1989), p. 1-3.

[3] Established in 1907.

[4] Founded in 1910.

[5] Ibid., p. 4.

[6] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді” Календар Рідна Нива на 1978р. / Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1978, p. 91-92.

[7] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 7.

[8] The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. We will use this abbreviation.

[9] Thus, they are called clergy-laity conferences, at which the bishops, the priests and the laity participate.

[10] O. Trosky, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”, (Winnipeg, 1968), p. 17-18.

[11] It is interesting to note that although this conference took place without the presence of a bishop it was numbered as the first “Sobor” of the UGOCC.

[12] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, p. 92-93.

[13] Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi) was a metropolitan of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Antiochian Orthodox Church] who was living in the USA for many years.

[14] Ibid., p. 93-94.

[15] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 14.

[16] Ibid., p. 15-16; T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 94-95.

[17] Не was “ordained” bishop by the first “bishops” of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, who were not ordained according to the canons and Sacred Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. In fact, they were “ordained” by priests and lay people, as the canons of the Holy Orthodox Church clearly state that a bishop should be ordained by at least two or three other bishops (1st Canon of the Holy Apostles).

[18] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 18.

[19] Ibid., p. 20.

[20] Ibid., p. 21.

[21] Ibid., p. 23-24; T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 53. Read the life of Metropolitan Ilarion.

[22] Ilarion in the calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1997, p. 215-216.

[23] T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 99-100; Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 24.

[24] Metropolitan Michael remained Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy until his blessed repose on May 18, 1977.

[25] Ibid., p. 24-25.

[26] Ordination to the episcopate: December 21, 1975; fell asleep in the Lord on March 30, 1981. T. Міненко “Українська Іреко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 103.

[27] Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 25.

[28] Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 145.

[29] We should note that the name “UGOCC.” was changed to “UOCC.” (the term “Greek” being omitted) at the 1985 Sobor.

[30] [Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 131.

[31] Ibid., p. 117-119.

[http://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Eastern Eparchy history of the UOCC]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]] [[Category:Autocephalous Churches]]

Saskatoon SK Saint Petro Mohyla Institute 1916

2026-09-24T14:09:12Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Official naming of the Peter Mohyla Ukrainian Institute, 1917 */

[[File:Mohyla Institute 2020 2.png]]

'''Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Saint Petro Mohyla Institute, 1916'''

Petro Mohyla may also be spelt Peter Mogila, Petru Movilă, Saint Petro Mohyla.

Bukovina may be spelt Bucovina, Bukovyna.

– Edited from original articles by Albert Kachkowski, and reflections by other persons.

==Prehistory==

The establishment of the [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/ Petro Mohyla Institute] was part of a [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CA%5CCanada.htm movement of Ukrainian immigrants] to help maintain their historical national identity as they settled into [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada] and Canadian citizenship.

By the year 1910, approximately 150,000 people had emigrated to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada] from territories which came to constitute [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine Ukraine]. The great majority of them took up farming in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada western provinces] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta]. Before emigrating to Canada, their homes had been situated mostly within the territory of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire], and some were within the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire]. In general, the people left their homes in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Europe Eastern Europe] because it was extremely difficult to obtain land upon which to make a living ; because finding employment for work was very difficult ; because they were [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Slav Slavs] or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanians Romanians] who lived under imperial Austrian/Hungarian oppression ; because, if they were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christians], they were either pressured not to, or forbidden to practice their [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith].

Immigrating people were identified by the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/federal-government Canadian government] according to the current name of the territory in which they previously had lived. Thus, many people (such as those from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bukovina Bukovina]) arrived with an Austrian passport, and they were identified as [https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria Austrians] by the Canadian immigration authorities. Others were identified as [https://www.britannica.com/place/Russia Russians], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland Poles], and so forth. They were also identified by the local regions within the larger territories from which they had arrived, such as [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bukovina Bukovina], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_(Eastern_Europe) Galicia] (Halychyna), and [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Subcarpathian-Ruthenia Ruthenia] ([http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CT%5CR%5CTranscarpathia.htm Trans-Carpathia]). Those who arrived from Halychyna, Trans-Carpathia and Bukovina (in principle, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Ukraine Western Ukraine]) spoke a language which was quite similar from one region to another, generally now called the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian language].

During the first decade of the 20th century, after attending to their basic needs, recent immigrants from Ukraine quickly turned their attention to the education of their children. In local schools, including rural schools, it was already enforced with the educational policy that children speak in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English] only. Any use of other languages by them brought sharp discipline and ridicule upon them. The parents were concerned that their children be educated, and yet be able to retain the ability to speak in Ukrainian, and not to be ashamed of or afraid to practice their [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Faith] and their Orthodox Christian way of life.

Amongst the recent-arrivals were persons who already had some higher education, and they proceeded to acquire yet more in their new land. For many of them, especially those who would become teachers, it was evident that their homeland had for a very long time been dominated by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish–Lithuanian_Commonwealth Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth] (Empire), the Austrian Empire, and the Russian Empire. Included in much of that history was the oppression and suppression of the Orthodox Christian Faith. They soon began to recognise a similar process developing in Canada. The [https://www.tfcg.ca/history-of-saint-boniface French Roman Catholics] (in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/st-boniface/ Saint Boniface], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba]), the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/presbyterian Presbyterians] (in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teulon Teulon], Manitoba, and in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Albert,_Saskatchewan Prince Albert], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan]), and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Methodism Methodists] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Baptist Baptists], were all opening educational institutions specifically to attract students of Ukrainian origin.

The newly-developing leadership amongst the Ukrainian immigrants quickly understood that it was important to set the course of the Ukrainian community onto a new path that would lead the Ukrainian people into using their own talents and resources to build their life in Canada, and on the basis of their own Faith. This was particularly the case amongst the teachers who graduated from the “[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/rutheniantrainingschool.shtml Ruthenian (Ukrainian) Training School]” in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg] or [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brandon/ Brandon], Manitoba (1905-1916). In addition, the recent-arrivals had to cope with the negative prejudices against them which were held by the English-speaking Canadians. There were sometimes violent attempts to keep the Ukrainians from using their own language. This was especially evident in the schools.

At the first Convention of Ukrainian Teachers in 1908, with teachers and non-teachers present, it was decided to publish an independent Ukrainian newspaper, which would give much needed direction to Ukrainian life in Canada.

==Ukrainian “Bursa” Movement begins, 1910==

The first issue of this Ukrainian independent newspaper, “[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Influential-Ukrainian-newspaper-in-the-news-87806652.html Ukrainian Voice]” (“Укрїнськи Голос”), appeared on 16 March, 1910, in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], Manitoba. Three months later, an association was founded with the name of “Zaporozhs’ka Sich”. Its goal was to enlighten the Ukrainian community. At one of its first meetings, the association engaged itself with the challenge of founding Ukrainian “bursas” (student residences) and national homes (community halls). In August, 1910, the “[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/Influential-Ukrainian-newspaper-in-the-news-87806652.html Ukrainian Voice]” published an appeal for the Ukrainian community to raise funds for the establishment of “bursas”. The community responded well and became enthusiastic about this idea. Many were familiar with such residences in their home province of “Halychyna” (Galicia). They were also aware of the important role that such residences played in the education of the youth, and in imbuing them with a Ukrainian “nationalistic” spirit.

As a result, the first “Ukrainska Bursa” was opened by the “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/05_The_Seraphimite_Independent_Greek_Presbyterian_and_United_Churches.pdf Greek Independent Church]” (descendant of the “[http://www.biographi.ca/en/bio/ustvolsky_stefan_13E.html Seraphimite]” schism) in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], in 1912.

==Pressure to use only the English language, 1911==

Major opposition to the bilingual schools began in 1911. However, it was the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/liberal-party/ Liberal Party] in Manitoba, which had always stood in opposition to the bilingual school system (including the French form thereof), that provided the biggest threat when it took the reins of power from the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/conservative-party/ Conservative Party] in May, 1915. Ukrainians were worried that the bilingual system would be cancelled.

In the meantime, the Ukrainian community petitioned and lobbied the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Government_of_Manitoba Government of Manitoba] to retain the bilingual system. Nevertheless, the bill to cancel the system passed its third reading on 8 March, 1916. It meant that bilingual systems in other provinces would likely meet the same fate. This was a blow, not only to the Ukrainians of Manitoba, but to all Ukrainians (and other nationalities) in Canada. Their worries had been justified.

'''Establishment of the first "bursa", 1915'''

Discussions then turned to considering how the community might support the teaching of the Ukrainian language. After considering several alternatives, it was decided to pursue the most practical one : the opening of the “[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CK%5CO%5CKotskoAdam.htm Adam Kotsko] Bursa” in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The committee in charge called a meeting in the summer of 1915, with the goal of opening the “bursa” for the fall. There followed a great debate about the nature of the “bursa” : should it be [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Greek_Catholic_Church Greek-Catholic] or should it be “narodna”, of a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism secular] Ukrainian nationalistic nature. At a meeting on 3 July, 1915, the members voted 82 to 68 to make it secular.

By the beginning of September, the “bursa” opened its doors to 16 students at [https://www.bing.com/search?FORM=INCOH2&PC=1VIV&PTAG=ICO-c9d0fc87&q=juno+street+winnipeb 117, Juno Street], in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], Manitoba. A campaign for funds began immediately, and collections were made in both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Ukrainians generally continued to believe that they and the country of Canada would be better off if the younger generation were raised in a Ukrainian cultural atmosphere and would learn pride in its own ethnic origins. Thus, they sought to establish more “bursas”.

==Saskatoon “Mohyla Bursa” founded, 1915==

It was in this context of the cancelling of government support for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilingual_education bilingual schools], and the initiation of the “Adam Kotsko Bursa”, with funds being collected across Canada, that a group of Ukrainian students who were living in various private homes in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], formed a Ukrainian Students’ Club in the autumn of 1915.

In 1915, the students assembled a very small amount of money ($8.00) and they organised the movement towards providing housing for Ukrainian students in [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], Saskatchewan.

The students had followed the Manitoba bilingual school issue closely. When that matter concluded, they decided to follow the example of Winnipeg’s Ukrainians and found their own “bursa” in Saskatoon.

The Ukrainian Students’ Club of Saskatoon discussed this issue in the Lypka Home at 819-13th Street on 4 March, 1916. At that time, they decided to pursue the matter at a larger community meeting to be held the next day at the [http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/56946 West Side Theatre] (306-20th Street West).

[[File:Saskatoon 20th Ave West Side Theatre 2.png]] '''West Side Theatre on 20th Street'''

On Sunday, 5 March, 1916, a planning committee was formed (headed by J Bohonis), and the first collection of funds yielded $7.36.
The planning committee proclaimed its objectives, namely that :
The Saskatoon Bursa will educate Ukrainian sons and daughters to become future leaders and workers among
our people. Also, the Bursa will supply devoted teachers, priests, scholars, and intellectuals who will
guarantee to guard our national interests, because without this education we will not contribute anything
to the national interest of Canada.
Following the initial meeting, a financial campaign was launched for the establishment of a needed facility, and donations flowed in from many centres in Saskatchewan. Therefore, 3 houses were rented (2 for boys, 1 for girls), and in June, 1916, a call for students went out. These students would attend public, secondary, [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/normal-schools/ Normal Schools] (teachers’ college) and university. Both genders would be accepted.

The institute would offer [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian language], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/History history] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_literature literature] classes. An underlying principle of the institution was as follows : “To be a good Canadian citizen, it was desirable to maintain one's origin and national culture”.

At that time, several teachers and students of Ukrainian origin formed a student society. They were very concerned about the economic and cultural well-being of their fellow Ukrainian-Canadians. They had decided to establish a Ukrainian-based institution in Saskatoon.

It was agreed to call the first convention of Ukrainians in Canada. It took place on 4-5 August, 1916, with 500 participants attending from 60 centres in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan], as well as several from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta Alberta] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba]. This first-ever attempt at an interprovincial meeting was an outstanding success.

The 1916 convention approved the initiatives to establish the “bursa” in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], Saskatchewan, and that it be “non-denominational”. A board of directors was chosen with O Magus as president. The objectives of the institution were also more clearly stated :
1. To establish and promote an institution of higher learning for students of Ukrainian descent, both
male and female, of any religious denomination.
2. To provide board and lodging at a moderate charge, or entirely free of charge if need be.

==P Mohyla Ukrainian Institute, 1916==

It is not clear when the decision was made to name the “bursa” after [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Mohyla Petro Mohyla]. However, the first written references to this name occurred in April, 1916.

The choice of [https://orthochristian.com/143911.html Petro Mohyla] is directly related to his personal history. First, Petro Mohyla (born Petru Movilă) (1596-1647) was a Romanian nobleman who became the Orthodox Christian Metropolitan of Kyiv, Galicia, and all Rus', within the Patriarchate of Constantinople (1633-1646). This was during an important and formative period of time. Second, he and a group of Orthodox Christian clerics promoted ideas of national liberation and cultural self-preservation (in the context of the recent annexation by Poland). It was a time of mass conversion to the Orthodox Christian Faith. His diplomatic gift bore fruit. King Władysław IV reinstated the status of the Eastern Orthodox Church in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polish%E2%80%93Lithuanian_Commonwealth Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth]. Third, he founded a monastic school at the Kyiv Caves Lavra. Soon, this foundation developed into a major school, and then an academy. This was accompanied by the encouragement of scholarship, and the prolific printing of various publications. There are many more reasons.

[[File:Metropolitan_Petro_(Mogila)_2.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Petro (Mohila)'''

In September, 1916, the “Mohyla Bursa” was opened in a rented house at 716, Lansdowne Avenue, in Saskatoon. In this first year, there were 35 students, of which 4 were girls, and 31 were boys. Of these students, 23 were [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ukrainian-Greek-Catholic-Church Greek Catholics], 6 were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protestantism_in_Canada Protestant], 4 were [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox], and 2 were [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic]. The plan was to make it an all-Ukrainian educational institution.

[[File:Mohyla Institute house 1st bldg.png]] '''First house'''

==Official naming of the Peter Mohyla Ukrainian Institute, 1917==

On 20 January, 1917, the Board officially named the “bursa” as “Ukraiins’kyi Instytut imeny Petra Mohyly”, which is translated as the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Mohyla Peter Mohyla] Ukrainian Institute”.

On 5 March, 1917, the institute was incorporated legally, under the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint-stock_company Joint Stock Company] Act” as a company of shareholders who paid $25 for each of their non-dividend paying shares. Thus, the institute was owned by its member-shareholders.

[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/swystun_w.shtml Wasyl Swystun], the first Rector of the Mohyla Institute, expressed the will of the people :
that it was necessary for Ukrainians in Canada to destroy all artificial borders created among us in
Ukraine by our enemies, so that children of Greek-Catholics, and Orthodox families can live together and
get acquainted with each other as children of one Ukrainian nation.

Life at the institute was strictly structured. Daily activities of students began with the 6:45 a.m. wake-up bell, followed by 1 hour to get ready for breakfast at 7:45 a.m. In the evening, students took lessons in Ukrainian language, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_literature literature], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/History history], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture_of_Ukraine culture]. Students also took part in dancing, singing, and music. Before and after each meal the students prayed under the guidance of the rector. On Sundays they attended the church of their choice. To facilitate the growing demand for space at the institute, operations for the 1917-1918 school year were conducted in 3 rented buildings : 2 for boys and 1 for girls.

In December, 1917, a second Convention of Ukrainians in Canada was held in Saskatoon. This convention was attended by 700 people who represented the 3 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Prairies prairie provinces] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. It was held in the "[http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/56947 Daylight Theatre]". The spirit and enthusiasm were heightened because of the possibility of the development of a free Ukrainian state (which resulted from the revolutionary fervour of the time). With this surge of nationalistic feeling, the convention passed a resolution that :
We wish to concentrate around the Institute our best educated people, and to create it as an educational,
scientific, and cultural centre for Ukrainian people in Canada.
At this 1917 convention, the delegates elected a board of directors of the institute, and they retained O Magus as the president. Viewing the institute as the centre of Ukrainian cultural work in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada], members were elected to the board from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba] (3 each), and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario] (1).

On 29 December, the new board held its official meeting. Amongst other decisions, the board decided to pay salaries to the institute’s administrator and the secretary-treasurer (both previously were volunteers).

=="Kameniari" Literary Society==

In 1918, the students organised a literary society, naming it “Kameniari” (stone-cutters) based on a poem of the same name by famous Ukrainian author [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CF%5CR%5CFrankoIvan.htm Ivan Franko]. This society provided students with the opportunity to express themselves and develop abilities as future leaders. The originator of the
“Kameniari” society was [https://cius-archives.ca/items/show/806 Semen W Sawchuk].

The following views and objectives of the Kameniari were enunciated by [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64895631/william-burianyk William Burianyk], a later [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rector_(academia) rector] of the Mohyla Institute :
That Ukrainians in Canada do not want to be considered as perpetual immigrants, they will remain in
Canada for all time, and as citizens are ready to take upon themselves the aspects of economic,
political, and social life of the country. That Ukrainians are not beggars, they are children of a
cultured, historically famous nation, who are willing to enrich the cultural treasury of Canada.
Furthermore, that Ukrainians are not seeking favours and donations from others, they are ready to take
upon themselves all obligations of Canadian Citizenship.

These words express the hopes and desires of the initiators of this movement. Very many of these persons were amongst the first Ukrainian-Canadian teachers. Because of their efforts, this institute (and the several others that were founded at about the same time) produced educated young people who were themselves amongst the first political leaders of the very large number of new [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian-Canadians].

==Building Purchase, 1917==

The board of directors set to work immediately after the 1917 convention. The first was the matter of an appropriate building. It became apparent that to build an appropriate building would cost more than the $100,000.00 figure that had been discussed at the convention. In the meantime, the building which was formerly known as the [http://spldatabase.saskatoonlibrary.ca/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=QBE_QUERY&TN=LHR_RAD&NP=4&QB0=AND&QF0=CLASSIFICATION&QI0=HOTELS+EMPRESS&QB1=OR&QF1=SUBJECT&QI1=EMPRESS+HOTEL&MR=20&RF=www_Canned%20Searches&QB2=AND&QF2=THUMBNAIL_IMAGE&QI2= Empress Hotel] was vacant. It was situated in a residential part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nutana,_Saskatoon Nutana], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], at the corner of Main Street and Victoria Avenue.

[[File:Former Empress Hotel 2.png]] '''Former Empress Hotel'''

The Board of Directors decided to attempt to purchase it. After a month of negotiation an agreement was reached with the owners in early April, 1918, to purchase it for $32,000.00. The renovations that were required to the newly purchased building cost $20,000.00, and by October, 1918, the institute was ready to house students.

[[File:Mohyla Institute 2nd building.png]] '''Second building'''

Of the 60 students who then enrolled, 40 returned to their homes. This was the time of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_flu Spanish Influenza epidemic], and many expected that the epidemic would be less severe in the country than in the city. Mercifully, the institute did not lose any students to the epidemic. When the winter frosts stopped the spread of the influenza, 70 students occupied the institute, and they participated in a full cultural programme for the balance of the school year.

This new, refurbished building provided 30 rooms for boys, and 16 rooms for girls. There was a large dining hall, which also served well as an activity room for dancing, concerts, singing, and various other functions. There also was a residential suite for the rector. This building properly housed approximately 70 students. However, in times of extreme need, it accommodated 120 students, with as many as 8 sharing one of the large rooms.

==Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, 1918==

It is said that the Mohyla Institute was a catalyst for the formation of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada].

Initially a nonsectarian residence for all Ukrainian students from rural areas attending educational institutions in Saskatoon, the institute became the center of a major controversy in 1917, when the [https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CG%5CR%5CGreekCatholicchurch.htm Ukrainian Catholic] bishop [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\B\U\BudkaNykyta.htm Nykyta Budka] demanded that it become a [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/catholicism/ Roman Catholic] entity, and that its properties be incorporated with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruthenian_Greek_Catholic_Church Ruthenian Greek Catholic] Episcopal Corporation.

The desire to protect what was regarded as the national integrity of the institute provided a catalyst for the liberal intelligentsia in Canada to break ranks with the Roman Catholics and to [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm establish the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada in Saskatoon in 1918]. The institute then became an important symbol of and center for the fledgling church community. It sponsored courses in Ukrainian language, literature, history of Ukraine, choral singing, and folk arts ; it held concerts, lectures, and debates intermittently throughout Saskatchewan ; and it sought to develop a sense of Ukrainian patriotism in the students who lived there (approximately 100 annually).

The strong criticism of the institute by the Ukrainian Catholic clergy finally caused some of the institute’s leaders to leave that church in the summer of 1918. Determined not to be churchless or Godless, these leaders promptly organized a 30-person committee, which in turn organised a confidential meeting of more than 100 people from the 3 [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prairie-west/ Prairie Provinces]. The meeting took place on 18-19 July, 1918. It was at that meeting that it was decided to form a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Brotherhoods Brotherhood] which would concern itself with the organising of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] by calling the first general assembly of the new Church.

'''"Mohylianky Society", 1923'''

Although the female residents at Mohyla Institute were active members of the Kameniari, and they took a keen interest in the institute’s cultural and educational programme, they felt the need for an organisation of their own. In 1923, the girls’ organisation, the “Mohylianky Society”, was formed by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savella_Stechishin Savella Stechishin] and senior girls. This organisation promoted good public speaking and debates through their oratory programme. They also included studies about Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_literature writers], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Ukraine music] and singing, and they organised discussion groups. Thus, the girls, too, were trained for leadership, and they studied many aspects of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life Ukrainian culture].

In 1923, the leaders of the Mohylianky Society played a leading role in the founding of the first [https://www.facebook.com/groups/uwacofcanada/ (Olha Kobylianska Ukrainian Women’s Association] ([http://encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkPath=pages\K\O\KobylianskaOlha.htm Olha Kobylianska] Branch) in Saskatoon. Afterwards, other Ukrainian Women’s branches were formed, and the [http://uwac-national.ca/ Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada] was soon founded in Saskatoon in 1926.

'''First Mortgage Burning, 1925'''

The year 1925 started with an expansive [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CA%5CCarols.htm carolling] campaign during the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity Season] in order to benefit the institute. Thirty-three groups travelled around the province, and the resulting carolling donations totalled a record sum of $1,455.30.

The 9th National Convention of Ukrainians in Canada was held at the institute on 30-31 December, 1925. These were buoyant times, and the mood was nearly euphoric. It was hoped that the mortgage would be able to be paid off at this convention. Therefore, after the business session, an appeal was made, and a collection of donations for the institute was made at the assembly. As the donations were collected, the needed remainder was attained.

The mortgage document was passed from hand to hand for everyone to see. After 2 more speeches, 2 of the oldest members held the document while [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/swystun_w.shtml Wasyl Swystun] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stechishin Julian Stechishin] set it afire from 2 sides and it quickly turned to ashes. The students chanted the “burstskyi klych” (bursa cheer) as a conclusion to the ceremony :
БУРСАЦЬКИЙ КЛИЧ BURSA CHEER
Пу-гу козаки ! Young Cossacks !
Саска – саска – бурсаки ! Saska, Saska, bursakites !
Для народу ростуть сили For the people, forces grow
В славній Бурсі Петра Могили ! In the glorious Bursa of Peter Mohyla !
Бурса – бурса – бурс – бурсун ! Bursa - Bursa - Bursa - Bursun !
Саска – Саска – Саскатун ! Saska - Saska - Saskatoon !

'''Cultural exchange'''

In 1926, the first student [https://www.annafreud.org/resources/schools-and-colleges/how-to-practise-cultural-exchange-in-schools/ cultural exchange] took place in the form of a debate between the students of Saskatoon and Winnipeg.

'''Ukrainian dance summer school'''

In May, 1927, the institute invited the ballet-master [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasyl_Avramenko Vasyl Avramenko] to conduct dance classes at the institute for students and for the community at large. Mr. Avramenko had recently arrived in eastern Canada from Ukraine. Nearly 100 enrolled and the courses ended with a concert in one of the larger halls in Saskatoon.

About the effect of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_dance Ukrainian dance] on the youth, Julian Stechishin wrote,
… Avramenko’s schools awakened Ukrainian youth, enthused them and handed them something concrete, with
which they were able to step forward and be proud of in front of their non-Ukrainian neighbours.

[[File:Dance Group 2.png]] '''Youth dance group'''

==National conventions==

The national conventions which were convened by the institute every year from 1918 were like a parliament for Ukrainian Canadians, at which various concerns about life in the Ukrainian community were discussed. The leadership of the institute was central to these discussions. The students, for their part, sacrificed a portion of their Christmas vacation and in support of the work and life in the institute, they presented a play and a concert for the delegates.

By 1927, it had become apparent to the institute’s leaders, that the institute, which was in fact a Ukrainian cultural-educational institution, would not be able to rise to the position of being able to engage in all general Ukrainian concerns and matters, be they economic, political or religious. It was decided that it was therefore necessary to form a new body with a clearly-stated ideology, and which could attract and retain people who were not members of the institute.

==Ukrainian Self-Reliance League, 1927==

The leaders of the institute met in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], in October, 1927, and they discussed the proposed new organisation. A main concern was the name to be chosen. Finally, the name “Soiuz Ukraiintsiv Samostiinykiv” (“[https://www.usrl-cyc.org/ Ukrainian Self-Reliance League]” (USRL)) was selected. At the 11th annual national convention of Ukrainians in Canada (held in late December, 1927), a resolution was passed which brought into being the Ukrainian Self-Reliance League (USRL). Another resolution officially named the “[http://ukrvoice.ca/documentation/Ukrainian%20Voice%2001-02%2018%207.pdf Ukrainian Voice]” as the CYC/USRL publication organ.

Shortly after the convention, even though the institute’s cultural and educational work was flourishing, rumours had begun to circulate that the institute was the source of much anti-Canadian propaganda. However, in the late summer of 1928, an article in the “[https://memorysask.ca/yorkton-enterprise-newspaper Yorkton Enterprise]”, and a full-page story in the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_StarPhoenix Saskatoon Star-Phoenix]”, about the positive work in the community and the excellent training the institute was providing its students, put an end to such negative rumours. This publicity was also most effective in informing the community at large about the purpose and work of the institute.

The last National Convention organised by the institute was in 1928. In an unusual manner, this convention took place between 22 December and 1 January, in 3 centres : Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg, with 3 days in each city. The convention was co-hosted by the USRL. The convention played a large role in spreading the ideology of the newly founded organisation.

The 1929 convention was the first one which was organised by the USRL. In this convention, the institute participated only as a component organisation.

==Hard times : the Great Depression==

In 1930, the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-depression Canadian national economy collapsed], and the numbers of students decreased. During the next 10-11 years, the operation of the institute was sustained with great difficulty and effort.

With the outbreak of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/second-world-war-wwii/ World War II], and the end of the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prairie-dry-belt-disaster prairie drought], the national economic situation eased. However, many institute alumni joined the armed forces. The number of students remained small. The building had come to be in a rundown condition, and taxes were several years in arrears. Substantial amounts were owed for fuel and services.

In 1941-1942, the institute’s 25th anniversary year, a concerted drive was conducted in order to put the financial affairs in order. An appeal for donations was sent out across the country. The generosity of the institute’s supporters, and the success of certain other procedures yielded sufficient funds to clear the financial burden of the past, and also to carry out some much needed renovations in the building.

==“Ukrainian Arts & Crafts Museum”, 1941==

In December, 1941, the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianMuseumofCanada.htm “Ukrainian Arts & Crafts Museum” of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada] opened a gallery in a room provided by the institute. The women’s organisation had been collecting artifacts (primarily textiles) of Ukrainian pioneers, since the early 1930s. The institute provided space for the museum gallery, free of charge, until 1979.

At that time, the museum moved into its own quarters as the [http://www.umc.sk.ca/page/index_new Ukrainian Museum of Canada] of the [https://www.ucc.ca/ucc-member/ukrainian-womens-organization-of-canada/ Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada] (UMC). The name was shortened to “Ukrainian Museum”, and it came to feature 3 galleries dedicated to celebrating and promoting the arts, culture, and legacy of the Ukrainian Canadian community. The new site was at 910, Spadina Crescent
East, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7K 3H5.

[[File:UkrainianMuseumSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Ukrainian Museum, Saskatoon'''

==Yearbooks==

After World War II, the students began publishing an annual yearbook which documented their activities. It also included some literary efforts by the students. These yearbooks were published, under the title “Kameniari”, through the 1950s. When a year was missed, it was made up with a double issue the following year. The last yearbook was published in the 1970s.

'''Cultural exchanges 1950s'''

In the 1950s, some cultural exchanges took place between “Kameniari” and students of [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and [[Edmonton AB Saint John Ukrainian Orthodox Institute 1918 |Saint John’s Institute]] in Edmonton, Alberta, ([http://www.stvladimir.ca Saint Vladimir’s Institute] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], had not yet been founded). This primarily took the form of debating teams competing for a trophy presented annually.

==40th anniversary, 1956==

In 1956, at the 40th anniversary reunion banquet, the Mohylianky Society donated $250.00 towards the building of a new institute facility.

'''Radio programme'''

In 1957, the “Kameniari” presented a radio programme of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koliadka Ukrainian Christmas carols]. Preparing this radio programme became an annual practice. The student choir recorded [https://www.speakua.com/5-top-ukrainian-carols/ Christmas carols] each autumn, and the choir combined the carols with messages of good will from the administration and the students. The students arranged for broadcasting on several stations in the province. This Christmas radio programme continued until the early 1980s.

'''Need for a new building, 1956'''

In 1976, Professor Andrew Michalenko wrote that in the 1950s,
the mechanization of agriculture and increase in industrial activity set in motion the great shift of
population from the countryside to the city. Thus, the rural population, which was the mainstay of
support for the institute, began to decrease.
He went on to say,
with economic conditions much improved, the standard of accommodation provided by the old building was no
longer satisfactory. To put it simply, the physical plant was worn out. It became apparent that the
institute must have a new building or sink into oblivion.
Once again, the need for an improved facility was urgent, and the interest of the people was high.

Everyone saw the effective educational and cultural achievements of the Ukrainians in Canada made possible by the excellent work done by the institute. In 1958, in response to this need, plans were being developed to relocate, and to construct a new building closer to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan]. The first public meeting was held in [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/yorkton/ Yorkton], and the participants discussed the need for a new building. The programme included some Ukrainian dancing performed by students. A 16mm coloured home movie recorded this event.

'''Mohyla Institute (new corporation), 1958'''

A membership corporation was registered with the provincial government. It was entitled, “Mohyla Institute (1958)”. Its purpose was to provide and to operate the new building. The [https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.mohyla_institute_(1958).0524e838b3bb2771c27c7b0ec89e7209.html corporation “Mohyla Institute (1958)]” co-existed with the old shareholder corporation until the mid-1970s, by which time most shareholders had redeemed (in fact, donated) their shares to the new corporation. Lifetime memberships in the “new” institute were, and still are, sold at $25 each. In the 1960s, there was a cultural “revival” as the institute prepared to move into new quarters.

'''Inter-institute exchanges, 1962'''

The first mass-participation inter-institute exchange took place in 1962, when more than 20 students from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_%E2%80%A0Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Institute_1918-2020 Saint John’s Institute in Edmonton] travelled by train and visited the Mohyla Institute for a cultural weekend. The programme included sports activities and a dance on Saturday. On Sunday, after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] at the [http://orthodoxsaskatoon.org/ Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church] (now [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cathedral Cathedral]), there was a public concert, which included songs, skits, dancing and, according to tradition, a debating competition. This took place in the new auditorium (1960) located next to the church.

The debate was particularly memorable. The topic was “Resolved that the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada allow the English language to be used in the liturgy in its parishes”. In this debate, the Saint John’s Institute team of 2 debaters took the affirmative side. It was revealed to be a sensitive and emotional topic. The debate continued as a discussion amongst all the students in the institute's common room prior to supper that same afternoon. It became apparent that the views held for debating purposes were actually the views of the students from each centre. It became an emotional Edmonton-versus-Saskatoon discussion in which even the rectors of the institutes became involved. Even though some tears were shed during the discussion, the 2 groups parted on friendly terms. The visitors had to board the train later that evening to travel home. Much was learned and shared. New friends were made. The following year, the Mohyla Institute students visited the Saint John’s Institute in Edmonton.

The exchanges continued to be held each year, usually in February. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] students joined the exchanges, and in the 1970s, [https://stvolodymyr.org/ Saint Vladimir’s Institute in Toronto] was included. They all took turns hosting. These annual exchanges, though modified in programming, continue to take place to this day.

'''Christmas carolling'''

In the early 1960s, the custom of [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CA%5CCarols.htm carolling] during the season of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ] was promoted amongst the students. Volunteer drivers from the Board of Directors took groups of students carolling to members’ homes during the Christmas season. Customary gifts of money went towards the building fund. This practice grew, and it culminated in the mid-1970s with 11 groups of students going out (in rented cars) to communities all over Saskatchewan on the weekend following [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Julian Calendar] Christmas (January 7). In addition, student carollers visited homes in Saskatoon. Proceeds from this endeavour were shared between the institute and “Kameniari”.

'''Concert tours'''

In 1963, with the support of the administration, the students directed and produced an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operetta operetta] entitled “Na Sinozhati” (“On the Hay Meadow”), with a cast of about 15 students. This involved considerable effort, considering that the players were full-time students. This required that some of the rehearsals be held at 7:00 a.m.

Volunteer Board-members drove the students to their performances of the operetta in [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/moose-jaw/ Moose Jaw] and [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina/ Regina], and at a different time in [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canora/ Canora] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkton Yorkton]. The host communities billeted the students in their homes when an overnight stay was involved.

This activity evolved through the 1960s into what became an annual event in the 1970s. It was referred to as the annual concert tour in which 2 or 3 communities were visited in 1 weekend with a 2-hour concert consisting of drama (sourced from the collection of drama scripts in the Mohyla Institute library), choir, and dancing presentations. Although the concerts were largely student-directed, preparations sometimes involved volunteer choir and dance instructors from the broader community. Travel was by bus, and overnights were in motels. The tour took place near the end of November in order to allow time for the annual Christmas radio programme to be recorded prior to the Christmas break. The institute chose concert destinations in response to invitations from the [https://www.usrl-cyc.org/ Ukrainian Self-Reliance League] (USRL)-affiliated organisations, particularly branches of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, who usually hosted the students with a reception. The communities visited with concerts, in addition to those already mentioned, included [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prince-albert/ Prince Albert], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/nipawin/ Nipawin], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gronlid,_Saskatchewan Gronlid], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/hudson-bay-sask/ Hudson Bay], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/meadow-lake/ Meadow Lake], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kamsack/ Kamsack], [http://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kindersley/ Kindersley], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ituna Ituna] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stenen,_Saskatchewan Stenen]. Each concert was also presented in Saskatoon on the weekend following the tour. The concert ended with the singing of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_anthem_of_Ukraine Ukrainian national anthem] and the “Bursatskyi Klych” chant.

Every student was introduced personally at each concert, by name, and by community of origin. Audience numbers ranged from 50 to 300. The language used for all the concerts was exclusively Ukrainian. The last concert tour took place in 1978. In the 1970s, as a public relations gesture and a cultural experience, small groups of students, forming a singing group, would go out to country parishes to sing the liturgy for them. In particular, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vonda,_Saskatchewan Vonda] and Kindersley were the beneficiaries of such excursions.

==New building, 1965==

The new institute was constructed at 1240, [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Temperance+St,+Saskatoon,+SK/@52.1257996,-106.6439716,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f6ccbb6097b3:0x76d42a2802a23495!8m2!3d52.1257996!4d-106.6439716!16s%2Fg%2F1tfs0qvy?entry=ttu Temperance Street] (2 blocks from the university), and the official opening took place on 13-15 August, 1965. The corner-stone of the new institute was laid by [http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestarphoenix/obituary.aspx?pid=18970875 Dr Zenovey Danylchuk] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canora,_Saskatchewan Canora]. The event was a great success, and it was celebrated in 3 locations. At the new institute (at 1240, Temperance Street), there were tours of the building with its new furnishings. The ribbon-cutting took place on a platform in front of the institute. This ceremony featured distinguished guests, including the mayor of Saskatoon, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_J._Cole E J Cole]. A banquet was held at the [https://orthodoxsaskatoon.org/ Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral Auditorium]. An outdoor church service, a picnic lunch, and an afternoon concert were held on the grounds of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhibition,_Saskatoon Saskatoon Exhibition Park].

The occasion was well-attended, with representation from all parts of Canada.

In 1966-1967, [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Oleh Krawchenko] served as Rector of the institute, and also as its [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain chaplain].

The railing from the old building is now used in the upper story (“[https://wdm.ca/saskatoon/ Boom Town]” section) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_Western_Development_Museum Western Development Museum] in Saskatoon.

[[File:Boomtown Exhibit 2.png]] '''Part of the "Boomtown" exhibit'''

[[File:Mohyla Institute third building.png]] '''Third building, on Temperance Street'''

[[File:Molyla Institute Wiggins Street view-2.png]] '''Side view, along Wiggins Avenue'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Full spiritual and cultural formation==

Because of the very rich environment provided to the many Ukrainian-descended students and others who lived in the institute, this educational institution actually strengthened the whole of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada]. While they lived in the institute, very many students were awakened to the deeper meaning and way of life of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian Faith] which many of them had inherited. Many good marriages were made, which in turn led to strong families. Many were strengthened in their fluency in the Ukrainian language, which itself is very rich in proverbs and humour. Many benefitted from the fact that a full [https://orthodoxwiki.org.Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] service was held at the institute on Sundays for many years, and this gave the students a very convenient access to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Mysteries sacraments]. Thus, their whole lives were strengthened and enriched.

There were more aspects of the institute's life which contributed to their healthy formation. When the students returned for classes in early January, they could participate in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity] Holy Supper on 6 January, and again in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theophany Epiphany] Supper on 19 January. This gave a sense of holy community and high holy days spent together.

Life at the Mohyla Institute was not concerned about a narrow nationalism, but rather an attempt to preserve and nurture a whole culture in all its aspects. Thus, for Orthodox Christians, this begins with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which is lived out and expressed in language, crafts, dancing, food, hospitality, mutual care of one another. In a way, it has tried to provide what is the essence of the meaning and way of life. The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_liturgical_calendar cycle of the year] included meatless Fridays. There were daily prayers before supper which were led by the rector ; or in his absence, they were led by any student who could lead the prayers in Ukrainian. In addition, there would be farm trucks arriving in the autumn, which carried loads of potatoes and cabbages for the students. These kept the cooks busy making [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi perogies] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage_roll cabbage-rolls] for the residents, which provided a real sense of home for those far away from home.

There were clergy who cared for the spiritual life of the students, and they were present often. This was in connexion with the [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-14/ Ukrainian Orthodox Parish of All Saints in Saskatoon] which had itself come into being through the institute. In particular during the early 1970s, there were 2 priests who served as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain chaplains] at the institute who were influential with the students in a particularly good way. One was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=36 Priest Oleg Krawchenko], who served as the rector of the institute. The other was the [[Archpriest Orest and Matushka Oksana Olekshy |Priest Orest Olekshy]], who regularly appeared at the institute on Saturdays in order to sit in the student lounge with an invitation to students to come and speak about anything that concerned them. They could address any spiritual questions or personal problems to him, and this opportunity and relationship proved to be greatly beneficial for many students.

'''Library'''

The institute assembled a significant library over the years. In particular, a significant acquisition was made when [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stechishin Julian Stechishin] was in [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CL%5CV%5CLviv.htm Lviv], Ukraine, and “bought many very valuable books for the Institute”.

A room in both institute buildings was dedicated to the library collection. In the 1970s, thanks to available grant monies, the entire collection was catalogued and a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library_catalog card file] was prepared by student workers over 5 summers. This was the start of a career for one of the students, [http://www.pressreader.com/canada/saskatoon-starphoenix/20131104/281827166521624 Zenon Zuzak], who later became the director of the [https://saskatoonlibrary.ca/branch/frances-morrison-central-library Francis Morrison Library] in Saskatoon. His father was a priest who served in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Albert,_Saskatchewan Prince Albert], Saskatchewan.

Before anyone was able to imagine [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microform microfilm] and electronic [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digitization digitisation], it had been deemed important to save the copies of the “[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/herald/2010/03/18/influential-ukrainian-newspaper-in-the-news Ukrainian Voice]”. This was done diligently by the institute, beginning with the first issue printed in March, 1910. Volunteers assembled and sewed the newspapers into annual “books”, bound in hard cover and labelled with embossed print. One of the most dedicated volunteers was [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99954699/john-rubashewsky John Rubashewsky], of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calder,_Saskatchewan Calder]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkton Yorkton], a retired teacher who spent hundreds of hours in the 1960s and 1970s as a live-in book-binder. He was the last person to work on this project. This collection is still housed at the institute.

'''Newsletter'''

An important link with the community was the establishment of the [https://search.worldcat.org/title/1036071381 Mohyla newsletter] that was a co-operative effort between the institute office, which provided the copy, and [http://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/ukr/programs/nbuilders/2001/index.html Walter Mysak], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canora,_Saskatchewan Canora, Saskatchewan], alumnus, who edited and published the newsletter 4 to 6 times a year on a volunteer basis.

The newsletter, printed on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newsprint newsprint], was a source of information regarding the preparations for the new building, its construction and the subsequent paying down of the mortgage, originally about $350,000.00. The progress reports, community and student news, and appeals for funds were disseminated through that newsletter. The mortgage was paid off in 1976. Walter Mysak served as editor from 1958 to approximately 1980. After that, the newsletter format was changed and it was published from the institute office.

In order to maintain contact with the community and to raise the much-needed funds for the institute, the province was divided into districts, and a board member was elected from each district’s annual general meeting of institute members. When funding was needed, board members were encouraged to go door-to-door in the Ukrainian community and to solicit funds for the institute. It was common at board meetings for board members to turn over to the management the receipts from their most recent collection. Donations and donors’ names were printed in the newsletter, listed by district and by town, in recognition and encouragement for others to join in the campaign.

'''Summer School'''

In 1970, in co-operation with the Mohyla Institute, the Ukrainian School Council (“Rada Ukrains’koi Shkoly”) organised a [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/summerschool.html Ukrainian Summer School] for high school students, which was to be held at the institute. This was a 5-week live-in programme, in which the students studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian language] courses accredited by the Saskatchewan Department of Education (Grades 9 to 12), for one-half day. Then they participated in a Ukrainian cultural and sports programme for the other half-day. Fully-qualified teachers taught the language programme and the cultural portion was conducted by a staff of monitors supplemented with volunteers. The summer programme was held annually.

In 1975, it was decided to convert the programme into a total-immersion experience based on the methodology of the [https://www.fluentu.com/blog/french/french-immersion-programs/ French immersion] summer programme held at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan]. This meant hiring a staff of teachers and [https://tecsemployment.com/2017/03/22/the-difference-between-a-monitor-and-a-teacher/ monitors] fully fluent in Ukrainian. The first director of the total-immersion programme was Dr. [https://www.ufest.ca/andrij-hornjatkevyc Andrij Hornjatkevyč], a university professor from Edmonton. The monitors were post-high school youth. Sufficiently fluent candidates were difficult to find in Saskatchewan, so some monitors were recruited (through USRL contacts) and brought in from Ontario and Alberta. A week-long preparatory programme was instituted so monitors could learn the methodology and practice the instructional techniques they would use. Upon arrival, students were provided with an orientation in English. After that, they were expected to speak Ukrainian at all times, within their range of ability.

Beginners were quickly taught questions which they could ask in Ukrainian, and which they could use to build their Ukrainian vocabulary. To enhance the Ukrainian language learning experience, it was decided to pay all expenses to bring 2 non-English-speaking Ukrainians (a boy and a girl) who were fluent Ukrainian-speaking students, age 16, from other countries in order to encourage the Canadian students to speak Ukrainian in their daily activities. This programme was offered for 5 summers, with students coming from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany Germany], [https://www.britannica.com/place/France France], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Switzerland Switzerland] and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Argentina Argentina]. Ukraine was closed to this opportunity at the time.

Student residents benefitted from personal time on Saturdays. Sunday involved going to Ukrainian language Church services (Orthodox or Ukrainian Catholic). This was followed by a bus excursion for recreational activities at a lake, camp or festival.

The summer school programme concluded with a public concert performed by the students, which was attended by parents, family, friends, and institute supporters.

Over the 37 years that the summer programme was offered, programme modifications developed, and the programme switched from language immersion to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life cultural immersion] with a strong language component. The summer programme was last offered in 2006.

'''Compulsory Cultural Programme Participation'''

In the mid-1970s, a system of compulsory participation during the school year was instituted. The students all signed an agreement to participate in a minimum of 8 hours of cultural programming per semester, or 16 hours for the year. Students could choose from choir, drama, dancing, Ukrainian language classes, or lectures given by visiting guest lecturers. Those who failed to meet the requirement were not accepted for residence the following year. The compulsory participation programme continued for about 5 years.

'''Kameniari Elections'''

In the 1970s, “[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/kameniari.html Kameniari]” elections were lively affairs, and there were at least 2 candidates for each position. A campaign evening featured speeches by the candidates. Some years, each candidate for president sponsored his own evening of campaigning which featured entertainment. In the autumn of 1975, Sonia Hawrysh became the first-ever female elected president of Kameniari.

'''Scholarships'''

[https://www.ancestry.com/1940-census/usa/Pennsylvania/John-Fedan_wdcps John Fedan] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arnold,_Pennsylvania Arnold], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania Pennsylvania], [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States USA], established the first scholarship through the gift of an endowment of $3,000.00 in 1941, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the institute.

Between 1970 and 2000, the number of scholarships grew substantially. The Mohyla Institute web-site lists 21 scholarships, all established by donors of endowments to the institute. Annual awards from each scholarship vary between $100 and $800.

As the institute raised funds by various means in the community to support the summer school and its winter programming, and conducted its affairs, some unique experiences did occur.

'''Community liaison'''

In the early 1970s, as the elimination of the building’s mortgage came in view, and enthusiasm mounted in anticipation, 2 students decided to dedicate themselves to this cause. John Gramiak of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hafford Hafford] and Terry Martinuk of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calder,_Saskatchewan Calder], devoted one whole summer to travelling around the province. They promoted the institute and collected donations for it. They did this on a volunteer basis, in return for expenses only.

In addition, [http://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/programs/nbuilders/2009/index.html Albert Kachkowski] developed other methods also through which the mortgage was indeed retired during these years.

The many activities of the residents at the institute during their years of study played an important role in shaping many future Ukrainian community leaders. The institute also provided the first home for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Museum_of_Canada Ukrainian Museum of Canada], from 1936 (to 1980), and operated a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Library library], whose holdings currently number approximately 10,000 volumes. In 1958, the institute began publishing a bilingual newsletter, “Holos Instytutu” (“Voice of the Institute”).

In 1965, the institute moved to its new building situated closer to the University of Saskatchewan campus. Since 1975, the institute has conducted an annual Ukrainian-immersion summer school.

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/parishdetails.asp?ParishID=311 All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in Saskatoon developed from the institute itself, assembled weekly on the premises for 11 years, and for a long time it served as the parish for the institute.

'''Western Canada Lottery'''

At the same time, provincial gaming laws were relaxed, and the [https://www.dnb.com/business-directory/company-profiles.western_canada_lottery_corporation.f6050f4170156b95a06900902317158c.html Western Canada Lottery] came into existence. The lottery used paper tickets in booklets. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charitable_organization Charitable organisations] were allowed to sell the tickets.

The “Mohyla Institute” took advantage of the opportunity. It became apparent that some other organisations were using mass mailings to sell the tickets. The institute began to do the same, and it quickly became one of the top 3 sellers in the province, along with the Saskatchewan Foresters and the Saskatoon Hilltops. The rewards were significant. This new-found prosperity enabled the institute to fund an ambitious 60th anniversary celebration, to bring students from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Europe Europe] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_America South America] for the summer schools, and to send about 24 students to the first student exchange to be held in Toronto in 1975. When the lottery converted to a ball-system, which no longer involved ticket stubs for the draws, the participation of charitable organisations decreased. However, the institute had accumulated a lottery proceeds reserve fund of $350,000.00 by 1979.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the reserve fund enabled the institute to bring summer school monitors from Ukraine, and to endure the deficits that the summer school and regular institute operations experienced from time to time.

==The name change, 1996==

For most of the institute’s history, it was named the “P Mohyla Ukrainian Institute”.

When the new building was opened in 1965, the name was simplified to “Mohyla Institute”.

After [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pagesMOMohylaPetro.htm Metropolitan Petro Mohyla] was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Glorification glorified] (canonised) in Ukraine in 1996 by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_(Moscow_Patriarchate) Ukrainian Orthodox Church], the Board of Directors of the institute renamed it the “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Mogila Saint Petro Mohyla] Institute”.

[[File:Sf.-Ier.-Petru-Movila 2.jpg]] '''Saint Petro (Mohyla)'''

'''Celebrations and reunions'''

The first mortgage was ceremonially burned at the 9th convention in 1925.

In 1941, the 25th anniversary was marked.

In 1956, a 40th anniversary banquet was held.

In 1973, a banquet honouring the 50th anniversary of the Mohylianky Society was held in the Ukrainian Orthodox Auditorium in Saskatoon. It featured a display of all the original composite layouts of student photographs for the 50 years. It allowed guests to admire the photographs and to reminisce.

Former prime minister of Canada, [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/john-diefenbaker/ John G Diefenbaker], was the head table guest at the banquet honouring the 60th anniversary of “Kameniari” held at the institute in February, 1978, in conjunction with the inter-institute exchange that was held in Saskatoon. A black-and-white videotape was made of the event. A reunion was held in October of that year and a group photograph was taken of more than 20 “Kameniari” presidents in attendance, including the first president, the Archpriest Semen W Sawchuk.

Planning for the [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/docs/AHistoryofMohylaInstitute.pdf 60th anniversary of the institute began in 1974. The celebration took place 1-4 July, 1976]. Approximately 300 people registered for the event. It featured a live stage production in Saskatoon’s main auditorium, and it told the story of the institute. Over 700 were in the audience. It featured a 16-piece orchestra, a 45-member cast starring [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/semchyshyn_y.shtml Cecil Semchyshyn] of Winnipeg, and the 60th anniversary choir. A special feature was the first Saskatchewan visit of the then famous Ukrainian dance band [https://citizenfreak.com/artists/109852-rushnychok Rushnychok] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal Montréal], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec Québec]. Alumni from all 6 decades attended. At the Saturday night banquet, the mortgage for the new building was ceremonially burned.

The 75th anniversary reunion celebration took place the summer of 1991 at the Saskatoon Inn, in conjunction with the USRL Convention. It featured a banquet and dance. Decade photos of alumni were taken. The 1991 reunion was the first of 21 consecutive annual reunions by student residents of
the 1960s decade.

A 90th anniversary celebration took place in Saskatoon in 2007, with a banquet and renewal of acquaintances.

The 95th anniversary celebration was held in Saskatoon, and it featured the unveiling of the National Historic Event plaque. The evening banquet featured a performance by the grandson of Julian Stechishin, [http://www.johnstetch.com/bio/ John Stech] an accomplished jazz pianist from New York. John is also a Mohyla Summer School alumnus. At the banquet, the organising committee honoured the alumni who stayed at the institute in the 1930s and 1940s, by presenting them with a Certificate of Honourary Membership in the “Mohyla Institute”.

'''"A National Historic Event", 2011'''

The Government of Canada's [https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/culture/clmhc-hsmbc Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada] hosted a ceremonial unveiling of an official bronze plaque recognising the “St. Petro Mohyla Institute” as a National Historic Event. By virtue of this designation, the institute was welcomed to Canada’s family of [https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=12008 National Historic Sites], which includes places, people and events of national historical importance. The public unveiling ceremony took place in conjunction with the 95th anniversary celebrations on 24 September, 2011.

The plaque was inscribed in 3 languages : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian].
The English-language plaque inscription reads as follows :
PETRO MOHYLA INSTITUTE
In 1916, the activities of a dynamic group of Ukrainian immigrants culminated in the founding of the
Mohyla Institute at the first Ukrainian national convention in Saskatoon. The Institute, operating as a
student residence, supported higher education for Ukrainian youth while also serving as a centre for
cultural and religious events.

In 1916, following a fractious debate, it spearheaded the formation of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church]
of Canada. In the ensuing decades, the Institute instilled a sense of community leadership in
young men and women who would go on to found a range of Ukrainian organizations.

[[File:Unveiling Plaque S.png]] '''Unveiling the plaque'''

[[File:Historic Event speech.png]] '''Speech by Allan Dudderidge'''

This recognition is not concerned with any particular building, but rather, it recognises the lasting impact of the people within the organisation. Many Ukrainian-Canadian organisations saw their genesis through the community spirit that defines the “St. Petro Mohyla Institute”.

Student society activities integral to the historic significance of the institute continue to be encouraged and facilitated at the institute.

==Centenary : 24-26 June, 2016==

[[File:StPetroMohylaInstitutePlaque 2.png]] '''Commemorative plaque'''

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41354594/andrew_michalenko Professor Andrew Michalenko], on the occasion of the 60th anniversary, had written :
A brilliant centenary celebration in 2016 is assured if we do our part now.
People did, in fact, set to work.

On 24 June, 2016, the eve of the [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/100.html 100th anniversary], the Mohyla Institute Board Chair [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/personnel.html Steve Senyk] stated :
Just imagine the excitement that was in the air on Sunday, March 5, 1916, during a meeting at West Side
Theatre in Saskatoon when a group of students collected $7.36 in support of their decision to form a
‘bursa’. Few people had any money to spare but that did not stop them. Our founders actualized their
imagination on that historic day. They took action. They worked together and because of them Mohyla
Institute was created. And here we are, 100 years later getting ready to celebrate Mohyla’s 100th
anniversary in Saskatoon on June 24-26, 2016.
Regardless of how the 100th anniversary was celebrated, it is undeniable that, in its first century, the Mohyla Institute left an indelible positive impact on the lives of thousands of people, on the organised Ukrainian Canadian communities they lived in, the province of Saskatchewan and the nation of Canada.

[[File:URSL CYC at the PMI centennial S.jpg]] '''URSL/CYC at the 100th anniversary'''

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

These prescriptions applied to the chapel of the institute, but not to the whole institution.

==Help for Ukrainian refugees, 2022==

In 2022, there was already an increase in emigration from Ukraine to Canada. Then the Saint Petro Mohyla Institute offered basic conversational Ukrainian language courses to Canadians who were preparing to receive refugees into their homes, and to help them as they settled. These courses were made available by "Zoom" to anyone in Canada who wished to register for this. They [https://www.facebook.com/StPetroMohylaInstitute/courses took place between April and July, 2022].

People in Saskatchewan were encouraged by the institute to donate to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Red_Cross "Red Cross"] for this purpose, since the Federal Government was supplying matching grants for this humanitarian assistance (not only for immigrants, but also for those who remained in Ukraine). Another agency receiving donations for similar help was the "Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal".

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

This decision affected not the whole institution, but only to the chapel of the institute.

==Overview of the institute's goals and purpose==

The original mandate of the Mohyla Institute was to provide housing for Ukrainian-Canadian students in order to give them the means to achieve a high school diploma, and university entrance qualifications. An additional mandate of the Mohyla Institute was to provide cultural programmes in order to promote the preservation of Ukrainian culture within the Canadian environment. The Mohyla Institute has since become a residence for post-secondary students of all nationalities and backgrounds, while still focussing on the preservation of [https://www.saskculture.ca/impact/success-stories/ukrainian-cultural-identity-deeply-rooted-in-province Ukrainian culture in Saskatchewan].

The Mohyla Institute serves as a home-away-from-home for residents, including those of Ukrainian ancestry, and for students throughout Canada and abroad. Indeed, all students are welcome, whether they are attending university, college or a trades school. The residence is open to all students pursuing post-secondary education at various institutions throughout Saskatoon. Because of the institute's close proximity to the University of Saskatchewan (3 blocks distant), the majority of the residents are enrolled at the university in a variety of programmes.

The early years of the institute are described in “[https://books.google.ca/books/about/Twenty_five_years_of_the_P_Mohyla_Ukrain.html?id=avWRyAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y Iuvileina knyha 25-littia institutu im. Petra Mohyly v Saskatuni]” (“Twenty-Five Years of the P. Mohyla Ukrainian Institute in Saskatoon, 1945”).

The Mohyla Institute continues to honour its Ukrainian roots by providing space for Ukrainian organisations. “Mohyla” has been a long-time supporter of Saskatoon's [http://www.lastiwka.ca/about.php Orthodox Ukrainian Youth Choir Lastiwka], who call the institute home. “Mohyla” also offers a Ukrainian language immersion programme for high school students in the summer months to continue the mandate of its founders to preserve Ukrainian language and culture. The Mohyla Institute is very involved in the Ukrainian community in Saskatchewan, as well as throughout Canada.

The time of studying while living at the Saint Petro Mohyla Institute has generally been a life-enriching and even life-changing experience for those who did so. Besides the positive atmosphere provided, the friendships that developed have often been for a lifetime.

In 2026, consideration was being given to a proposal to re-configure, and re-construct the Institute so that it might better serve the current situation of students. The proposal had not yet been confirmed as a plan.

'''Past Rectors of the institute'''

The rectors of the institute include (amongst others) :

[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/swystun_w.shtml Wasyl Swystun] (1917-1921)
[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CT%5CStechishinJulian.htm Julian Stechishin] (1921-1929 ; 1931-1933)
[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64895631/william-burianyk Vasyl Burianyk] (1932-1935 ; 1936-1937)
Ivan Syrnyk (1943-1947)
[http://www.ukrainianorthodox.info/parish_priests.html Priest Vasyl Senyshyn] (1956-1962)
[https://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/programs/nbuilders/2009/index.html Albert Kachkowski] (1970-1979)

==Particular Institute information==

This institute is an entity of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Central Eparchy] of the [http://uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The Chair of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors is [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/personnel.html Stephen Senyk]. The bishop of the eparchy is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)].

The liturgical calendar followed by the institute is the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-Day of this institute and its chapel is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Mogila Saint Petro (Mohyla)], 15/28 December.

In 2026, services are provided by clergy of the region.

Address :

[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/ Saint Petro Mohyla Institute]

1240, Temperance Street

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

S7N 0P1

Telephone : 306-653-1944

Fax : 306-653-1902

E-mail : info@mohylainstitute.ca

Web-site : https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/

[https://www.facebook.com/StPetroMohylaInstitute/ Facebook]

Directions :

The [https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/ Saint Petro Mohila Institute] is located in central Saskatoon. It is on the east side of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Saskatchewan_River South Saskatchewan River], near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Saskatchewan University of Saskatchewan]. It is situated south of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_Highway_5 College Drive (Highway #5)], on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Temperance+St,+Saskatoon,+SK/@52.1257996,-106.6439716,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f6ccbb6097b3:0x76d42a2802a23495!8m2!3d52.1257996!4d-106.6439716!16s%2Fg%2F1tfs0qvy?entry=ttu Temperance Street], between [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Munroe+Ave+S,+Saskatoon,+SK/@52.1100953,-106.6411622,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f13ad131afe3:0x772b56059a564ae7!8m2!3d52.1100953!4d-106.6411622!16s%2Fg%2F1thqgdlt?entry=ttu Monroe Avenue South] and [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wiggins+Ave+S,+Saskatoon,+SK/@52.1102223,-106.6382322,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f13af0a9bf17:0x3a0fbba98fc33efb!8m2!3d52.1102223!4d-106.6382322!16s%2Fg%2F1thvgll0?entry=ttu Wiggins Avenue South].

By car :

From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Business_District,_Saskatoon downtown Saskatoon], drive eastwards on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/25+St+E,+Saskatoon,+SK/@52.1331359,-106.659967,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f6dab094802d:0x50af90fe2fad8715!8m2!3d52.1331359!4d-106.659967!16s%2Fg%2F1w97v15k?entry=ttu 25 Street East], across the South Saskatchewan River, and onto College Drive. Turn right (south) onto Monroe Avenue South, and drive until Temperance Street. Turn left (east) on Temperance Street. The Institute is on the right.

From other parts of Saskatoon, drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/SK-16+%26+Circle+Dr,+Saskatoon,+SK+S0K+0Y0/@52.0893136,-106.6033149,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x5304f176ba5fd9f5:0x35d52396ddaef902!8m2!3d52.0893136!4d-106.6033149!16s%2Fg%2F11gf189scb?entry=ttu Circle Drive (Highway #16)] towards the eastern part of Saskatoon. Take the exit for College Drive (Highway #5). Turn left or right (west) onto College Drive, and continue until Wiggins Avenue South. Turn left (south) onto Wiggins Avenue South, and drive until Temperance Street. Turn right (west) onto Temperance Street. The Institute is on the left.

By bus : Consult [https://transit.saskatoon.ca/plan-my-trip/routes-schedules Saskatoon Transit].

Saskatoon may be accessed by various airlines through the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon_John_G._Diefenbaker_International_Airport John G Diefenbaker Saskatoon International Aeroport].

Saskatoon may be accessed by railway through [https://www.viarail.ca/en VIARail].

There is [https://www.busbud.com/en-ca/bus-saskatoon/c/c9k0mr interurban bus service] available within Saskatchewan, and with service to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta].

[[File:Mohyla Institute.jpg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[http://www.mohylainstitute.ca/docs/AHistoryofMohylaInstitute.pdf Institute history article]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pages/M/O/MohylaUkrainianInstitute.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Mohyla Ukrainian Institute]

[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CS%5CA%5CSaskatoon.htm Encyclopedia of Ukraine article about Saskatoon]

'''Additional information :'''

‘A-F plus Map and Gazetteer’ in “Encyclopedia of Ukraine”, vol. 1, ed. Volodymyr Kubijovyc (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1984). ISBN 10 : 1442651172 ; ISBN 13 : 9781442651173.

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Kachkowski, Albert, ‘St. Petro Mohyla Institute 95th Anniversary Celebrations” in “UCC-SPC Visnyk”, vol. 25, no. 4 (Winter 2011), pp. 12-13.

P Mohyla Ukrainian Institute, “Twenty-five Years of the P Mohyla Ukrainian Institute in Saskatoon” (Winnipeg : Ukrainian Publishing Company of Canada, Ltd., 1945) and (Saskatoon : P. Mohyla Ukrainian Institute, 1945).

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Yuzyk, P, ‘Brief History of the Petro Mohyla Ukrainian Institute’ in “A Heritage in Transition : Essays in the History of Ukrainians in Canada”, ed. Manoly R Lupul (Toronto : McClelland and Stewart, 1982). ISBN 10 : 0771053886 ; ISBN 13 : 978-0771053887.

[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/ Saint Petro Mohyla Institute in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Petro_Mohyla_Institute Wikipedia article about the Saint Petro Mohyla Institute]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the UOCC]

[http://www.patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Patriarchate of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Mohyla Saint Petro Mohyla]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Germanos_(Shehadeh) Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadeh)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Theodorovych) Metropolitan John (Theodorovych)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages\M\O\MohylaPetro.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about Saint Petro (Mohyla)]

[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Petro-Mohyla Encyclopaedia Britannica article about Saint Petro (Mohyla)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petro_Mohyla Wikipedia article about Saint Peter (Mogila)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Peter_Mogila Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Peter (Mogila)]

[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian diaspora]

[https://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/about.htm Ukrainian Immigration to Saskatchewan, Canada]

[https://saskmuseums.org/museums/detail/ukrainian-museum-of-canada Ukrainian Museum of Canada]

“[https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/strathconablock.shtml Historic Sites of Manitoba : Ruthenian Training School]” (1905-1916)

[https://pubsaskdev.blob.core.windows.net/pubsask-prod/4156/PR-M24.PDF Act to incorporate The Mohyla Institute] (1958, amended 2015)

“[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/docs/AHistoryofMohylaInstitute.pdf Mohyla Institute, 60th Anniversary Celebration]” (1-4 July, 1976), p. 17.

[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/docs/AHistoryofMohylaInstitute.pdf 75th Anniversary Celebration] (Summer, 1991), p. 17.

[https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=12008 Petro Mohyla Institute National Historic Event] (11 April, 2008)

[http://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/pdf/visnykv25no4.pdf National Historical Event plaque unveiling] in "Visnik" ("The Herald"), vol. XXV, no. 4 (Winter, 2011), p. 1.

'[http://www.ucc.sk.ca/oldsite/pdf/visnykv25no4.pdf St. Petro Mohyla Institute 95th Anniversary Celebrations on 24 September, 2011]' in "Visnik" ("The Herald"), vol. XXV, no. 4 (Winter, 2011) p. 12.

[https://www.saskculture.ca/impact/success-stories/ukrainian-cultural-identity-deeply-rooted-in-province Ukrainian Cultural Identity deeply rooted in Saskatchewan] (April, 2011)

[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/100.html 100th Anniversary Celebration] (2016)

[https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=886694 CTV News Video about the Centennial] (24-26 June, 2016)

[https://www.mohylainstitute.ca/docs/October2018-e-bulletin.pdf Saint Petro Mohyla Institute e-Bulletin, vol. 5, issue 2] (October, 2018)

[https://www.facebook.com/StPetroMohylaInstitute/ Saint Petro Mohyla Institute offers Ukrainian Language Classes] (26 April to 29 June, 2022)

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nativity-Epistle-from-the-Episcopate-of-the-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church-of-Canada-in-the-year-of-our-Lord-2024-2025.pdf Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in the year of our Lord 2024-2025]

[https://www.uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Nativity-Epistle-UOCC-2025-eng.pdf Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in the year of our Lord, 2025-2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:EP]]

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

2026-09-23T18:27:08Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Enthronement in Toronto */

[[File:MetropolitanApostolosNJA 2.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)'''

==Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis==

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes Island of Rodes], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece Greece] (not far from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], and one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese Dodecanese Islands]), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople]).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

==Higher education==

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the [https://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/patmos/sightseeing/patmian-ecclesiastic-school/ Ecclesiastical School of Patmos] where he studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_music Orthodox Byzantine Music], and [https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MusicandOrthodoxTheology Hymnology].

[[File:Patmiada School 2.jpg]] '''Patmadia School of Patmos'''

This school is near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Apocalypse Cave of the Apocalypse], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_John_the_Theologian Monastery of Saint John the Theologian].

[[File:Cave of the Apocalypse 2.jpg]] '''Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse'''

[[File:Chora di Patmos con il Monastero di San Giovanni il teologo. 1.JPG]] '''Monastery of Saint John the Theologian'''

==Monastic tonsure==

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tonsure tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Apostolos.

==Diaconal ordination==

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

==Diaconal service==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierodeacon Hierodeacon] Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

==Further education==

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki University of Thessaloniki] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Greece northern Greece].

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

==Pastoral service==

At first, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Thessaloniki Metropolitan of Thessaloniki], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panteleimon_(Chrysofakis)_of_Thessalonica Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis)].

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity Degree].

==Move to USA, 2001 ; further education==

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States of America] for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_North_and_South_America by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)], who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the [https://boston.goarch.org/about_us/ Holy Metropolis of Boston].
In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University Boston University] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusets].

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Theology Master of Sacred Theology Degree] from the [https://www.bu.edu/sth/ School of Theology of Boston University].

[[File:BostonUniversity 1.jpeg]] '''Boston University'''

==Continuing pastoral service==

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the [https://www.facebook.com/stdemetriosastoria/ Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine] in the historic Community of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York]. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

[[File:Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral 2.jpg]] '''Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral'''

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_of_the_Greek_Revolution Greek Independence Day] celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the [https://helleniccenter.org/ Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre] of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

[[File:Atoria-poitistiko 2.jpg]] '''Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria'''

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] (Protosyngellos) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_San_Francisco Metropolis of San Francisco] under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimos_Michaleas Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas)].

==Episcopal ordination==

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

On 28 November, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] unanimously elected him to become Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Medeia], as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)].

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar Phanar], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by members of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople], including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

==Episcopal service==

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Bishop of Medeia].

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis)] of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/ladies-philoptochos-society Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America].

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey], including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dethronement dethronement] (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis)]. He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Greek_Orthodox_Church_(Manhattan) Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan Manhattan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City], since its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks destruction on 11 November, 2001].

[[File:SaintNicholasGOCManhattan 2.jpg]] '''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan'''

==Metropolitan of New Jersey==

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople] to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey]. He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans metropolitan].

On 16 September, 2023, [https://easterndiocese.org/news_230925_3 Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned] in the [https://www.stjohntenafly.org/ Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey], as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/705/show Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis)] of Rhodes, Representative of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew], and [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/693/show Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)] of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[[File:SaintJohnTenaflyNJ 1.jpg]] '''Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey'''

Following the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Enthronement Rite of Enthronement], a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian], which included greetings from The Honourable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Murphy Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey] ; His Excellency [https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassywashington/en/the-embassy/ambassador/ Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States] ; and The Honourable [https://www.thenationalherald.com/konstantinos-konstantinou-consul-general-in-new-york-sends-farewell-message/ Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece] in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey].

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Eparchial Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America#Archdiocesan_structure Holy Archdiocese of America].

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first [https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey] since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, [https://hellenicnews.com/2024/04/04/new-chancellor-of-the-metropolis-of-nj-appointed-as-archimandrite-of-the-ecumenical-throne/ Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras)].

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration [https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-10th-anniversary-of-metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jerseys-episcopal-ordination/ in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination] of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian Catering Hall] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Jersey Garfield], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].

==Archbishop of Toronto and Canada==

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)] earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-canada-preserve-and-cultivate-the-precious-gift-of-ecclesiastical-unity/ a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners] of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at [https://www.saintnicholasgochurch.org/ Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] in [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Ontario Scarborough], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

On 10 September, 2026, [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada-honored-at-farewell-banquet/ a grand banquet of farewell was served] for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis)] of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

'''Enthronement'''

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas)] had assigned [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitas_Lioulias Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias)] of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

==Enthronement in Toronto==

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

[[File:Enthronement19ix26Toronto 2.png]] '''The enthronement service'''

[[File:Kanada enthronisi 2.jpg]] '''The bishops present at the enthronement'''

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis)]. Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]. Succeeded by : ____.

==References==

[https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/1454/show Orthodoxia.ch record of Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Koufallakis Wikipedia article about Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/biography-his-eminence-archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Biography : Archbishop Apostolos of Canada]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_Toronto_(Canada) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto]

[https://www.gometropolis.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate)]

[https://www.patriarchate.org/ Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/ Greek Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diaspora Greek diaspora]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada_(Greek) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic]

[https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Grokipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada]

[[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bartholomew_I_(Archontonis)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]

[[Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)]]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Christophoros_(Rakintzakis) Bishop Christophoros (Rakintzakis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Athenagoras_(Salmas) Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

Montreal Greek Times : [https://greektimes.ca/16475/Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

Orthodox Times : [https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-as-the-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

UOJ News article : "[https://uoj.news/news/metr-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada]" (22 July, 2026)

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/statement-by-the-archons-in-canada-on-the-election-of-a-new-archbishop/ Statement by the Archons in Canada on the Election of a new Archbishop] (22 July, 2026)

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:GODT]] [[Category:GOA]]

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

2026-09-23T18:25:22Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Archbishop of Toronto and Canada */

[[File:MetropolitanApostolosNJA 2.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)'''

==Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis==

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes Island of Rodes], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece Greece] (not far from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], and one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese Dodecanese Islands]), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople]).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

==Higher education==

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the [https://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/patmos/sightseeing/patmian-ecclesiastic-school/ Ecclesiastical School of Patmos] where he studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_music Orthodox Byzantine Music], and [https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MusicandOrthodoxTheology Hymnology].

[[File:Patmiada School 2.jpg]] '''Patmadia School of Patmos'''

This school is near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Apocalypse Cave of the Apocalypse], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_John_the_Theologian Monastery of Saint John the Theologian].

[[File:Cave of the Apocalypse 2.jpg]] '''Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse'''

[[File:Chora di Patmos con il Monastero di San Giovanni il teologo. 1.JPG]] '''Monastery of Saint John the Theologian'''

==Monastic tonsure==

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tonsure tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Apostolos.

==Diaconal ordination==

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

==Diaconal service==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierodeacon Hierodeacon] Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

==Further education==

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki University of Thessaloniki] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Greece northern Greece].

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

==Pastoral service==

At first, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Thessaloniki Metropolitan of Thessaloniki], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panteleimon_(Chrysofakis)_of_Thessalonica Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis)].

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity Degree].

==Move to USA, 2001 ; further education==

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States of America] for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_North_and_South_America by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)], who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the [https://boston.goarch.org/about_us/ Holy Metropolis of Boston].
In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University Boston University] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusets].

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Theology Master of Sacred Theology Degree] from the [https://www.bu.edu/sth/ School of Theology of Boston University].

[[File:BostonUniversity 1.jpeg]] '''Boston University'''

==Continuing pastoral service==

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the [https://www.facebook.com/stdemetriosastoria/ Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine] in the historic Community of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York]. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

[[File:Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral 2.jpg]] '''Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral'''

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_of_the_Greek_Revolution Greek Independence Day] celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the [https://helleniccenter.org/ Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre] of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

[[File:Atoria-poitistiko 2.jpg]] '''Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria'''

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] (Protosyngellos) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_San_Francisco Metropolis of San Francisco] under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimos_Michaleas Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas)].

==Episcopal ordination==

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

On 28 November, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] unanimously elected him to become Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Medeia], as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)].

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar Phanar], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by members of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople], including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

==Episcopal service==

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Bishop of Medeia].

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis)] of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/ladies-philoptochos-society Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America].

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey], including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dethronement dethronement] (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis)]. He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Greek_Orthodox_Church_(Manhattan) Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan Manhattan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City], since its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks destruction on 11 November, 2001].

[[File:SaintNicholasGOCManhattan 2.jpg]] '''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan'''

==Metropolitan of New Jersey==

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople] to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey]. He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans metropolitan].

On 16 September, 2023, [https://easterndiocese.org/news_230925_3 Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned] in the [https://www.stjohntenafly.org/ Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey], as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/705/show Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis)] of Rhodes, Representative of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew], and [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/693/show Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)] of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[[File:SaintJohnTenaflyNJ 1.jpg]] '''Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey'''

Following the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Enthronement Rite of Enthronement], a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian], which included greetings from The Honourable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Murphy Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey] ; His Excellency [https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassywashington/en/the-embassy/ambassador/ Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States] ; and The Honourable [https://www.thenationalherald.com/konstantinos-konstantinou-consul-general-in-new-york-sends-farewell-message/ Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece] in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey].

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Eparchial Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America#Archdiocesan_structure Holy Archdiocese of America].

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first [https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey] since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, [https://hellenicnews.com/2024/04/04/new-chancellor-of-the-metropolis-of-nj-appointed-as-archimandrite-of-the-ecumenical-throne/ Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras)].

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration [https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-10th-anniversary-of-metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jerseys-episcopal-ordination/ in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination] of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian Catering Hall] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Jersey Garfield], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].

==Archbishop of Toronto and Canada==

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)] earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-canada-preserve-and-cultivate-the-precious-gift-of-ecclesiastical-unity/ a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners] of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at [https://www.saintnicholasgochurch.org/ Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] in [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Ontario Scarborough], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

On 10 September, 2026, [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada-honored-at-farewell-banquet/ a grand banquet of farewell was served] for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis)] of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

'''Enthronement'''

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas)] had assigned [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitas_Lioulias Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias)] of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

==Enthronement in Toronto==

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis)]. Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]. Succeeded by : ____.

==References==

[https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/1454/show Orthodoxia.ch record of Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Koufallakis Wikipedia article about Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/biography-his-eminence-archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Biography : Archbishop Apostolos of Canada]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_Toronto_(Canada) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto]

[https://www.gometropolis.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate)]

[https://www.patriarchate.org/ Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/ Greek Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diaspora Greek diaspora]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada_(Greek) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic]

[https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Grokipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada]

[[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bartholomew_I_(Archontonis)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]

[[Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)]]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Christophoros_(Rakintzakis) Bishop Christophoros (Rakintzakis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Athenagoras_(Salmas) Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

Montreal Greek Times : [https://greektimes.ca/16475/Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

Orthodox Times : [https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-as-the-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

UOJ News article : "[https://uoj.news/news/metr-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada]" (22 July, 2026)

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/statement-by-the-archons-in-canada-on-the-election-of-a-new-archbishop/ Statement by the Archons in Canada on the Election of a new Archbishop] (22 July, 2026)

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:GODT]] [[Category:GOA]]

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

2026-09-23T18:22:59Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Archbishop of Toronto and Canada */

[[File:MetropolitanApostolosNJA 2.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)'''

==Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis==

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes Island of Rodes], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece Greece] (not far from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], and one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese Dodecanese Islands]), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople]).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

==Higher education==

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the [https://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/patmos/sightseeing/patmian-ecclesiastic-school/ Ecclesiastical School of Patmos] where he studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_music Orthodox Byzantine Music], and [https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MusicandOrthodoxTheology Hymnology].

[[File:Patmiada School 2.jpg]] '''Patmadia School of Patmos'''

This school is near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Apocalypse Cave of the Apocalypse], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_John_the_Theologian Monastery of Saint John the Theologian].

[[File:Cave of the Apocalypse 2.jpg]] '''Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse'''

[[File:Chora di Patmos con il Monastero di San Giovanni il teologo. 1.JPG]] '''Monastery of Saint John the Theologian'''

==Monastic tonsure==

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tonsure tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Apostolos.

==Diaconal ordination==

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

==Diaconal service==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierodeacon Hierodeacon] Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

==Further education==

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki University of Thessaloniki] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Greece northern Greece].

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

==Pastoral service==

At first, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Thessaloniki Metropolitan of Thessaloniki], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panteleimon_(Chrysofakis)_of_Thessalonica Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis)].

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity Degree].

==Move to USA, 2001 ; further education==

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States of America] for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_North_and_South_America by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)], who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the [https://boston.goarch.org/about_us/ Holy Metropolis of Boston].
In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University Boston University] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusets].

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Theology Master of Sacred Theology Degree] from the [https://www.bu.edu/sth/ School of Theology of Boston University].

[[File:BostonUniversity 1.jpeg]] '''Boston University'''

==Continuing pastoral service==

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the [https://www.facebook.com/stdemetriosastoria/ Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine] in the historic Community of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York]. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

[[File:Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral 2.jpg]] '''Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral'''

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_of_the_Greek_Revolution Greek Independence Day] celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the [https://helleniccenter.org/ Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre] of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

[[File:Atoria-poitistiko 2.jpg]] '''Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria'''

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] (Protosyngellos) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_San_Francisco Metropolis of San Francisco] under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimos_Michaleas Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas)].

==Episcopal ordination==

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

On 28 November, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] unanimously elected him to become Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Medeia], as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)].

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar Phanar], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by members of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople], including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

==Episcopal service==

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Bishop of Medeia].

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis)] of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/ladies-philoptochos-society Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America].

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey], including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dethronement dethronement] (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis)]. He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Greek_Orthodox_Church_(Manhattan) Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan Manhattan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City], since its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks destruction on 11 November, 2001].

[[File:SaintNicholasGOCManhattan 2.jpg]] '''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan'''

==Metropolitan of New Jersey==

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople] to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey]. He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans metropolitan].

On 16 September, 2023, [https://easterndiocese.org/news_230925_3 Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned] in the [https://www.stjohntenafly.org/ Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey], as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/705/show Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis)] of Rhodes, Representative of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew], and [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/693/show Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)] of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[[File:SaintJohnTenaflyNJ 1.jpg]] '''Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey'''

Following the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Enthronement Rite of Enthronement], a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian], which included greetings from The Honourable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Murphy Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey] ; His Excellency [https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassywashington/en/the-embassy/ambassador/ Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States] ; and The Honourable [https://www.thenationalherald.com/konstantinos-konstantinou-consul-general-in-new-york-sends-farewell-message/ Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece] in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey].

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Eparchial Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America#Archdiocesan_structure Holy Archdiocese of America].

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first [https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey] since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, [https://hellenicnews.com/2024/04/04/new-chancellor-of-the-metropolis-of-nj-appointed-as-archimandrite-of-the-ecumenical-throne/ Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras)].

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration [https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-10th-anniversary-of-metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jerseys-episcopal-ordination/ in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination] of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian Catering Hall] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Jersey Garfield], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].

==Archbishop of Toronto and Canada==

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)] earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-canada-preserve-and-cultivate-the-precious-gift-of-ecclesiastical-unity/ a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners] of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at [https://www.saintnicholasgochurch.org/ Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] in [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Ontario Scarborough], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

On 10 September, 2026, [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada-honored-at-farewell-banquet/ a grand banquet of farewell was served] for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis)] of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

'''Enthronement'''

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas)] had assigned [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitas_Lioulias Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias)] of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

[[File:Enthronement19ix26Toronto 2.png]] '''The enthronement service'''

[[File:Kanada enthronisi 2.jpg]] '''The bishops present at the enthronement'''

==Enthronement in Toronto==

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis)]. Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]. Succeeded by : ____.

==References==

[https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/1454/show Orthodoxia.ch record of Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Koufallakis Wikipedia article about Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/biography-his-eminence-archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Biography : Archbishop Apostolos of Canada]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_Toronto_(Canada) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto]

[https://www.gometropolis.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate)]

[https://www.patriarchate.org/ Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/ Greek Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diaspora Greek diaspora]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada_(Greek) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic]

[https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Grokipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada]

[[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bartholomew_I_(Archontonis)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]

[[Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)]]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Christophoros_(Rakintzakis) Bishop Christophoros (Rakintzakis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Athenagoras_(Salmas) Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

Montreal Greek Times : [https://greektimes.ca/16475/Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

Orthodox Times : [https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-as-the-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

UOJ News article : "[https://uoj.news/news/metr-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada]" (22 July, 2026)

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/statement-by-the-archons-in-canada-on-the-election-of-a-new-archbishop/ Statement by the Archons in Canada on the Election of a new Archbishop] (22 July, 2026)

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:GODT]] [[Category:GOA]]

Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)

2026-09-23T18:21:34Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Archbishop of Toronto and Canada */

[[File:MetropolitanApostolosNJA 2.jpg]]

'''Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) (1969-____)'''

==Early life of Evangelos Koufallakis==

In 1969, Evangelos Ioannou Koufalakis was born on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhodes Island of Rodes], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greece Greece] (not far from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey], and one of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodecanese Dodecanese Islands]), to Ioannis and Stergia Koufallakis. He was the second of their 4 children.

Evangelos Ioannou and his siblings were baptised into the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church] in their home village, and they were raised in the bosom of the Greek Orthodox Church in Rhodes (a part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople]).

He completed his primary and secondary education near his home.

==Higher education==

In 1990, Evangelos was accepted into the [https://www.greeka.com/dodecanese/patmos/sightseeing/patmian-ecclesiastic-school/ Ecclesiastical School of Patmos] where he studied [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Byzantine_music Orthodox Byzantine Music], and [https://www.saet.ac.uk/Christianity/MusicandOrthodoxTheology Hymnology].

[[File:Patmiada School 2.jpg]] '''Patmadia School of Patmos'''

This school is near the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Apocalypse Cave of the Apocalypse], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery_of_Saint_John_the_Theologian Monastery of Saint John the Theologian].

[[File:Cave of the Apocalypse 2.jpg]] '''Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse'''

[[File:Chora di Patmos con il Monastero di San Giovanni il teologo. 1.JPG]] '''Monastery of Saint John the Theologian'''

==Monastic tonsure==

In 1993, in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian, Evangelos Koufallakis was [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Tonsure tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk], and he was given the name Apostolos.

==Diaconal ordination==

On 20 June, 1993, the Monk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

==Diaconal service==

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hierodeacon Hierodeacon] Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned to serve as deacon to the Metropolitan of Rhodes, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] Apostolos (Dimelis). He served in the capacity for 2 years.

==Further education==

In 1995, Hierodeacon Apostolos was accepted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aristotle_University_of_Thessaloniki University of Thessaloniki] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Greece northern Greece].

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 28 July, 1996, Hierodeacon Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of Rhodes.

==Pastoral service==

At first, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Apostolos (Koufallakis) continued his studies, and he served under obedience to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Thessaloniki Metropolitan of Thessaloniki], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Panteleimon_(Chrysofakis)_of_Thessalonica Metropolitan Panteleimon II (Chrysofakis)].

In 2000, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) graduated from the University of Thessaloniki with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Divinity Master of Divinity Degree].

==Move to USA, 2001 ; further education==

In 2001, with the permission and blessing of his spiritual father, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) travelled to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States United States of America] for further theological studies.

He was accepted into the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_North_and_South_America by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)], who blessed his continuing study, while he served simultaneously in communities of the [https://boston.goarch.org/about_us/ Holy Metropolis of Boston].
In 2002, Hieromonk Apostolos was accepted into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_University Boston University] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston Boston], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts Massachusets].

In 2004, Hieromonk Apostolos received the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Theology Master of Sacred Theology Degree] from the [https://www.bu.edu/sth/ School of Theology of Boston University].

[[File:BostonUniversity 1.jpeg]] '''Boston University'''

==Continuing pastoral service==

From 2004 to 2008, the Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was assigned by Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis) to serve as Priest-in-Charge of the [https://www.facebook.com/stdemetriosastoria/ Cathedral of Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine] in the historic Community of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria,_Queens Astoria], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York]. He served there with dedication, and he carried out a rich spiritual ministry.

[[File:Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral 2.jpg]] '''Saint Demetrios and Saint Catherine Cathedral'''

On 20 March, 2008, Hieromonk Apostolos received the Citation of Honour for his “profound devotion to the Greek Orthodox Church and to the Greek American Community”, during the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration_of_the_Greek_Revolution Greek Independence Day] celebrations.

In March, 2009, the Hieromonk Apostolos was assigned to serve as director of the [https://helleniccenter.org/ Archdiocesan Hellenic Cultural Centre] of the Archdiocese of America in Astoria, New York.

[[File:Atoria-poitistiko 2.jpg]] '''Hellenic Cultural Centre, Astoria'''

In November, 2011, Hieromonk Apostolos was transferred to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] (Protosyngellos) of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_San_Francisco Metropolis of San Francisco] under the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Omophorion omophor] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gerasimos_Michaleas Metropolitan Gerasimos (Michaleas)].

==Episcopal ordination==

In 2014, Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was nominated to become a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop].

On 28 November, 2014, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate] unanimously elected him to become Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Medeia], as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Auxiliary_bishop Vicar-Bishop] (Auxiliary Bishop) to the then Archbishop of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)].

Hieromonk Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) made his Confession of Faith before the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople at the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Phanar Phanar], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Istanbul Istanbul]).

On 20 December, 2014, Archimandrite Apostolos (Koufallakis) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] by members of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople], including Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis).

==Episcopal service==

In accordance with the decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople, as Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was given the title [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C4%B1y%C4%B1k%C3%B6y Bishop of Medeia].

In 2018, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Chief Secretary of the Eparchial Synod of the Holy Archdiocese of America.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was given the responsibility of planning for the service for the enthronement of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianidis)] of New York and the United States of America. The enthronement took place on 22 June, 2019.

In 2019, Bishop Apostolos was assigned to serve as Spiritual Advisor of the [https://www.goarch.org/-/ladies-philoptochos-society Greek Orthodox Ladies Philoptochos Society of America].

On 3 February, 2021, Bishop Apostolos was assigned by Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambrianadis) of America to serve as Patriarchal Commissioner of the then-vacant Holy [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey], including the responsibility for its liturgical and pastoral needs. This assignment came after the [https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/dethronement dethronement] (8 October, 2020) of its previous bishop, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evangelos (Kourounis)]. He received this responsibility in the context of many controversies which he inherited.

On 6 December, 2022, Bishop Apostolos celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the recently-reconstructed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Greek_Orthodox_Church_(Manhattan) Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manhattan Manhattan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York City], since its [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/September_11_attacks destruction on 11 November, 2001].

[[File:SaintNicholasGOCManhattan 2.jpg]] '''Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, Manhattan'''

==Metropolitan of New Jersey==

On 24 July, 2023, following the favourable recommendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis), Bishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople] to become Metropolitan of the newly-restored [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Metropolis of New Jersey]. He was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans metropolitan].

On 16 September, 2023, [https://easterndiocese.org/news_230925_3 Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) was enthroned] in the [https://www.stjohntenafly.org/ Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint John the Theologian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenafly,_New_Jersey Tenafly], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey], as metropolitan the Metropolis of New Jersey. The enthronement was led by [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/705/show Metropolitan Kyrillos (Kogerakis)] of Rhodes, Representative of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew], and [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/693/show Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)] of America, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.

[[File:SaintJohnTenaflyNJ 1.jpg]] '''Saint John the Theologian Metropolitan Cathedral, Tenafly, New Jersey'''

Following the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Enthronement Rite of Enthronement], a celebratory Gala Banquet was held at [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian], which included greetings from The Honourable [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phil_Murphy Phil Murphy, Governor of New Jersey] ; His Excellency [https://www.gov.cy/mfa-embassywashington/en/the-embassy/ambassador/ Evangelos Savva, Ambassador of Cyprus to the United States] ; and The Honourable [https://www.thenationalherald.com/konstantinos-konstantinou-consul-general-in-new-york-sends-farewell-message/ Konstantinos Konstantinou, Consul General of Greece] in New York, among many other notable leaders of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wik/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_New_Jersey Greek Orthodox Metropolis of New Jersey].

Later in September, 2023, Metropolitan Apostolos was assigned to serve for one year as a member of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Eparchial Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America#Archdiocesan_structure Holy Archdiocese of America].

On 9 April, 2024, Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) presided over the first [https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Clergy-Laity Conference of the Metropolis of New Jersey] since his enthronement. Present also was Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambrianidis), head of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, and the new Chancellor of the Metropolis of New Jersey, [https://hellenicnews.com/2024/04/04/new-chancellor-of-the-metropolis-of-nj-appointed-as-archimandrite-of-the-ecumenical-throne/ Archimandrite Nektarios (Cottras)].

On 13 January, 2025, there was a large celebration [https://www.thenationalherald.com/the-10th-anniversary-of-metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jerseys-episcopal-ordination/ in honour of the 10th anniversary of the episcopal ordination] of Metropolitan Apostolos. The event took place at the [https://www.venetiannj.com/ The Venetian Catering Hall] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garfield,_New_Jersey Garfield], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jersey New Jersey].

==Archbishop of Toronto and Canada==

On Wednesday, 22 July, 2026, the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, under the presidency of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, elected Metropolitan Apostolos (Koufallakis) of New Jersey to become the next Archbishop of Canada, following the retirement of the previous incumbent, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)] earlier in the month.

Soon after the elections, on 28 July, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos sent [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-of-canada-preserve-and-cultivate-the-precious-gift-of-ecclesiastical-unity/ a letter of greeting to the clergy and parishioners] of the Greek Orthodox Diocese of Canada. In this letter, he informed the Faithful that the enthronement had been scheduled for 19 September, 2026, at [https://www.saintnicholasgochurch.org/ Saint Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral] in [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Ontario Scarborough], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], [https://en.wikpedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

On 10 September, 2026, [https://orthodoxtimes.com/archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada-honored-at-farewell-banquet/ a grand banquet of farewell was served] for Archbishop Apostolos in the Metropolis of New Jersey, at "The Venetian" in Garfield, New Jersey, USA. The event was hosted and led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidephoros (Lambriniadis)] of New York and America.

On Thursday, 17 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos arrived in Toronto, Ontario, in advance of the enthronement on Saturday. He was escorted to the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto and Canada, where he would also reside. His predecessor, Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) was present for the welcoming. At first, there was a service of thanksgiving in the Church of Saint John the Theologian.

'''Enthronement'''

[[File:Enthronement19ix26Toronto 2.png]] '''The enthronement service'''

[[File:Kanada enthronisi 2.jpg]] '''The bishops present at the enthronement'''

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonas)] had assign [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikitas_Lioulias Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias)] of Thyateira and Great Britain as his Patriarchal Representative at the service of the enthronement. He was accompanied by Archdeacon Dr. Georgios Tsouros and Father Pavlos Lambrou.

==Enthronement in Toronto==

On Saturday, 19 September, 2026, Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis) was formally and officially enthroned as Archbishop of Toronto and Canada by the representative of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Archbishop Nikitas (Lioulias) of Thyateira and Great Britain.

The service of enthronement was attended by hierarchs, and clergy from various Orthodox Churches ; by hierarchs, and representatives of other Christian traditions, as well as senior representatives of ecclesiastical, political, and public life.

Representing Greece were Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis, Minister of Education, Religious Affairs and Sports Sofia Zacharaki, and Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister, Ambassador Alexandra Papadopoulou.

Amongst the Canadian politicians attending were former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien ; Ontario Premier Doug Ford ; Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree ; MPs Annie Koutrakis, Effie Triantafilopoulos, and Aris Babikian ; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, and City Councillor Nick Mantas.

Following the greetings and messages from representatives of political and public life, Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain formally enthroned the new Archbishop of Canada.

Then Archbishop Nikitas read the Message from Patriarch Bartholomew, which highlighted the importance of Archbishop Apostolos’ new service in Canada’s contemporary and multicultural society.

After this, in his inaugural address, Archbishop Apostolos acknowledged the work of his predecessor, the former Archbishop Sotirios of Canada. He drew attention to his many years of service in the development of the Church in Canada, particularly in education, youth ministry, and clergy formation.

The new Archbishop pledged to respect and continue the work entrusted to him. He said, “I am not inheriting a small ark. I am inheriting a significant ecclesiastical work”.

Archbishop Apostolos also emphasised the importance of spiritual life and monasticism, and he averred that Canada’s monasteries would continue to remain under the canonical and spiritual care of the Archdiocese. In this connection, he pledged to strengthen their presence in Canada, as active centres and examples of prayer, repentance, ascetic life, spiritual renewal, and hospitality, and pledged to strengthen their presence.

The Archbishop addressed the subject of Hellenism in the diaspora, and the Greek language. He stressed that "Romiosyni" is not simply a memory of the past, but rather a living tradition that is passed on and renewed from generation to generation. He described the Greek language as “a living ark of memory, truth, and wisdom”, ... “a bearer of our culture and spiritual heritage”, ... and “a bridge between generations”.

He stressed that the Archdiocese would support teachers, parents, and educational programmes, so that the Greek language, history, and tradition can be passed on to future generations. About them, he stressed that the youth are not simply the future of the Church, but are already an active part of it. He encouraged them to participate in the worship, and in community life of the Church, and not to be afraid to ask questions.

In the English-language section of his address, he stressed that supporting the development of young people is the responsibility of the hierarchy, clergy, parents, educators, and the entire Greek Orthodox community. He also called for stronger Sunday schools, and youth programmes in every parish so that children can come to know and love the Orthodox faith, the Greek language, history, and culture.

He stressed that a person can be at the same time “a good Canadian, a conscious Greek and, above all, a faithful Orthodox Christian.”

He also pledged that the Church would maintain an active presence in Canadian society, with an emphasis on peace, human dignity, the family, and support for those in need.

Archbishop Apostolos was particularly clear about the relationship between the Archdiocese of Canada and the Ecumenical Patriarchate, describing it as a “sacred trust”. “We will honour it, protect it, and serve it,” he said, while expressing his commitment to the Mother Church of Constantinople. Archbishop Apostolos also said that he would defend “with all his strength” the canonical rights and standing of the Archdiocese of Canada.

He stressed that he would serve the Church “with dialogue, prudence, and peace,” but also with the frankness required by episcopal responsibility. “The Archbishop is not the master of the Church,” he said, but “the guardian and servant of the trust” entrusted to him by the Church.

Bishop of Medeia 2014-2023. Preceded by : ____. Succeeded by : ____.

Metropolitan of New Jersey 2023-2026. Preceded by : [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelos_Kourounis Metropolitan Evnagelos (Kourounis)]. Succeeded by : ____.

Archbishop of Toronto and Canada 2026-____. Preceded by : [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]. Succeeded by : ____.

==References==

[https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/1454/show Orthodoxia.ch record of Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Koufallakis Wikipedia article about Archbishop Apostolos (Koufallakis)]

'''Additional information :'''

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/biography-his-eminence-archbishop-elect-apostolos-of-canada/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Biography : Archbishop Apostolos of Canada]

[http://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Metropolis_of_Toronto_(Canada) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Toronto]

[https://www.gometropolis.org/ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople (Ecumenical Patriarchate)]

[https://www.patriarchate.org/ Ecumenical Patriarchate web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/greeks/ Greek Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_diaspora Greek diaspora]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada_(Greek) Orthodoxwiki article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada and All the Arctic]

[https://grokipedia.com/page/greek_orthodox_archdiocese_of_canada Grokipedia article about the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada]

[[Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bartholomew_I_(Archontonis)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrios_(Trakatellis)_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elpidophoros_of_America Archbishop Elpidophoros (Lambriniadis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]

[[Bishop Theodosios (Sideris)]]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Christophoros_(Rakintzakis) Bishop Christophoros (Rakintzakis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Athenagoras_(Salmas) Bishop Athenagoras (Salmas)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostolos_Dimelis Metropolitan Apostolos (Dimelis)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolis_of_Rhodes Rhodes].

Montreal Greek Times : [https://greektimes.ca/16475/Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

Orthodox Times : [https://orthodoxtimes.com/metropolitan-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-as-the-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada] (22 July, 2026)

UOJ News article : "[https://uoj.news/news/metr-apostolos-of-new-jersey-elected-new-archbishop-of-canada/ Metropolitan Apostolos of New Jersey elected as the new Archbishop of Canada]" (22 July, 2026)

[https://goarchdiocese.ca/statement-by-the-archons-in-canada-on-the-election-of-a-new-archbishop/ Statement by the Archons in Canada on the Election of a new Archbishop] (22 July, 2026)

[[Category:Bishops]] [[Category:EP]] [[Category:GODT]] [[Category:GOA]]

File:Kanada enthronisi 2.jpg

2026-09-23T18:20:50Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

File:Enthronement19ix26Toronto 2.png

2026-09-23T18:18:08Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

Category:UOCC

2026-09-23T17:07:32Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

'''Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

The former name before 1990 was the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

Church web-site : http://uocc.ca

See also the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclpedia of Ukraine article].

This metropolitanate is a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople. The local exarch for the patriarchate is [[Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas)]].

Patriarchate web-site : https://www.patriarchate.org

'''History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)'''

The seed of the Orthodox Faith was sowed on the Canadian land, not by missionaries, but by simple peasants, who came from Ukraine and established themselves, primarily on the Canadian prairies. It is on the simple, but at the same time deep, faith of the Ukrainian peasants-pioneers, who started to immigrate to Canada at the end of the nineteenth century, that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada was established.

'''The Period of Genesis'''

Most of the first Ukrainian settlers came to Canada from Halychina (where most of them had been Greek-Catholics) and from Bukovina (where they generally belonged to the Orthodox Church). The "Halychany", settling in Canada, were visited once in awhile by Greek-Catholic priests, but the Vatican wished to attach them to the Roman-Catholic Church which was already in existence, and which would have assimilated them. The Bukovinians arriving in North America usually incorporated themselves into the Russian Orthodox Mission [1], which was already in existence. Nevertheless, many of the Ukrainian immigrants desired to have a Church with a Ukrainian character, which would be closer to the spiritual and cultural needs of the Ukrainian people, and this led to the formation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada [2].

Some members of the “Ukrainian Union of Teachers in Canada” [3] established the newspaper “The Ukrainian Voice” [4]. They called national conventions ("narodni zyizdy") at which they discussed the need to organise the “Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada”. [5] In July, 1918, the National Committee ("Narodny Komitet") called a meeting in Saskatoon, at which it was resolved to establish the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada” [6]. This meeting formed a brotherhood, and condemned the Union of Brest of 1596 [7].

Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop. Thus, the brotherhood contacted [[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Mission in North America] — who initially accepted to become the temporary bishop of the UGOCC [8] and to preside at its first “Sobor” [9], but who later refused. [10] The first “Sobor” took place anyway on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop [11] and this led to the establishment of the first seminary, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan [12].

'''Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)'''

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, with the presence of the Antiochian [[Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi)]] [13], who accepted to head the UGOCC until such a time that would have its own bishop [14]. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924 [15].

In 1924, [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]] arrived in the USA from the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Autocephalous_Orthodox_Church Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church], to lead the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA. Knowing about the presence of a Ukrainian bishop on the American continent, the fourth Sobor of the UGOCC, held on 16-17 July, 1924, decided to invite Archbishop John to become the ruling bishop of the UGOCC. He accepted, and he thus began visiting Canada during the summers. During his absence in winter, when he was in the USA, his administrative functions were carried out by a priest-administrator at the consistory (headquarters offices) in Winnipeg, Father Semen Sawchuk[ 16].

However, soon Archbishop John became the subject of polemics regarding his uncanonical ordination to the rank of bishop [17]. For this reason, he was forced to resign from his office as ruling bishop in 1946 [18].

In 1947, during an extraordinary Sobor, [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] was accepted as Archbishop of Winnipeg and all Canada [19]. He was ordained during the administration of the Warsaw Metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands in 1942. But, because of some misunderstandings between him and the Consistory, he was forced to resign from his office in 1950, at the Tenth Sobor [20].

Then the Consistory asked [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]], who presided at the Holy Synod of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops, ordained by the administration of the Warsaw metropolitanate on the freed Ukrainian lands, (and in the aftermath of the war found themselves in the emigration), for assistance. He agreed then to lead the UGOCC.

'''The Formation of the Metropolitanate'''

In 1951, up to the time of the extraordinary Sobor, the Consistory had found four candidates for the office of ruling bishop. They were all canonically elected and ordained by the Holy Synod of the Warsaw Metropolitanate (Autocephanous Orthodox Church in Poland). Of these candidates, 3 came to Canada : the [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Metropolitan of Kholm and Pidliasha Ilarion (Ohienko)]], who fled with his flock during the war, and came to Canada in 1947 at the invitation of the Holy Protectress Cathedral (Sobor) in Winnipeg ; [[Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy) |Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy)]], who came to Canada in 1951 at the invitation of the Consistory ; and [[Bishop Platon (Artemiuk)]] who came to Canada in 1951 with the blessing of Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski), but who prematurely fell asleep in the Lord. The extraordinary Sobor decided to follow the canonical system of a metropolitanate to administer the UGOCC, creating thus a metropolitanate with 3 eparchies (dioceses) : central, east, west.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)'''

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) was chosen to be the Metropolitan of Winnipeg and all Canada, and Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) became the Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy [21].

More is to be said about Metropolitan Ilarion. He was, in fact, the first ruling bishop of the UGOCC in the full sense of the term, since he was permanently living in Canada and taking care of the spiritual needs of his spiritual children. Therefore, he became the pillar upon which the further development of the UGOCC leaned. Having become the metropolitan of UGOCC, he took care of his spiritual children with great pastoral love, and with an understanding of their good will and efforts in the organisation of the UGOCC. However, he paid particular attention to the canonical-disciplinary order and the liturgical life of his flock. As a new “Petro Mohyla,” he began to administer the Church with great authority, and thus brought the UGOCC into canonical order and he normalised the liturgical life by the publication of liturgical books.

He also developed the Faculty of Theology of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew's_College,_Manitoba Saint Andrew’s College] (founded in 1946). He served as its dean for several years, and thus raised the level of knowledge of the clergy. He also kept in mind the spiritual and educational growth of the faithful, for whom he published informative pamphlets and booklets [22].

Thus, the metropolitanate was growing, and the need for new bishops arose. In 1959, [[Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk) |Archimandrite Andrew (Metiuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy. In 1963, [[Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) |Archimandrite Boris (Yakovkevych)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar-Bishop of the Central Eparchy [23].

After 21 years of zealous archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Ilarion fell alseep in the Lord on 29 March, 1972. His departure was felt as a great loss for the UGOCC.

'''Metropolitan Michael'''

Archbishop Michael (Khoroshy) was chosen to replace him, and he was at the head of the Metropolitanate until 1975, when he resigned from the office of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primate_(bishop) primate] [24].

'''Metropolitan Andrew'''

Then Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) became the primate of the UGOCC. He remained its metropolitan for 10 years, until his blessed repose on 2 February, 1985 [25]. During the time of his administration new bishops were ordained : [[Archbishop Nicholas (Debryn) |Bishop Nicholas (Debryn)]] in 1975 [26] ; [[Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) |Bishop Wasyly (Fedak)]] on 16 July, 1978, who became the primate of the UOCC after the death of Metropolitan Andrew in 1985 [27] ; and [[Metropolitan John (Stinka) |Bishop John (Stinka)]] on 27 November, 1983.

'''Metropolitan Wasyly'''

During the term of office of Metropolitan Wasyly, [[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) |Archimandrite Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] was ordained to be the Bishop of Saskatoon on 22 October, 1989 [28].

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of Parliament in 1990.

'''Canonical Ordering'''

Fulfilling the desires and intentions of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Ilarion, Metropolitan Wasyly, assisted by the Consistory, and with the help of God, concluded the canonical ordering of the UOCC [29].

After a few visits and discussions with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC was received into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarchate_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in 1990, during the time of the service of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Demetrius_I_(Papadopoulos)_of_Constantinople Patriarch Demetrios I]. Thus, the UOCC came into normal relations with the other Orthodox Churches. This happened officially on 1 April, 1990, when Bishop Yurij celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Istanbul Istanbul]) and received Holy Communion from the common Cup. The faithful of the UOCC received this historical act positively, by approving this establishment of eucharistic and canonical union almost unanimously at the Eighteenth Sobor of the UOCC, in July, 1990. In this way, they showed their trust in their Church leaders [30].

According to the Patriarchal Decree 31], upon entering the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the UOCC remained a metropolitanate with full internal autonomy, having as its canonical head the Ecumenical Patriarch to whom it has canonical reference in all things. This status recalls the days, when the Kyivan Metropolitanate was a part of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and when there were very close Church relations between Constantinople and Kyiv, for the good of these 2 important Church centres.

The following written by the Mitred Archpriest Ihor George Kutash presents some information about these events :

'How the Eucharistic Communion Between the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and the Ecumenical
Patriarchate of Constantinople came about : Articles of Agreement Between the UOC of Canada and the
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople' (Eclessia Publishing Corporation, Winnipeg, 2000)

The achievement of canonical relations by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada - that is, the
normalization of its life in the fabric of world Orthodoxy - is a matter of colossal significance. It
was achieved by UOCC representatives, Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) and Protopresbyter Stephan JARMUS
concelebrating the Divine Liturgy and communing from one Chalice with the clergy of the Patriarchate of
Constantinople in the Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople, and by the UOCC's XVIII Sobor in 1990
ratifying the Articles of Agreement...

Ukrainian Orthodox leaders have made numerous attempts throughout the twentieth century to obtain some
sort of recognition from the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The current successful achievement of this goal
grew from a decision, as we prepared to celebrate the Ukrainian Orthodox Millennium (1988), to inform
Eastern Orthodox leaders about our Church (and the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in general), to invite
them to celebrate with us, and to propose our formula for rapprochement with them.

Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) proposed that we visit these leaders. This idea, expressed during the
spring Consistory Meeting May 7-9, 1987, was approved...

Some interesting matters transpired regarding this visit. Although the idea of visiting Orthodox
centres by the Metropolitan and Fr. S. Jarmus was not widely publicized, it must have come to the
attention of Moscow for on June 15, 1987, only five weeks after the above-mentioned Consistory Meeting,
the Consistory received an unexpected visit from Metropolitan Nicodemus of L'viv and Ternopil. During
his visit he suggested that we need not got to Constantinople for recognition. He guaranteed that we
could receive autocephaly from the Patriarchate of Moscow. He dismissed any doubts about our
canonicity: 'We build fences but God's sun warms us on one side and the other' ...

'''Metropolitan John'''

After the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John (Stinka) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan John served as the primate of the UOCC until 2010, when he retired.

'''Metropolitan Yurij'''

After the retirement of Metropolitan John in 2010, Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) was elected to serve as the primate, and he was raised to the dignity of metropolitan. Metropolitan Yurij continues to lead the UOCC since then.

'''Perspectives for the future'''

The greatest heritage of the 100-year history of the UOCC is probably the successful fulfilment of the canonical ordering of this Church body, which was organised by people of good will — faithful Ukrainian immigrants, who came to the Canadian prairies at the end of the nineteenth century. During the relatively short period of its existence, the UOCC found its natural place in the commonwealth of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and today it is in full communion with all the Orthodox world. This status within the canonical jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate can be considered to be the fruit of that seed, which was planted in good ground a century ago, and which yielded a crop.

We can only expect now that the faithful of the UOCC, under the leadership of their clergy, will develop and intensify their contacts with the throne of the Ecumenical Patriarchate as well as with other spiritual centres of world Orthodoxy (such as the Holy Land, Holy Mount Athos, other Autocephalous Orthodox Churches) and especially the holy places of the Ukrainian nation.

Nevertheless, we have to be conscious of the fact that although we should remember the origins of the seed, we ought not to neglect the land on which it was sowed. We must concentrate all our efforts to make sure that the ground is good, and that the seed yields a crop a hundred-fold. For the purpose of the sowed seed is not to conserve it, but to yield a crop and multiply. For this reason, we have to cultivate and multiply the Holy Orthodox Faith, which has been passed down to us from our ancestors on our Canadian land.

We have to save our children as well as the entire Canadian people in the Holy Orthodox Faith. And here we are confronted with thorns that are trying to choke the seeds : the thorns of materialism and hedonism, which encourage us to care only about material goods, forgetting about spiritual wealth and eternal beatitude ; the thorns of [http://religion.wikia.com/wiki/Aeonism aeonism] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secularism secularism], which teach us to think in worldly categories, not in spiritual categories. Such thorns try to choke us with the greatest illusion : to forget that the Church of Christ, although it is in the world, is not of this world.

Thus, there is a great mission for the future ahead of us : to clear the ground from the ruining thorns, so that they do not choke the seeds and so that the seed can yield a crop. Against such thorns only a spiritual sickle is efficient : the weapon of prayer and fasting — so often suggested by our Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel. For this reason, according to the Commandments of the Lord, which are in fact the commandments of love (John 15:12), we ought to follow the rule of prayer and fasting. Prayer, according to our Holy Fathers, is indeed the best weapon against evil. In this we could seek help from the spiritual fortresses — holy monasteries, and genuine monastics — spiritual elders. We have to pray the Lord sends us such ascetics of piety, who could take on the task of founding holy monasteries all across our Canadian land.

May the Lord help us in our spiritual warfare, through the prayers of His All-Pure Mother and of all His saints.

'''Centennial'''

2018 marked the first 100 years since the foundation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. During this year, there were various celebrations throughout the country. The chief of these was in the form of an Extraordinary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, from 9-12 August. There were sessions at the Mohyla Institute, All Saints Church, and at Holy Trinity Cathedral.

'''Endnotes :'''

[1] Known today as “The Orthodox Church in America” (OCA).

[2] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, (Discussion paper – Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, June 28-29, 1989), p. 1-3.

[3] Established in 1907.

[4] Founded in 1910.

[5] Ibid., p. 4.

[6] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді” Календар Рідна Нива на 1978р. / Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1978, p. 91-92.

[7] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 7.

[8] The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada. We will use this abbreviation.

[9] Thus, they are called clergy-laity conferences, at which the bishops, the priests and the laity participate.

[10] O. Trosky, “The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada”, (Winnipeg, 1968), p. 17-18.

[11] It is interesting to note that although this conference took place without the presence of a bishop it was numbered as the first “Sobor” of the UGOCC.

[12] T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, p. 92-93.

[13] Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadi) was a metropolitan of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Antioch Antiochian Orthodox Church] who was living in the USA for many years.

[14] Ibid., p. 93-94.

[15] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 14.

[16] Ibid., p. 15-16; T. Міненко, “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 94-95.

[17] Не was “ordained” bishop by the first “bishops” of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, who were not ordained according to the canons and Sacred Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church. In fact, they were “ordained” by priests and lay people, as the canons of the Holy Orthodox Church clearly state that a bishop should be ordained by at least two or three other bishops (1st Canon of the Holy Apostles).

[18] T. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 18.

[19] Ibid., p. 20.

[20] Ibid., p. 21.

[21] Ibid., p. 23-24; T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 53. Read the life of Metropolitan Ilarion.

[22] Ilarion in the calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1997, p. 215-216.

[23] T. Міненко “Українська Греко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 99-100; Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 24.

[24] Metropolitan Michael remained Archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy until his blessed repose on May 18, 1977.

[25] Ibid., p. 24-25.

[26] Ordination to the episcopate: December 21, 1975; fell asleep in the Lord on March 30, 1981. T. Міненко “Українська Іреко-Православна Церква в Канаді”, стор. 103.

[27] Т. Minenko, “The Development of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada — 1918 – to present”, p. 25.

[28] Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 145.

[29] We should note that the name “UGOCC.” was changed to “UOCC.” (the term “Greek” being omitted) at the 1985 Sobor.

[30] [Calendar “Ridna Nyva” 1991, p. 131.

[31] Ibid., p. 117-119.

[http://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Eastern Eparchy history of the UOCC]

[[Category:Jurisdictions]] [[Category:Autocephalous Churches]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:59:35Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023 */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''New Principal, 2026'''

In 2026, Saint Andrew's College [https://umanitoba.ca/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-04/sac-new-principal-2026.pdf appointed a new principal, Dr. Keith Swinton]. Father Roman Bozhyk, who served as acting principal for many years, was able to reduce his responsibilities, and to serve only as Dean of Theology.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003-2026 Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)
2026-____ Dr. Keith Swinton

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton].

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News] (Autumn, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:56:44Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023 */

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:55:31Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023 */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''New Principal, 2026'''

In 2026, Saint Andrew's College [https://umanitoba.ca/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-04/sac-new-principal-2026.pdf appointed a new principal, Dr. Keith Swinton]. Father Roman Bozhyk, who served as acting principal for many years, was able to reduce his responsibilities and to serve only as Dean of Theology.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003-2026 Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)
2026-____ Dr. Keith Swinton

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton].

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News] (Autumn, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:48:21Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular College information */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton].

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News] (Autumn, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:47:58Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular College information */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News] (Autumn, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:47:36Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News] (Autumn, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:46:51Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Saint Andrew's College News, Autumn 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:41:45Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular College information */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://standrews.ca/news/latest-news/ Latest News, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:38:27Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[https://standrews.ca/news/latest-news/ Latest News, 2026]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932

2026-09-23T16:37:21Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular College information */

[[File:SaintAndrewCollegeSpring 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Saint Andrew’s College, 1932'''

==Prehistory==

In the earlier days of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada], a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary seminary] was formed at first in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatoon/ Saskatoon], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan/ Saskatchewan], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], in association with the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 “Mohyla Institute”] there.

Nevertheless, many clergy continued to be trained also, as from the earliest days, in places such as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wesley_College_(Manitoba) Wesley Methodist College] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_College Manitoba Presbyterian College] in [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba].

In the context of studies in Winnipeg, the [https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf “Adam Kotsko” Student Bursa] was established to help students manage to live in the city while they studied.

==Forming Saint Andrew's Seminary, 1932==

In 1932, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada began to operate a Ukrainian Orthodox [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seminary Seminary] in Winnipeg.

[[File:SeminaryIn1932 1.png]] '''Site of the seminary, 1932'''

From the beginning in 1918, Winnipeg was the actual administrative centre of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. The existence of this seminary was for the purpose of enabling the education of clergy who would serve the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

[[File:ThMM8EQLJ0.jpg]] '''Holy Apostle Andrew the First-called'''

==Forming Saint Andrew’s College, 1946==

A concrete plan for the establishment of a College, a higher institution of learning, was presented to and approved by the Clergy Conference of the Ukrainian Greek-Orthodox Church of Canada on 25 June, 1943.

Then, in September, 1946, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada established [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Saint Andrew’s College] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_End,_Winnipeg North End] of Winnipeg, and it was [http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& incorporated provincially].

It began its existence and work in quarters nearby the newly-established [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946 |Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]] on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_52 Main Street]. These quarters were within the premises of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._John%27s_College,_University_of_Manitoba Saint John's Anglican College] on Church Avenue, and they were able to remain at this site until 1950.

[[File:SaintJohnCollegeChurchAvenueWinnipeg 1.png]] '''Second site'''

Once the college began to develop as an academic institution, it began to house the seminary, the beginnings of a library, and to provide student quarters.

==Saint Andrew’s College affiliated with the University of Manitoba, 1962==

In 1962, Saint Andrew’s College became affiliated with the [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/university-of-manitoba/ University of Manitoba], and [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] was established.

[[File:Saint Andrews College 2.png]] '''Aerial view of the college'''

==Situated at the University of Manitoba, 1964==

In 1964, the college moved to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] campus, to the south of the city. It occupied buildings on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Dysart+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea75e4ebd32d73:0x805fe1ecede293ae!8m2!3d49.8114274!4d-97.1356793!16s%2Fg%2F1tqckwph?entry=ttu Dysart Road], which is one of the main roads of access to the university. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] was established within these buildings.

The buildings also provided rooms for students, offices for teachers, rooms for classes, and space for the library. In this environment, the college was able to provide academic courses that involved Ukrainian [https://www.britannica.com/summary/Ukraine history], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture] near the university. It also was able to provide the appropriate theological formation for candidates for ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] in the Church.

Courses were made available for persons who would be teaching in parishes.

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew's] College primarily functioned both as an academic university college and also as a spiritual seminary.

[[File:Chapel iconostasS.jpg]] '''Saint Andrew's College Chapel'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic Union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Further development of the college==

As the courses offered by the college in the Faculty of Arts of the University of Manitoba increased, the college became one of the colleges officially affiliated to the university in 1981.

At that time, the college also established the "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_for_Ukrainian_Canadian_Studies Centre for Ukrainian Canadian Studies]" (CUCS).

The CUCS began to offer courses on the University of Manitoba campus, and at off-campus locations in the city of Winnipeg.

From time to time, the centre is also able to offer courses at other locations in Manitoba, through teleconferencing, and also through specialised programmes during the summer months.

==Syllabus==

Saint Andrew’s College offers the following programmes in its Faculty of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology Theology] :

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) : a 4-year programme (3 years of theology courses, 1 year of humanities
courses).

Diploma in Theology (Dip.Th.) : a 2-year programme for mature students (special permission is required).

Certificate in Theology (Cert.Th.) : a 1-year programme for laity (it can be taken on a part-time
basis).

Master of Divinity (M.Div.) : a 1-year programme after the completion of both the B.A. and B.Th.
degrees.

There are also offered a high school programme, and Ukrainian Cultural Summer Courses.

The college is also affiliated with the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_of_Theological_Schools_in_the_United_States_and_Canada Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada]” (ATS). This is the major accrediting entity for theological schools in North America.

'''Purposes of the college :'''

Saint Andrew’s College describes itself as being an institution of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, and being affiliated with the University of Manitoba.

The college exists to promote spiritual, academic, cultural and moral leadership within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, the Ukrainian Canadian community at large, and the general Canadian community.

The programmes and courses of the colleges are designed to prepare candidates for the clergy and other professionals for service in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and in other Orthodox Churches.

In addition, the college provides a Ukrainian Orthodox Christian residence for Ukrainian Orthodox and other students in Canada. Central to its purpose are : support for the faculty in their scholarly and educational activities ; encouragement in the propagation and support of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadian culture] within Canadian society. Besides these things, the college community engages in outreach by serving as an Orthodox witness (testimony) through its presence and teaching activities on the campus of the University of Manitoba.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the college stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

The 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened in Edmonton, Alberta, at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral], 15-19 June, 2022.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]. There was a consideration of 2 candidates, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)] and Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk). The final result was the choice came of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk).

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Constantinople]. Once they had received the nomination from the Sobor of the UOCC, they elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk). This election confirmed Vladyka Ilarion in his new responsibility and title. Thus, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) became Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the Phanar.

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons (who seem to have been resisting episcopal authority in favour of so-called democracy) began to encourage resistance to this change. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor. He called the resisters to repentance.

'''Principals of Saint Andrew’s College :'''

1946-1950 F G Hawryluk
1950-1952 G Woloshynowski
1952-1955 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1955-1958 Protopresbyter Dr. D F Stratychuk
1958-1959 Archpriest H D Hrycyna
1963-1968 [https://uocceast.ca/eparchy/the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Protopresbyter Dr. S W Sawchuk]
1968-1974 Professor L Tomaschuk
1974-1975 Justice Dr. J R Solomon
1975-1978 [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest M Yurkiwsky]
1978-1981 Dr. P A Kondra
1981-1984 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-dr-oleg-a-krawchenko/ Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko]
1984-1985 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1985-1986 Protopresbyter Dr. O Krawchenko
1986-1987 Dr. O Trosky
1987-1988 [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak Protopresbyter D Luchak]
1988-1998 [https://www.umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/faculty/3301.html Dr. R Yereniuk]
1998-1999 [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-roman-bozyk/ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk] (Acting Principal)
1999-2003 [https://ca.linkedin.com/in/vivian-olender-8a0864a Dr. V Olender]
2003–____ Archpriest Roman W Bozyk (Acting Principal)

==Particular College information==

Saint Andrew’s College is an academic institution in the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=winnipeg-region&wpv-parish-location=0&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (UOCC). It serves as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological] seminary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/4876/ Saint Andrew’s College Chapel] is the collegiate chapel, situated within the buildings of Saint Andrew's College.

Saint Andrew’s College Chapel (with the seminary) is within the Winnipeg District of the [https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The collegiate chapel follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian Calendar)].

The Altar Feast-day of the collegiate chapel is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Apostle Andrew], 30 November / 13 December.

In 2026, the Principal of the seminary was [https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/sites/st-andrews-college/files/2026-09/2026-sac-fall-news.pdf Dr. Keith Swinton.

The Dean of Theology and the Chaplain of Saint Andrew’s Chapel was the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk].

Address :

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College]

29, Dysart Road

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R3T 2H7

Telephone : (204) 474-8895

Fax : (204) 474-7624

E-mail : st_andrews@umanitoba.ca

[https://umanitoba.ca/st-andrews-college/ Web-site]

Directions :

[https://www.google.ca/search?client=opera&q=google+map+of+29+Dysart+Road&sourceid=opera&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8 Google map]

By car :

Drive south from central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] on the [https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=581776001&tbs=lf:1,lf_ui:1&tbm=lcl&q=the+Pembina+Highway+(%2342&rflfq=1&num=10&ved=2ahUKEwig7LXNxL-CAxVaATQIHcktCD8QtgN6BAgLEAI Pembina Highway (#42)] until the interchange at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_165 Bishop Grandin Boulevard (Highway #165)]. Continue south and then immediately follow [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/university-crescent-and-pembina-highway?to=place.Ej9Vbml2ZXJzaXR5IENyZXNjZW50ICYgUGVtYmluYSBId3ksIFdpbm5pcGVnLCBNQiBSM1QgNVc3LCBDYW5hZGEiZiJkChQKEgmhg_CP6nXqUhGloodKWACBhBIUChIJoYPwj-p16lIRpaKHSlgAgYQaFAoSCX_9IQbwdepSEYwiSIn1AUi9GhQKEgmH1Yie83XqUhEXp1RyIH--tiIKDVCwsR0VvbkXxg University Crescent] to the left. Turn left at [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Dysart Boulevard] (which is across from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Investors_Group_Field Investors Group Field]. The college is immediately to the left, before [https://www.google.com/maps/@49.8114274,-97.1356793,17z?entry=ttu Sidney Smith Street].

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=29+Dysart+Road&location_id=addresses%2F190689&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit].

Routes #36, #51, #60, #72, #75, #76, #78, #137, #160, #161, #162, #170, #183, #185, and others give access to the college.

Dr. Keith Swinton (Principal)

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Archpriest Roman Bozyk] (Dean of Theology)

Telephone : (204) 269-1161

E-mail : bozykr@ms.umanitoba.ca

[[File:St andrews.jpeg]]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

“25-літній ювілей Колегії св. Андрея в Вінніпегу при Манітобськім університеті 1946-1971” (Вінніпег : [б. в.], 1971) [“The 25th Anniversary of the College of St Andrei in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba 1946-1971” (Winnipeg : St Andrew’s College, 1971. OLID : OL4547149A.]

Bumstead, John M (Jack), “[https://archive.org/details/universityofmani0000bums/page/82/mode/2up The University of Manitoba : An Illustrated History]” (Winnipeg : University of Manitoba Press, 2001).

Martynowych, Orest T, “[http://www.ciuspress.com/catalogue/ukrainians-in-canada/141/ukrainians-in-canada--the-formative-years%2C-1891-1924 Ukrainians in Canada – the Formative Years 1891-1924]” (CIUS Press : University of Alberta, 1991). ISBN : 10 : 0920862764 ; 13: 978-0920862766.

......, “[https://umanitoba.ca/faculties/arts/departments/ukrainian_canadian_studies/media/OccPaper_U_Students_1909-29.pdf Ukrainian-Canadian Students at the University of Manitoba, 1909-1929]” pp. 4-5.

[http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College Web-site information]

[http://web2.gov.mb.ca/laws/statutes/private/c16490e.php?map=2& Saint Andrew’s College, Winnipeg : Provincial Incorporation Act, 1946 ]

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”.

'''Additional information : '''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” [http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba” by Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh]

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/ Saint Andrew’s College web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Andrew%27s_College_(Winnipeg,_Manitoba) Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Andrew%27s_College,_Manitoba Wikipedia article about Saint Andrew’s College]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/html/about/about.html University of Manitoba article about the Historical background of Saint Andrew’s College]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encylopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Andrew Saint Andrew the Apostle]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchate of Constantinople]

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070706222025/http://www.umanitoba.ca/centres/ukrainian_canadian/ Centre for Ukrainian Studies web-site]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_andrews/files/newsSpring_2023.pdf News from Saint Andrew’s College] (Spring, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946

2026-09-23T16:23:44Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Parish organisations */

[[File:Holytrinitycathedral 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, 1946'''

==Prehistory==

The history in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] (now the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]) developed in the midst of various difficulties and confusions, many of them being external events and situations.

Although the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church (UGOCC) had been established in 1918-1919 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], it was 1923 before the first Ukrainian Greek Orthodox parish was established in Winnipeg. This was [[Winnipeg MB Saint Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1923 |Saint Mary the Protectress Sobor]] at Burrows Avenue and Sinclair Street. [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/parishdetails.asp?ParishID=171 Saint Michael’s (Bukovynian) Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Point_Douglas Point Douglas] had been established earlier, in 1918, but that community did not enter the UGOCC until later. [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/parishdetails.asp?ParishID=168 Saint Ivan Suchavsky Sobor] at 939, Main Street, was established in 1931, and it belonged to a different [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdiction (headquartered in the USA]).

==Formation of the parish, 1946==

The Holy Trinity Parish was organised in March, 1946. The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was seriously concerned about a need for a central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral archiepiscopal cathedral] (as a result of the separate status at that time of the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Mary_the_Protectress_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Sobor_1923 Saint Mary the Protectress parish]), and the newly organised parish offered to serve as a cathedral parish.

The Ninth General Council (Sobor) of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada, which met in July, 1946, accepted the offer of the parish, and it ruled that the parish would be charged with the responsibilities of building a suitable Cathedral Temple.

It was this 1946 sobor which elected [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] to succeed [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych) |Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]], and to become the first resident head of the UGOCC as the Archbishop of Winnipeg. He arrived from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany Germany], and he began to serve. However, he remained only for 2 years because of differences with the UGOCC administration. He later departed for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA].

He was followed temporarily by [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]] of the [https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianAutocephalousOrthodoxchurch.htm Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church] (UAOC) in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe Europe].

In 1947, [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Archbishop Ilarion (Ohienko)]] arrived in Winnipeg from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland Poland].

The present site of the metropolitan cathedral was purchased in May, 1946. Architectural designs for the proposed cathedral were sought. On 26 May, 1948, the Selection Committee recommended a sketch entitled “Kiev” which was submitted by [https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/Heritage/HeritageResourcesReports/Main-1175-long.pdf George Korbin and Alexander Powstenko]. This “Kiev” sketch served as a model from which the present cathedral building was developed. Building procedure guidance was given by Mr. Alexander Lasko, a Toronto, Ontario architect. The firm of [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/pratt_rb.shtml Pratt and Ross] of Winnipeg was engaged as architects, and on the basis of the “Kiev” sketch, drew up plans and specifications for the building of the auditorium portion of the cathedral as the first phase of the building programme.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko), 1951'''

In 1951, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Vladyka Ilarion I (Ohienko)] was elected and installed as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Primate Primate] of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. From the outset, he began to improve the good order of the UGOCC, both spiritually and practically.

[[File:1950s Church school.jpg]] '''1950s Church school'''

==Construction of the lower auditorium, 1949-1952==

The auditorium portion of the project was constructed by [https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/Heritage/HeritageResourcesReports/Main-1175-long.pdf Wallace and Aikens] of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The building was started late in 1949, and it was completed in 1952. This auditorium served both as a Temple and as a cultural centre.

==Construction of the upper Temple, 1957-1962==

Preparations for the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATS9m4xb2fU completion of the Cathedral Temple] itself were initiated in 1957. [https://winnipegarchitecture.ca/alexander-nitchuk/ Mr. Alex Nitchuk] was engaged as the architect. The building committee and the architect were guided by the experiences of other parishes in Canada who had recently done ecclesiastical construction, and by some valuable recommendations which were offered by [https://yuriigeorgekodak.com/bukovinian/ Mr. George Kodak] who had distinguished himself as an architect and designer of Ukrainian Churches in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada Eastern Canada]. The building contract was awarded to [https://winnipegarchitecture.ca/1405-portage-avenue/ Semmler Construction Company] of which the late [https://www.htuomc.org/files/History/Full_History_Cathedral.pdf/ Mr. Matt Solonyka] (a member of the cathedral parish) was a partner.

==Sanctification of the Temple, 1962==

The completed auditorium and Temple were dedicated and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctified] on the Sunday of the [https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/06/04/45-holy-pentecost Feast of Pentecost], 8 June, 1962, by Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko), the spiritual head of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

The first Divine Service within the newly-built and nearly-completed Cathedral Temple was celebrated on 6 January, 1962, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old Calendar] Eve of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ], by the parish priest, [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest Michael Yurkiwsky].

The first Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)]] on the Feast-day of the Nativity of Christ, 7 January, 1962.

[[File:Altar Iconography, Holy Table S.jpg]] '''Altar iconography, Holy Table'''

[[File:High Place s.jpg]] '''High Place'''

[[File:HOLY TRINITY UKR. ORTHODOX interior s.jpg]] '''Cathedral interior'''

[[File:Westward view s.jpg]] '''Westward view'''

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic mosaic] image of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity Holy Trinity] at the front of the cathedral was installed in 1988. It marked the 1,000th anniversary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism_of_Rus%27 Baptism of Rus’] in 988 in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyiv Kyiv].

[[File:HolyTrinityMosaic 2.jpg]] [[File:Mosaic icon s.jpg]]

'''Mosaic icon'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

'''Centennial of the first Ukrainian immigration to Canada, 1990'''

Also in 1990, the [http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/1991/529109.shtml centennial of Ukrainian settlers in Canada] was marked.

It was soon afterwards, in 1997, that [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_John_Suchavsky_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Sobor_1931 Saint Ivan Suchavsky’s Sobor] entered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC).

==Visit of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, 1998==

On 27-28 May, 1998, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archontonis)] visited Winnipeg, in part to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. There was a special ceremony at [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/winnipegcityhall.shtml City Hall], where the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarch patriarch] was honoured. On the afternoon of the first day, there was a special convocation at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew's College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. The patriarch was given an honourary [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] degree, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]". The patriarch also served at the [https://stdemetrioschurch.ca/ Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church] before attending the evening banquet. On the next day, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Feast of the Ascension of Christ], the patriarch presided at a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]. Afterwards, there was a special luncheon with various speeches before the departure of Patriarch Bartholomew to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada eastern Canada].

==Fire ; repairs ; re-sanctification, 2016-2017==

On the evening of 14 July, 2016, there was a [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2017/08/12/ukrainian-cathedral-restored-ready-after-2016-arson 3-alarm fire at Holy Trinity Cathedral]. It was deliberately set by an arsonist or arsonists who broke into the building at night. More than 100 firefighters put out the fire.

The damage was substantial (much of the damage was from smoke and water), and repairs cost more than $1,000,000.00. Repairs and [https://www.htuomc.org/cathedralrestoration.html restoration] took many months in order to accomplish enough to allow for public worship again. During the interim, the parish met at first for worship at the [http://cropo.com/ Cropo Funeral Chapel] nearby. By 7 January, 2017, it was possible to offer services again in the [http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/holy-trinity-church-fire-1.3905760 basement auditorium]. The total time required in this auditorium was 7 months.

[[File:Fire Damage 2.jpg]] '''Some fire damage'''

[[File:Repairs in progress.jpg]] '''Repairs in progress'''

[[File:More_repairs.jpg]] '''Other repairs'''

'''Re-sanctification, 2017'''

A re-[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctification] service was celebrated on 2 July, 2017. This service blessed and sanctified the Temple for use again. Although the cathedral was not completely restored, worship was possible within the Temple. The completion of the [https://www.armenianorthodoxtheology.com/post/what-do-church-chandeliers-symbolize chandelier] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconostasis iconostas] was to come in the following year, after which they would be blessed, and there would be an official re-opening of the cathedral.

[[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] led the services, as he co-served with [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anthony_(Scharba)_of_Hierapolis Metropolitan Antony (Scharba)] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Daniel_(Zelinsky)_of_Pamphilon Archbishop Daniel (Zelinsky)] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA], and [[Bishop Andriy (Peshko) |Bishop Andrij (Peshko)]], Bishop of the [http://uocceast.ca Eastern Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. Other clergy who also served were the Archpriests [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Eugene Maximiuk] (Parish Priest of the Cathedral), [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Taras Udod] (Chancellor of the UOCC), [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Roman Bozyk] (Dean of the Faculty of Theology at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College]), the Priests [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=21 Richard Ehrmantraut] and [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=57 Evan Maximiuk], and [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=134 Deacon Bob Hladiuk]. The [https://www.htuomc.org/choir choir] was directed by [https://threebestrated.ca/urologists-in-winnipeg-mb Dr. Jeff Saranchuk], and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cantor cantors] were Bill Drewniak and Keith Swinton.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==Archpastoral visit, 2023==

On Sunday, 25 December, 2023, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-nativity-of-our-lord-and-saviour-jesus-christ-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-metropolitan-cathedral-in-winnipeg-mb-on-december-25/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba]. He was assisted by : [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw] ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/5359/ Archpriest Charles Baxter] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] of the UOCC) ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dean Dean] of Holy [https://www.htuomc.org/ Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-deacon-bob-hladiuk/ Deacon Robert Hladiuk] ; [https://www.uocc.ca/his-grace-bishop-ilarion-ordained-subd-oleh-romanyna-to-the-holy-diaconate-on-august-7-2021-%D0%B9%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2/ Deacon Oleh Romanyna].

[[File:HolyTrinityMetropolitanUOCWinnipeg25xii23 2.jpg]] [[File:HTUOCMCathedralWinnipegChoir25xii23 2.jpg]]

'''Metropolitan Ilarion blessing''' (left) '''; Holy Trinity Cathedral choir''' (right)

[[File:HTUOCMCClergy25xii23 2.jpg]] [[File:HTUOCMCGospelCanles25xii2 2.png]]

'''Candle-holders at the Great Entrance''' (left) '''; Serving clergy''' (right)

==Parish organisations==

The cathedral parish family includes [https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations.html various organisations].

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations Busy Hands Committee]”''' plans, organises and implements the monthly “All You Can Eat” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi Perogy] Luncheons, from September to May.

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/files/Sunday-Bulletin-Feb-8.pdf Seniors’ Golden Age Club]”''' has weekly meetings, every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. from October to May. Members participate in a variety of activities.

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations Caring Hands Committee]”''' reaches out to parishioners who do not attend services on a regular basis, and sees to visiting parishioners who are home-bound, in hospitals, in institutions, or in senior care facilities. The Outreach Committee is kept informed of those that become ill or lose loved ones, and it provides appropriate attention on behalf of the parish. The Outreach Committee also delivers “[https://svccoakville.com/12-traditional-ukrainian-dishes-for-sviat-vechir/ Sviat Vechir]” and [https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/traditionalpaschabasket Paschal Baskets], in order to include shut-ins in the major celebrations of the Church.

'''“UWAC ([http://uwac-national.ca Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada]) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesya_Ukrainka Lesia Ukrainka] Branch”''' meets regularly, and organises various social functions, such as bazaars, teas, bingo, bake-sales, [https://lenaskitchenblog.com/potato-vareniki/ vareniky] (perohy) sales, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage_roll holubtsy] sales, etc.

'''“Ukrainian Museum of Canada”'''

The UWAC also operates the local [https://www.htuomc.org/museum.html Museum]

In 1950, the cathedral parish founded its own Manitoba Branch of the “[http://www.umc.sk.ca/page/index_new Ukrainian Museum of Canada]”, which in 1936 had been established as a part of the [https://www.ucc.ca/ucc-member/ukrainian-womens-association-of-canada/ Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada] (UWAC).

The local branch of the museum in the cathedral houses a collection of [https://authenticukraine.com.ua/en/traditions-crafts Ukrainian folk arts and crafts] brought from Ukraine by early pioneers and includes traditional dress of various regions, woven articles (“kylyms”), [https://time.com/6166140/pysanka-ukraine-easter-egg-history/ Easter eggs (“pysanky”)], wood carvings, a library and gift shop. Most of the collection was donated by descendants of the first, second and third waves of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Ukrainian immigrants to Canada].

'''“[http://www.usrl-cyc.org Ukrainian Self-Reliance Association of Canada]”''' has long served as a sort of “umbrella” organisation which, for more than 75 years, has helped to provide leadership and service to the Ukrainian Orthodox community in Canada by fostering the creation of various programmes and institutions. In particular, the USRL/CYC through its constituent member organisations, the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada (UWAC/CYK), the [https://www.usrl-cyc.org/about/historyUkrainian Self-Reliance Association] (TYC), the "[https://www.usrl-cyc.org/structure/component-organizations/cymk-uoy Ukrainian Orthodox Youth]"(CYMK/UOY) and the "[https://www.uasj.ca/about-us/ Saint John Fraternal Society]" have fostered the use and development of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture], and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] in Canada. USRL/CYC's institutional members, the [https://umcnational.ca/ Ukrainian Museum of Canada], the Institutes, the "[https://unfcanada.ca/ Union of Ukrainian Community Centres]", and "[https://www.susfoundation.ca/ SUS Foundation of Canada]" were created to provide specific services to the Ukrainian Orthodox community and beyond, thereby helping to perpetuate the finest traditions of the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadians].

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/orderofstandrew Order of Saint Andrew - Winnipeg Chapter]”''' meets monthly at the Ukrainian Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The Order of Saint Andrew draws its members from all the churches in the Winnipeg Eparchial region. The order has the responsibility for raising funds and other needs of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College]. The order constitutes a separate organisation that can assist Saint Andrew’s College in fulfilling its important role in Ukrainian Orthodox religious and cultural life. The main responsibilities of the order are to participate in church sacraments and other church services such as funerals, memorials, convocations, and festivals. The Order of Saint Andrew’s Board encourages all parishes to support the fundraising activities for the benefit of Saint Andrew’s College so that the college can fulfil its stated mission and its most important role in providing leaders for the Church and the community. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain chaplain] of the [https://www.stdemetriusuoc.ca/committee_standrew Order of Saint Andrew - Winnipeg Chapter] is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Gene Maximiuk].

'''“[https://www.helpinghands.com.ua/ Helping Hands]”''' is a newly-established charity-based group. The sole purpose of this group is to help those in need beyond the parish community ; to serve as a foundation for demonstrating the fundamental Christian activity of helping those who are in need.

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/youth Church School]”''' is provided during the school year months, in order to supplement the Orthodox Christian formation provided to children in the homes of the parish families. Parents are encouraged to bring their children weekly and regularly to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy], and they are offered various means for supporting the formation of the children.

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/files/St_Stephen_Altar_Servers/Fall-letter--Schedule-11-12.pdf Saint Stephen the Protomartyr Altar Server Brotherhood]”''' provides an organisation to recruit youths who are willing to help the clergy during the Divine Services, to help in their formation, and to encourage their offering of good works.

The '''“[https://www.cymk.ca CYMK - Ukrainian Orthodox Youth]”''' is an association which is intended to educate and to train young people to be exemplary citizens of Canada, to prepare youth for the future, and for their future role in the Ukrainian Canadian community. There are 2 active local groups in Winnipeg : at [https://www.htuomc.org/ Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral] and at [https://www.stmarytheprotectress.ca/ Saint Mary the Protectress Sobor]. The senior CYMK formed one group which encompasses youth from all the Winnipeg parishes. Many activities are done collectively for maximum participation and fun. The youth also actively participate in projects to help others.

The '''“[https://www.ukrainianmanitoba.com/item/ukrainian-orthodox-summer-camp-camp-veselka/ Ukrainian Orthodox Summer Camp Veselka]”''' meets annually at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli,_Manitoba Gimli], Manitoba. The summer programme provides : arts & crafts projects ; sports and swimming ; culinary arts training ; Ukrainian cultural activities ; instruction in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] and worship ; fun and friends.

The '''“[http://www.rozmai.ca/index.html Rozmai Ukrainian Dance Company and School of Dance]”''' is a dynamic Ukrainian dance ensemble which was established in 1971. The repertoire consists of dances and costumes which are reflective of each region of Ukraine. The school of dance trains children and young people from age 4 and up in the art and technique of dance, and prepares candidates for the dance company itself.

Holy Trinity Cathedral is a [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/holytrinitycathedral.shtml registered historical site].

'''Past pastors of the cathedral parish include the priests :'''

Dr. F Kernisky (1950-1952) H Hrycyna (1952-1954)

K Zelishkewich (1954-1955) [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf M Yurkiwsky] (1954-1965)

H Hrycyna (1960-1965) W Sluzar (1965-1973)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_Orest_and_Matushka_Oksana_Olekshy O Olekshy] (1967-1968) C Symchcych (1973-1974)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nic N Rauliuk] (1973-1975) Dr. F Kernisky (1974-1983)

M Zaleschuk (1976-1980) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/5707/ T Krochak] (1982) Summer

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-mitred-archpriest-volodymyr-makarenko/ W Makarenko] (1982-1983) N Rauliuk (1983-1987)

[https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-154454/KICIUK_RIGHT S Kiciuk] (1987-1993) [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Y Kalistchuk] (1988-1989)

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak D Luchak] (1989-1997) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-victor-lakusta/ H Lakusta] (1993-2008)

[https://auroca.org/parishes/ Hieromonk Nestor (Mikhailetchko)] (1998-1999) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-alexander-harkavyj/ A Harkavyi] (2000-2008)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-gregory-mielnik/ G Mielnik] (2008-2014) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ G Maximiuk] (2008-2010)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ G Maximiuk] (2014-____)

==Particular parish information==

The cathedral parish is a part of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=central-eparchy&wpv-parish-location=winnipeg&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop of the eparchy is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this cathedral parish is the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Feast of Pentecost] (Descent of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Spirit Holy Spirit], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity Most Holy Trinity]).

In 2026, the rector of the cathedral parish is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The pastor of the parish is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk].

The second pastor of the parish is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Archpriest Taras Udod].

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=134 Deacon Bob Hladiuk].

Address :

[https://www.htuomc.org/ Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral]

1175, Main Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2W 3S4

Telephones : 204-582-8946 (Church Office) ; 204-582-4659 (Fax) ; 204-582-7345 (Auditorium) ; 204-582-1018 (Museum).

Web-site : https://www.htuomc.org/

[https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/ Facebook]

Instagram : holytrinitywpg |

Directions :

The Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral is situated ½ block north of the corner of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage_and_Main Main Street] and [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/redwood-avenue?to=place.EiFSZWR3b29kIEF2ZSwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CLCBDYW5hZGEiLiosChQKEgmRspXtgHHqUhEY6J9KY0hFnxIUChIJESsa-ftz6lIRZMq5xvoaKis Redwood Avenue].

By car :

The Temple is located on the east side of Main Street, between the junctions of Main Street with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Selkirk+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.9307216,-97.2500653,13z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea724cfd9dfe5d:0x98d85ef60be1031!8m2!3d49.9307216!4d-97.2114415!16s%2Fg%2F1tvgt_cr?entry=ttu Selkirk Avenue] and Flora Avenue. Main Street is the principal north-south artery of Winnipeg, which passes from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwood_Bridge Norwood Bridge] to the south, past the junction with Portage Avenue, and on to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway], to the north. There are many approaches to Main Street from the west. From the east, there are crossings of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_of_the_North Red River] at the Norwood Bridge, the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/redriverbridges.shtml Pioneer Avenue Bridge], the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/louisebridge.shtml Louise Bridge], the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/louisebridge.shtml Disraeli Expressway], the [https://moovitapp.com/winnipeg_mb-1142/poi/Redwood%20Bridge/t/en?tll=49.917994_-97.129103&ref=1&poiType=efsite&customerId=4908&af_sub8=%2Findex%2Fen%2Fpublic_transit-Redwood_Bridge-Winnipeg_MB-site_18063489-1142&af_sub9=map Redwood Bridge], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_17 Chief Peguis Bridge], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway]. All these give access to Main Street.

From eastern Winnipeg, drive on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_42 Henderson Highway] north or south until Hespeler Avenue. Turn westwards on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hespeler+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.914366,-97.121094,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea710e1031b07f:0x310c9404d3a480ae!8m2!3d49.914366!4d-97.121094!16s%2Fg%2F1vnrq82c?entry=ttu Hespeler Avenue]. Cross the Redwood Bridge, and the cathedral is on the right, on Main Street.

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en Winnipeg Transit].

Bus routes #18 and #32 northbound stop at [http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksOpenSpace/ParkRentals/BookableParks/StJohns.stm Saint John’s Park], just to the north of the cathedral.

Bus routes #18 and #32 southbound stop opposite the northbound stop, at the corner of [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mountain+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.9218445,-97.1843695,13.79z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7187411dc0c9:0xf368223a1a049e5a!8m2!3d49.927893!4d-97.155295!16s%2Fg%2F1v62h9rx?entry=ttu Mountain Avenue].

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)] (Rector)

E-mail: rudnyk1@telus.net

Administration Office

11404-112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5G 0H6

Telephone : (780) 455-1938

Fax : (780) 454-5287

E-mail: admin@uocc-we.ca

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk] (Pastor)

Telephone : (204) 336-0996

E-mail : molze@mts.net

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Archpriest Taras Udod]

Telephones : (Toll-Free) 1-877-586-3093 ; 204-586-3093 (extension 227)

E-mail : chancellor@uocc2.ubmbeta.com

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-deacon-bob-hladiuk/ Deacon Bob Hladiuk]

Telephone : (204) 334-3175

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.htuomc.org/files/History/Full_History_Cathedral.pdf History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba]

Yereniuk, Professor Roman, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/2350/file.pdf Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC)

Yuzyk, Paul, “[https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Ukrainians_in_Manitoba.html?id=wDcmvwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y The Ukrainians in Manitoba : a Social History]” (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1953)

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “[http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”.

Martynowych, Orest T, “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Years, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, University of Alberta, 1991).

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella, “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments To Faith : Ukrainian Churches In Manitoba]” (Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation : Winnipeg, 1990). ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

[https://www.htuomc.org/ Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg parish web-site]

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=central-eparchy&wpv-parish-location=winnipeg&wpv_post_search=Holy+Trinity+Cathedral&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/eparchy/central-eparchy/ UOCC Central Eparchy]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral Wikipedia article about the Metropolitan Cathedral]

“[http://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/MinorityMedia/items/show/16 Ukrainian Voice]” Newspaper

[https://www.uocc.ca/visnyk “Visnyk” (“Herald”)] Newspaper

“[http://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/ Ukrainian Weekly]” Newspaper

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CA%5CManitoba.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about Manitoba]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/holytrinitycathedral.shtml Historic Sites of Manitoba : Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Main Street, Winnipeg]

[https://www.uocc.ca/team-member/his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion/ UOCC short biography of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis)#1998,_visit_to_Canada Patriarch Bartholomew I visited Winnipeg] (27-28 May, 1998)

[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2017/08/12/ukrainian-cathedral-restored-ready-after-2016-arson Restoration of Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba after Fire] (14 July, 2016)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk)#Retirement,_2021 Metropolitan Yuriy (Kalistchuk) retires ; Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) named Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (11 July, 2022)

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the first Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints] (11 June, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATS9m4xb2fU Video : Construction of Holy Trinity Cathedral]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw&t=25s Video : Saskatoon hosting Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada's 100 year Anniversary]

[https://www.uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nativity-Epistle-from-the-Episcopate-of-the-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church-of-Canada-in-the-year-of-our-Lord-2024-2025.pdf Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in the year of our Lord 2024-2025]

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-august-23-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-divine-liturgy-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-edmonton-ab/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John The Baptist – Edmonton, AB] (23 August, 2026)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-toronto-19-september-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-attends-enthronement-of-his-eminence-archbishop-apostolos-of-canada-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-canada/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion Attends Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos of Canada (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada)] (19 September, 2026)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946

2026-09-23T16:18:14Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral 1946

2026-09-23T16:16:32Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular parish information */

[[File:Holytrinitycathedral 2.png]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, 1946'''

==Prehistory==

The history in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] (now the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]) developed in the midst of various difficulties and confusions, many of them being external events and situations.

Although the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church (UGOCC) had been established in 1918-1919 in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], it was 1923 before the first Ukrainian Greek Orthodox parish was established in Winnipeg. This was [[Winnipeg MB Saint Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1923 |Saint Mary the Protectress Sobor]] at Burrows Avenue and Sinclair Street. [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/parishdetails.asp?ParishID=171 Saint Michael’s (Bukovynian) Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Point_Douglas Point Douglas] had been established earlier, in 1918, but that community did not enter the UGOCC until later. [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/parishdetails.asp?ParishID=168 Saint Ivan Suchavsky Sobor] at 939, Main Street, was established in 1931, and it belonged to a different [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox jurisdiction (headquartered in the USA]).

==Formation of the parish, 1946==

The Holy Trinity Parish was organised in March, 1946. The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was seriously concerned about a need for a central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedral archiepiscopal cathedral] (as a result of the separate status at that time of the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Mary_the_Protectress_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Sobor_1923 Saint Mary the Protectress parish]), and the newly organised parish offered to serve as a cathedral parish.

The Ninth General Council (Sobor) of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in Canada, which met in July, 1946, accepted the offer of the parish, and it ruled that the parish would be charged with the responsibilities of building a suitable Cathedral Temple.

It was this 1946 sobor which elected [[Patriarch Mstyslav (Skrypnyk) |Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]] to succeed [[Archbishop John (Theodorovych) |Archbishop John (Theodorovych)]], and to become the first resident head of the UGOCC as the Archbishop of Winnipeg. He arrived from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany Germany], and he began to serve. However, he remained only for 2 years because of differences with the UGOCC administration. He later departed for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA].

He was followed temporarily by [[Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)]] of the [https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianAutocephalousOrthodoxchurch.htm Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox church] (UAOC) in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Europe Europe].

In 1947, [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko) |Archbishop Ilarion (Ohienko)]] arrived in Winnipeg from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Poland Poland].

The present site of the metropolitan cathedral was purchased in May, 1946. Architectural designs for the proposed cathedral were sought. On 26 May, 1948, the Selection Committee recommended a sketch entitled “Kiev” which was submitted by [https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/Heritage/HeritageResourcesReports/Main-1175-long.pdf George Korbin and Alexander Powstenko]. This “Kiev” sketch served as a model from which the present cathedral building was developed. Building procedure guidance was given by Mr. Alexander Lasko, a Toronto, Ontario architect. The firm of [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/pratt_rb.shtml Pratt and Ross] of Winnipeg was engaged as architects, and on the basis of the “Kiev” sketch, drew up plans and specifications for the building of the auditorium portion of the cathedral as the first phase of the building programme.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko), 1951'''

In 1951, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Vladyka Ilarion I (Ohienko)] was elected and installed as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop#Archbishops_and_Metropolitans Metropolitan] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Primate Primate] of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. From the outset, he began to improve the good order of the UGOCC, both spiritually and practically.

[[File:1950s Church school.jpg]] '''1950s Church school'''

==Construction of the lower auditorium, 1949-1952==

The auditorium portion of the project was constructed by [https://legacy.winnipeg.ca/ppd/Documents/Heritage/HeritageResourcesReports/Main-1175-long.pdf Wallace and Aikens] of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The building was started late in 1949, and it was completed in 1952. This auditorium served both as a Temple and as a cultural centre.

==Construction of the upper Temple, 1957-1962==

Preparations for the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATS9m4xb2fU completion of the Cathedral Temple] itself were initiated in 1957. [https://winnipegarchitecture.ca/alexander-nitchuk/ Mr. Alex Nitchuk] was engaged as the architect. The building committee and the architect were guided by the experiences of other parishes in Canada who had recently done ecclesiastical construction, and by some valuable recommendations which were offered by [https://yuriigeorgekodak.com/bukovinian/ Mr. George Kodak] who had distinguished himself as an architect and designer of Ukrainian Churches in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada Eastern Canada]. The building contract was awarded to [https://winnipegarchitecture.ca/1405-portage-avenue/ Semmler Construction Company] of which the late [https://www.htuomc.org/files/History/Full_History_Cathedral.pdf/ Mr. Matt Solonyka] (a member of the cathedral parish) was a partner.

==Sanctification of the Temple, 1962==

The completed auditorium and Temple were dedicated and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctified] on the Sunday of the [https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/06/04/45-holy-pentecost Feast of Pentecost], 8 June, 1962, by Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko), the spiritual head of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

The first Divine Service within the newly-built and nearly-completed Cathedral Temple was celebrated on 6 January, 1962, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old Calendar] Eve of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ], by the parish priest, [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf Archpriest Michael Yurkiwsky].

The first Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by [[Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)]] on the Feast-day of the Nativity of Christ, 7 January, 1962.

[[File:Altar Iconography, Holy Table S.jpg]] '''Altar iconography, Holy Table'''

[[File:High Place s.jpg]] '''High Place'''

[[File:HOLY TRINITY UKR. ORTHODOX interior s.jpg]] '''Cathedral interior'''

[[File:Westward view s.jpg]] '''Westward view'''

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosaic mosaic] image of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity Holy Trinity] at the front of the cathedral was installed in 1988. It marked the 1,000th anniversary of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Baptism_of_Rus%27 Baptism of Rus’] in 988 in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Kyiv Kyiv].

[[File:HolyTrinityMosaic 2.jpg]] [[File:Mosaic icon s.jpg]]

'''Mosaic icon'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

'''Centennial of the first Ukrainian immigration to Canada, 1990'''

Also in 1990, the [http://www.ukrweekly.com/old/archive/1991/529109.shtml centennial of Ukrainian settlers in Canada] was marked.

It was soon afterwards, in 1997, that [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_John_Suchavsky_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Sobor_1931 Saint Ivan Suchavsky’s Sobor] entered the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC).

==Visit of Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, 1998==

On 27-28 May, 1998, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew I (Archontonis)] visited Winnipeg, in part to mark the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. There was a special ceremony at [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/winnipegcityhall.shtml City Hall], where the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarch patriarch] was honoured. On the afternoon of the first day, there was a special convocation at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew's College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. The patriarch was given an honourary [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_Divinity Doctor of Divinity] degree, "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorary_degree honoris causa]". The patriarch also served at the [https://stdemetrioschurch.ca/ Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church] before attending the evening banquet. On the next day, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Feast of the Ascension of Christ], the patriarch presided at a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]. Afterwards, there was a special luncheon with various speeches before the departure of Patriarch Bartholomew to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada eastern Canada].

==Fire ; repairs ; re-sanctification, 2016-2017==

On the evening of 14 July, 2016, there was a [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2017/08/12/ukrainian-cathedral-restored-ready-after-2016-arson 3-alarm fire at Holy Trinity Cathedral]. It was deliberately set by an arsonist or arsonists who broke into the building at night. More than 100 firefighters put out the fire.

The damage was substantial (much of the damage was from smoke and water), and repairs cost more than $1,000,000.00. Repairs and [https://www.htuomc.org/cathedralrestoration.html restoration] took many months in order to accomplish enough to allow for public worship again. During the interim, the parish met at first for worship at the [http://cropo.com/ Cropo Funeral Chapel] nearby. By 7 January, 2017, it was possible to offer services again in the [http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/holy-trinity-church-fire-1.3905760 basement auditorium]. The total time required in this auditorium was 7 months.

[[File:Fire Damage 2.jpg]] '''Some fire damage'''

[[File:Repairs in progress.jpg]] '''Repairs in progress'''

[[File:More_repairs.jpg]] '''Other repairs'''

'''Re-sanctification, 2017'''

A re-[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church sanctification] service was celebrated on 2 July, 2017. This service blessed and sanctified the Temple for use again. Although the cathedral was not completely restored, worship was possible within the Temple. The completion of the [https://www.armenianorthodoxtheology.com/post/what-do-church-chandeliers-symbolize chandelier] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconostasis iconostas] was to come in the following year, after which they would be blessed, and there would be an official re-opening of the cathedral.

[[Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]] led the services, as he co-served with [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Anthony_(Scharba)_of_Hierapolis Metropolitan Antony (Scharba)] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Daniel_(Zelinsky)_of_Pamphilon Archbishop Daniel (Zelinsky)] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_in_the_USA Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA], and [[Bishop Andriy (Peshko) |Bishop Andrij (Peshko)]], Bishop of the [http://uocceast.ca Eastern Eparchy] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. Other clergy who also served were the Archpriests [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Eugene Maximiuk] (Parish Priest of the Cathedral), [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Taras Udod] (Chancellor of the UOCC), [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=13 Roman Bozyk] (Dean of the Faculty of Theology at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College]), the Priests [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=21 Richard Ehrmantraut] and [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=57 Evan Maximiuk], and [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=134 Deacon Bob Hladiuk]. The [https://www.htuomc.org/choir choir] was directed by [https://threebestrated.ca/urologists-in-winnipeg-mb Dr. Jeff Saranchuk], and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cantor cantors] were Bill Drewniak and Keith Swinton.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==Archpastoral visit, 2023==

On Sunday, 25 December, 2023, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ, [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-nativity-of-our-lord-and-saviour-jesus-christ-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-metropolitan-cathedral-in-winnipeg-mb-on-december-25/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba]. He was assisted by : [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw] ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/5359/ Archpriest Charles Baxter] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Protosyngellos Chancellor] of the UOCC) ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dean Dean] of Holy [https://www.htuomc.org/ Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-deacon-bob-hladiuk/ Deacon Robert Hladiuk] ; [https://www.uocc.ca/his-grace-bishop-ilarion-ordained-subd-oleh-romanyna-to-the-holy-diaconate-on-august-7-2021-%D0%B9%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%BE-%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B2%D1%8F%D1%89%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2/ Deacon Oleh Romanyna].

[[File:HolyTrinityMetropolitanUOCWinnipeg25xii23 2.jpg]] [[File:HTUOCMCathedralWinnipegChoir25xii23 2.jpg]]

'''Metropolitan Ilarion blessing''' (left) '''; Holy Trinity Cathedral choir''' (right)

[[File:HTUOCMCClergy25xii23 2.jpg]] [[File:HTUOCMCGospelCanles25xii2 2.png]]

'''Candle-holders at the Great Entrance''' (left) '''; Serving clergy''' (right)

==Parish organisations==

The cathedral parish family includes [https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations.html various organisations].

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations Busy Hands Committee]”''' plans, organises and implements the monthly “All You Can Eat” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierogi Perogy] Luncheons, from September to May.

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/files/Sunday-Bulletin-Feb-8.pdf Seniors’ Golden Age Club]”''' has weekly meetings, every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. from October to May. Members participate in a variety of activities.

'''“[https://www.htuomc.org/committes_organizations Caring Hands Committee]”''' reaches out to parishioners who do not attend services on a regular basis, and sees to visiting parishioners who are home-bound, in hospitals, in institutions, or in senior care facilities. The Outreach Committee is kept informed of those that become ill or lose loved ones, and it provides appropriate attention on behalf of the parish. The Outreach Committee also delivers “[https://svccoakville.com/12-traditional-ukrainian-dishes-for-sviat-vechir/ Sviat Vechir]” and [https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/traditionalpaschabasket Paschal Baskets], in order to include shut-ins in the major celebrations of the Church.

'''“UWAC ([http://uwac-national.ca Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada]) [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesya_Ukrainka Lesia Ukrainka] Branch”''' meets regularly, and organises various social functions, such as bazaars, teas, bingo, bake-sales, [https://lenaskitchenblog.com/potato-vareniki/ vareniky] (perohy) sales, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cabbage_roll holubtsy] sales, etc.

'''“Ukrainian Museum of Canada”'''

The UWAC also operates the local [https://www.htuomc.org/museum.html Museum]

In 1950, the cathedral parish founded its own Manitoba Branch of the “[http://www.umc.sk.ca/page/index_new Ukrainian Museum of Canada]”, which in 1936 had been established as a part of the [https://www.ucc.ca/ucc-member/ukrainian-womens-association-of-canada/ Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada] (UWAC).

The local branch of the museum in the cathedral houses a collection of [https://authenticukraine.com.ua/en/traditions-crafts Ukrainian folk arts and crafts] brought from Ukraine by early pioneers and includes traditional dress of various regions, woven articles (“kylyms”), [https://time.com/6166140/pysanka-ukraine-easter-egg-history/ Easter eggs (“pysanky”)], wood carvings, a library and gift shop. Most of the collection was donated by descendants of the first, second and third waves of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Ukrainian immigrants to Canada].

'''“[http://www.usrl-cyc.org Ukrainian Self-Reliance Association of Canada]”''' has long served as a sort of “umbrella” organisation which, for more than 75 years, has helped to provide leadership and service to the Ukrainian Orthodox community in Canada by fostering the creation of various programmes and institutions. In particular, the USRL/CYC through its constituent member organisations, the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada (UWAC/CYK), the [https://www.usrl-cyc.org/about/historyUkrainian Self-Reliance Association] (TYC), the "[https://www.usrl-cyc.org/structure/component-organizations/cymk-uoy Ukrainian Orthodox Youth]"(CYMK/UOY) and the "[https://www.uasj.ca/about-us/ Saint John Fraternal Society]" have fostered the use and development of the Ukrainian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language language], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/Cultural-life culture], and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] in Canada. USRL/CYC's institutional members, the [https://umcnational.ca/ Ukrainian Museum of Canada], the Institutes, the "[https://unfcanada.ca/ Union of Ukrainian Community Centres]", and "[https://www.susfoundation.ca/ SUS Foundation of Canada]" were created to provide specific services to the Ukrainian Orthodox community and beyond, thereby helping to perpetuate the finest traditions of the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians Ukrainian Canadians].

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/orderofstandrew Order of Saint Andrew - Winnipeg Chapter]”''' meets monthly at the Ukrainian Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Trinity. The Order of Saint Andrew draws its members from all the churches in the Winnipeg Eparchial region. The order has the responsibility for raising funds and other needs of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College]. The order constitutes a separate organisation that can assist Saint Andrew’s College in fulfilling its important role in Ukrainian Orthodox religious and cultural life. The main responsibilities of the order are to participate in church sacraments and other church services such as funerals, memorials, convocations, and festivals. The Order of Saint Andrew’s Board encourages all parishes to support the fundraising activities for the benefit of Saint Andrew’s College so that the college can fulfil its stated mission and its most important role in providing leaders for the Church and the community. The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain chaplain] of the [https://www.stdemetriusuoc.ca/committee_standrew Order of Saint Andrew - Winnipeg Chapter] is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Gene Maximiuk].

'''“[https://www.helpinghands.com.ua/ Helping Hands]”''' is a newly-established charity-based group. The sole purpose of this group is to help those in need beyond the parish community ; to serve as a foundation for demonstrating the fundamental Christian activity of helping those who are in need.

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/youth Church School]”''' is provided during the school year months, in order to supplement the Orthodox Christian formation provided to children in the homes of the parish families. Parents are encouraged to bring their children weekly and regularly to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy], and they are offered various means for supporting the formation of the children.

The '''“[https://www.htuomc.org/files/St_Stephen_Altar_Servers/Fall-letter--Schedule-11-12.pdf Saint Stephen the Protomartyr Altar Server Brotherhood]”''' provides an organisation to recruit youths who are willing to help the clergy during the Divine Services, to help in their formation, and to encourage their offering of good works.

The '''“[https://www.cymk.ca CYMK - Ukrainian Orthodox Youth]”''' is an association which is intended to educate and to train young people to be exemplary citizens of Canada, to prepare youth for the future, and for their future role in the Ukrainian Canadian community. There are 2 active local groups in Winnipeg : at [https://www.htuomc.org/ Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral] and at [https://www.stmarytheprotectress.ca/ Saint Mary the Protectress Sobor]. The senior CYMK formed one group which encompasses youth from all the Winnipeg parishes. Many activities are done collectively for maximum participation and fun. The youth also actively participate in projects to help others.

The '''“[https://www.ukrainianmanitoba.com/item/ukrainian-orthodox-summer-camp-camp-veselka/ Ukrainian Orthodox Summer Camp Veselka]”''' meets annually at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli,_Manitoba Gimli], Manitoba. The summer programme provides : arts & crafts projects ; sports and swimming ; culinary arts training ; Ukrainian cultural activities ; instruction in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] and worship ; fun and friends.

The '''“[http://www.rozmai.ca/index.html Rozmai Ukrainian Dance Company and School of Dance]”''' is a dynamic Ukrainian dance ensemble which was established in 1971. The repertoire consists of dances and costumes which are reflective of each region of Ukraine. The school of dance trains children and young people from age 4 and up in the art and technique of dance, and prepares candidates for the dance company itself.

Holy Trinity Cathedral is a [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/holytrinitycathedral.shtml registered historical site].

'''Past pastors of the cathedral parish include the priests :'''

Dr. F Kernisky (1950-1952) H Hrycyna (1952-1954)

K Zelishkewich (1954-1955) [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/downloads/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds.pdf M Yurkiwsky] (1954-1965)

H Hrycyna (1960-1965) W Sluzar (1965-1973)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_Orest_and_Matushka_Oksana_Olekshy O Olekshy] (1967-1968) C Symchcych (1973-1974)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nic N Rauliuk] (1973-1975) Dr. F Kernisky (1974-1983)

M Zaleschuk (1976-1980) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/5707/ T Krochak] (1982) Summer

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-mitred-archpriest-volodymyr-makarenko/ W Makarenko] (1982-1983) N Rauliuk (1983-1987)

[https://passages.winnipegfreepress.com/passage-details/id-154454/KICIUK_RIGHT S Kiciuk] (1987-1993) [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Y Kalistchuk] (1988-1989)

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11359369/Right%20Reverend%20Protopresbyter%20Dmytro-Luchak D Luchak] (1989-1997) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-victor-lakusta/ H Lakusta] (1993-2008)

[https://auroca.org/parishes/ Hieromonk Nestor (Mikhailetchko)] (1998-1999) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-alexander-harkavyj/ A Harkavyi] (2000-2008)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-gregory-mielnik/ G Mielnik] (2008-2014) [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ G Maximiuk] (2008-2010)

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ G Maximiuk] (2014-____)

==Particular parish information==

The cathedral parish is a part of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=central-eparchy&wpv-parish-location=winnipeg&wpv_post_search=&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Winnipeg District] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop of the eparchy is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this cathedral parish is the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Feast of Pentecost] (Descent of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Spirit Holy Spirit], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity Most Holy Trinity]).

In 2026, the rector of the cathedral parish is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

The pastor of the parish is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk].

The second pastor of the parish is [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Archpriest Taras Udod].

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=134 Deacon Bob Hladiuk].

Address :

[https://www.htuomc.org/ Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral]

1175, Main Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2W 3S4

Telephones : 204-582-8946 (Church Office) ; 204-582-4659 (Fax) ; 204-582-7345 (Auditorium) ; 204-582-1018 (Museum).

Web-site : https://www.htuomc.org/

[https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/ Facebook]

Instagram : holytrinitywpg |

Directions :

The Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral is situated ½ block north of the corner of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portage_and_Main Main Street] and [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/redwood-avenue?to=place.EiFSZWR3b29kIEF2ZSwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CLCBDYW5hZGEiLiosChQKEgmRspXtgHHqUhEY6J9KY0hFnxIUChIJESsa-ftz6lIRZMq5xvoaKis Redwood Avenue].

By car :

The Temple is located on the east side of Main Street, between the junctions of Main Street with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Selkirk+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.9307216,-97.2500653,13z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea724cfd9dfe5d:0x98d85ef60be1031!8m2!3d49.9307216!4d-97.2114415!16s%2Fg%2F1tvgt_cr?entry=ttu Selkirk Avenue] and Flora Avenue. Main Street is the principal north-south artery of Winnipeg, which passes from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwood_Bridge Norwood Bridge] to the south, past the junction with Portage Avenue, and on to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway], to the north. There are many approaches to Main Street from the west. From the east, there are crossings of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_River_of_the_North Red River] at the Norwood Bridge, the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/redriverbridges.shtml Pioneer Avenue Bridge], the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/louisebridge.shtml Louise Bridge], the [https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/louisebridge.shtml Disraeli Expressway], the [https://moovitapp.com/winnipeg_mb-1142/poi/Redwood%20Bridge/t/en?tll=49.917994_-97.129103&ref=1&poiType=efsite&customerId=4908&af_sub8=%2Findex%2Fen%2Fpublic_transit-Redwood_Bridge-Winnipeg_MB-site_18063489-1142&af_sub9=map Redwood Bridge], the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_17 Chief Peguis Bridge], and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway]. All these give access to Main Street.

From eastern Winnipeg, drive on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg_Route_42 Henderson Highway] north or south until Hespeler Avenue. Turn westwards on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Hespeler+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.914366,-97.121094,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea710e1031b07f:0x310c9404d3a480ae!8m2!3d49.914366!4d-97.121094!16s%2Fg%2F1vnrq82c?entry=ttu Hespeler Avenue]. Cross the Redwood Bridge, and the cathedral is on the right, on Main Street.

By bus :

Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en Winnipeg Transit].

Bus routes #18 and #32 northbound stop at [http://www.winnipeg.ca/publicworks/parksOpenSpace/ParkRentals/BookableParks/StJohns.stm Saint John’s Park], just to the north of the cathedral.

Bus routes #18 and #32 southbound stop opposite the northbound stop, at the corner of [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mountain+Ave,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.9218445,-97.1843695,13.79z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7187411dc0c9:0xf368223a1a049e5a!8m2!3d49.927893!4d-97.155295!16s%2Fg%2F1v62h9rx?entry=ttu Mountain Avenue].

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)] (Rector)

E-mail: rudnyk1@telus.net

Administration Office

11404-112 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5G 0H6

Telephone : (780) 455-1938

Fax : (780) 454-5287

E-mail: admin@uocc-we.ca

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-eugene-maximiuk/ Archpriest Eugene Maximiuk] (Pastor)

Telephone : (204) 336-0996

E-mail : molze@mts.net

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-very-rev-archpriest-taras-udod/ Archpriest Taras Udod]

Telephones : (Toll-Free) 1-877-586-3093 ; 204-586-3093 (extension 227)

E-mail : chancellor@uocc2.ubmbeta.com

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-deacon-bob-hladiuk/ Deacon Bob Hladiuk]

Telephone : (204) 334-3175

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.htuomc.org/files/History/Full_History_Cathedral.pdf History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba]

Yereniuk, Professor Roman, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/2350/file.pdf Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC)

Yuzyk, Paul, “[https://books.google.ca/books/about/The_Ukrainians_in_Manitoba.html?id=wDcmvwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y The Ukrainians in Manitoba : a Social History]” (Toronto : University of Toronto Press, 1953)

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “[http://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”.

Martynowych, Orest T, “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Years, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, University of Alberta, 1991).

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella, “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments To Faith : Ukrainian Churches In Manitoba]” (Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation : Winnipeg, 1990). ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

[https://www.htuomc.org/ Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral in Winnipeg parish web-site]

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/parishes/?wpv_view_count=3176&wpv-eparchy=central-eparchy&wpv-parish-location=winnipeg&wpv_post_search=Holy+Trinity+Cathedral&wpv_filter_submit=Submit&wpv_sort_order=asc Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/eparchy/central-eparchy/ UOCC Central Eparchy]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral Wikipedia article about the Metropolitan Cathedral]

“[http://www.artsrn.ualberta.ca/MinorityMedia/items/show/16 Ukrainian Voice]” Newspaper

[https://www.uocc.ca/visnyk “Visnyk” (“Herald”)] Newspaper

“[http://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/ Ukrainian Weekly]” Newspaper

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Internet Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CM%5CA%5CManitoba.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about Manitoba]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/holytrinitycathedral.shtml Historic Sites of Manitoba : Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Main Street, Winnipeg]

[https://www.uocc.ca/team-member/his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion/ UOCC short biography of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis)#1998,_visit_to_Canada Patriarch Bartholomew I visited Winnipeg] (27-28 May, 1998)

[https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/faith/2017/08/12/ukrainian-cathedral-restored-ready-after-2016-arson Restoration of Ukrainian Orthodox Holy Trinity Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba after Fire] (14 July, 2016)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk)#Retirement,_2021 Metropolitan Yuriy (Kalistchuk) retires ; Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) named Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (11 July, 2022)

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the first Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints] (11 June, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATS9m4xb2fU Video : Construction of Holy Trinity Cathedral]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw&t=25s Video : Saskatoon hosting Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada's 100 year Anniversary]

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T16:10:47Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular parish information */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Pastoral change==

In 2025, [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk] was transferred to serve at Saint Michael's Church in Edmonton, Alberta.

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter] (who had just completed a 5-year term as Chancellor of the UOCC) was assigned to serve as rector of All Saint's Church.

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the [https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter].

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Priest Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school) was attached.

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

E-mail : padrebaxter@me.com

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

Archpriest Charles Baxter

Telephone : 1-204-222-1392 (Church)

E-mail : padrebaxter@me.com

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Priest Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nativity-Epistle-from-the-Episcopate-of-the-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church-of-Canada-in-the-year-of-our-Lord-2024-2025.pdf Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in the year of our Lord 2024-2025]

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-august-23-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-divine-liturgy-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-edmonton-ab/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John The Baptist – Edmonton, AB] (23 August, 2026)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-toronto-19-september-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-attends-enthronement-of-his-eminence-archbishop-apostolos-of-canada-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-canada/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion Attends Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos of Canada (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada)] (19 September, 2026)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T16:07:23Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* References */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Pastoral change==

In 2025, [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk] was transferred to serve at Saint Michael's Church in Edmonton, Alberta.

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter] (who had just completed a 5-year term as Chancellor of the UOCC) was assigned to serve as rector of All Saint's Church.

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the [https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter].

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Priest Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school) was attached.

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

E-mail : padrebaxter@me.com

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Nativity-Epistle-from-the-Episcopate-of-the-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church-of-Canada-in-the-year-of-our-Lord-2024-2025.pdf Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in the year of our Lord 2024-2025]

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-august-23-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-divine-liturgy-at-the-ukrainian-orthodox-cathedral-of-st-john-the-baptist-edmonton-ab/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. John The Baptist – Edmonton, AB] (23 August, 2026)

[https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-toronto-19-september-2026-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-attends-enthronement-of-his-eminence-archbishop-apostolos-of-canada-greek-orthodox-archdiocese-of-canada/ His Eminence Metropolitan Ilarion Attends Enthronement of His Eminence Archbishop Apostolos of Canada (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada)] (19 September, 2026)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T16:05:02Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular parish information */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Pastoral change==

In 2025, [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk] was transferred to serve at Saint Michael's Church in Edmonton, Alberta.

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter] (who had just completed a 5-year term as Chancellor of the UOCC) was assigned to serve as rector of All Saint's Church.

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the [https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter].

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Priest Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school) was attached.

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

E-mail : padrebaxter@me.com

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T15:59:23Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* 70 years */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Pastoral change==

In 2025, [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk] was transferred to serve at Saint Michael's Church in Edmonton, Alberta.

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter] (who had just completed a 5-year term as Chancellor of the UOCC) was assigned to serve as rector of All Saint's Church.

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the [https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter].

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school).

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T15:54:21Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Particular parish information */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [ https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2026, the pastor of the parish was the [https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us Archpriest Charles Baxter].

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school).

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T15:47:43Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023 */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==70 years==

On 29 September, 2024, Deanery Clergy led the Divine Liturgy which, besides the regular Sunday, [https://sites.google.com/view/uoc-of-all-saints/70th-photos?authuser=0 marked the 70th anniversary of the parish]. [https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/our-communities/correspondents/2024/10/02/celebrating-all-saints-70th-anniversary Agriculture Minister Ron Kostyshyn (on behalf of Premier Wab Kinew), Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham, and MLA Nello Altamare] were present for the occasion.

[[File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg]] '''Serving clergy and others'''

[[File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg]] '''70th anniversary memorial kolaches and kutya'''

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2024, the pastor of the parish is the [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk].

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter Wasyl (William) Wasyliw] is attached.

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school).

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

File:70th Anniversary kolach and kutya 1.jpg

2026-09-23T15:47:01Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

File:70th anniversary serving clergy and others 2.jpg

2026-09-23T15:44:48Z

Vladyka Seraphim:

Winnipeg MB All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1924

2026-09-23T15:22:28Z

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Archpastoral visit */

[[File:All Saints WinnipegCSB.jpg]]

'''Winnipeg, Manitoba, All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1924'''

==Prehistory==

By the early 1920s, many [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian-speakers], mostly recent arrivals to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had begun to settle in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona] district of [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg/ Winnipeg], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba/ Manitoba], on the east side of the [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-river/ Red River]. There, work was available in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_National_Railway CNR] [https://www.cn.ca/en/ railway repair shops]. There were soon enough Orthodox Christians in the region that they desired to try to organise themselves in such a way that they could sometimes have services more locally. Other Orthodox Christian parishes were on the west side of the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Red-River-of-the-North Red River].

==Organising the parish, 1954==

Once the desire for such a parish was strong enough, the primary initiators arranged for a more formal organisation. At first, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was served about once per month in the Ukrainian National Home in Transcona.

The Ukrainian Orthodox people of Transcona, Manitoba, began organising a parish in 1954.

'''First Divine Liturgy, First Temple'''

On 7 November, 1954, the first [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] was celebrated by Archpriest H D Hryeyna at the [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Taras-Hryhorovych-Shevchenko Taras Shevchenko] Ukrainian National Home on Regent Avenue.

[[File:UkrainianNationalHomeRegentStreetWinnipeg 2.png]] '''Ukrainian National Home'''

Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, a meeting was called to elect a temporary parish executive. The membership was as follows :
President : Mykola Stefaniuk ; Secretary : Harry Maslanko ;
Treasurer : Michael Haletsky ; Church Elder : Adam Kasianchuk ;
Church Sisters : A Kralka ; A Uhryniuk

Eventually, in 1957, the community purchased this building for $2,000.00. It served them for a time.

==Building the Second Temple, 1964==

After some years, the Faithful of the parish were ready and willing to build their own Temple in eastern Winnipeg.

In 1963, under the chairmanship of Mr. William Perrick, they galvanised their resources, and the parishioners purchased property for the site of a new Temple, which is now 1500, Day Street.

In the afternoon of 5 April, 1964, [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)], assisted by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Boris_(Yakovkevych) Bishop Boris (Yakovkevych)] and local clergy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_church#Background sanctified] the land on which the new church building was to be built.

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfLand 2.png]] '''Sanctification of the land'''

During the same month, construction of the new Temple had begun.
Because the parishioners did not have abundant available resources, they used easily available industrial plans. However, they modified the plans so that the exterior face shows a glue-laminated arch over a door which is decorated on either side, and which has an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome onion-dome] pattern above. This exteriorly-visible laminated arch is the main support of the walls and roofs, and it is repeated visibly throughout the interior.

On 5 October, 1964, construction was completed.

==Winnipeg parishes altogether in the 1960s==

By the 1960s, there were 2 other parishes of the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/about/history/ Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] in Winnipeg. There was also [[Winnipeg MB Saint Andrew’s College 1932 |Saint Andrew’s College]] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba]. In addition, there were 2 parishes of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofAmerica.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Church of America] : [[Winnipeg MB Saint Michael Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church 1918 |Saint Michael’s Ukrainian (Bukovynian) Orthodox Church]] and [[Winnipeg MB Saint John Suchavsky Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1931 |Saint John Suchavsky’s Sobor]].

All these communities were worshipping either using the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Church Slavonic] language. It was during this decade that another [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christian] parish was developing and becoming established nearby in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], the [[Winnipeg MB Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church 1962 |Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint George]]. By this time, there were some people who felt the need to use the English language.

[[File:All Saints Ukr Orthodox Church 1500 Day St Winnipeg MB.jpg]] '''All Saints Church'''

'''Priest Michael, Dobrodiyka Stephania Yurkiwsky, 1968'''

In 1968, the [https://umlarchives.lib.umanitoba.ca/rev-michael-yurkiwsky-fonds Priest Michael Yurkiwsky] arrived in Winnipeg from [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton/ Edmonton], [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], where he had been the pastor of [[Edmonton AB Saint Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor 1958 |Saint Andrew’s Sobor]]. He had registered at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Saint_Andrew%E2%80%99s_College_1932 Saint Andrew’s College] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Manitoba University of Manitoba] in order to further his [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology theological]/[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology pastoral] education. In the following decade, Father Michael served as the Principal of Saint Andrew's College.

Upon his arrival, Father Michael began to lead the community towards a greater use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English language] in the services and in the day-to-day functioning of the parish. This direction was acceptable to the people, and from that time, the community has been known for this characteristic.

Father Michael’s wife, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbytera Dobrodiyka] [https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Stephania] (†2011), worked in the provincial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minister_of_Education_(Manitoba) Department of Education]. She was very much involved in developing the English and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] bilingual programme. Together, they promoted the use of the English language in worship in the parish for as long as they were assigned there.

Nowadays, the members of the parish are from many ethnic backgrounds, and people from any ethnic background are welcomed to “come and see”, and to join. The Church is, after all, based on the great commission of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] which eventually spread through [https://www.britannica.com/place/Istanbul Constantinople] to [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Rus Rus]-[https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] has now been brought to [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America] ; and, in the words of our Saviour, this Gospel should be preached in all places “to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

After Sunday Church services the parishioners meet at the fellowship hall for coffee, lunch, or just for fellowship. Having a meal in fellowship on Sundays after the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] follows an ancient Christian tradition in fellowship as a sign of love ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape Agape]) in Christ. This [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agape_feast fellowship meal] celebrates the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection of Christ] and His triumph over death and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrowing_of_Hell Hadēs]. His Resurrection gives access to [https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/the-symbol-of-faith/kingdom-of-god His Kingdom] for all who hear His call to “come to Me” (Matthew 11:28-30). The future is bright for this parish and for its members, as they look always towards the light of Christ.

[[File:UOCC group photo 1.png]] '''Congregation photo'''

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

==Domes on the Temple, 2000==

As a "Millennium 2" project (in the context of marking the 2,000 years since the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nativity Nativity of Christ]), a Church Domes Committee was established and co-chaired by [https://blacksbooks.ca/product/40th-anniversary-of-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-all-saints-of-transcona-1954-1994/ Ben Shuvera] and Lawrence Chubey.

Plans were prepared, and an appeal for donations was undertaken.

The Millennium [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onion_dome Domes] were constructed and installed in time to be blessed on 1 October, 2000. Two hundred parishioners and guests gathered for an archpastoral visitation and Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Temple.

The morning ended with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)] blessing the 3 new domes, assisted by attending clergy.

[[File:AllSaintUOCWinnipegSanctificationOfDomes 2.png]] '''Sanctification of domes'''

A short programme followed the celebratory dinner that was enjoyed in the auditorium.

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] was marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox Faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] in the Chapel of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz]. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]] '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''

All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] at the Mohyla Institute [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel Chapel] and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic pandemic]. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

==Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022==

'''Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada'''

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba]. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ; in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral Saint Sophie Cathedral]).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Church of Constantinople] a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].

There were 3 candidates who were considered : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]. The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf Consistory By-laws]).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served]. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers]. Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)], Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

'''Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023'''

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople] were also present, and praying, with the congregation of the Faithful.

==Archpastoral visit==

On Sunday, 11 June, 2023 (the First Sunday after Pentecost, the Sunday of All Saints), [https://www.uocc.ca/press-release-his-eminence-metropolitan-ilarion-celebrated-the-first-sunday-after-pentecost-the-sunday-of-all-saints-on-june11-2023/ All Saints Church was graced with a visitation] from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)], Archbishop of Winnipeg, and the Central Eparchy. He was assisted by clergy of the Winnipeg Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery. This was the first official visit to the parish for some time, and it was met with resounding positivity and welcoming attitudes.

[[File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg]] '''Metropolitan Ilarion, clergy, servers'''

==Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023==

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced] that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC]. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]). He called the resisters to repentance.

==Parish organisations==

'''Church school :'''

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/life Sunday school] is offered at 10:00 a.m. on Sundays.

[[File:Church School, Youth 2011.jpg]] '''Church school and youth'''

'''Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School :'''

The [http://www.zavirukha.com Zavirukha Ukrainian Dance School], founded in 1980, meets in the parish hall between September and May.

'''[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/about-us All Saints Parish Choir]'''

[[File:AllSaintsUOCWinnipegChoir 2.png]]

==Particular parish information==

The regular Sunday Divine Liturgy alternates between one Sunday completely in the English language, and one Sunday that is bilingually [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English.

At traditional times, especially the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha] (Easter), the Ukrainian language is also used, in order to demonstrate the universality of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Resurrection Resurrection] of Christ.

This parish is a part of the Winnipeg District of the [https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Ukrainian%20Orthodox%20Eparchy%20of%20Central%20Canada Central Eparchy] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]. The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].

This parish follows the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecostarion#Sunday_of_All_Saints All Saints], the first Sunday after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pentecost Pentecost].

In 2024, the pastor of the parish is the [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk].

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter Wasyl (William) Wasyliw] is attached.

The deacon is [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput] (a teacher in a Winnipeg school).

[[File:Exterior by night.jpg]] '''The Temple by night'''

Address :

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

1500, Day Street

Winnipeg, Manitoba

R2C 1E4

Telephone : (204) 222-1392

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/ Web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/pages/All-Saints-Ukrainian-Orthodox-Church/155907774534321 Facebook]

Directions :

The Temple is located on [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada Day Street], between [https://www.walkscore.com/score/2500-day-st-winnipeg-mb-canada McMeans Avenue] East and Edward Avenue East (nearer to Edward Avenue). It is in the northern part of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcona,_Winnipeg Transcona], in the [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Kildare+-+Redonda,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.900832,-96.9907258,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7bcdf8ccd505:0x8f019fe00a598d5c!8m2!3d49.9034729!4d-96.9877941!16s%2Fg%2F1tdq0s_j?entry=ttu Kildare-Redonda neighbourhood].

By car :

From the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perimeter_Highway_(Winnipeg) Perimeter Highway #101 North], turn west on [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Drive to Day Avenue, and turn left (south). The Temple is on the left.

From northwestern Winnipeg, drive to the [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/main-street-and-chief-peguis-trail?to=place.EjRNYWluIFN0ICYgQ2hpZWYgUGVndWlzIFRybCwgV2lubmlwZWcsIE1CIFIyViwgQ2FuYWRhImYiZAoUChIJ4ST8HTFw6lIRTJoaqzbwo3oSFAoSCeEk_B0xcOpSEUyaGqs28KN6GhQKEglvO7JDV2XqUhERSsQTKddXiBoUChIJH6_IQDlw6lIRXUgPdvCkJ3siCg3UGsYdFTJNH8Y Chief Peguis Bridge at Main Street], and turn eastwards. Cross the Red River, and continue on the [http://chiefpeguistrail.com/ Chief Peguis Trail] as far as Lagimodière Boulevard ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba_Highway_59 Highway #59]). Turn right (south), and drive to Grassie Boulevard. Drive on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Grassie,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.919638,-97.0408254,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a7ac740e3f1:0xb430c333d20339e!8m2!3d49.9210939!4d-97.036881!16s%2Fg%2F1hhgzc3s6?entry=ttu Grassie Boulevard] to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Plessis+Rd,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8634757,-97.1067907,12z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea79c48350e5d3:0x8e63483b5fb669d5!8m2!3d49.8634757!4d-97.02 Plessis Road]. Keep to the right on Plessis Road and drive to [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/manitoba/winnipeg/r2c/600-gunn-rd-49.91523,-96.99475 Gunn Road]. Turn left on Gunn Road and drive to Day Street. Turn right on Day Street, and drive south until the Temple, which is on the left.

From southwestern Winnipeg, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Boniface Saint Boniface] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Vital,_Winnipeg Saint Vital], follow one of the convenient main roads such as Marion Street or Nairn Avenue, which will intersect with [https://www.google.com/maps/place/500+Lagimodiere+Blvd,+Winnipeg,+MB+R2J+4J1/@49.8472849,-97.0511805,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea777645d5e5ed:0x144a8300eac28652!8m2!3d49.8472849!4d-97.0511805!16s%2Fg%2F11bw405l45?entry=ttu Lagimodière Boulevard]. At [https://www.waze.com/live-map/directions/ca/mb/winnipeg/nairn-avenue?to=place.ChIJJxy1-txw6lIRy78Lnp4O5rQ Nairn Avenue], turn to the east (or continue straight on Nairn Avenue) and continue eastwards. The name changes to [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Regent+Ave+W,+Winnipeg,+MB/@49.8953689,-97.0394629,16z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x52ea7a240bc94607:0xa5b4993dfe2f325e!8m2!3d49.8953689!4d-97.036888!16s%2Fg%2F1tdb8hcn?entry=ttu Regent Avenue] West. At Day Street, turn left (north), and drive to the Temple, which is on the right.

By bus : Consult [http://winnipegtransit.com/en/routes/find?location=1500+day+street&location_id=&commit=Submit Winnipeg Transit]. There is bus service (#48) on McMean Avenue from downtown Winnipeg. There are stops near Day Street.

There is parking beside the parish hall, and on the streets nearby.

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

Telephone : 204-691-5689

Mobile : 431-734-1794

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

Telephone : 204-261-0361

Mobile : (204) 771-1192

E-mail : wwasyliw@mts.net

[http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=140 Deacon Thomas Chaput]

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.allsaintsuoc.ca/faith All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Parish web-site information]

Klysh, Mirone, “[https://www.cjoc.ca/pdf/Vol-3-F-1%20Orthodox%20Christians%20in%20Manitoba.pdf Orthodox Christians in Manitoba]”

Rotoff, Basil ; Yereniuk, Roman ; Hryniuk, Stella ; “[https://archive.org/details/monumentstofaith0000roto Monuments to Faith : Ukrainian Churches in Manitoba]” (The University of Manitoba Press : Winnipeg, 1990) © Manitoba Heritage, Culture and Recreation, 1990. ISBN : 0-88755-621-3.

“Ukrainian Churches of Manitoba : a building Inventory” (Winnipeg : Manitoba Culture, Heritage and Recreation, Historic Resources, 1987).

'''Additional information :'''

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Martynowych, Orest T. “[https://www.ciuspress.com/product/ukrainians-in-canada-the-formative-years-1891-1924/?v=3e8d115eb4b3 Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891-1924]” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN10 : 0920862764. ISBN13 : 978-0920862766.

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up 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.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “[https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Short-History-of-the-UOCC.pdf A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)]”

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/all-saints-parish-17/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of All Saints, Winnipeg, parish listing]

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://uocceast.ca/links/%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-%d1%81%d0%b5%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%b4%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%80%d1%85%d1%96%d1%8f-%e2%80%a2-uocc-central-eparchy/ Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Eparchy_of_Central_Canada Wikipedia article about the Central Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Athenagoras_(Spyrou) Patriarch Athenagoras (Spyrou)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Demetrios_I_(Papadopoulos) Patriarch Demetrios I (Papadopoulos)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion I (Ohienko)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)]

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-william-wasyliw/ Protopresbyter William Wasyliw]

[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rt-rev-protopresbyter-nicholas-orest-rauliuk/ Protopresbyter Nicholas Orest Rauliuk]

[https://www.tributearchive.com/obituaries/11363765/Stephania-Yurkiwsky Obituary of Dobrodijka Stephania Yurkiwsky]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw Video : 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2018)

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)

[https://www.uocc.ca/july-2-2023-at-the-phanar-in-ecumenical-patriarchate/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar in the Ecumenical Patriarchate] (2 July, 2023)

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)

[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Manitoba]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCCE]] [[Category:EP]]

File:All Saints Winnipeg2023 1.jpg

2026-09-23T15:22:03Z

Vladyka Seraphim: