View source for Johnstown ON †Saint Silouan the Athonite Orthodox Chapel 1992-2016


[[File:Saint Silouan's Monastery Chapel Johnstown ON.jpg]]

'''Johnstown, Ontario, †Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite, 1992-2016'''


==Background==

The original purchase of the property on which this chapel subsisted had been undertaken by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada  Archdiocese of Canada] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America]) in 1988 at the direction of [[Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]], Archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington,_D.C. Washington], Metropolitan of All America and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].  After the retirement (in 1981) of [[Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns)]] of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal Montréal] and Canada, Metropolitan Theodosius had been the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Locum_tenens Locum-tenens] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop] of the Archdiocese of Canada.  He was concerned that the future bishop of the archdiocese be able to live in a place that was distinct from any particular parish of the archdiocese.  Since the establishment of the diocese in 1916, the bishops and their offices had always been dependent upon one or another parish for living quarters and office space.  

The original house (with its several additions) had been constructed in about 1850, and it was situated beside County Road #44, formerly known as the [https://www.revolvy.com/page/Ontario-Highway-16 King's Highway #16], near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnstown,_Ontario Johnstown], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario].  It was situated just to the south of the unincorporated hamlet [https://roadsidethoughts.com/on/crystal-rock-xx-leeds-grenville-profile.htm Crystal Rock] (formerly called "Limekilns" because [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_kiln burning limestone] was a local industry in the 19th century).  

The original structure had received several additions during its history, and the chapel and its entrance foyer (which connected it to the main house) was the last of them.  

The building was part of a farmstead which included a barn and another work-shop building.  The whole property, mostly woodland, consisted of about 40 acres.  Within the property there was a small marsh, a small swamp, as well as a creek which drained the marsh in the springtime.  The land itself was not well-suited to agriculture because of the prevalence of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limestone limestone] beneath a generally shallow layer of soil.

==Improvised oratory, 1988-1998==

For the first years, the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chapel chapel] as such (more like a [https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/oratory domestic oratory]) was limited to some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography icons] and a table in one corner of the dining-room of the house which was purchased in 1988.  

It was after a brief time that a movement began to try to establish a distinct structure which could serve as a more usual sort of chapel.  This project in itself became more complicated than anticipated, since conformity to the county's by-laws required that this chapel be physically attached to the main house.

==Naming the chapel, 1990==

In 1990, the improvised chapel was named for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Silouan_the_Athonite Saint Silouan the Athonite], after having received the blessing to do so from [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Sophrony_(Sakharov) Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov)] (founder of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Stavropegic_Monastery_of_St._John_the_Baptist_(Maldon,_Essex) Monastery of Saint John the Baptist], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolleshunt_Knights Tolleshunt Knights]-by-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldon,_Essex Malden], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Essex Essex], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/England England]).  The naming at this time anticipated the construction of a proper oratory or chapel which would continue to bear this name.

==Preparation, construction of the chapel, 1997-1998==

During the course of the further development of the property, under the guidance of the "[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1994-3.5-3.pdf Metamorphosis Project]", it was decided to construct a more "normal" chapel which would be able to serve as a proper spiritual home not only for the residents, but also for the monks and clergy who were attached to it, and for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christians] in the region who were already attending some of the services when they were made known.  

On the day when the land was blessed, [[Metropolitan Mark (Petrovtsiy) |Archbishop Mark (Petrovtsiy)]], the bishop of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_in_Canada Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in Canada], was present with the others who participated.    


[[File:Foundation of Saint Silouan Chapel 2.png]]  

'''The foundation of the chapel being prepared'''


Although the chapel was originally constructed as a separate building, the rules of the county required that it be joined to the main building, and this took time to accomplish.  Thus, the chapel became an addition to what was the archdiocesan centre of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Archdiocese of Canada] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America]) and the offices and the residence of the bishop (at that time, [[Archbishop Seraphim (Storheim) |Bishop Seraphim (Storheim)]].  


[[File:Messenger article 1998 1.png]]  '''Article excerpt about the 1998 completion of the construction'''


The chapel was completed and blessed in 1998, and from then on there were more and more services offered therein. 

For about 20 years after the construction, the chapel served as the bishop’s domestic chapel ; as a home focus for those of the [[Johnstown, ON, The Monastery of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos 1990-2016 |Monastic Community of Saint Silouan the Athonite]] ; as a place of attachment of various clergy ; and as a site of visible testimony for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] to the Township of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Edwardsburgh/Cardinal] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Counties_of_Leeds_and_Grenville Leeds-Grenville County] in Ontario.  From the beginning, many people in this region would attend services, and especially the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy], on whatever day it would be offered (Sunday, Saturday, week-days).  The chapel served either as a primary place of worship for such persons, or as an additional place of worship when their own Temple might not be offering a service.  People would travel from [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont Ottawa], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kemptville Kemptville], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/kingston Kingston], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/brockville Brockville], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/prescott Prescott] and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cornwall-ont Cornwall].  

The chapel came to serve the Faithful in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_(state) New York State] who lived along the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/st-lawrence-river Saint Lawrence River], including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canton,_New_York Canton] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogdensburg,_New_York Ogdensburg].  In addition, it fostered the development of the [https://oca.org/parishes/oca-ny-potsoc Mission of Saint Olympia] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potsdam,_New_York Potsdam], New York.  For a long time, it was the same [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk hieromonk] who would serve both in Saint Silouan’s Chapel and in the mission in Potsdam.  


[[File:St Silouan Chapel 2006 2.png]]  

'''Some parishioners and visitors, 2006'''


For several years, the chapel served also as the spiritual home for the monastic residents of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Johnstown,_ON,_%E2%80%A0Monastery_of_Saint_Silouan_of_Mount_Athos_1990-2016 Monastery of Saint Silouan] who lived in the attached building.  


[[File:St Silouan Chapel exterior.jpg]]  '''View from the north'''

==Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ, 2015==

On 5-6 August, 2015, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Christ was served in the Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite.  On Thursday, 6 August, Archimandrite Luke (Majoros) served the Divine Liturgy.  The following are photos of the end of the Divine Liturgy, and of the partaking of blessed food afterwards in the refectory (photos thanks to Jane Szepesi).  


[[File:20150806 03 St Silouan Chapel with Fr Luke 2.JPG]] 


[[File:20150806 04 Fr Luke gives the blessing 2.JPG]]


[[File:20150806 05 Gathering for lunch after Liturgy at Fair Haven 2.JPG]]


[[File:20150806 06 Before lunch, Vladyka and Tatiana in conversation, Fr Luke waiting to give the blessing 2.JPG]]

==Notable contents of the chapel==

The chapel contained historical items from other parts of the Archdiocese of Canada.  

The table-top of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Altar Holy Table] in the chapel came from the Holy Table of the [[Sifton MB Monastery of the Holy Ascension 1910-1970 |Monastery of the Holy Ascension]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sifton,_Manitoba Sifton], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba].  The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Proskomedia Proskomedia table] and 2 smaller tables came from the former [[Lone Butte BC Holy Transfiguration Hermitage 1977 |Hermitage of the Transfiguration]] when it had been at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanstead,_Quebec_(township) Fitch Bay], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec Québec].  The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/File:Candelabra.jpg seven-branched candelabra] came from the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Cathedral of the Annunciation in Ottawa]].  It had been commissioned and made by a local black-smith, Daniel Kerrem, but the cathedralites later preferred their original old one.  

The cantor-stand came from [[Ottawa ON Holy Trinity Bukowinian Orthodox Sobor 1918-2003 |Holy Trinity Bukowinian Sobor]] in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ottawa-ont  Ottawa] (from the original Temple).  The historical candle-stand in the midst of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nave nave] came from [[Winnipeg MB Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Cathedral 1904 |Holy Trinity Sobor]] in [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], Manitoba.  Two [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Analogion analoys] were made by Robert Kanerva of [[Toronto ON Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Sobor 1915 |Christ the Saviour Cathedral]] in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto Toronto] especially for the chapel.  

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cupola cupola]-and-[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cross Cross] atop the roof over the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Narthex narthex] came from  [[Sifton MB Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church 1900-2010 |Holy Ascension Monastery]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sifton,_Manitoba Sifton], Manitoba.  

From dead trees on the property that had been felled by him,  Phillip Bodnar milled the wood into boards from which he constructed the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconostasis iconostas].  The folding analoy used in the chapel was from [[Ottawa ON Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church 1955-1987 |Saint Nicholas Church]] in Ottawa.  The reading-stand in the Altar was from [[Ottawa ON Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission 1980-1987 |Holy Transfiguration Mission]] in Ottawa.  The large central [https://www.liturgicalartsjournal.com/2022/09/lampada-over-centuries-some-examples.html  lampada] above the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Doors Royal Doors] was from Holy Ascension Monastery in Sifton, Manitoba.  The curtains of the iconostas were prepared from Chinese silk velvet by Katya Szalasznyj.  The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconography icons] on the iconostas were written by Tatiana Ianovskaya of Toronto.  

The icon of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Silouan_the_Athonite Saint Silouan] (which usually rested on the central analoy) was commissioned from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece Greece] by a donor.  The icon of the [[Saint Matushka Olga Michael of Alaska |Blessed Matushka Olga]] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwethluk,_Alaska Kwethluk], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Alaska Alaska] was donated by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Iconographer  Bess Chakravarty iconographer] [http://www.prayerfulicons.net/ Bess Chakravarty] (later, this icon was moved to the [[Ottawa ON Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral 1955 |Annunciation Cathedral]] in Ottawa).  

The base of the Holy Table and the extra supports for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Doors Holy Doors] were built by the monk Pierre (Vachon).  

Between the platfom on which the Holy Table rested and the Royal Doors, there was a hand-woven wool carpet that had been bought in the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CH%5CU%5CHutsuls.htm Hutsul] region of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine].  In addition, there were hand-crocheted rugs in several places in the chapel, which had been worked by [[Mother Dorofea (Mirochnitchenko)]].  The whole chapel and narthex were originally constructed and finished by the sons and daughters of the [[Igumen John (Scratch) |Igumen (former archpriest) John (Scratch)]] of Ottawa, together with their friends.  


[[File:St Silouan Chapel.jpg]]  '''Chapel interior'''


[[File:20180921 RoyalDoors StSilouanChapel Spencerville.jpg]] '''Royal Doors'''

==Particular chapel information==

This chapel was part of the [https://www.archdiocese.ca/communities?field_deanery_tid_i18n=3&field_community_type_value_i18n=All&title= Ontario Deanery] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Archdiocese of Canada], of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America The Orthodox Church in America].  The bishop was [[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]].

The monastery chapel followed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar]. 

The Altar [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Feast_day Feast-day] of the chapel was the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Silouan_the_Athonite Saint Silouan the Athonite], 24 September. 


The monastery was closed in 2016.  Services were ended in the chapel, and in 2017, the property was offered for sale by the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada.  It is reported to have been sold in 2018 to a private family.  


[[File:186634.p.png]]  [[File:Saint Silouan photoCBSCS 2.png]]  '''Photos of the monk Silouan'''


Address :

Saint Silouan the Athonite Orthodox Chapel

2801, Newman Road RR #5

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerville,_Ontario Spencerville], Ontario 

([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Township of Edwardsburgh-Cardinal])  

K0E 1X0 


Directions :

The site (now private property) is about an hour's drive south of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa Ottawa, Ontario], in the Town Plan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnstown,_Ontario Johnstown], Ontario, in the postal service region of Spencerville, Ontario, in the township of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Edwardsburgh-Cardinal], Ontario.  It is about 9 km (6 mi) distant from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerville,_Ontario Spencerville] and also from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prescott,_Ontario Prescott].  Spencerville is about 80 km (50 mi) south of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa Ottawa], via [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_416 Highway #416].  

From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto] by car, the driving distance is approximately 350 km (219 mi).

Drive on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_401 Highway #401], along the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Lawrence_River Saint Lawrence River] to exit #721B, “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_416 Highway #416], Bridge to USA”.  Take exit #721B.  Drive a bit north, past the cloverleaf, and immediately make a right turn onto [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/ontario/leeds-and-grenville-359276034 Leeds-Grenville County Road #44] at Angelo’s service station and diner.  Turn left immediately (north) on County Road #44 ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road.  The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road.

From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa  Ottawa] by car, the driving distance is approximately 90 km (56 mi).

Drive on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_416 Highway #416] south (past [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spencerville,_Ontario Spencerville]) to Exit #1, “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_401 Highway #401]E, bridge to USA”.  Follow Exit #1 to the access to [[https://www.mapquest.com/ca/ontario/leeds-and-grenville-359276034 Leeds-Grenville County Road #44] County Road #44] at Angelo’s service station and diner.  Turn left immediately (north) onto County Road #44 ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road.  The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road

From [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal Montréal] by car, the driving distance is approximately 195 km (121 mi).

Drive on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quebec_Autoroute_20 Autoroute #20] west, and continue straight on, on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Highway_401 Highway #401] west towards [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto Toronto].  After [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/ontario/cardinal-282177056 Cardinal], take Exit #721 north.  Turn right immediately towards Angelo’s service station and diner.  Turn left immediately (north) onto [https://www.mapquest.com/ca/ontario/leeds-and-grenville-359276034 Leeds-Grenville County Road #44] ; after about 2 km (1.25 mi), turn left onto Newman Road.  The chapel was at the first and only driveway on the left at 2801, Newman Road.


For information regarding the chapel, contact :

[https://www.archdiocese.ca/ Archdiocese of Canada]

3441-15th Avenue 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rawdon,_Quebec Rawdon], Québec 

J0K 1S0

Telephone : 450-834-2870


[[File:2 BCS.png]]  '''Christ addresses the Monk Silouan'''


[[File:Silouanicon.jpg]]  '''Saint Silouan the Athonite'''


[[File:Saint Silouan the AthoniteS.png]]  '''Saint Silouan the Athonite (written by Archimandrite Sophrony (Sakharov), now a saint)'''

==References==

[[Johnstown, ON, The Monastery of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos 1990-2016 |Monastic Community of Saint Silouan of Mount Athos]]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silouan_the_Athonite Wikipedia article about Saint Silouan the Athonite]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Silouan_the_Athonite Orthodoxwiki article about Saint Silouan the Athonite]    


'''Additional information :'''

(Sakharov), Archimandrite Sophrony “[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58899356-saint-silouan-the-athonite Saint Silouan the Athonite]” (Crestwood, NY : Saint Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1999).  ISBN : 0881411957 (ISBN13 : 9780881411959). 

……, “[https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2039871.Wisdom_from_Mount_Athos Wisdom from Mount Athos : The Writings of Staretz Silouan 1866-1938]” (Crestwood, NY : St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1975). ISBN : 0913836176. 

[[Saint Sophrony (Sakharov)]]  

[https://www.archdiocese.ca/ Archdiocese of Canada web-site]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada]  

[https://oca.org/ The Orthodox Church in America web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America]   

[[Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)]]   

[[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]]

[[Igumen John (Scratch)]] 

[[Matushka Suzanne Scratch]] 

[[Archdiocesan Centre, Fair Haven (1988-2012) |Archdiocesan Centre, Fair Haven]]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Counties_of_Leeds_and_Grenville Wikipedia article about Leeds-Grenville County]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edwardsburgh/Cardinal Wikipedia article about Edwardsburg/Cardinal Township] 

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnstown,_Ontario Wikipedia article about Johnstown, Ontario]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monasticism Orthodoxwiki article about Monasticism]

[http://www.taniaart.net/icons.html Chapel of Saint Silouan Icons written by Tatiana Ianovskaia]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1994-3.5-3.pdf 'Metamorphosis of Bishop's Residence "A Small Miracle" Report Says' in "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" (Summer 1994), pp. 1-3.]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1997-4.8-4.pdf  'The Metamorphosis Project' in "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" (Autumn 1997), pp. 5, & 10.]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1998-4.9-4.pdf 'Bishop's Chapel Nearing Completion' in "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" (Autumn 1998), p. 11.]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/messenger/Com1999-3.10-3.pdf 'Bishop's chapel of St Silouan' in "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" (Summer 1999), p. 7.]
   





[[Category:Old Communities]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:OCA]]