View source for Mitred Archpriest Andrew A and Matushka Maria Kokolsky



[[File:2017.01.04 Archpriest Andrew A KokolskySmaller 1.jpg]]

'''Mitred Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky (1878-1979)'''

and

'''Matushka Maria Kokolsky (born Rudiak) (1887-1971)'''


Andrew may be spelt Andrei, André, Andrej, Andrey, Andriy, Andreas.  

Kokolsky may be spelt Kokolski. 



==Early life of Andrew==

On 29 August, 1878, Andrew A Kokolsky was born to Alexander and Justina Kokolsky, in the town of [http://www.tovste.info/Where_is_Tovste.php Tovste].   At that time, this region was in the province of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_(Eastern_Europe) Galicia] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire], now in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternopil_Oblast Ternopil Oblast].  He was raised as an [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian] in the bosom of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian Orthodox Church].  

His early education was in his home town.

==Higher education==

After having completed his primary and secondary education, Andrew travelled to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Vienna Vienna], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria Austria], where he pursued higher studies.  

Andrew was then taken into military service, where he served as a lieutenant in a cavalry division under the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Joseph_I_of_Austria Emperor Franz-Joseph].  

Once he had completed his military service, in accordance with his heart’s desire, Andrew immediately began theological studies so that he could serve the Lord in the Church. 

After having completed his studies, he returned to Tovste and his parental home.  

==Marriage==

In his home village, Tovste, Andrew A Kokolsky was married to Maria Rudiak.

==Emigration to the USA 1912==

In 1912, Andrew and Maria Kokolsky emigrated to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA].  They landed in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City New York]. 

==Ordinations, 1912==

Soon after their arrival in New York, Andrew Kokolsky was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] and then to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by [[Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)]].  

==Pastoral service==

'''Transfer to Canada, 1912 : missionary service'''

Father Andrew was immediately assigned to serve in some of the communities in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].  However, his wife was not able to follow him until 1914.  

In time, they received 3 children from the Lord : John, Stella and Grace. 

Father Andrew was sent to serve as a missionary first in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikado,_Saskatchewan Mikado] area (near [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canora,_Saskatchewan Canora]), and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikado,_Saskatchewan Moose Jaw] area in Saskatchewan.  It was at about this time (1913) that [[Moose Jaw SK Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 1913 |Holy Trinity Church]] in Moose Jaw was established.  

In 1918, Father Andrew was sent to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canora,_Saskatchewan Canora].  There, he personally organised the community and then supervised the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Orthodox_church_architecture architecture] and the construction of the first Orthodox Temple in that town.  He was able to be involved in the architecture and construction in part because he had taught himself about architecture earlier in his life.  

In 1923, Father Andrew was transferred to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundare Mundare, Alberta].  For 4 years, he served the parishes of [[Mundare AB Apostle Jakob (James) Russo-Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1901 |Saint Jacob]], [[Pakan AB Saint Elias Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1902 |Saint Elias]], [[Farusy AB Saint John the Baptist Russo Church and Cemetery 1904 |Saint John (Farusy)]], [[Chipman AB Saint John the Baptist Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Chipman]], [[Shishkovtsy-Shandro AB Dormition of the Theotokos Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1903 |Shishkovstsi]] and [[Boian AB Romanian Orthodox Church and Cemetery of Saint Mary 1901 |Warwick (Boian)]].  

While he cared for the parishioners in Chipman, he physically helped to build the second Temple of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Forerunner Saint John the Baptist] in that village in 1924.  A fire in 1923 had destroyed the first Temple.  This second Temple was designed by Father Andrew, and it had the very distinctive features of a large central dome and a high bell tower over the west entrance of the Temple.  The Temple was sanctified in 1925.  

In 1927, Father Andrew was sent to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Smoky Lake], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta].  There, he served the [[Smoky Lake AB Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Holy Trinity]] parish, and also [[Edwand AB Saint Pokrova Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1903 |Saint Pokrova]] in [https://www.roadonmap.com/ca/where-is/Edwand,alberta Edwand], [[Pakan AB Saint Elias Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1902 |Saint Elias]] in [https://roadsidethoughts.com/ab/pakan-profile.htm Pakan], and [[Chahor AB Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1904 |Saints Peter and Paul]] in [https://roadsidethoughts.com/ab/cemeteries/chahor-russian-greek-orthodox-cemetery-profile.htm Chahor].  

On the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha], 1928, a disastrous fire completely destroyed Holy Trinity Church in Smoky Lake.  Immediately, Father Andrew galvanised the reconstruction.  He prepared the plans, and he supervised the construction.  The Temple remained intact and standing thereafter.  In this case, Father Andrew personally elevated and installed the large iron Cross which since then stands on the peak of the main cupola.  

In 1930, Father Andrew was transferred, and his family established a residence in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], not far from [[Edmonton AB Saint Barbara Russo Orthodox Cathedral Church 1900 |Saint Barbara’s Church]].  From there, for the following 30 years, he continued to visit a large number of rural communities for which he was pastorally responsible.  

'''Transfer to the Russian Exarchate of North America'''

At some time in the following years, Father Andrew moved from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_in_America Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America] to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Exarchate_of_North_America North American Exarchate] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian Orthodox Church].  For a time, he served as the secretary for the Canadian Section of the diocesan council of [[Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov) |Metropolitan Benjamin (Fedchenkov)]].  

During his more than 50 years of pastoral service, Father Andrew had served in the parishes in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athabasca,_Alberta Athabasca], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barrhead,_Alberta Barrhead], [[Calmar AB Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1927 |Calmar]], [[North Star (Manning) AB Saints Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1935 |North Star]], [[Peno AB Saint Michael Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1904 |Peno]], [[Redwater AB Saints Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1911 |Redwater]], [[Spirit River (Devale) AB Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1929 |Spirit River]], [[Star AB Holy Transfiguration Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1893 |Star]] and [[Thorsby AB Holy Trinity (Whitsuntide) Russo Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1920 |Thorsby]].  He also served occasionally at Saint Barbara’s Church on occasions when there was a need.  These are in addition to the ones previously mentioned.  He was an energetic man and a dynamic speaker.  He organised new communities and strengthened those he served.   

In 1959, [[Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk)]] was assigned by the Moscow Patriarchate to be the Archbishop of Edmonton and Canada.  From that time, he began to improve the order and pastoral service for the communities and clergy under his authority.  However, only 9 years later, the archbishop reposed in the Lord.

==Retirement, 1963==

In 1963, Father Andrew A Kokolsky retired at the age of 85.  Nevertheless, he continued to be present and participating in services as often as possible.  

Archbishop Panteleimon elevated the Priest Andrew Kokolsky to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archpriest archpriest].  He also awarded Father Andrew with the right to wear the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Miter mitre] (an award to priests given primarily by the Russian Orthodox Church).  

Father Andrew had not come to this advancement long before this in part because he had been living and serving through many decades of jurisdictional confusion and frequent absence of active bishops in Canada.  

In 1970, the Moscow Patriarchate gave [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Autocephaly autocephaly] (independent self-government) to the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (ROGCCNA).  At the same time, the Moscow Patriarchate dissolved its [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Exarchate_of_North_America Russian Exarchate] and its diocesan structure and replaced it with an administration of its parishes, one for the USA and one for Canada.  The names became "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchial_Parishes_in_Canada Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada]", and "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Patriarchal_Parishes_in_the_USA Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA]".  

==Bereavement, 1971==

On 24 July, 1971, Matushka Maria Kokolsky fell asleep in the Lord.  

After the funeral services at Saint Barbara’s Cathedral, her body was interred at [https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/municipal_cemeteries/mount-pleasant-cemetery.aspx Mount Pleasant Cemetery] on the “south side” of Edmonton.  

After this, their daughter Grace continued to look after the daily needs of her father for the following 8 years.  Those who knew the family considered her service to have been exemplary. 

==Repose, 1979==

On 7 May, 1979, the Mitred Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky fell asleep in the Lord in Edmonton.  He was 100 years old.  

On Wednesday, 9 May, 1979, the evening panikhida (memorial service) was offered at Saint Barbara's Cathedral in Edmonton.  The reading of the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gospels Gospels] followed this service.  

On Thursday, 10 May, 1979, the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Presbyter were offered at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Barbara's Cathedral in Edmonton.  
At that time, there was no bishop present in the city.   Therefore, the services were led by the [[Mitred Archpriest John and Matushka Helen Margitich |Archpriest John Margitich]],  He was assisted by Archimandrite Germogen (Cherkasin), [[Archimandrite Dimitriy (Shchur) |Igumen Dimitriy (Shchur)]], Archpriest Peter Vlodek, Priest Arseny Melnyk and Priest Nikanor Shimko (these last 3 priests were newly-arrived in Edmonton at that time).  

After the funeral services, his body was interred next to that of his wife at Mount Pleasant Cemetery on the “south side” of Edmonton.


[[File:Father Andrew Matushka Maria Kokolsky 1.jpg]]  '''Grave marker'''

==Reflections==


The facts that Father Andrew Kokolsky was able to speak 6 languages, and that he had taught himself about architecture and construction were valuable elements in his pastoral service.  Both factors helped him greatly in his work with his parishioners, and in his missionary labours.

This Christ-loving priest and his Christ-loving wife worked together in harmony in their service to the Lord, and this love produced considerable visible and invisible fruit in the parishes they served.  The invisible fruit is in the spiritual lives and the hearts of the parishioners.  However, even this became visible in the practice of their loving lives and labours in Christ.  Father Andrew and Matushka Maria were neither above nor apart from their spiritual children.  Rather, they were in their midst, and co-labourers with them.  

They served together for many decades in Canada (the majority of time in Alberta), and they set a good example as Orthodox Christians about how properly to live in Christ.  As an Orthodox Christian pastor, Father Andrew himself set a good example as well for other clergy.

==References==
 
‘In Memoriam Right Rev. Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky’, in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, no. 1 (1979), pp. 20-22. [This "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" is a journal formerly published in Edmonton, AB, by the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada.]

“[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America The Russian Mission in North America]”  


'''Additional information :'''

The obituary for Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky was published in the “Edmonton Journal” on 10 May, 1979, p. 64. 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton,_AB,_Cathedral_Church_in_the_Name_of_Saint_Barbara,_1900 Saint Barbara’s Cathedral] 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Roots_of_community_-_First_Churches "Roots of Community", early reports] 

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_in_Canada Orthodoxwiki parishes in Canada] 

[http://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=Mra7&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&MS_AdvCB=1&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn_x=1&gsln=Kokolsky&gsln_x=1&msbdy_x=1&msbpn_x=XO&msbpn__ftp_x=1&msrpn_x=XO&msrpn__ftp_x=1&msydy_x=1&msypn_x=XO&msypn__ftp_x=1&gskw_x=1&cpxt=0&uidh=000&cp=0&geo_a=r&geo_s=au&geo_t=ca&geo_v=2.0.0&o_iid=41020&o_lid=41020&o_sch=Web%20Property&pcat=34&h=1241923&db=FindAGraveCanada&indiv=1&ml_rpos=5 "Ancestry" reference to Matushka Maria's grave]

[http://search.ancestry.ca/cgi-bin/sse.dll?_phsrc=Mra7&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&MS_AdvCB=1&rank=1&new=1&MSAV=2&msT=1&gss=angs-c&gsfn_x=1&gsln=Kokolsky&gsln_x=1&msbdy_x=1&msbpn_x=XO&msbpn__ftp_x=1&msrpn_x=XO&msrpn__ftp_x=1&msydy_x=1&msypn_x=XO&msypn__ftp_x=1&gskw_x=1&cpxt=0&uidh=000&cp=0&geo_a=r&geo_s=au&geo_t=ca&geo_v=2.0.0&o_iid=41020&o_lid=41020&o_sch=Web%20Property&pcat=34&h=605703&db=FindAGraveCanada&indiv=1&ml_rpos=4 "Ancestry" reference to Father Andrew's grave] 

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/95716370/maria-kokolsky Findagrave reference for Matushka Maria Kokolsky]    

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45564262/andrew-kokolsky Findagrave reference for Father Andrew Kokolsky]  

[[Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk)]]

[[Bishop Job (Smakouz)]]

[[Bishop Matthew (Andreev)]]

[[Mitred Archpriest John and Matushka Helen Margitich |Archpriest John Margitich]]

See the article about [[Smoky Lake AB Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Holy Trinity Church]] in Smoky Lake. 

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

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Responses_to_OCA_autocephaly Orthodoxwiki article about Responses to the OCA Tomos of Autocephaly, 1970]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_in_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada]   

[[Moose Jaw SK Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 1913 |Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan]]

[[Smoky Lake AB Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Smoky Lake, Alberta]]

[[Chipman AB Saint John the Baptist Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Saint John the Baptist Russo-Orthodox Church in Chipman, Alberta]]

[[Calmar AB Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1927 |Holy Ascension Orthodox Church in Calmar, Alberta]]







[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:RusM]] [[Category:MP]] [[Category:ADOCA]] [[Category:ROGCCNA]]