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Vladyka Seraphim at 13:53, 1 October 2021

2021-10-01T13:53:15Z

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[[File:Mitred Archpriest Dmitri Sever-220x300.png]]

'''Mitred Archpriest Dimitry F Sever (1933-2019)'''

and

'''Matushka Irena Sever (born Bandirovskoy) (1934-2005)'''

Dimitry may be spelt Dmitry, Dmitriy, Demetrios, Demetrius.

==Early life of Dimitry==

Dimitry Feodorovich Sever was born on 5 July, 1933, in the village of Kogagёl, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Turkey]. His parents were Russian Orthodox Christians, and he was raised in a parish of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian Orthodox Church] in Turkey.

Dimitry received his primary and secondary education in Turkey.

==Marriage, 1949==

In 1949, he married Irena Gavrilovna Bandirovskoy, who was a daughter of Russian Orthodox Christians.

After having completed the required 8 years of standard education, from 1952 to 1954, he served in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Land_Forces Turkish army] in the city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/İzmir Izmir] (formerly [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smyrna Smyrna]).

==Emigration to Germany, higher education, 1957==

In June, 1957, Dimitry Feodorovich and Irena Gavrilovna emigrated to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainz Mainz-Weisenau], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany Germany]. There, he studied engineering. This education enabled him afterwards to support his family.

==Emigration to Canada, 1965==

In June, 1965, Dimitry Sever and his family (his wife and her parents) emigrated to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada Canada].

==Theological studies==

Dimitry began and completed a correspondence course of theological studies with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Trinity_Monastery_(Jordanville,_New_York) Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jordanville,_New_York Jordanville, New York].

==Diaconal ordination, 1966==

On 9 October, 1966, Dimitry Sever was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] by [[Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) |Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov)]] of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal Montréal] and Canada, of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_Outside_Russia Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia)] (ROCOR).

==Presbyteral ordination, 1970==

On 1 February, 1970, the Deacon Dimitry Sever was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov).

==Pastoral service==

The Priest Dimitry Sever was immediately assigned to serve in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ottawa Ottawa], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario Ontario], where he replaced the Priest Michael Milanov (who had been sent to [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/london London], Ontario). There, he began to develop the newly-established community of the [[Ottawa ON Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Memorial Church 1965 |Protection of the Theotokos]]. From this time until her repose, Matushka Irena was actively involved in caring for the parish family.

During the early years of his pastoral service in Ottawa, Father Dimitry welcomed and encouraged a student who had arrived in Ottawa from [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=CjwKCAjwpqv0BRABEiwA-TySwSMRGiDtM6Bxe3ILUrgvA6uMO0wwbUz9XS9MxWUw4VYODRZ03fYVShoCmGoQAvD_BwE Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec Québec], one [[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) |Richard Rochon]], who would later become a priest and bishop in Canada.

At about this time, Father Dimitry arranged for the acquiring of a section of the [https://pinecrest-remembrance.com Pinecrest Cemetery] for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

From 1970 to 1985, Father Dimitry was assigned also to serve as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_(Christianity) dean] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_Parishes_in_Canada ROCOR parishes in Canada].

In 1985, Father Dimitry began the preparation for the construction of the new Temple complex and Russian spiritual centre in Ottawa, the [[Ottawa ON Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Memorial Church 1965 |Memorial Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin]]. The complex included the new [https://www.ottawaseniors.com/residence/st-vladimirs-russian-residence/ Saint Vladimir Russian Residence]. It was at this time that the Soviet Union was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dissolution_of_the_Soviet_Union beginning to break up]. Many people [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_diaspora fled from there]. Immigration from the former [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_Union Soviet Union] began to develop. Father Dimitry began the work for which he became very well-known, helping Russian-speaking refugees and immigrants to establish themselves in Canada.

==Move to the Russian Orthodox Church, 1999==

On 30 September, 1999, Father Dimitry Sever was received into the jurisdiction and under the omophor of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_of_Moscow_and_all_Rus' Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’]. Most of the parishioners of the parish of the Protection in Ottawa accompanied him. This new entity became a part of the [https://www.orthodox-canada.com/ Administration of the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in Canada].

After 1999, Father Dimitry and the parishioners leased space for worship elsewhere, because they could no longer remain in the Temple that they had constructed. Because of the move to the Moscow Patriarchate, legal disputes about the ownership of the property had arisen, and Father Dimitry began to face other challenges to his reputation. He passed through several years of such difficulties, and the legal disputes lasted for many years.

Nevertheless, at the site of the community's exile, Father Dimitry continued to fulfil his pastoral responsibility to keep the rational sheep united in the parish flock, and to develop this flock as well as he could. The community continued with the same name of dedication as before : "Protection of the Holy Virgin".

In 2000, the Archpriest Dimitry Sever was awarded the right to wear the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Miter mitre] (an award to priests given primarily by the Russian Orthodox Church).

In March, 2005, an associate chief justice of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Superior_Court_of_Justice Superior Court of Justice] was assigned to serve as the legal mediator in the dispute. Ultimately, the property was yielded to the administration belonging to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and all the other outstanding legal and financial disputes were brought to a resolution.

==Bereavement, 2005==

On Saturday, 26 November, 2005, Matushka Irena Sever fell asleep in the Lord at home. She had suffered from cancer for a long time, and she had reached the age of 71.

On Monday, 28 November, 2005, at 6:30 p.m. the Memorial Vespers and Vigil were served at the Temple of the Protection of the Theotokos, 412, Booth Street, Ottawa.

On Tuesday, 29 November, 2005, at 9:00 a.m., the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served, and then at 10:30 a.m. the Funeral Service for the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-orthodox-lay-persons Burial of a Lay-person] was served.

After the funeral services, her body was interred at the Holy Protection Section of the [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/1971327/pinecrest-cemetery Pinecrest Cemetery] in Ottawa. The funeral arrangements were entrusted to McEvoy-Shields Funeral Home.

In 2008, the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Moscow Patriarchate awarded the Archpriest Dimitry Sever with the right to serve the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] with open [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Doors Royal Doors] up to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Cherubic_Hymn Cherubic Hymn]. In the same year, he was awarded the [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%259E%25D1%2580%25D0%25B4%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BD_%25D0%259F%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BF%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B1%25D0%25BD%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B3%25D0%25BE_%25D0%25A1%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D0%25B3%25D0%25B8%25D1%258F_%25D0%25A0%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B6%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B3%25D0%25BE&prev=search Order of Saint Sergius of Radonezh], Third Degree, in connection with his 75th year of life.

Sometime after this, Father Dimitry began to try to retire ; however, for various reasons, several candidates who were presented did not fit the requirements.

On 28 October, 2011, the legal disputes were finally resolved between Father Dimitry and the administration of the Memorial Church of the Protection. Money that was judged to belong to him was transferred to him, and he was officially released from any obligations to this community.

In 2013, Father Dimitry participated in [https://www.archdiocese.ca/articles/hierarchical-liturgy-russian-orthodox-cathedral-sts-peter-and-paul-montreal a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy] at [[Montréal QC Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor 1907 |Saints Peter and Paul Sobor]] in [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/montreal?gclid=CjwKCAjwpqv0BRABEiwA-TySwSMRGiDtM6Bxe3ILUrgvA6uMO0wwbUz9XS9MxWUw4VYODRZ03fYVShoCmGoQAvD_BwE Montréal], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/quebec Québec], along with [[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Justinian_(Ovchinnikov)_of_Kalmykia_and_Elista Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Naro-Fominsk], and [https://www.translatetheweb.com/?from=ru&to=en&ref=SERP&dl=en&rr=UC&a=https%3a%2f%2fru.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2f%25D0%259C%25D1%2581%25D1%2582%25D0%25B8%25D1%2581%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B0%25D0%25B2_%28%25D0%2594%25D1%258F%25D1%2587%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B0%29 Bishop Mstislav (Diachina) of Tikhvin] and others, during a visit of Bishop Mstislav to North America. Bishop Mstislav (Diachina) noted his family relationship with [[Mitred Archpriest John and Matushka Maria Diachina |Father John Diachina]] of [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto Toronto], Ontario.

In 2015, Father Dimitry began to face more health challenges (he had suffered from a series of illnesses for several years). He had managed earlier, with the blessing of the bishops, to acquire assistance from a priest of the [https://www.archdiocese.ca Archdiocese of Canada] ([https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America OCA]) in Ottawa, the [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/melnik-priest-nikolay Priest Nikolay Melnik], who looked after the parish during his illness until the summer of 2017. By this time, Father Dimitry had had surgeries and other procedures, and he felt strong enough to return to full-time service on his own.

Nevertheless, during 2018, Father Dimitry's health became slowly weaker. He was able to participate in the services in the Temple, but he did not have the strength to serve them himself. Another priest was engaged to serve, and Father Dimitry did those things that he was able to do, such as hearing confessions. This priest, the [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/liabotis-archpriest-stelian Archpriest Stelian Liabotis], was also of the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral.

==Repose, 2019==

On 1 April, 2019, the Mitred Archpriest Dimitry Sever fell asleep in the Lord in Ottawa.

On Wednesday, 3 April, at 6:30 p.m., at the [http://pokrov.ca/en/ Temple of the Protection of the Theotokos] at 412, Booth Street, Ottawa, a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Memorial_Services Panikhida] (memorial service) was served for Father Dimitry.

On Thursday, 4 April, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in the Temple of the Protection of the Theotokos on Booth Street, the Services for the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-presbyter-or-over-bishop Burial of a Presbyter] were presided over by [[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]] of Ottawa and Canada (with the blessing of [[Bishop Matthew (Andreev)]]). He was assisted by priests and deacons from the region.

After the funeral services, the body of the Mitred Archpriest Dimitry Sever was interred beside that of his wife in the Russian Orthodox Holy Protection Section of the [https://www.pinecrest-remembrance.com/en/ Pinecrest Cemetery].

Father Dimitry was survived by his daughter Tatiana (Vladimir) and by his son Michael.

[[File:Father Dimitry, Irina Sever marker 1.jpg]] '''Grave marker for Father Dimitry and Matushka Irena Sever'''

==Reflections==

The Mitred Archpriest Dimitry Sever had a gift for organisation and he was able to make things come into being. This was associated with his pastoral ability as well.

In the first establishment, Father Dimitry was able to gather together the people who wished to belong to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. His development of the community enabled the construction of the complex of the Holy Protection Memorial Temple, and the [https://www.ottawaseniors.com/residence/st-vladimirs-russian-residence/ Saint Vladimir Russian Retirement Residence] on Stonehurst Avenue.

Father Dimitry was very focussed on achieving these goals, and some of his methods were perturbing to some people. For some, he was nicknamed a "businessman". Nevertheless, the parishioners were generally loyal to their pastor, and they worked hard to establish this parish as a visible presence of the Orthodox Christian Church in a very visible place in west-central Ottawa. Regardless of the various controversies that followed him, the Memorial Temple of the Protection of the Theotokos is an important legacy of Father Dimitry and his parishioners.

Indirectly, the differences of opinion that had at one time arisen in the parish produced another visible testimonial to the Orthodox Christian Faith in the form of the [https://www.stxenia.ca/ Temple of Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg]. This Temple, belonging to a dissident and now schismatic group, is visible near Highway 417 at 2, Colchester Square in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kanata,_Ontario Kanata], to the west of Ottawa.

After the repose of Father Dimitry Sever, the parish continued to be served weekly by Father Stelian Liabotis for several months. However, the parish had been worshipping in rented quarters, and their rental agreement came to an end. At that time, although the Moscow Patriarchate sent another priest to investigate the situation, the parishioners could not agree about what to do next together. As a result, the parish was closed at the end of 2019. The parishioners then attended one or another of the parishes in Ottawa. A significant number of the original parishioners came to an agreement with [[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]] of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America. They became members of the Cathedral Parish of the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas in Ottawa, and they began to be served there by Father Stelian Liabotis at a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_Slavonic Slavonic] [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] early of a Sunday morning, before the main Divine Liturgy of the day.

==References==

[http://pokrov.ca/about_parish/наше-священство/ Parish biography]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://drevo-info.ru/articles/27176.html&prev=search Drevo biography]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/parishes/parish-in-ottawa/priest/ Moscow Patriarchate biography]

'''Additional information :'''

‘Senior Judge to mediate dispute between Church, breakaway Parish’ in “Ottawa Citizen” (2 March, 2005), p. 58.

[http://pokrov.ca/en/ Holy Protection Parish (Moscow Patriarchate) web-site]

[https://www.memorialchurch.ca/en/home Holy Protection Memorial Church (ROCOR) web-site]

[https://www.stxenia.ca/ Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg Orthodox Church (ROCE) web-site]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protection_of_the_Holy_Virgin_Memorial_Church Wikipedia article about the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church]

[https://mospat.ru/archive/en/2002/08/ne208051/ Metropolitan Kirill’s visit, 2002]

[http://www.synod.com/synod/eng2007/4print_encommunique.html ROCOR report, 2007]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/47th-convocation-of-the-patriarchal-parishes-of-the-russian-orthodox-church-in-canada-report-of-bishop-iov-of-kashira-administrator-of-the-patriarchal-parishes-in-canada-jan-28-2012-at-st-james/ MP report about the resolution of the legal disputes]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/russkiy-otoshel-ko-gospodu-pochetnyiy-nastoyatel-prihoda-pokrovsko-kazanskoy-bozhiey-materi-v-ottave-protoierey-dimitriy-sever/ Announcement of the repose of Father Dimitry by the Patriarchal Parishes Administration in Edmonton]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/russkiy-soboleznovanie-po-sluchayu-konchinyi-protoiereya-dimitriya-severa/ Condolence from Bishop Matthew on the repose of Archpriest Dimitry Sever]

[https://www.dignitymemorial.com/es-es/obituaries/ottawa-on/dimitri-sever-8237182 Dignity Memorials obituary]

[https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/198070489/dimitri-sever Findagrave reference for Father Dimitry and Matushka Irena Sever]

The obituary for Matushka Irena Sever was published in the “Ottawa Citizen” on 28 November, 2005 on p. 40.

The obituary for Mitred Archpriest Dimitry Sever was published in the “Ottawa Citizen” on Wednesday, 3 April, 2019 on p. NP10.

[[Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)]]

[[Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)]]

[[Bishop Job (Smakouz)]]

[[Bishop Matthew (Andreev)]]

[[Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]]

[[Ottawa ON Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Memorial Church 1965 |Protection of the Mother of God Russian Orthodox Church in Ottawa, Ontario]]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/parishes/ Patriarchal Parishes in Canada site]

[http://www.orthodox-canada.com/about-us/history/ “History of Patriarchal Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada”]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchial_Parishes_in_Canada Wikipedia article about Patriarchal Parishes in Canada]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_in_Canada Orthodoxwiki “Russian Orthodox Church in Canada”]

[https://www.synod.com/synod/indexeng.htm Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]

[http://mcdiocese.com/en/ Diocese of Montréal and Canada]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Orthodox_Church_Outside_Russia Wikipedia article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Russian_Orthodox_Church_Outside_Russia OrthodoxWiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Russian Canadians]

[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/russian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopedia article about Russian Canadians]

[https://www.ottawaseniors.com/residence/st-vladimirs-russian-residence/ Saint Vladimir's Russian Residence, Ottawa]

[https://www.archdiocese.ca/articles/hierarchical-liturgy-russian-orthodox-cathedral-sts-peter-and-paul-montreal Article about the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in 2013 in Montréal, at Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, with Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), Bishop Mstislav of Tikhvin, and others.]

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:ROCOR]] [[Category:MP]]

Mitred Archpriest Dimitry and Matushka Irena Sever - Revision history

Vladyka Seraphim at 20:43, 2 July 2024

Vladyka Seraphim at 13:53, 1 October 2021