Vladyka Seraphim at 20:44, 2 July 2024

2024-07-02T20:44:29Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:44, 2 July 2024
Line 149:		Line 149:


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

	~~info@orthodoxcanada.ca~~



	[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:SP]] [[Category:ROGCCNA]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category: Alberta & Northwest Territories]] [[Category: Quebec]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Alberta & Northwest Territories]]		[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:SP]] [[Category:ROGCCNA]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category: Alberta & Northwest Territories]] [[Category: Quebec]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Alberta & Northwest Territories]]

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Early life of Ioann Vasil */

2023-09-30T11:06:09Z

Early life of Ioann Vasil

New page

[[File:M Archpriest John Vasil 1.jpg]]

'''Mitred Archpriest John Vasil'''

'''Archpriest John Vasil (1900-1974)'''

and

'''Mattushka Anna Vasil'''

John may be spelt Ioann, Ivan.

Vasil may be spelt Wasil, Wasel, Vasel.

==Early life of Ioann Vasil==

On 25 September, 1900, Ioann Vasil was born in the [https://cs-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Such%C3%A1_(okres_Jihlava)?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Suchá] village, south-east of Prague, in the [https://cs-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Kraj_Vyso%C4%8Dina?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Vysočina/ Jihlav County], near the [https://cs-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%C4%8Cechy?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Bohemia]/[https://cs-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Morava?_x_tr_sl=cs&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Moravia] border, in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire].

Raised as a Christian, Ioann received his primary and secondary education in Sukha. In the time of his childhood, this region was generally Roman Catholic or Protestant, Orthodox Christianity had been absorbed into the Roman Catholic Church for centuries. Only where there was a Serbian presence was there a presence of the Orthodox Christian Church.

Nevertheless, the region southeast of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brno Brno] includes the 9th century site of the [https://www.mzm.cz/en/centre-for-slavonic-archaeology/ original Mission to Moravia] of [https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/05/11/101350-equals-of-the-apostles-and-teachers-of-the-slavs-cyril-and-metho Saints Cyril and Methodius]. This was part of the region of the birth of Ioann Vasil.

==Higher education==

Ioann Vasil received a theological education in a seminary for readers and singers in the region.

'''World War I (1914-1918)'''

Near the end of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_I World War I], Ioann Vasil was conscripted into the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austro-Hungarian_Army Austro-Hungarian Army].

After the end of World War I, it became possible for the Orthodox Christian Church to become visible in the homeland of Ioann.

'''Priest Matthias Pavlik (Bishop Gorazd (Pavlik))'''

According to “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_the_Czech_Lands_and_Slovakia Orthodoxwiki]” (with focus on Bishop (Saint) Gorazd (Pavlik)),
After the legal restraints to Orthodoxy were removed with the end of World War I, many people left
the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic Church]. Many looked to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Serbia Serbian Orthodox Church] as parts of the Serbian
Church had been within the pre-war union. Among those seeking the Orthodox Church was a
[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Roman_Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] priest, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gorazd_(Pavlik)_of_Prague Matthias Pavlik], who
had been interested in Orthodox Christianity for years.
The Church of Serbia thus consented to [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Consecration_of_a_bishop consecrate] Fr. Matthias as a bishop of the Orthodox Church with
the name [https://www.geni.com/people/Archbishop-St-Gorazd-Ucen-of-Moravia/6000000032264161966 Gorazd].
Father Matthias was received into the Orthodox Church, tonsured to be a monk with the name Gorazd, and he was ordained to the Holy Episcopate on 25 September, 1921 in Belgrade, Serbia, by Patriarch Dimitri. It was he that led the rapid development of the Orthodox Christian Faith in Bohemia, Moravia, and Sloviakia. He was perceived as a successor to Saints Cyril and Methodius, who had first established a mission to the Slavs in Moravia in the mid-9th century. Bishop Gorazd (Pavlik) had been named for one of the disciples of Saint Methodius.
Ioann Vasil was amongst those who embraced the Orthodox Christian Faith during that time.

==Emigration to Canada==

During the 1920s, Ioann Vasil emigrated to Canada. He settled in Montreal, Quebec.

==Marriage==

At a date and place unknown, Ioann Vasil was married to Anna (family name unknown).

==Diaconal ordination==

On 14 June, 1928, Ioann Vasil was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] in the Temple of Saint John the Baptist in Lachine, Quebec, by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_(Saint)_Arseny_(Chahovtsov) Bishop Arseniy (Chahovtsov)].

==Diaconal service==

Deacon John Vasil was assigned to serve as deacon in several parishes in the Diocese of Canada. The most notable of them was [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Ottawa_ON_†Holy_Trinity_Bukowinian_Orthodox_Sobor_1918-2003 Holy Trinity Bukowinian Orthodox Church] in Ottawa, Ontario.

Soon, Bishop Arseny understood and decided that Deacon John was ready for pastoral service.

==Presbyteral ordination==

On 25 March, 1931, Deacon John Wasil was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Montréal_QC_Saints_Peter_and_Paul_Russian_Orthodox_Sobor_1907 Saints Peter and Paul Temple] in Montreal by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_(Saint)_Arseny_(Chahovtsov) Bishop Arseniy (Chahovtsov)].

==Presbyteral service==

After the usual month of frequent serving at the cathedral in Montreal, Priest John Vasil was given his first pastoral assignment.

'''Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan'''

Priest John Vasil was assigned at first to serve at [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Moose_Jaw_SK_Holy_Trinity_Orthodox_Church_1913 Holy Trinity Orthodox Church] in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. In this parish (and in every parish he served thereafter), Father John strengthened the liturgical singing.

'''Oshawa, Ontario'''

Next, he was assigned to serve the [https://orthodox-world.org/en/i/24904/canada/ontario/oshawa/church/nativity-of-the-blessed-virgin-orthodox-church parish of the Nativity of the Holy Virgin] in Oshawa, Ontario.

'''Edmonton, Alberta'''

Following this, in 1937, Priest John Wasil was assigned to serve the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_Barbara_Russo_Orthodox_Cathedral_Church_1900 parish of Saint Barbara] in Edmonton, Alberta.

'''Juneau. Alaska'''

In about 1947, Archpriest John Wasil was transferred, and he was assigned to sere in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Nicholas_Russian_Orthodox_Church_(Juneau,_Alaska) parish of Saint Nicholas], at Juneau, Alaska, USA.

'''Smoky Lake, Alberta'''

In 1949, Archpriest John Wasil was transferred again, and he was assigned to serve the parish of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Smoky_Lake_AB_Holy_Trinity_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1900 Holy Trinity] at Smoky Lake, Alberta. In this parish, he followed Hieromonk Methodiy (Osadchuk), who had previously organised a youth choir. With his small portable organ, he organised weekly choir-rehearsals.

In addition to the Parish of the Holy Dormition at Shandro, Father John served a group of other rural parishes in the region.

One of the parishes he served during his pastorate in Alberta was the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Kysylew_AB_Nativity_of_the_Holy_Virgin_Russo_Orthodox_Church_1898 Nativity of the Theotokos at Kysylew], near Andrew, Alberta. This parish had suffered from a fire in 1949, and they rebuilt their Temple in 1950. Afterwards, they saw to the iconography of the interior, most of which was done by Father John. As was reported by the [https://hermis.alberta.ca/arhp/ Alberta Register of Historic Places] :
The work of Father John Wasil, who painted most of the icons in
the Nativity of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church of Kysylew,
is representative of the continuing post-World War II tradition
of religious art in Eastern Rite churches in Alberta. The icon
of Saint Nicholas is noteworthy for its inscription in
Old Church Slavonic and Hungarian.

==30 years of pastoral service, 1960==

In 1960, the completion of 30 years of pastoral service of Archpriest John Wasil was marked by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Archdiocese of Canada], along with 2 other priests who had served together with him in the diocese during the same decades. These priests were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Mitred_Archpriest_John_and_Matushka_Maria_Diachina Archpriest John Diachina] and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_John_and_Matushka_Agafia_Kowalchuk Archpriest John Kowalchuk]. All 3 had served in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada western Canadian] parishes, although Father John Diachina had been assigned later to serve at [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Toronto_ON_Christ_the_Saviour_Russian_Orthodox_Sobor_1915 Christ the Saviour Cathedral] in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/toronto Toronto], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario].

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Leonty_(Turkevich) Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)] presented to each priest a blessed [https://collegeofarms.euclid.int/the-traditional-art-of-the-russian-orthodox-gramota/ gramota] that conveyed the gratitude and blessings of the metropolitan and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of Bishops.

'''Shandro, Alberta'''

In 1967, Mitred Archpriest John Wasil was assigned by Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) to serve the parish of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Shandro_AB_Holy_Assumption_(Dormition)_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1899 Holy Dormition] at Shandro, Alberta.

'''Dean of Alberta'''

In addition to his pastoral duties, Mitred Archpriest John Wasil was assigned by Archbishop Sylvester to serve as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dean Dean] of Alberta. He took up this responsibility, together with the Shandro pastorate, after the untimely repose of his co-worker, the previous dean, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_John_and_Matushka_Agafia_Kowalchuk Archpriest John Kowalchuk]. Father Kowalchuk had served in the Shandro parish (together with a circuit of about 10 other parishes) since 1936. He had served also as dean of the province of Alberta for many years.

However, by this time, Father John was aware that his health was in decline. He petitioned Archbishop Sylvester several times that he be released from his pastoral responsibilities. However, this was a time of extreme shortage of priests within the Archdiocese of Canada, and there was no-one who was properly prepared and available to replace him. Therefore, against his own conscience, Archbishop Sylvester did not give the blessing for retirement for the sake of nourishing the spiritual sheep. Dutifully, Father John “stayed at his appointed post until he was presented to the Lord”.

Despite his failing health, Father John Wasil continued to be productive in his artistic activities. Throughout the rural parishes (and some urban parishes) may be found icons painted by him. He did woodwork to some extent, as seen in the various processional Crosses that are the work of his hands (many of them painted with the Body of Christ)sss. He was a competent maker of mitres for bishops and clergy, and he did some ecclesiastical tailoring as well. However, one of his most lasting legacies seems to be his work in writing out by hand, Slavonic music for 4-part singing (chiefly for the Divine Liturgy). In addition, of course, is the inherited understanding of the correct manner of singing, and love for worshipping the Lord liturgically which he instilled in the parishioners. Moreover, another lasting legacy is his iconography, which remains in the 21st century in many rural parishes. He prepared many Processional Crosses which in 2023 are present visibly in both rural and urban Temples.

As was written later in his obituary, he continued to do all this until the end of his days in this life, a total of 43 years of devoted missionary pastoral service.

==Repose==

On 10 August, 1974, Mitred Archpriest John Vasil fell asleep in the Lord at Shandro, Alberta.

The [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/res/reading/funeral/Funeral_Bishop_or_Priest.pdf Funeral Services for the Burial of a Priest] were led by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Joasaph_(Antoniuk) Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk)] of Edmonton at Holy Dormition Temple at Shandro, Alberta.

Following the conclusion of the funeral obsequies, the body of Archpriest John Vasil was transferred to Czechoslovakia for interment.

==References==

The Orthodox Church in Canada Orthodox Calendar (Montreal-Toronto : Diocesan Council of the Orthodox Church in Canada, 1975), vol. 24, p. 213.

Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral Newsletter (Montreal : Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, 1974), August, no. 5 (65), p. 13.

Orthodox Church Newspaper (Syosset, New York : Orthodox Church in America, 1974) October.

'''Additional information :'''

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orthodox_Church_of_the_Czech_Lands_and_Slovakia Wikipedia article about the Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia]

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

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

[[Category:Clergy]] [[Category:SP]] [[Category:ROGCCNA]] [[Category:OCA]] [[Category: Alberta & Northwest Territories]] [[Category: Quebec]] [[Category:Ontario]] [[Category:Saskatchewan]] [[Category:Alberta & Northwest Territories]]

Mitred Archpriest John and Matushka Anna Vasil - Revision history

Vladyka Seraphim at 20:44, 2 July 2024

Vladyka Seraphim: /* Early life of Ioann Vasil */