Shepenitz-Malin (Ispas) AB Exaltation of the Holy Cross Romanian Greek Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1912

Shepenitz-Malin (Ispas), AB, Romanian Greek Orthodox Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 1912

Shepenitz is also spelt Shepenge, Szypenitz.

"Shepenitz" as a nickname refers to Shypyntsi, a village in the Kitsman County (now Chernivtsi County), in what is now Chernivtsi Oblast, Ukraine, 30 km (19 mi) northwest of the city of Chernivtsi.

"Malin" as a nickname may refer to the Malin Village in Nușeni Commune in Bistrița-Năsăud County, Transylvania, Romania.

"Ispas" as an alternative nickname probably refers to the Village of Ispas in what is now the Chernivtsi Oblast of Ukraine but which in 1912 was part of the Province of Moldavia in the Kingdom of Romania. In that place, the name may be derived from the word "Spas", which refers to to "the Saviour".

Prehistory

The origin of this Temple is found in the parish of Saint Mary in Boian, Alberta, Canada, and like it, it is found northeast of Vegreville, Alberta. In this community, there had been differences of opinion about the language to be used in services. This concern arose because of a great lack of Romanian-speaking priests in the area, and the fact that the priests who were available to serve and to help in Boian spoke mostly Russian or some form of Ukrainian. In addition, in contrast with their Slav neighbours, Romanians were and are accustomed to being able to understand the language of worship. This situation resulted in the appearance of several small Temples (or chapels) near Boian, in which the faithful could use the Romanian language. Even without a priest, they could gather and pray and worship together in the Temple which was nearby their farms, and use the format of a reader’s service.

Foundation of the community, 1912

In 1912, several Romanian families living several miles east of the Boian Temple decided to build a small Temple in their own district. Nicolae Cuciurean donated about 2 acres of land at NE10-56-13-W4, in what is called the “Szypenitz” district. This land was registered in April, 1914, at the same time that the parish was incorporated.

Incorporation, 1914

A photocopy of the Certificate of Incorporation, dated 11 April, 1914, is found in the Record Book. It shows that the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies states :

 I hereby certify that GREEK ORTHODOX ROMANI BISERICA INALTAREA SFINTII CRUCI OF P.O. SHEPENITZ IN ALBERTA, 
 CANADA, is this day incorporated under Chapter 38 of The Consolidated Ordinances of the North-West Territories 
 of 1898, as amended by Chapter 22 of the Statutes of Alberta, 1907.  
 The Ordinance was given, signed and sealed at EDMONTON on 11th day of April, 1914 by Registrar, P L McNamara, 
 and E Crowbridge, Deputy Provincial Secretary.  The Ordinance respected the Holding of Lands in Trust for 
 Religious Societies and Congregations.

The title issued covers 3.037 acres in NE10-56-13-W4, which is to be used for church purposes exclusively, and entrusted to the Trustees of the Greek Orthodox Church. The Temple belongs to the Greek Orthodox Romanian Church.

On 11 April, 1914, the first president listed was Toader Nickiforeak. Other founding members were :

 Andrei Basarba ; Nicolae Basaraba ; Vasile Basarba ; Toder Biduleac ; Nicolae Cuciurean ; Petre Cuciurean ;
 Vasile Darda ; Costachi Harasim ; Stefan Nickiforeac ; Toder Shuhany ; Ion Simenovich ; Stefan Simenovich.

The list of those entitled to vote included :

 Andrei Basaraba ;   Nicolai Basaraba ; Mihai Basaraba ; Vasile Basaraba ; Toader Buduliak ; 
 Nicolai Cuciurean - Secretary ; Petrea Cuciurean ; George Darda ; Sanfira and Nick Darda ; Vasile Darda ; 
 George Grigore ; Chostache Harasym ; Onofrei Harasym ; Reveka Hreniuk ; Jan Hutzkal ; Dochita Lacusta ; 
 Simon Mihalcean ; Todor Nikiforeac - President ; Metro Sfekla ; Stefan Simonowich ; John Simonvech ; 
 Todor Suhany ; George Swekla ; Ilie Tkachuk ; Ilie Toma ; Mrs. Sanda Gr Toma.

Rules and regulations were set up on 3 March, 1914, at the first meeting of the congregation. The trustees (the board) had the right and privilege to do all that they deemed useful and necessary for the management of their parish, to carry on the missionary work amongst the Romanian people, to organise societies and to establish schools and libraries. Rules were in place for the conduct of the members, officers, and properties of the parish. The rules were spelt out for the chairman, secretary, treasurers, and for the governing and conduct of all the parish members. Included were the reasons for expulsion from membership, and the conditions for re-installation. An oath of allegiance was also taken, most importantly for the first executive and the first members. Disorderly members who acted contrary to the rules and regulations might be excluded from the said parish by striking out their names from the list at the general meeting. Their dues would be forfeited.

Two cardinal principles were to be adhered to : first, any member of the Board of Trustees who willfully neglected to carry out the orders and instructions of the members of this congregation given by resolution at the general meeting, or who might misuse or mismanage the property of the congregation entrusted to him, would be guilty of an offence, and liable to be fined for not less than $5.00 and no more than $50.00. Second, the Board of Trustees would have the right and privilege at their ordinary meeting to do all that they deemed necessary and useful for the management of their parish. However, in matters pertaining to the real estate of the congregation, a general meeting of the parish would be required, and the members would decide the matter by a resolution.

Such terms are similar to the regulations of most organisations which are registered under the provincial ordinances and statutes governing societies in Alberta.

Rural depopulation

As have all other rural parishes across Western Canada, this parish community suffered from rural depopulation, which began in the 1930s. This accelerated after World War II with the increase in mechanisation and the consolidation of small farms into larger ones. The consequence of this was the move of many people into various urban areas.

By the 1990s, the number of farms had decreased even more greatly because a great many had been bought by larger and larger farming operations.

Construction of the Temple

Initially, about $200-$300 was collected locally, in order to pay for the materials. The doors and windows were made at Oshatski’s cabinet shop in Vegreville, where a special discount was granted to the parish. All the labour was voluntary. Thus, the Temple was constructed. Since the community was too small to support a local priest, they depended on the occasional priestmonk at that time, who would be available to perform services for them.

Later, the priest from Boian journeyed to the Malin Church, and he performed marriage or funeral services, or other special services on particular holy days.

Why the nickname Malin came to be used is thus far an unanswered question. There are similar-sounding Slavic words which could refer to "small" or "raspberry", but this is only hypothetical.

Holy Cross Temple in the early days

Iconostas

Continued activity at Holy Cross parish

In 1984, the devoted parishioners renovated and upgraded the building, and the Temple was rededicated in June of the same year.

Centennial anniversary, 2014

On 15 April, 2014, Holy Cross Parish marked 100 years of presence and service in Central Alberta. The County of Two Hills presented a plaque to commemorate this event.

Centennial plaque

By 2016, there were very few members remaining (mostly because of rural depopulation). Those who have a historical relationship with this Temple return to this holy place, and to the graves of their relatives and friends.

Protopop Mircea Panciuk

Archpastoral visit, 2022

In May, 2022, Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru) made an archpastoral visitation to some communities in Alberta, in which Father Mircea was involved.

On 14-23 May, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian paid a pastoral visit to the historic parishes of the Edmonton area, and to the newly established Calgary Parishes in Alberta.

On Tuesday, 17 May, the hierarch together with Father George Bâzgan, diocesan-vicar and Father Mircea Panciuk, archpriest for Canada-West, went to the area of Boian village where the first Romanians who came at the end of 19th and early 20th century settled.

The first church visited was the one in Mălin dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The parish celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2014. It is a church that is in good condition. Father Mircea Panciuk regularly served there twice a year, in addition to other occasional services. The church has a well-maintained cemetery that testifies to the antiquity of the Romanian presence there.

The Canadian hierarch and his two priests were greeted by a group of local believers. Memories were unraveled, the history of the parish was talked about and the troparion of the Resurrection was sung.

Following this visit, the bishop and his entourage travelled on to their next stop.

Photos from the 2022 visit :

Interior of the Temple

Bishop Ioan-Casian with parishioners ; Temple, bell-house and memorial Cross ; grave-marker

New priest for Shepenitz-Malin, 2023

Since Archpriest Mircea Panciuk was already past the usual age of retirement, and since he had served actively already for 54 years, it was blessed by Bishop Ioan-Casian that he could now retire from active service. Then, provisions were made for a successor. Then, as announced on the Diocesan web-site, Priest Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan was ordained for the Boian parish by Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru) in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday, 19 March, 2023, at the Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen.

Holy Cross Romanian Orthodox Cemetery, 1912

The first burial in this cemetery was Petre Cuciurean, infant son of Nicolae Cuciurean. Frozina Basarba, wife of Andrei Basaraba was the first adult buried there.

Cemetery entrance

Cemetery

The cemetery and the Temple

Not far from this Temple, the Ukrainian Orthodox Temple of Saint Mary was constructed in 1917.

Clergy

According to the records available at this time, it is difficult to determine what priest initially served the congregation at the Temple “Greek Orthodox Romani Biserica Inaltarea Sfintei Cruci” (the minutes indicate 2 priests : Priest Hreniuk and Priest N Kucheran).

According to the best information presently available, we can understand that since 1921, the clergy who served Saint Mary’s Church at Boian also served the congregation at “Romani Biserica Inaltarei Sfintei Cruci (Malin Church)” on numerous occasions : funerals, special holidays, “Prohod”, and the Divine Liturgy on some occasions.

Some of the priests who served on the occasion that required a sermon (not every priest had the blessing to preach sermons and homilies) at “Malin Church” are included in the following list of clergy. The reference-link for many of them is to the book "Romanian Canadians" by Eleanor Bugea, and the page reference is where to find the person :

• Father Lazar Gherman (p. 59) ;

• Father Alexandru Piza (Pyza) ;

• Father Flerent Georgen ;

• Father Arhip Sarbu ;

• Dumitru Fieca (p. 57) ;

• Vasile Cohan (p. 52) ;

• Father Mihai Baleca ;

• Grigori Costea (p. 53) ;

• Father Toader Schaletschi (p. 82) ;

• Father Ion Daniliuk ;

• Onofrei Iwaniak (p. 65) ;

• Father Vasile Melinchuk ;

• Stefan Fieca (p. 57) ;

• Samolila Iuga (p. 64) ;

• Dumitru Diaconescu (p. 55) ;

• Father Eugen Barshowski ;

• Father Doremidont Tovtsiuk ;

• Father Mircea Panciuk (p. 75) (1969-2023).

• Priest Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan

From east : Holy Cross Temple and bell-house in 2011 (left) ; The bell-house (right)

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Western Canada Deanery of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of America, of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The bishop is Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 14 September.

In 2023, the pastor of the parish is Priest Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan.

Address :

Romanian Greek Orthodox Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

c/o Saint Mary Romanian Orthodox Church

Township Road #562 & Range Road #143

Boian (northeast of Willingdon), Alberta

For specific directions, please call Father Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan.

Directions :

This Temple is located in the County of Two Hills, northeast of Vegreville, Alberta, and about 135 km (77 mi) northeast of Edmonton.

It is situated near Highway #29, and east of Highway #860.

From Edmonton :

Drive eastwards on Highway #16 (Yellowhead) until the junction (before Vegreville) with Highway #631. Veer to the left onto Highway #631, and continue eastwards until Highway #36. Turn left (north) and drive to the junction with Highway #45 at Two Hills. Turn left onto Highway #45, and drive westwards and north until the junction with Highway #860. Turn right onto Highway #860, and drive northwards until the junction with Highway #29. Turn right (eastwards) on Highway #29.

Priest Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan

Edmonton, Alberta

References

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6.

Toma, Michael G, “Never far from Eagle Tail Hill” (Edmonton, AB : Michael G Toma, 1985).

Additional information :

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “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.

Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas (ROAA) web-site

Wikipedia article about the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas

Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada

Orthodox Church of Romania web-site

Wikipedia article about the Church of Romania

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Romania

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