Sifton MB Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Monastery Cemetery 1925

Sifton, Manitoba, Russian Orthodox Cemetery of the Holy Ascension, 1925

Remaining cemetery from the Holy Ascension Monastery, and Holy Resurrection Temple, Sifton

Although this cemetery is not a parish community as such, it served both the Monastery of the Holy Ascension and Holy Resurrection Church in Sifton, Manitoba, Canada, and it is still active.

This cemetery is situated on the monastic property of the Holy Ascension Monastery (near to the memorial cairn), which is owned by the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America.

The Monastery of the Holy Ascension (1910-1970) was founded by Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsov). It served at various times as an orphanage, a men’s monastery, a women’s monastery and a pastoral school. With the passage of time, the monastery began to decline (because of events elsewhere), and the village of Sifton decreased in population and lost its industries and most of its businesses. One main cause was rural depopulation.

Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Burials in the cemetery

 Private William Frederick Arthurs
 Anne Balanyk  
 William Balanyk
 Anastasia Chomiak
 Hryhory Chomiak
 Bacil Hladyn
 Kataryna Hladyn
 John Katcher
 Mervin Katcher
 Pearl Katcher
 Wolodimir Kachur
 Private Michael Kevick
 Mary Kevick
 Mike Kevick
 Victoria Kevick
 Nettie Kocurski
 Steve Kocurski 
 Tadysh Kozak
 Lesyk
 Hryhory Lesyk
 John Lesyk
 Louis Lesyk
 Tatyina Lesyk
 Teklia Lesyk
 John Lozinski
 Katyryna Lozinski
 Maria Lozinski
 Maria Lozinski (Streyna)
 Michael Lozinski
 Nykoliy Lozinski
 Olga Lozinski
 Stefan Lozinski
 William Lozinski
 Anton Slonowsky
 Josephine Slonowski
 Wolodimir Slonowski
 Anna Weselowski
 Isabel Weselowski
 Stefan Weselowski
 Anna Yakowenko
 Prokip Yakowenko
 Alex Yuzwak
 Nellie Yuzwak

There are some unmarked graves, and the graves of some infants.

There are 8 monastic graves :

 Archimandrite Ignatius (Falovsky), 25 October, 1953 
 Igumen Sergei (Brootsky), 1 May, 1946
 Igumen Makary (Rak), 7 April, 1951
 Archpriest Khariton Velma, 5 October, 1961
 Priest-monk Sergei (Alsasky)
 Priest N Britski, 1946
 Priest Eugene Olendy, 1979
 Priest N Zalowski, 1953

(Note : N indicates an unknown name)

The cemetery in winter

The cemetery in summer

Particular cemetery information

This cemetery with its nearby monastic territory is part of the Deanery of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Archpriest Gregory Scratch. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

In 2023, the cemetery is cared for by the clergy of the deanery.

Address :

The cemetery is situated at GPS co-ordinates N51.36177, W100.17031.

The Land Description site is : SE 02-28-20 W

Dauphin Rural Municipality

Directions :

Sifton, Manitoba, is situated approximately at the junction of Highway #267 and Highway #362, in the Rural Municipality of Dauphin. It is situated 20 km north of Dauphin in the Parkland area.

The cemetery is located on Highway #267, to the west of the settlement.

From Winnipeg by car :

Sifton is about 360 km (225 mi) northwest of Winnipeg. The journey takes about 5½ hours.

Drive on the Trans-Canada Highway #1 westwards (Portage Avenue) out of the city until there are signs for Trans-Canada Highway #16, Yellowhead Route, towards Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Exit to the right onto Highway #16. Continue on Highway #16 to Minnedosa. At the junction with Highway #10 (just after Minnedosa), turn right (north) on Highway #10. Pass by Erickson and before Dauphin, follow Highway #10 to the left. Turn left on Highway #5/#10. Turn right (north) on Highway #10 towards Ashville. Continue northwards until Secondary Highway #267. Turn right on Highway #267. Drive about 1 km (.5 mi). The cemetery is on the left.

From Yorkton, Saskatchewan by car :

Sifton is about 194 km (121 mi) to the northeast of Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Drive eastwards along Saskatchewan Highway #10, which becomes Highway #5 in Manitoba. Continue until the junction with Manitoba Highway #10 north (before reaching Dauphin). Turn left onto Manitoba Highway #10. Drive northwards as far as Secondary Highway #267. Turn right, and drive eastwards towards Sifton, about 15 km (9 mi). The cemetery is on the left, just before Sifton.

From the north or south, or from other local sites by car :

Approach Sifton by driving on Manitoba Highway #10 (to the west) or Manitoba Highway #20 (to the east). From Dauphin, one may drive straight north to Sifton on Highway #362. The cemetery is on the north side of Secondary Highway #267, just west of Sifton itself.

Archpriest Gregory Scratch, Dean

E-mail : priestgregoryscratch@gmail.com

Sifton Monastery memorial plaque

References

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “Orthodox Church in Canada Chronology 1980-1988 The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “Orthodox Christians in Manitoba”.

Lesyk, Elsie, “Sifton Then and Now: A Reminiscence of the Pioneer Era” (Dauphin, MB : Self-published by Elsie Lesyk, 1992). ISBN 10 : 1550561766, ISBN 13 : 9781550561760.

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.

Manitoba Historical Society article

Roots of Community article

Additional information :

Archdiocese listing

OCA listing

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)