South Saskatchewan Council of Orthodox Parishes

Ascending the heights

2008-02-02T15:14:00.000-06:00

"Ascending the height - a layman's guide to The Ladder of Divine Ascent" by Father John Mack

[Father John] humbly offers his words of counsel to us, not as an emotionally and spiritually distant pedagogue, but as a fellow climber." - from the forward by Bishop BASIL

This book sis written to help those in a non-monastic setting understand how to apply The Ladder of Divine Ascent to their lives. Each chapter contains many direct quotes from Saint Jon's writigns, in addition to commentary on Saint Jonh's words. This book, therefore, should be used as a primer to the Ladder as a helpful tool for ascending the spiritual heights. - from the back cover

The book can be purchased form the Conciliar Press.
Product ID : 004729
Price: $14.95

http://www.conciliarpress.com/
Conciliar Press Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 76
Ben Lomond, CA 95005-0076

Tel 800-967-7377 or 831-336-5118
Fax 831-336-8882

email service@conciliarpress.com

Parish Feast

2007-08-11T15:03:00.000-06:00

Holy Orthodox Church in Wood Mountain celebrated its Hram on Saturday, August 11, 2007.

Fr. John Maerean from Regina celebrated the Divine Liturgy, which was preceded by the Office of the Hours. Raymond Mynett served as cantor and read the Epistle. The choir led the music.

A pot-luck dinner in the Wood Mountain Hall followed the service. After the dinner Fr. John and some of the members of the church went to the cemetery for blessing of the graves.

Fr. Cosmin Sicoe of the St. George’s Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Regina was at Holy Transfiguration Parish earlier, on January 6 for a celebration of Epiphany.

by J. Mynett

Congratulations

2007-05-25T22:05:00.000-06:00

To Shawna and Shane, on the blessed occasion of birth of their son (their second child), grant o Lord many, happy and blessed years!

Feast of the Ascension

2007-05-17T14:55:00.000-06:00

John Cojocar by the bell

by Dora Honderchuk

Today, the Romanian Orthodox communities of Wood Mountain, Assiniboia, Flintoft, and Regina joined the Elm Springs Orthodox community for the hram (a parish feast), of the Ascension of our Lord.

Father Cosmin (The Rev. Cosmin G. Sicoe, M.Div.) celebrated a delightful Holy and Divine Liturgy, and gave an inspirational sermon, explaining the spiritual significance of the Ascension of our Lord.

After the Divine Service, everybody stayed for agape meal.

The guests, and the parishioners were impressed with the spiritual beauty of the celebrated festal Service. They spent hours talking with Father Cosmin and each other, about the Orthodoxy and spiritual matters, pertaining to the local community.

Across Canada in 65 Days

2007-05-02T09:41:00.000-06:00

About South Saskatchewan Coucil of Orthodox Parishes

2007-02-03T15:29:00.000-06:00

South Saskatchewan Council of Orthodox Parishes (S.S.C.O.P.) is an unofficial organization, which combines the following Romanian Orthodox Churches of the southern Saskatchewan:

-> in Assiniboia - Descent of the Holy Spirit (Romanian Episcopate - O.C.A.)
-> in Flintoft - Saints Peter and Paul (Romanian Episcopate - O.C.A.)
-> in Elm Springs - Ascension of Our Lord (Romanian - Patriarchal)
-> in Wood Mountain - Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord (Romanian - Patriarchal)

The meetings of S.S.C.O.P. are held twice a year, with the priest-in-charge present.

The purpose of S.S.C.O.P. is to share the resources, at the time of great shortage of priests, and the constant migration of Orthodox people within the Province of Saskatchewan.

At this time, all these parishes are being served, with the blessing of respective hierarchs, by the clergy of Saint George's Romanian Orthodox Cathedral and Saint Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church, both in Regina, SK.

Officers of the S.S.C.O.P. are:
President - Mrs. M. Popescul

Secretary - Mrs. J. Ciocia

Treasurer - Mrs. A. Rayner
Member - Mr. G. Bachiu
Member – Mr. L. Marcenko

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for a few images and a brief history, please see listing for each of the four churches, up on the left, in Jan. & Feb. 2007 menu
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Descent of the Holy Spirit Church in Assiniboia

2007-02-02T15:35:00.000-06:00

A short history of this parihs is taken from "Heritage 85 - Town of Assiniboia"

On February 25, 1957, a meeting was held in Radu Motors office to decided on building a church in Assiniboia. [Mr.] John J. Radu was [the] President and [Mr.] Sam Cristo [the] Secretary. Attending the meeting were: [Mr.] John J. Radu, [Mr.] Sam Cristo, [Mr.] John Radu Sr., [Mr.] Paul Calimente, [Mr.] George Tarita, [Mr.] George Nicholson, [Mr.] Don Ciocia, [Mr.] Chris Jonescu, [Mr.] Bill Hysuick, [Mr.] John Bachiu, [Mr.] Simeon Strugar, [Mr.] Ted Oancia, [Mr.] John Costi, [Mr.] Ted Hysuick, and [Mr.] Bill Watamanuk.

It was decided by those present to start plans for a new church, which was to be affiliated with the Saints Peter and Paul Church at Flintoft.

The Committees of the Saints Peter and Paul, and [the] Descent of the Holy Ghost, held a meeting in the home of [Mr.] John J. Radu, to decide on a date for a general meeting of all members, to decide on building the new church in Assiniboia. It was decided to hold a general meeting on April 7 in the church hall at Flintoft.

At that meeting, [Mr.] Ted Oancia was [a] Chairman, and [Mr.] Bill Deminchuk [a] Secretary.

The church name was registered in Regina. Now, work could commence. A committee of seven people were elected to canvass for pledges. They were: [Mr.] Ted Oancia, [Mr.] John J. Radu, [Mr.] Nick Lucon, [Mr.] Sam Cristo, [Mr.] Radu Ciocia, [Mr.] Cris Tonita, and [Mr.] James Moldovan. It was decided to tender for bids in the Assiniboia Times, and the Moose Jaw paper.

At a general meting, held July 28, 1957, it was decided to build the church by volunteer help with [Mr.] Peter Thompson and [Mr.] Bob Breulich supervising and working along with the volunteer help. It was decided to begin hauling gravel and digging the basement starting August 1st.

The construction committee elected were: [Mr.] John Radu Sr., [Mr.] George Tarita, [Mr.] Paul Calimente, [Mr.] Chris Jonescu, [Mr.] John Nicholson, [Mr.] John Bachiu, [Mr.] Ted Oancis, [Mr.] Sam Cristo, [Mr.] Cosma Kiriak, and [Mr.] Steve Toma. The committee was empowered to pay bills and control spending.

The firrst annual meeting of the Descent of the Holy Ghost [Romanian Orthodox] Church was held January 23, 1958. In the same year, the church manse was moved-in from Flintoft.

Priest serving the parish were: the Reverend John Dinu, the Reverend V. Parvanescue, the Reverend J. Shunda, the Very Reverend Daniel Nenson (Dean of the Canadian Deanery of the Romanian Episcopate, O.C.A.), the Reverend Brendon O'Keefe, and the Reverend Gratian Radu.

The church has not had a resident priest for quite a few years now. The church is served two Sundays a month from the center of Regina. Some of the preists serving twice a month [were]: the Very Reverend Archimandrite Martinian (Ivanovici), the Very Reverend Daniel Nenson, andn the Reverend George Tuff.

Some of the other priests who served on a part-time basis were: the Reverend Peter Avram, the Reverend (?) Postelnic, the Reverend (?) Tofron, the Reverend Daniel Maxim, the Reverend John Toconita, and the Reverend Richard Grabowski.

Saints Peter and Paul Church in Flintoft

2007-02-02T15:11:00.000-06:00

Our ruling bishop is:

His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman
of the Orthodox Church in America (O.C.A.)

Our diocesan bishop is:

His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel
of the Romanian Episcopate (O.C.A.)

and his assistant:

His Grace, Bishop Irineu
of the Romanian Episcopate (O.C.A.)

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a general view of our church

icon of the holy patrons of our church (Sts Peter and Paul)
located in the Ikonostas, on the right side

the Ikonostas of our church

the Royal Doors of our church

one of the icons

remains of the stone house, buit by the first priest, priest-monk Dionisie (Nichofor)

first (sod) house of the first cantor of the Flintoft church

Second (log) house of the first cantor of the Flintoft church

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

a short history of this church by Ms. Betty Lascu
from "Prairie Trails and Pioneer Tales" p. 48

The Saints Peter and Paul [Romanina Orthodox] Church was built in 1911 in the northwest corner of NW 34-6-3-3.

The lumber was donated by [Mr.] Nicholai Zora, a pioneer of the Zehner District who had relatives in this area. The lumber was hauled with team of hourses and oxen. [Mr.] Garvel Bancescu, a local corpenter who homesteaded NW 6-7-2-3 supervised, and local farmers provided volunteer labour.

It is believed the Iconostasis was brought from Jerusalem or Greece. Many of the monks did the Icon paintings using natural herbs and natural products.

A priest, Dionisie Nichifor, a sixty-year-old monk was persuaded to come to Canada. He filed on the SW 34-6-3-3 and conducted services in the new church. He lived in his homestead in a stone house. His land was farmed for him by the church members.

The priest Cantors were: [Mr.] Peter Tatousi, [Mr.] Chris Adamache, and [Mr.] John Oncescu.

After eighteen years of service, [the Very Reverend] Priest-monk Dionisie, due to illness, returned to Romania to live with his sister, where he later passed away.

The next priest was Teofil Maxim, who lived in Flintoft, and walked or was taken by team buggy to church every Sunday.

The church was used regularly until 1957, when a new church was built in Assiniboia. It was used occasionally after that.

The first funeral held in church was that of [Ms.] Cristache Oancia, in 1912, and the first wedding was that of Mr. and Mrs. Tudor Radu, in 1913.

A memorable event of the church took place on June 29, 1936. His Grace Bishop Policarp, with the asssitance of other priests. consecrated the church.

As the years passed, older pioneers moved away, while others passed away. The church too, showed many signs of deterioration. On different occasions, [His Grace] Bishop Valerian (D. Trifa) visited the parish. Seeing the church's condition, he encouraged the parishioners to do something to presenrve its natural beauty, along with its valuable Iconostasis.

In the fall of 1977, six members of the parish volunteered to collect pledges for restoration of the church. They organized a bbuilding commitee consisted of: [Mr.] John Jonescu, [Mr.] Trian Lascu, [Mr.] Dan Stoian, [Mr.] Nick Stoian, [Mr.] Nick Topola, and [Mr.] Steve Kosti, and with the help of other church members, renovations began.

On August 9, 1979 the stone altar was demolished, as it could not be lifted or moved. The church was then moved and a cement slab foundation was built. The church was then moved back to its original site. The bell tower, approximately fifty feet from the church, was also lifted and placed on a new foundation.

The exterior and interior have been restored as close to the original as possible. New sidewalks and an outdoor washroom were built.

On June 29, 1981 the restored church was consecrated by His Grace Bishop Nathaniel (Popp) of Jackson, MI, U.S.A. The Very Reverend Archimandrite Martinian (Ivanovici) with the assistance of other priests officiated at the service.

The Saints Peter and Paul Church celebrated its 70th Anniversasry (also known as "Hram") with a festive banquet held in the limerick Community Center.

Today, the church stands restored, a well known landmark and a tribute to the many pioneers who worshipped and prayed inside. A tribute must also be paid to the members who resotred this church in our pioneers' memory.

Ascension of Our Lord Church in Elm Springs

2007-01-31T16:31:00.000-06:00

Our patriarch is:

His Beatitude, TEOCTIST.
Metropolitan of Bucarest,
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Our diocesan bishop is:

His Eminence, The Most Rev. Archbishop NICOLAE
5410 N Newland Ave Chicago IL 60656-2026
Tel: 773-774-1677; Fax: 773-774-1805;
E-mail: romarch67@aol.com

Auxiliary Bishop: His Grace, The Rt Rev. IOAN CASIAN (de Vicina)
1572 Mountain Road, Middletown, NY, 10940-7122
Tel: 845-386-3998; Email: tcasian@hotmail.com

Vicar: The V. Rev. Ioan Ioniţă
17257 Wentworth Avenue, Lansing, IL, 60438-2074
Tel: 708-889-9768; Fax: 708-474-0340;
Email: tintari@gmail.com

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a general view of our church

icon of the Ascension of Our Lord
(not from our church)

view of the Ikonostas of our church

choir section of our church

Transfiguration of Our Lord Church in Wood Mountain

2007-01-31T15:42:00.000-06:00

Our patriarch is:

His Beatitude, TEOCTIST.
Metropolitan of Bucarest,
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Our diocesan bishop is:

His Eminence, The Most Rev. Archbishop NICOLAE
5410 N Newland Ave Chicago IL 60656-2026
Tel: 773-774-1677; Fax: 773-774-1805;
E-mail: romarch67@aol.com

Auxiliary Bishop: His Grace, The Rt Rev. IOAN CASIAN (de Vicina)
1572 Mountain Road, Middletown, NY, 10940-7122
Tel: 845-386-3998; Email: tcasian@hotmail.com

Vicar: The V. Rev. Ioan Ioniţă
17257 Wentworth Avenue, Lansing, IL, 60438-2074
Tel: 708-889-9768; Fax: 708-474-0340;
Email: tintari@gmail.com

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a general view of our church

icon of the Transfiguration of Our Lord
(not from our church)

north wall of our church

south wall of our church