Many Years!

This past weekend, pilgrims from various parts of North America gathered together in Edmonton, Alberta, for Services to honor the sanctity of Saint Ioasaph of Edmonton and Buenos Aires.

The Hierarchs serving were His Eminence, Metropolitan Demetrius of America; His Eminence, Metropolitan Moses of Toronto; His Eminence, Bishop Auxentios of Etna and Portland; and His Grace, Bishop Benedict of Astoria.

On Saturday, July 7/20, an All-Night Vigil took place at Saint Vladimir's Russo-Greek Orthodox Church, which was founded by Saint Ioasaph in the 1930s. It was an historic day as hymns were chanted in honor of Saint Ioasaph and a newly-painted Icon of the Saint was presented to the Faithful for veneration.

During the course of the Vigil, a canon was read that highlighted many important aspects of Saint Ioasaph's Life. Many of those in attendance noted that they did not know much about the Life of Saint Ioasaph, but that the canon read during the Service gave them a whole new perspective on the Saint.

The next morning, Sunday, July 8/21, Metropolitan Demetrius and his fellow Hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Moses gave a sermon emphasizing how the Life of Saint Ioasaph is a wonderful example of loving one's neighbor and of living a holy and spiritual life. His Eminence noted that he was very impressed with the Life of Saint Ioasaph when he read about it as a young monk.

Metropolitan Demetrius also spoke at the end of the Divine Liturgy. His Eminence spoke about how it was a blessing to be able to be present for this special occasion and about how Saint Ioasaph exemplified a loving and Saintly life despite facing persecution, and he asked Saint Ioasaph to intercede for us all. Like Metropolitan Moses, he, too, expressed how the Life of Saint Ioasaph made a significant impression on him as a young monk.

After the Divine Liturgy, a banquet was served at a beautiful venue at the Chateau Lacombe Hotel in downtown Edmonton. As the attendees were finishing their meal, Archpriest Andrew Kencis, the Rector of Saint Vladimir's Russo-Greek Orthodox Church, came to the podium to deliver a reading of the Life of Saint Ioasaph. 

Metropolitan Demetrius concluded the festivities by saying a few more words about Saint Ioasaph and by thanking everyone for their contributions to the event.

The next day, Monday, July 9/22, guests were invited to visit the Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary Convent in Bluffton, Alberta, a monastic community originally founded by Saint Ioasaph. Guests were given a tour of the original log Chapel built by the Saint, the cemetery, and the grounds of the Convent.

After the tour, guests were treated to a meal served by the nuns, followed by the celebration of an Akathist to Saint Ioasaph. The clergy, choir, and guests then proceeded to the cemetery, where a Memorial Service was served for Bishop Savvas of Edmonton, who reposed in 1973 and is buried there. The guests then thanked the nuns for their hospitality and made their departure from the Convent.

If you would like to know more about this Convent founded by Saint Ioasaph, you may watch The Little Convent, a documentary produced by the Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary last December about the history of the Protection of the Holy Virgin Mary Convent and what daily life is like there.

Here is a short summary of the Life of Saint Ioasaph:

Saint Ioasaph was born on January 14/26, 1888, in Russia. In his young adult years, he studied at a seminary and was later Tonsured a monk. Afterward, he taught in Constantinople and at various seminaries in Yugoslavia. There, he was known to serve Vespers and Matins daily, which he unfailingly continued to do for the rest of his long life.

An old friend contacted Saint Ioasaph and asked him to come to Canada, a place where there were no legitimate Orthodox clergy, but which was fertile for the seed of the word of God. Saint Ioasaph eagerly accepted the idea and arrived in Canada in 1930. He was Consecrated a Hierarch half a year later.

When he arrived in Canada, Saint Ioasaph was nearly penniless. He lived and traveled entirely on the donations of his poor countrymen and at times while traveling throughout his Diocese, he would hardly have enough to pay the fare to the next village parish. Nevertheless, after ten years in Canada, this poor yet cheerful Hierarch had overseen the establishment of a Cathedral in Edmonton with living quarters for several clergymen, forty parishes, a monastery at Whitefish Lake, and the Holy Protection Skete near Bluffton.

After having lived for many years in Canada and just after having recovered from a severe illness, Vladika was raised to the rank of Archbishop and sent to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, he soon became deeply loved by all, and many miracles involving the Saint took place. However, over time, Saint Ioasaph's frail health and the hot climate of Argentina drained his last strength, and he reposed on November 13/26, 1955.

Thank you to everyone who organized this historic event and made it possible to have Divine Services in honor of Saint Ioasaph! May Saint Ioasaph intercede for us all. As a student and a teacher at various seminaries himself, may he intercede for the success of Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary.

In Christ,

Timothy Schenone

Content Marketing Specialist

Saint Photios Orthodox Theological Seminary