Archpriest Anthony S, Mother Irene (born Kuz) Estabroooks

Archpriest Anthony Spencer Estabrooks (1945-2024)

and

Mother Irene Estabroooks (born Kuz) (1945-20__)

Early life of Spencer D Estabrooks

On 9 July, 1945, Spencer Donald Estabrooks was born at Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, to William Lloyd and Jean M E (born Todd) Estabrooks.

Long ago, their ancestors had emigrated to England from Belgium as Protestants (mainly Calvanists in that region) in exile. In Belgium, the family name had been Yandell-Estamgrugge. This produced the anglicised form of the family name. Thence, they moved to the USA as "puritans", and then as United Empire Loyalists (UEL), to New Brunswick, Canada (where the family became known for tea and coffee sales).

Spencer was the second of 6 children, including Freda, Sandra, Brenda, Stephen, Stan.

Spencer and his siblings were raised as Christians, and they were baptised in the Presbyterian Church. He completed his primary and secondary education in Peterborough.

Spencer was intelligent and widely talented, and he had thought at first to become a journalist. When he was in Grade 13 (as existed in Ontario at that time), he experienced a profound spiritual awakening.

Higher education

Because he had been promoted over 1 grade during his earlier education, Spencer began university studies a year earlier than usual.

In 1963, he entered the University of Toronto Faculty of Arts at University College. He lived in residence at Knox College, where his interest broadened from journalism towards theology.

He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1966.

In 1966, he enrolled in Knox Theological College, where he studied for the next 3 years.

Spencer graduated form this college in 1969 with a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) degree (later converted to Master of Divinity (M.Div.), as became the fashion).

Meanwhile, he had met his future wife, Irene Kuz.

Spencer and Irene became close friends.

However, at the time of the 1967 Christmas break, Irene expressed that she felt that it might be better to end their friendship at that time. However, Spencer had bought tickets to a performance of Handel's "Messiah", and she gladly accepted to go with him.

Afterwards, having prayed during the performance, he suggested that Irene consider spending the Christmas break with him and his family in Peterborough, Ontario, instead of going home to Sudbury, Ontario. She agreed. The Estabrooks family received Irene with love and hospitality. By the end of the visit, Irene saw that the 2 families were quite similar (despite rather different histories), and she found that she was glad to continue their friendship.

Marriage

On 18 May, 1968, Spencer Estabrooks was married to Irene Kuz at Berean Baptist Church in Sudbury, Ontario. They were both 22 years old.

After the wedding

In time, they received from the Lord 4 children, and in addition 3 children whom they continued to foster into adulthood.

Later, Spencer wrote :

 We have each been our own distinct person, which has added greatly to each other's lives and yet
 have remained one in flesh and spirit in Christ.  My lifelong search has been a quest to understand 
 the purpose and goal and meaning of human existence, and understanding the purpose of the 
 Church of Christ and its witness within a fallen world.

Early life of Irene Kuz

On 13 November, 1945, Irene Kuz was born in Sudbury, Ontario, to James (Dmytro) and Genevieve (born Latiplo) Kuz (Dmytro immigrated from the Basarab Village, Ternopil, Ukraine (at that time in the Austro-Hungarian Empire), and Genevieve immigrated from the USA, of Polish-born parents). She was born the fifth of 7 children, and her siblings included Victoria, Estelle, Raymond, Herbert, Dennis, Deborah.

Irene was raised as a Christin in the Berean Baptist Church in Sudbury, and her family were frequent and full participants.

Irene received her primary and secondary education in Sudbury, and she was baptised at the age of 16.

Higher education

In 1964, Irene entered the Faculty of Food Science at the University of Toronto. However, having met her future husband, she left the studies early and returned to Sudbury to work temporarily in view of the pending marriage.

Continuing life

While Spencer continued to complete his degree, Irene worked in a bank for a time, and then in a security company.

At the end of the school year of 1969, they moved to Ottawa, Ontario.

Ottawa

Spencer began to serve as the Youth Pastor at Saint Paul’s Presbyterian Church, and Irene entered the Ottawa Teachers College.

In 1971, they established a community house, in which they shared their home with 6 other single persons at a time. Bible studies were offered, people dropped in, and they helped many in various ways.

After her graduation from Teachers College, Irene did teaching as required to receive a permanent certificate.

In 1972, their first child Jana was born.

In 1973, Spencer began to work with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in Ottawa, and they moved to a house shared with another couple. Co-incidentally, they lived very near Saint Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church on Clarey Avenue. At this time, a “house church” was established in their home for a time.

By this time, because of family, Irene was doing substitute teaching.

In 1975, their second child, Joy, was born. By this time, they were living there on their own, and they shared their home with some students. Their family life was beneficial for the students they hosted

In 1977, Spencer began to study in the Department of Religion at Carlton University in Ottawa towards a Master of Arts Degree in Religion. His thesis, entitled “The Relationship Between Prophecy and Apocalyptic in the Book of Revelation”, was completed in 1978, when he received the Master's Degree.

In 1978, their third child Peterjohn was born.

Hamilton

Later in 1978, Spencer, Irene, and their children moved to Hamilton, Ontario. Spencer entered [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMaster_University McMaster University], in order to work towards a doctoral degree, for which he completed all the course work. With great difficulty, they found a Providentially provided house in which to live for a year. Living on a grant, they then had to move, and they were again Providentially able to acquire a different house which had space that was rentable to students. He was preparing to write a thesis on Thomas Hobbes

Throughout the course of his study and service, he was very concerned with the meaning of “church” and its implication and importance in our life.

Joseph was born in 1980 in Hamilton.

Winnipeg

In 1981, Spencer, Irene, and their 3 children moved to Winnipeg, Manitoba, after having visited many family members in Ontario.

The Sawatsky family also moved to Winnipeg, since the 2 families were preparing to establish a Christian community there. Together with others, they were keen to live near each other and to try to live out the way of the Gospel. Other couples from various places (including the USA) had similarly moved to Winnipeg for this reason.

2 views of the home on Canora Street

By the time they went to Winnipeg, and instead of working away from home, Irene was supplementing the education her children received in school.

Irene began working with CFS (Child and Family Service) and counselling clients.

Besides their children, there were many persons besides foster-children who became part of the extended-extensive family.

Grain of Wheat Community

Ultimately, the community became known as “Grain of Wheat”. It became a well-integrated and harmonious community. During the subsequent years, Spencer was concerned about a seriously integrated church life in harmony with the Gospels and the teaching of the Apostle Paul, and then various Early Church Fathers.

It was significant throughout their life together that they always had “enough”, but not an excess in their life. They were certain that the Lord was providing for them in their daily life and service.

Manitoba Pioneer Camp

In part because of his experience with the Canadian Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, Spencer and Irene and their family became involved in the “Manitoba Pioneer Camp”. This involvement included the participation of their children and their grandchildren in the annual camping activities. Later, the camping activities (designed to help strengthen the Christian faith of the participants) involved family friends and many others.

Irene's further work

After having received their own children, Irene had begun working as a parent supporter in the “Pregnancy Distress Service”.

Under their understanding of the guidance of the Lord, this work led to their beginning to foster children. Amongst them, these children tended to maintain their relationship with the Estabrooks family even after they left.

In the case of 3 of them, these returns in the context of their particular and special needs led to a permanent relationship and quasi-parental responsibility (even though it was not required of them by law) because of the love of the Lord. Others would return to visit frequently in a similarly filial manner.

Finding the Orthodox Church, 1991

Spencer’s first encounter with the Orthodox Church came in the early 1990s, when browsing through a local bookstore he happened upon a volume of the “The Philokalia”. After reading just a few paragraphs, and astounded to learn that such an exalted spirituality existed, he set out to learn if the Orthodox Church of today was in fact the same Church he encountered in this wonderful book. His search led him to Saint George Orthodox Church in Winnipeg, the first Orthodox parish in Canada to offer the full cycle of Orthodox Christian worship services in the English language. Discovering with delight that the very same Church of the Philokalia was alive and well today, he was ready to enter the Orthodox Church.

It was specifically in 1991 that Spencer encountered the book “The Philokalia”. Moreover, it was at about the same time that he met Father Bernard Funk of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, during a visit to Winnipeg. This led to meeting with Archpriest Mirone Klysh of Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church in Winnipeg.

About this encounter and conversation, Father Anthony wrote :

 [...] I had, so to speak, stumbled upon 'a great buried treasure' and the way into the Kingdom of God, and was 
 prepared to do and give anything in order to gain it.  It was the culmination of what I had been searching for over
 many years in my wandering path through many scattered forms of Christianity and a number of university degrees
 in theological and religious studies programs.

In another place, he wrote :

 Very recently, I was reading Christ's parable, in which He describes the Kingdom of God in different ways.  One 
 illustration which He gives is that the Kingdom of God is like a man who discovered a great treasure buried in a 
 field, who immediately went and sold everything he had, an bought that field. 
 
 Again I was very startled and numbed in re-reading this parable because I suddenly realised that I am that man, 
 and that this is what I experienced and did a good number of years ago, when I 'accidentally' came across a book 
 which I had never heard about and for which I was not looking, in a most unexpected place.  This book simply 
 grabbed me irresistibly.  It was the Philokalia.  This book, in a very short time, along with God's 'little interventions' 
 led me into the unfathomable riches of the Orthodox Church, and I knew that my life-long, unclear, but most 
 pressing search for the fulness of God in the Church, and the way to participate in it, had now been fulfilled without 
 doubt and far beyond all expectations.  
 
 [The 'Philokalia' (now fully translated in 4 volumes) which I found, or rather which found me, is a collection of a 
 great many teachings from a large number of figures over the course of many centuries in the ascetic prayer 
 tradition  of the Orthodox Church.  Philokalia means 'love of the good and the beautiful'.]

This development, which was very much in harmony with Spencer’s study, was not very easy for Irene to accept (because of their different personal histories and formations). Irene was very much attached to and integrated with the existing community, and the manner of worship and personal behaviour was quite different at Saint George’s Church.

In 1992, Spencer was formally received into the Orthodox Church in America (Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America) (through Chrismation) by Father Mirone Klysh at Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Church. He was given the name “Anthony” (after Saint Anthony the Great, because of Saint Anthony’s great example of humility).

Although he was elated at his having found the Orthodox Christian Faith, it took Irene a longer time to come to the same end, primarily because she wanted to be sure that when it did come to pass, it was because of her own authentic experience and path, rather than simply following her husband’s path. It was a very honest process for each of them.

Moreover, during these years, they both faced many serious responsibilities and challenges regarding the development of their foster-children.

From 1992 to 2006, Irene was working for the Winnipeg School Division as a parent-mentor. She was supervising the “infant lab” with respect to young mothers who were still in school. One of the classes involved learning how to care for infants.

In the context of family life, there were 4 marriages celebrated between 1999 and 2001. It cannot be neglected to mention that for Irene in particular, there were many challenges in the preparations, in the context of being fully employed at the time.

It was in January, 2010, that Irene was received into the Orthodox Christian Church.

Meanwhile, desiring to apply his talents to presenting the Orthodox Christian Faith in an accessible manner to non-Orthodox Canadians, Spencer laboured to promote and expand the witness of the newly established “Mission of All Saints of North America”. The Mission had first been established as an entity within the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), for the purpose of providing Orthodox worship services in the English language in the central part of Winnipeg. Its existence covered many years, during which various priests served the community in assorted places. However, a time came when it was closed by the administration.

Orthodox study, 2001

In 2001, following the advice of Father Mirone Klysh, Spencer began a compressed course of study at Saint Andrew’s College (the seminary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada) at the University of Manitoba. He took all the necessary courses for priestly formation, and for the reception of a graduate theological degree.

On Sunday, 22 September, 2002, Spencer Estabrooks graduated formally from Saint Andrew’s College with a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) Degree. He received this degree “Summa Cum Laude”. (He now had the B.A., B.D., M.A., and M.Div. degrees.) This graduating class consisted of 7 who received degrees.

The graduation was reported in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church’s periodical “The Herald” (1 November, 2002, p. 15).

Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute, 2002

Spencer’s desire to share Orthodoxy with those outside the Faith was perhaps paralleled by his desire to offer his academic talents to the building up of the Church through theological education. With the blessing of then Archbishop Seraphim of the Canadian Archdiocese, the “Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute” was established in 2002 (with Spencer as its director), in order to address the long-standing need to provide affordable and accessible Orthodox theological education in Canada.

The education was to be provided completely in the English language (and eventually French), for members of the Archdiocese of Canada (as well as other Orthodox Christians and interested non-Orthodox people), adapted to the unique situations, cultural circumstances, needs and opportunities of the scattered Orthodox population in a country of huge territory and relatively low population.

The mission of the Institute was to provide leadership in developing comprehensive Orthodox theological education for the Archdiocese of Canada, covering a spectrum beginning with catechesis for those inquiring into the Orthodox Christian Faith, and continuing with education of the Faithful in the churches, training for various ministries within the Church, including lay ministries and clergy (readers, deacons, and priests), and culminating in on-going education and renewal for clergy, thus filling in the usual large gap existing in North America between parish programmes of education on the one hand, and seminary training on the other.

In addition to these responsibilities, Spencer was teaching courses for the Saint Arseny Institute ; and from 2006, he was the Editor-in-Chief of the Institute’s on-line academic journal, the “Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity”. (In later years, Deacon Lasha Tchantouridze (Ph.D.) continued the editorship of the journal.)

By 2007, the Institute developed, and then implemented, a 96-hour credit course (3 years study programme) at the graduate level. It was Association of Theological Schools (ATS)-accredited through its affiliation with Faculty of Theology of the University of Winnipeg.

Besides others who taught through correspondence, there were local Winnipeg clergy besides Professor Anthony S Estabrooks who were teaching, such as Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh and Archpriest Anatoliy Mel'nyk.

Mission of the Life-giving Spring, 2006/2010

Despite all the efforts of Spencer and others to establish an English-language Mission, it did not seem to gain the momentum necessary to sustain itself.

In any case, through their labours, groundwork was laid for the eventual establishment of the “Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission”, for which Spencer would later be ordained to serve as parish priest.

In 2006, the Mission of All Saints was re-formed within the Archdiocese of Canada under the new name of the “Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring”. Then the Mission’s first priest (Father Andrew Jarmus) was transferred to the central office of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in New York State, USA.

Ordinations

Anthony Spencer Estabrooks was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on Saturday, 30 January, 2010, in Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Narol, Manitoba by Bishop Irénée (Rochon).

On Sunday, 31 January, 2010, Deacon Anthony Estabrooks was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, in Holy Trinity Cathedral, Winnipeg, Manitoba, by Bishop Irénée (Rochon).

Vladyka Irénée, Father Kennaugh, other clergy, Father Anthony, Mother Irene, and family

Pastoral service

Father Anthony Spencer was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in order to serve the Mission, and to continue the work that was begun earlier.

Father Anthony served the Mission of the Life-giving Spring faithfully for the next several years, in the lower hall of Saint Philip's Anglican Church (Norwood) in Saint Boniface (a portion of Winnipeg on the east side of the Red River). During this time, Father Anthony continued to serve as director and as an instructor of the Saint Arseny Institute.

Saint Philip's Anglican Church

Some parishioners

In 2017, when, by the blessing of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), the Mission was incorporated into Holy Trinity Sobor in North Winnipeg, the stabilising influence of Father Anthony's pastoral love supported his flock through the transition and integration into the larger and older parish community.

Holy Trinity Sobor

By this time, Father Matthew Beynon had been serving together with Father Anthony since 2013.

It was by 2017 that Father Anthony was beginning to feel the effects of mild cognitive impairment that accompanied the onset of a type of dementia. The context of the change in the status of the parish added to certain personal pressures that he did not feel he could sustain. He stepped down from the very active part of the leadership of the community in favour of Father Matthew.

Nevertheless, he remained active as a mentor and guide, and he continued in his teaching and other responsibilities. Although his teaching ended eventually, he remained as a mentor, guide, and example until the end.

His priestly service at Christ’s holy altar, his constant example of self-emptying love, his ability to reflect with profound depth upon the theological dimensions of current events, and his great desire that all would come to have intimate knowledge of the love of God, will surely have a lasting impact upon the many people who have been nourished by his life : family members, parishioners, and neighbours. His was truly a life poured out for Christ.

At the same time, Father Anthony was very much aware of the importance of his wife, Irene in the course of this life of service. He reflected :

 Counselling many women and children in need have been a major part of Irene's journey and calling, giving them a 
 chance in life, through her great love, calmness, many practical skills and wise counsels have brought life and joy to 
 many.  She has done this, both as employment in various programs, and also simply as a friend.  So she has been 
 adopted as "mom" by others who have never had a mother able to raise and care for them. 
 
 After having four children from our marriage,  I suggested to Irene that perhaps this would be sufficient.  She 
 pondered this for a while, and then said with some reluctance : Well, that would be okay IF we could foster some 
 children a while later.  So we did -- and some returned to their families -- and three became permanent members of 
 our family and are now young adults and are a treasure and pride to us. 
 
 And Irene is the only one who not only could have borne with me all this long, but also the one to have endured my 
 passion to find the fullness of God's church and to see others established in it.

40 years

In May, 2008, Father Anthony S and Mother Irene Estabrooks marked the 40th anniversary of their marriage.

The occasion was marked on the front veranda and the front lawn of their home on Canora Street. It included music by a string quartet, and various presentations.

He served at the Theotokos of the Life-Giving Spring Mission until 2017, and then at Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Family photo

Children

Grandchildren

50 years

On Saturday afternoon, 13 May, 2018, Father Anthony S and Mother Irene Estabrooks marked the 50th anniversary of their marriage at Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg.

The proceedings began with a Moleben of Thanksgiving in the Temple. This was followed by a reception with a meal in the parish hall.

The theme of the occasion was (in harmony with their life since the beginning) Lamentations 3:22-23 : “It is because of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning : great is Thy faithfulness”.

Father Anthony explained about the 2 hymns which were sung :

 The two hymns which we have sung were suggested by Irene as representative of the focal point of our experience of 
 God.  The first is a personal thanksgiving and prayer to God for His providential guidance and care and provision.  
 If, however, if we sing it together as a group, though it reflects our common personal experience of God, it is not  
 addressed to God as the Church.  The second hymn is a wonderful description of the Church and its meaning.  But 
 it is a statement of doctrine, and not actual corporate worship.  So we began this celebration with a very brief 
 liturgical thanksgiving to God, in which we could pray together on this occasion in an Orthodox milieu where we are 
 always aware of the union of those in heaven with those on earth, and where personal experience of God, doctrine, 
 and our union in Christ could be experienced.

Following the meal, the programme began with words from Mother Irene, and the singing of the hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness”. This was followed by words from Father Anthony, and the singing of the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation”. Then followed words by members of the family, by Father Matthew Beynon, and by others. The occasion concluded with a toast, a blessing, the sharing of cake, the taking of photographs.

When Father Anthony spoke, amongst other things, he said :

 The Lord God said, ‘It is not good that man should be alone ; I will make him a helper comparable to him’ 
 (Genesis 2:18).  Our fifty years of companionship and shared life is a long time.  And yet it seems a very 
 short time as the finish line peeks over the horizon, which then leads to eternity, God willing, to be forever with the Lord. 
 
 I met Irene at the University of Toronto.  She was the only woman I ever desired or dated.  I was President of the 
 Intervarsity Christian Fellowship group at the University, and chaired meetings made up of representatives from
 the various colleges on campus.  I like to say that I decided to get to know better the members of my 'cabinet' as we 
 called it.  I started with Irene, but got sidetracked and never got further than that !

Further, He expressed his deep gratitude to the Lord for the mercies He had shown to his wife and to his family. Amongst other things, he wrote that his lifelong immersion in the Holy Scriptures has shown how deep are the resources they provide through the thoughts that came to mind while reading :

I started jotting down these thoughts as they came, providing an opportunity to absorb them better, and kept them.
I found that if I jotted them down right away, and kept them as a continuing resource, I could recover the same, or
even more spiritual joy and peace and enrichment and illumination from them, than I had experienced when I first
wrote them down. And they gave me a tool for, inch by inch, trying to implant these thoughts in my heart and
express them in my behaviour. I now have a great many of these spiritual notes on many spiritual topics and
matters of life, which continue to stir my soul when I re-read them.

It just takes a quick reading of any passage of the Bible or the Psalms or Gospels, or a time of prayer, to fill my
heart and mind, which makes me feel that I had only scratched the surface in terms of the riches which were buried
in the Scriptures. Usually these insights and notes inspire prayer for everything and every one.

This celebration is not ours alone. We are not alone, but surrounded by others in God's family. I am a wordy
intellectual person which Irene has had to accommodate, but I feel deeply the suffering of so many in the world
while others pursue excess of money and power and things and actions that destroy lives. Irene puts these feelings
into action and been very patient and supportive of me through studies in four universities after my B.A. : two
seminary programs, a masters degree in religious studies and all but the completion of a Ph.D. in religious studies,
to answer a call to establish Christian communities, and later being ordained in the Orthodox Church to assist in a
small way the consolidation of an Orthodox mission in Winnipeg which is now part of this bi-cultural Orthodox
cathedral.

I believe that it was all worthwhile, and a gift of God, but without the gift of a wonderful spouse and family this
would not have been possible. It is a gift to me which could never be repaid.

 [...] My spiritual journey has moved from fulfillment to fulfillment, though of course, not without major  obstacles 
 and struggles.  Selling everything was worth it to get access to the riches.  And all that was of value to me (when I 
 sold everything) was eventually restored 'a hundred fold'; in particular Irene's reception into the Orthodox Faith 
 (some 18 years after I entered the Orthodox Church) and her full and committed embrace of it, such that I am 
 admonished by her at times now for my lack of zeal.  
 
 Since that time I have discovered that there is absolutely no end to the riches to be discovered in the Orthodox 
 Faith, for it is indwelt by the eternal God and the unfathomable and inexhaustible well of living water, and spiritual 
 experience of the treasures of communion with God to be experienced therein, because the Orthodox Church is 'the 
 Body of Christ' and 'the fulness of Him who fills all things', as Saint Paul says.

Collage of life, Father Anthony

Collage of life, Mother Irene

Some grandchildren

In his writing, Father Anthony reflected further :

 'As for the days of our years, their span is seventy years.  But if we stay strong, perhaps eighty' (Psalm 89/90:10),  
 
 Reflections on the mercy of God, by Saint Silouan the Athonite regarding his approaching death, and my own 
 thoughts at this time of my life, regarding the same subject.
  
 I am an old man of seventy-two years and must
 shortly die, and I write to you of the Lord's mercy
 that He gave me to know by the Holy Spirit, and
 the Holy Spirit taught me to love the people.  Would 
 that I could set you on a high mountain, that from 
 the height of it you might see the gentle and compassionate
 gaze of the Lord, that your heart should rejoice.  Truly
 I tell you : I find no good in me, only many sins, but
 the grace of the Holy Spirit has effaced the multitude 
 of my sins, and I know that to the one who wrestles
 against sin the Lord grants, not only forgiveness, but 
 likewise the grace of the Holy Spirit, who brings joy
 to the soul and a profound sweet peace.
                             Saint Silouan the Athonite (died in 1938)
 
 These words of Saint Silouan shocked me to the core when I re-read them not all that long ago.  I thought 'These 
 words are also mine, I also am an old man exactly seventy-two years of age, and I have had my approaching death 
 on my mind for a considerable time, and also I can echo Saint Silouan's words, 'Truly I tell you : I find no good in 
 me, only many sins'.  
 
 The quotation above expresses exactly, in my brief moments of peace, my wonder and gratitude and fulfilment at
 this point in my life, for the great mercies of God, and His protection, presence, and guidance in my wandering life's 
 journey in entering into the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church (the Orthodox Church).  I had been 
 unknowingly seeking this goal all my life since my baptism as a young boy, when my father was baptised in the 
 Presbyterian Church.  
 
 When Saint Silouan expresses the desire that others might be taken up onto a high mountain to see the gentle and 
 compassionate gaze of the Lord, I realised suddenly that this loving gaze of the Lord is what is often depicted in the 
 upper corner of many icons, as the holy figures below look up to Him in prayer or intercession.
 
 Furthermore, in moments of quiet and meditation in the midst of my confusion and sins, I have felt the gift of a 
 deep peace, and love, and joy, and gratitude for all that God has given, and His presence and spiritual illumination,
 and His infinite love and forgiveness.  Though I soon slip again into confusion, sin, and scattering my soul among
 many concerns and leave my heart open to being ravaged, these peaceful moments leave a deep impression and an 
 urge and effort to get out of the ditch into which I constantly fall, and back on the path to communion with God.

Further to his reflection about Saint Silouan, Father Anthony wrote the following :

A second shock came in reading the back cover of the biography of Saint Silouan by Saint Sophrony, author of the
book, and student of Saint Silouan. [...] 'Part two [...] comprises the writings of Silouan, originally pencilled in
labourious, unformed characters on odd scraps of paper'. [...]

The shock for me was that this scribbling of notes (which notes were found in Saint Silouan's lodgings after his
death) was what I had been doing for a considerable time, realising that the thoughts that were coming to me often
(in my pre-dawn Scripture reading and meditation), which brought great peace and joy and spiritual enlightenment,
I couldn't retain in my mind, so as to work on putting them into practice or so as to be re-inspired by them. [...]

For a long while now I have had in my mind that my life's journey is in its last stage and approaching its final
destination. This thought, in my moments of peace, prayer, and meditation on Scripture, has mostly expressed
itself in deep peace and gratitude to God for the great mercies He has shown to Irene and me and for our family who
have enriched our lives, for all of the wonderful friends and instructors who have had patience with me, and
especially for Irene's being given to me to journey with me.

The wonderful spiritual illumination which at times has been given to me, though I have not been able to live those
insights in practice, have been a gift to me, sustaining me in many times of trouble, or restoring me from spiritual
shipwreck, and it has occurred to me that perhaps some of the notes which I have jotted down might be of use to
others.

A passage of Scripture which has accompanied me in the last while, which expresses exactly my feelings at this time of life, and brings tears to my eyes, is that of Saint Simeon the Righteous, when he received the infant Christ in his arms in the temple. It expresses the sense of completion of my life's journey in search of the fulness of the Christian Faith in the 'One, Holy, Catholic (meaning "full" or "complete") Church' [as it is described in the ancient 'Nicene Creed'. The creed is still recited before participation in the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist, in the Orthodox Church today].

In the Gospel according to Saint Luke, we read
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon,
and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel,
and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by
the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the
Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the
parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom
of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said :

'Master, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word ;
For my eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,
A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel'.

Embracing an innocent infant in our arms is a most humbling and life-giving experience, and puts us in touch with
our own lost innocence. But to receive Christ's presence and cleansing of our sins in baptism is to be given back
our spiritual life and innocence, and it is being taken up in the arms of Christ Himself.

A third shock came to me in re-reading the jottings to himself of Saint Silouan and his comment on this passage
just quoted, when he was ageing. Saint Silouan comments on Saint Silouan's prayer :
Only those with the peace of God in their souls or who have at least experienced it,
can understand the peace that was in the soul of Saint Simeon the Just.
Speaking of this peace, the Lord said to His disciples "My peace I give to you ;
not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be
troubled, neither let it be afraid. In my Father's house are many mansions [...]
I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am you may be also" (John 14:22 ff)'.
It is not an ordinary human peace which the Lord is referring to, in the passage just quoted.

Repose

On Wednesday, 4 September, 2024, Priest Anthony S D Estabrooks fell asleep in the Lord in Winnipeg, Manitoba, at the Health Sciences Centre. He had suffered a major stroke at home on Monday, 2 September, 2024.

During the following days, Memorial Services ("Panikhidas") were served for him.

On Wednesday, 11 September, 2024, at 6:00 p.m., at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (2255 Grant Avenue) the Funeral Service of the Burial of a Priest was offered. Mitred Archpriest Phillip Erikkson presided. He was assisted by Archpriests Rodion Luciuk ; Gregory Scratch ; Roman Pavlov ; Serhii Kashyrets ; Igumen Raphael (Vereshack) ; Priests Matthew Beynon ; Nicholas Tombakis ; Stephen Sharman; and Deacon Gregory Wiebe.

Mitred Archpriest Phillip Eriksson read a letter from Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), and then he added further words of eulogy.

The Funeral service was made available here.

On Thursday, 12 September, at 10:00 a.m., at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church the Memorial Divine Liturgy was offered. Mitred Archpriest Phillip Eriksson presided. He was assisted by Archpriests Rodion Luciuk ; Gregory Scratch ; Father Roman Pavlov ; Priests Matthew Beynon ; Nicholas Tombakis ; Victor Malanca ; and Deacon Gregory Wiebe. (Archpriests Taras Udod, and Charles Baxter, and Priest Michael Ungrin were present but not serving.) Protopresbyter Mirone Klysh was unable to be present because of his age. Father Phillip Eriksson gave a homily.

Following the Memorial Divine Liturgy, the concluding Memorial Litiya was served ; and after the Last Kiss was completed, the coffin was taken from the Temple.

The Memorial Divine Liturgy was made available here.

Following the Memorial Divine Liturgy, a Memorial Mercy Meal was served in the parish hall.

After the conclusion, a procession formed, and proceeded to the Cemetery of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church at Narol, Manitoba (5635 Henderson Highway) for interment.

Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church, Narol

Father Anthony Estabrooks was predeceased by his parents and his parents-in-law, his sisters, Freda and Sandra, his 2 brothers-in-law, and 1 sister-in-law.

In repose, Father Anthony S D Estabrooks left his wife Irene of 56 years (born Kuz) ; their children, Jana Gerbrandt (Scott), Joy Perrott (Jeremy), Peterjohn (Nancy), Josef (Stephanie), Michelle Pahpasay, Karen Pahpasay, Robert Estabrooks (all of Winnipeg), their grandchildren, Sam (Fiona), Reuben, Kira, Tim (Sarah), Kyle, Sean, Rebecca, Julian, Christian, James, Margaret, Eleanor, and Devon. He left also his brothers, Stephen (Jayne), Stan (Allison) of Ottawa, Ontario, and his sister Brenda Moriarity of Bowmanville, Ontario, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and members of the extended family.

It was expressed that should friends desire to make a memorial donation, it might be made to : Heavenly King Orthodox Academy admin@heavenlykingacademy.ca ; or to Manitoba Pioneer Camp PMB 321-360 Main Street Unit 138, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 3Z8 ; or to Harvest Manitoba 1085 Winnipeg Ave., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 0S2.

Reflections

Reflection by Archpriest Gregory Scratch

“One thing is needful…” reflection on the newly departed Priest Anthony Estabrooks.

The last few days have been full of introspection for me, with the falling asleep in the Lord of Fr. Anthony (Spencer) Estabrooks; and as I have been sifting through my time and interactions with him (which was admittedly limited and sporadic), I have come to realise just how much of a positive example of the priesthood he has been for me. If I am being honest, the youthful enthusiasm that enlivened my priesthood, was always an easy target for hubris and conceit. This stood in stark contrast with the quiet and reflective presence that Fr. Anthony provided. Regrettably this contrast skewed my understanding of this vocation (beyond its fundamental sacramental characteristics). Ironically, the priesthood’s validation was more formed by what “I” was doing, or what “I “thought a priest should do.

This understanding of what I thought validated the priesthood was tempered by those elements that Fr. Anthony demonstrated. What I came to realise was that the fundamental context or validation of the priesthood, was that of faithfulness as demonstrated in being a servant; for the Lord came “to serve, and not be served and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). Simply put, the Priesthood is Christ’s; the sacrifice and salvific work was Christ’s – in which He had shared with Fr. Anthony (and by extension all those called to the priesthood like myself). This of course didn’t happen the moment he was ordained. In fact, for many years, Fr. Anthony (or Spencer as he was known then) was engaged as a layman, in the promotion and proclamation of Orthodox Christianity in English. By God’s grace, this is something that many of us take for granted nowadays; yet only a few decades ago, this was something of an oddity and even a betrayal. Even before his ordination, every moment presented the opportunity for him to bear witness to what the Lord was doing, and every person he met presented him the opportunity to invite them to participate with Lord in this work.

Working closely with the Protopresbyter Mirone Kylsh, the Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, and our own Fr. Bob Kennaugh, he sought to offer our faith in a way that everyone could either encounter the Lord’s saving love, and or, deepen their relationship with Him. This all came together with the founding of the Saint Arseny’s Institute (SAI) in 2002, which provided an alternative option for theological education in Canada. This is something in itself, yet his work was certainly not limited to that – I would go so far as to say that it far exceeded this.

Although Fr. Anthony never intended to become a priest, (in fact he once told me at an Archdiocesan council meeting in 2006 that this was furthest from his desire – as he thought his talents were better served as a layman). Nonetheless, he was ordained to the Diaconate (at St. Nicholas) and then Priesthood in 2010, with the responsibility for serving the Life Giving Springs Mission in Winnipeg. His priesthood in many ways reconciled his many years of work, with the sacramental life of the Church – manifesting the Lord’s mystical presence and blessings as the context and application for his teachings and work.

What I have now come to see as being amazing, is that on the surface, his witness was subtle and unnoticeable – indeed one could say that it was unquantifiable. Yet the same way that love, as an expression of selflessness and sacrifice can seem quiet, subtle and hard to quantify – it is nonetheless verifiable. In like manner, Fr. Anthony’s humble love of God and neighbour alike, might not have been quantifiable, but was certainly verifiable in his priesthood, as many people can attest – including me.

Although he never had proper liturgical training and his service was very limited – he nonetheless served out of his love for God and neighbour alike. Although he never really had administrative and dynamic skills or time to expand his community – he nonetheless was a father in every respect, in of his love of God and neighbour alike. Although he never had the structure or forum to expound about his teaching and writings- he nonetheless inspired those around him, out of his love of God and neighbour alike.

Although Fr. Anthony never manifested those elements or qualities that I initially considered as being maybe the only quantifiably important elements of the priesthood (proper liturgics, expansion of mission, and exposition of work, etc.) I came to realise in time, that what he offered was the very foundation of all those elements, and even more ! Nothing less than faithfulness to the Lord as offered in humility and thanksgiving, was more important to Fr. Anthony, regardless of whether he was in front of the Altar, or at home with his wife Matushka Irene, children and grand children. Like Mary (the sister of Lazarus) Fr. Anthony saw the exceeding value of sitting at the feet of the Lord, and hearing His words, rather than fussing around and being “distracted with much serving” like Martha (Luke 10:38-42). In many respects, this aspect of his ministry is somewhat reflective of the kind of work a good farmer employs.

As most farmers might know, the hardest part of growing anything is not necessarily the toiling of the soil, or planting of the seeds, or even the harvesting of the fruits. Those things indeed take a lot of work to do; yet it is being patient and faithful that maybe the most difficult challenge to navigate. A farmer can hope that it will rain (and not rain too much), care for the young sprouts, and have faith that there will be a bountiful harvest; but beyond this, nothing really can make a crop grow faster, no matter how much fussing around and being “distracted with much serving” happens. This is something that Fr. Anthony understood as a principle in which he applied to his priesthood. For as the Lord says. “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mark 26:4-9)

We now find ourselves at a place where our churches are full and growing, indeed “the harvest has come” – wrought not by our own work, but by the grace of God. What I have been called to do, is like Fr. Anthony be faithful and patient with all that the Lord is doing. – for this harvest is of the Kingdom of heaven – and not of me or any other priest.

Yet often I wanted to see and have the fruits of my work as if it the Lord wanted “results”. So often I have wanted to validate my priesthood by rushing or managing things beyond my control, because things had to be done – Alas, I have more often than not ended up being more frustrated than anything else. Yet the example of faithfulness, patience, and humility offered by Fr. Anthony was a witness to me what can happen when what is offered is of Christ, rather than just for Christ. Indeed Fr. Anthony has compelled me to attend to the “one thing that is needful” in my life as a priest and Christian. For this I offer my profound thanksgiving to God for such a servant and priest, for he had“chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from him”. May his memory be eternal!

Writings

“A Continuing Pentecost : The Experience of the Holy Spirit in Orthodox Christianity” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity, Vol. 1 No. 1, Winter, 2006) ISSN : 1715-9199.

“Acquisition of the Holy Spirit as the Goal of the Christian Life” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 2 No. 1, Winter, 2007) ISSN : 1715-9199.

“On Trinity, Church and the Eucharist” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 3 No.1, Winter, 2008) ISSN : 1715-9199.

“Orthodox Worship and the Book of Revelation” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 3 No.1, Winter, (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 7 No.3, Fall, 2012) ISSN : 1715-9199.

“Source of Unity in the Church” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 3 No. 3, Fall, 2012) ISSN : 1715-9199.

Reflection by Archpriest Gregory Scratch

References

Winnipeg Free Press obituary

Cropo Funeral Home obituary

Additional information :

Klysh, Protopresbyter Mirone, “History of the Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute 2003-2013” (The Canadian Journal of Orthodox Christianity Vol. 8 No. 3, Fall, 2013) ISSN : 1715-9199.

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America (OCA)

Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA)

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA)

Article about The Saint Arseny Orthodox Christian Theological Institute

†Mission of the Theotokos of the Life-giving Spring, 1990/2006-2016, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Saint Silouan the Athonite

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba

Saint Sophrony (Sakharov)

Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

Bishop Andrei (Hoarste)

Protopresbyter Mirone and Preoteasa Lillian Klysh