Archpriest Mircea and Preoteasa Ileana Panciuk

Archpriest Mircea Panciuk (1940-____)

and

Preoteasa Ileana Panciuk (born Ani) (1942-____)

Ileana may be spelt Helen, Elena, Eleana.

Early life of Mircea Panciuk

In 1940, Mircea Panciuk was born to Vasile (William) Panciuk and his wife Rachael (born Jacoban) in a small French community of the Eastern Townships of Québec.

His father had been born in 1909 in Bucovina, Romania, from where he immigrated to Canada with his family. His mother had been born in Montréal, Québec in 1916, of parents who had immigrated from Bucovina.

Mircea was born the third of 5 children. His siblings are Charlie, George, Michael Panciuk, and Aurel.

Mircea grew up both in Montréal and in the farming community of South Mountain in North Dundas Township, of Dundas, Stormont and Glengarry County, Eastern Ontario.

In these 2 regions, Mircea received his primary and secondary education.

While he was growing up, along with his family, he would travel regularly and frequently either to Montréal or to Ottawa to attend services.

As he described his life in later years,

 I am the son of a farmer, not born in the city but on the farm.  I liked school, even though it took 
 1½ hours to get to school and another 1½ hours to get home.  We would get up early in the morning,
 go and do farm chores and milk the cows and then wash, eat, and off to school.  It was a nice life.

Higher education

In 1963, after having acquired an undergraduate degree, Mircea travelled to Romania in order to pursue studies in theology at the Theological Institute of the Romanian Patriarchate in Bucharest, Romania. In his own words, this is how it came about :

 In 1963, a delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate arrived in USA for the funeral of Bishop 
 Andrei Moldovan.  The delegation was headed by His Eminence Metropolitan Justin Moisescu, and the
 Dean of the Institute of Theology in Bucuresti, Father Nicolae Nicolaescu.  The Romanian priest of 
 Detroit, who knew my parents very well, called them, knowing I had finished my studies and was still  
 deciding on my future, and said to my mother, 'Rachel, we need a driver here at the Diocese to drive 
 the Romanian delegation'.  Mother always dreamt that at least one of her sons would be a priest.  
I was probably fertile ground for her thoughts.
 
 The Romanian Patriarchate offered me a scholarship ; and in October, 1963, I registered in the first year 
 at The Institute of Theology in Bucuresti.  I remained in Romania for four years without returning
 home to Canada.

He commented further about these days :

 In the summer of 1964, I met a girl, the niece of one of the nuns working at the Patriarchal
 residence, her name was Sister Sofronia.  My first year of study ended, it was summer and as a 
 student I had nowhere to take my meals.  After some discussions and with His Beatitude’s blessing, 
 I was allowed to take my meals in the residence.  Most times I ate alone.  It was not fun.  From time 
 to time I would join elderly retired hierarchs staying in the residence.  What could I say to an 
 elderly retired hierarch, what did I have in common with him, I thought.  So I requested to take my 
 meals with the residence staff who were all nuns.  It was in this context I met my future wife 
 Ileana.  Ileana’s mother had passed away and Ileana would come to visit her aunt Sister Sofronia.  
 All things unfolded naturally.

Marriage, 1966

In 1966, Mircea Panciuk married Ileana (Helen) Ani in Bucharest, Romania by Bishop Antim (Nica), through the blessing of Patriarch Justinian (Marina).

Ileana was a graduate of the University of Bucharest.

In time, they received from the Lord 3 children, and then 5 grandchildren.

 About this, he recounted later :
 For Ileana, a Romanian citizen, to marry me, a foreigner, she had to request permission from the 
 President of Romania, Nicolae Ceausescu.  It took nine months for permission to arrive.  On 
 9 October, 1966, we were married in the Romanian Theological Institute church, 'Saint Catherine'.  
 I remember, sometime before the wedding going to the Patriarch and asking, 'When I first came to 
 Romania Your Beatitude, You said that in Romania Your Beatitude was my father.  Please serve this 
 Sacrament of Marriage'.  He answerd, 'It is true I said this, but protocal does not allow me to do 
 this.  But I promise that your marriage will be served by a Bishop'.  And true to his word, 
 His Grace Bishop Antim Nica was the bishop who presided over our Sacrament.

Diaconal ordination, 1966

Shortly afterwards, on 26 October, 1966, on the day of the Feast-day of Saint Dimitrie, the Well Spring of Myrrh, Mircea Panciuk was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Patriarch Justinian (Marina).

Presbyteral ordination, 1967

In November, 1967, Deacon Mircea Panciuk returned to Canada with his wife and their first child, Mircea (Mitch), to await his posting by Bishop Victorin (Ursache), of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas (ROAA).

Deacon Mircea was ordained by Bishop Victorin (Ursache) to the Holy Priesthood in the city of Hamilton, Ontario.

Pastoral service

The Priest Mircea Panciuk was assigned to Saint George’s Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Windsor, Ontario, where he served from the autumn of 1967 until the early spring of 1969, under the supervision of Archimandrite Bartolomeu (Anania). It was their custom that Father Mircea serve the Matins, and that Archimandrite Bartolomeu would preside at the Divine Liturgy, whilst Father Mircea co-celebrated.

Transfer to Alberta, 1969

On 1 March, 1969 Parintele (Father) Mircea and Preoteasa Ileana arrived in Edmonton, Alberta with their son. Father Mircea had been assigned to serve as the parish priest for the Romanian Orthodox Churches of Saint Mary in Boian (near Willingdon), and Constantine and Helen in Edmonton.

Of the latter, Father Mircea led a small group of parishioners towards the construction of a permanent Temple in the city of Edmonton. The founding of the community had been achieved, but the building project had to be completed. Until then, the community had been meeting in temporary facilities. The building was completed in 1972.

Saints Constantine and Helen Romanian Orthodox Church, Edmonton

With regard to the Temple of Saint Mary in Boian, Father Mircea became the 36th priest to care for this community. He became one of the longest-serving priests in this Temple.

Holy Dormition Romanian Orthodox Church, Boian

In addition, he was also serving the Church of Saint Mary in Hairy Hill ; the Church of the Holy Cross in Malin (Shepenitz, Ispas) ; the Church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost in Hamlin ; the Church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost in Manning (Peace River district) ; and the Church of the Descent of the Holy Ghost in Pierceland (just within Saskatchewan). All these Temples are associated with Saint Mary’s in Boian.

During the course of these early years, and during all the subsequent years, Father Mircea was a well-known and appreciated presence amongst the other local Orthodox Christian parishes. He participated in services and events on special occasions, and he served as a substitute for vacationing clergy. In particular, he was frequently present at Saint Barbara's Russo Orthodox Cathedral in central Edmonton.

Preoteasa Ileana's further education

In the summer of 1969, their daughter Smaranda was born. In 1970, Preoteasa Ileana Panciuk enrolled in the Master’s Programme of the Department of Romance Languages at the University of Alberta. She graduated with a master's degree in the Italian language, and she taught for some years at the University of Alberta. Then Preoteasa Panciuk enrolled in and completed the course work for her doctorate in Comparative Literature at the same university.

In 1972, their third child, Sebastian, was born. At the same time, Preoteasa Panciuk went on to earn a master’s degree in Library Science from the University of Alberta. Since then, she has become a practicing librarian at one of the academic institutions in Edmonton. Subsequently, all 3 children have achieved post-secondary education and degrees.

After some years, Father Mircea was released from his responsibilities at Saints Constantine and Helen in Edmonton. Meanwhile, he was assigned to be the Dean of Alberta and Western Canada of the Romanian Archdiocese, a responsibility which he continued to exercise for several decades afterwards.

Retirement from secular work, 2015

All the while that he was serving as Dean of Western Canada, Father Mircea Panciuk had been working as a librarian in Elk Point, Alberta. This work involved a long drive from Edmonton, where he resided.

In 2015, he retired from this work.

Meanwhile, Father Mircea continued to serve as the parish priest at the Romanian Orthodox Church and Cemetery of Saint Mary in Boian.

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 Edmonton area and the newly established Calgary Parishes in Alberta.

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

"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 serves 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 unravelled, the history of the parish was talked about, and the troparion of the Resurrection was sung.

"The second church visited was the one in Hairy Hill dedicated to the Nativity of the Mother of God in the very vicinity of the historic village of Boian. The church in Hairy Hill was built since for a longer period the parish of Boian had passed into Russian jurisdiction and the Romanians had to build a new one. The church in Boian has returned thanks to His Eminence Archbishop Victorin. The church is over 100 years old and has a small cemetery. Due to the time and the fact that the Romanian believers went to the bigger cities, it has not been used for a long time ; and the church building is structurally affected. To preserve the main pieces of furniture, the iconostas, the historical religious flags, the pew, the processional crosses, etc. in good condition and with a good exposure in order to make known the history of Romanians in the area, a 10-year loan agreement was signed the same evening between the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada and the Canadian Romanians Society of Alberta. The company already maintains a historical museum in Boian with various exhibitions : a memorial house, a historic hut, various pieces of folk art (folk costumes, rugs, kitchen utensils, weaving wares, etc.) as well as agricultural machinery and circulation epoch machines. Exhibitions from Hairy Hill Church will be on display in this museum together in a special area dedicated to the church. During the month of July, a Romanian festival is held for several days in Boian, in which Romanians from all over Canada and even from the USA participate every year.

"After a brief visit to the parish of the Dormition of the Mother of God and Saint Dumitru in Boian and lunch prepared by some of its members in the social hall, the hierarch and the two clergy members headed to another historic church in Golden Creek/Hamlin dedicated to the Descent of the Holy Spirit. The church is in a small meadow. Unfortunately, due to a similar situation to Hairy Hill building, the church here is structurally affected just as much. Like the other historic churches, it has a small cemetery next to it. The hierarch and the two priests returned to Edmonton in the afternoon.

"Thursday, 19 May, Bishop Ioan Casian together with the two clergy members went to the city of Calgary for a pastoral visit to the two Romanian parishes there with the patron saints : Saint Andrew (Father Vasile Ioan Moisi) and the Holy Trinity (Father Ovidiu Moldovan).

"The three clerics were greeted at Saint Andrew's Parish by Father Vasile Ioan Moisi with a group of parishioners. The troparia specific to the period were sung after which the community offered the lunch. The parish managed recently to purchase a building to be converted into a church. The complex with many auxiliary spaces was visited and the plan of the church arrangement was presented (iconostasis, altar table, proskomidia table and part of the subsequent interior architectural arrangement).

"Afterwards, a visit was paid to Father Ovidiu Moldovan. The situation of the parish, which does not yet have its own place of worship, was discussed.

"At the end of the day, Bishop Ioan Casian and the two priests headed to Edmonton for the next day's programme.

"A meeting followed with His Grace Ilarion, Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy (Ukrainian Metropolia/Ecumenical Patriarchate) and Metropolitan locum-tenens. The situation of the Ukrainian parishes and community in Canada, the situation in Ukraine and other issues of theological interest were discussed. The meeting was also attended by Father Timothy Chrapko : the pastor at Saint Anthony's Parish, a theology professor and counsellor. Father Timothy introduced visitors to the parish where he serves. As a child he is the spiritual son of Boian, growing up close to Father Mircea Panciuk as an assistant at the altar for religious services for a long time".

Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) and Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru) at Saint Anthony Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Retirement recognition at Saint Barbara's Cathedral in Edmonton, 2023

On Sunday, 29 January, 2023 (Pentecost 33), the celebration of Archpriest Mircea's 54 years of assistance and retirement took place at Saint Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton.

On this day, the parishioners of Saint Barbara's Cathedral had an opportunity to express their appreciation of all that Father Mircea had done during the many years in which he assisted and preached up until his retirement.

Serving clergy and family at the celebration

In 1969, Father Mircea arrived in Edmonton with his wife Preoteasa (Matushka) Ileana (Helen) and their son, to serve as the parish priest of Saint Mary’s Church in Boian. He also took an active part in creating a Temple for a parish in the City of Edmonton, which was sanctified as the Temple of Saints Constantine and Helen in 1972.

Not only did Father Mircea and Preoteasa Ileana show much zeal in establishing the Romanian Orthodox presence visibly in the city amongst the Romanian immigrants, but they were helped also by the outstanding Archpriest of Saint Barbara’s Cathedral, Father John Margitich. He introduced the educated and talented young priest of Romanian descent to the whole Orthodox Community of the Edmonton area. God granted Father Mircea then to assist at Saint Barbara's Cathedral during that time and by the blessings of 9 bishops, to give help to many rectors, and to several generations of people.

The special talent of Father Mircea is his art of a Christian homily (sermon), that he gladly shared all these years every time he served Liturgy or at the other occasions. The parishioners, priests and guests gladly listened to and received his words of wisdom and edification. This retirement occasion was no exception.

Father Mircea preaching the homily

The rector of Saint Barbara’s Cathedral (the Mitred Archpriest Igor Kisil) congratulated the celebrant and his wife Ileana (Helen) by expressing gratitude on behalf of all the parishioners and priests past and present, and by presenting a traditional Romanian festive bread and flowers to them with many kind wishes and "Mnohaya Lita" ("Many Years", "La multi ani").

Gifts after the Divine Liturgy

The Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada Roman Lopushinsky invited Father Mircea and all the people to the festive meal prepared by the Ladies’ Aid of the cathedral, where the festivities continued.

The grateful priests and people were enjoying the meal which included some traditional Romanian dishes, and heartfully communicating with each other and giving speeches and toasts in honour of Father Mircea. A short summary of Father Mircea’s life was given by Roman Lopushinsky, who also, on behalf of the Cathedral Board presented a gift to Father Mircea.

In his speech of response, Father Mircea thanked the people of the cathedral for having been so kind to him. In doing so, they had, with God’s help, given him the inspiration to serve and to preach at this holy place all these years. He asked everyone to keep commemorating him in their holy prayers.

Successor to Father Mircea for Boian, 2023

In March, 2023, a successor to Father Mircea was ordained and assigned by Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru), as reported on the Diocesan Web-site by Archpriest Gheorghe Bâzgan :

After 54 years of continuous service at the same parish, Father Dean Mircea Panciuk, the parish priest of "Saint Mary’s" Parish from the historic Boian, Alberta passed on the torch to the newly-ordained priest, Father Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan. On Sunday, 19 March, 2023, the emotional event was felt fully by all the participants, numbering over 100. This historic day made its appearance with a pronounced cool air, typical of central Alberta for this time of the year, yet still promising, through the glorious sun that was slowly climbing on the firmament of a clear blue sky, equally common for this blessed part of the country.

Before 10:00 a.m., Bishop Ioan Casian, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, arrived on the highest plateau in the Boian area where, 125 years ago, the Romanian pioneers were erecting a place of worship, "Saint Mary’s" Church, a true testimony to this day of their worthiness and unwavering faith in God and His saints.

At the sound of the bell at the gate of the church, and at his approach, the Hierarch was greeted with the traditional bread and salt, and then, by the group of priests who sang, together with the crowd of faithful, the hymn-prayer "May God protect the Master [...]".

It was now for the last time that Father Mircea, as the parish priest, came out with the Holy Gospel and the Holy Cross to greet the bishop with words of welcome, which were, this time, filled with an obvious emotional vibration.

Seated in the front pew were the members of the Petrovan family, who came especially for this event, easily identified by the traditional folk costumes from the beautiful Maramures area.

Not long after, gathered around His Grace, the gathering of priests, consisting of : Father George Bazgan, diocesan vicar ; Father Dean Mircea Panciuk ; Father Vasile Moisi of Calgary ; Father Călin Mărincaș from Saskatoon, and Father Ciprian Pavel Roman from Calgary, was waiting for the exhortation of Deacon Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan : "Bless, Father !"

At the proper time, the deacon was brought for the blessing of the Hierarch and the ordination to the Priesthood for the Boian parish. After the bishop's proclamation and the answer of the faithful "He is Worthy", the Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great followed its usual course, with the responses given by the chanters and the choir of the Edmonton cathedral.

In his Sunday sermon, the Bishop reminded everyone that we are in the midst of Great Lent, a period of spiritual renewal, a journey through which the Church guides us with the Gospel readings and the specificity of each Sunday. Having referred to the first 2 Sundays of Lent (of Orthodoxy and of Saint Gregory Palamas), His Grace previewed the upcoming Sundays preceding the Holy Week of the Saviour’s Passion.

 But the most significant of all is this Sunday, the third, dedicated to the Holy Cross, ordained by 
 the Holy Fathers in the middle of Great Lent, just as the tree of knowledge of good and evil 
 throned the garden of Paradise.  The Cross on which Christ the Saviour was crucified is the tree in 
 the midst of paradise from which Adam had been commanded not to eat. Through fasting, prayer, and 
 helping the suffering, we draw near to God and to paradise He has given us from the beginning. 
 Today's Gospel reading invites us to take 3 steps : denying ourselves, taking up the Cross, and 
 following Christ.
 
 We are glad to see you here in large numbers, some of you from the Edmonton and Saskatoon parishes, 
 which indicates the love and the meaning of the Church because we come together in brotherly 
 communion.

Bishop Ioan-Casian offered the newly-ordained priest and his wife Preoteasa Domnica the Icon of the Saviour and congratulated them. Then, he awarded the patriarchal Cross for laymen to 2 of the hard-working members of the Boian parish : David Hauca and David Bezovie.

The festive agape took place in the parish hall and was attended by all. Father Mircea Panciuk made a summary of his coming to Alberta, together with his family, and he urged everyone not to forget the Church at Boian, “the Tabor of Alberta”. A very emotional moment was when Father Mircea handed over the key to the church to the new parish priest, Father Gheorghe Ioan Petrovan. Father Gheorghe responded with a word of thanks to God, to Bishop Ioan-Casian, to his parents and family, as well as to the Dean.

Glory to God for everything !

Move to the east, 2023

In 2023, it was reported that, after these events and the provision for the future, Father Mircea and Preoteasa Ileana had decided that it was time to move to Eastern Canada. They returned to the Montréal, Québec, area, which is closer to relatives.

Catastrophe at Boian, 2023

On Tuesday evening, 6 June, 2023, to the consternation of all concerned, the Temple of the Nativity of the Theotokos at Boian was burnt almost completely.

Soon afterwards, Bishop Ioan-Casian (Tunaru) and the Romanian Canadian Diocese published a press-release about the catastrophe. Bishop Ioan-Casian commented in writing to the members of the diocese :

 I learned a few minutes ago the sad news that the historic church of the Dormition of the 
 Mother of God Parish in Boian (Willingdon), Alberta caught fire and burned completely in the 
 evening of June 6, 2023.  I will ask you to remember in prayer Rev. Fr. Mircea Panciuk, 
 Rev. Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan and the community of Boian.  Next weekend the farewell celebration 
 for the retirement of Fr. Mircea Panciuk should have taken place and at the end of July the
 celebration of 125 years since the arrival of the first Romanians in Boian.

It was not determined for some time what the cause of the fire had been, but it was immediately determined by the parishioners that they would rebuild. They were not willing to be deprived of their spiritual home by this disaster. Their attitude was just as that of very many other Orthodox Christian spiritual families in this country who have had to live through similar spiritual disasters. Videos were shown about the work immediately undertaken in order to remove the burnt wood.

Immediately, the parishioners prepared themselves to worship outdoors for the foreseeable future.

Because Father Mircea and Preoteasa Ileana had arrived in Edmonton at about the same time, in preparation for the weekend's farewell festivities, they were immediately involved in helping the Faithful to cope with the shock. Father Mircea was interviewed by CTV News of Edmonton, and he indicated that the Faithful were already determined to rebuild and to persevere.

The fire

The aftermath

Reflections

Father Mircea’s father Vasile (William) reposed in Christ in 1998, and his mother Rachael reposed in Christ in 2011.

They are both interred in the Holy Trinity-Christ the Saviour Cemetery on Merivale Road in Ottawa, Ontario.

Throughout his life, the Archpriest Mircea Panciuk was a dutiful and attentive son towards his parents, and an attentive husband and father as well.

In addition, he was devoted to serving Christ in the Church, and to nurturing those rational sheep that had been entrusted to him by the Lord. He cared for the parishes diligently under his responsibility. Indeed, he took secular work in order to make it possible for him to fulfil these responsibilities. It may be said that he followed in the steps of the departed Archbishop Victorin (Ursache) in the seriousness of his dedication to Christ. Similar things may be said about Preoteasa Ileana, who in her scholarly pursuits also enabled the family service to the Lord.

During a 2017 interview, Father Mircea commented that it is only in recent decades that Canadians seem to have become aware of Romanian Orthodox. Part of this was because of the early settlement by Ukrainians and Russians who are Orthodox, and because many only knew of Greek Orthodox. However, now there are Canadian people who are entering the Orthodox Church. When he was asked why he thinks that the Orthodox are respected in Canada, he replied :

 Because it supports the people.  I, for example at Boian, have services mostly in English.  Why ?  
 Because there are many conversions and mixed marriages where one of the spouses does not understand 
 Romanian.  At one time the Ukrainian Orthodox Church had services only in their ethnic language.  Now 
 there is more and more English used.