Endeavour SK Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1929

Endeavour, Saskatchewan, Church and Cemetery of Saint John the Baptist, 1929

Ecclesial prehistory

From the early 1900s, many Orthodox Christian communities had been organised in the farming communities around Yorkton, Saskatchewan, in the regions of eastern Saskatchewan and western Manitoba. These communities and Temples were established by the many people (primarily of Romanian and Ukrainian origin) who had recently immigrated to Canada. At that time, these communities were developed under the responsibility of the bishop of what was then called the "Russian Mission". In those days, the whole Orthodox Church in North America was called the Diocese of San Francisco and the Aleutians. After 1905, after the move of the main offices of the Church to New York, it was called the Diocese of the Aleutians and North America. After World War I, it was renamed as the "Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America" (ROGCCNA).

After World War II in particular, there were many changes in rural life, which included a steady reduction in population as farms were consolidated and as people moved to urban places. The large majority of the people who moved into the city were such persons. By the 1980s, many of the younger people no longer spoke fluent Ukrainian, Romanian or Greek.

Summary of the present parish situation

The Temple of Saint John the Baptist, near Endeavour, Saskatchewan, Canada, is located in the Rural Municipality of Preeceville No. 334, a farming area 122 km (76 mi)north of Yorkton and 74 km (46 mi) north of Canora. The hamlet still receives railway passenger service because of its remoteness, and because it is on the VIA rail-line service to Churchill, Manitoba.

Temple and cemetery

There are presently 7 families living in the region. The buildings and graveyard are well-maintained. Most of the original members came from the Bucovina area of Romania-Ukraine.

This community is served by clergy from the parish of Saint Mark the Evangelist in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Some parishioners of Holy Trinity Church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan have had relatives in Endeavour.

Parish Memorial Monument

Saint John the Baptist Cemetery

The cemetery of Saint John the Baptist's Temple is on the same property as the Temple, and there are approximately 132 graves.

Cemetery Cross and cemetery

Metro and Mary Gregory marker

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Deanery of Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Nunavut, of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Archpriest Gregory Scratch. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, 24 June/7 July.

In 2025, the parish is served by the Archpriest Rodion Luciuk.

Address :

Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Church

NW28-34-05-W2

Endeavour Township, Preeceville Rural Municipality #334, Saskatchewan

S0A 0W0

Directions :

Saint John the Baptist Church is located at Endeavour, Saskatchewan.

The distance from Yorkton to Endeavour is about 99 km (62 mi). Drive north from Yorkton on Highway #9. Continue past Canora, Stenen, Sturgis, Preeceville, and Lady Lake to Endeavour.

The site of the Temple and cemetery is at NW28-34-05-W2, which is situated 32.9 km (20 mi) north and 3.3 km (2 mi) west of Preeceville, Saskatchewan.

Please contact the priest for any specific information.

Please use the priest's address as the mailing address.

Archpriest Rodion Luciuk

310, Circlebrooke Drive

Yorkton, Saskatchewan

S3N 2T1

Telephone : 306-782-2482

E-mail : fatherrod@sasktel.net

References

Original article

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “Orthodox/TheOrthodoxChurchInCanadaChronology1980-1988.pdf Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Additional information :

Anderson, Alan, "Ethnic Block Settlements in Saskatchewan"

Russian Mission in North America

A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part 1

Archdiocese listing

OCA listing

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)