Hrihory and Rosalia Lopushinsky

Hrihory Lopushinsky (1841-1927)

and

Rosalia Lopushinsky (1844-1927)

Hrihory may be spelt Gregory, Grigoriy, Hrihoriy, Hryhory.

About Jaroslav County in Poland

This county is a part of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship of Poland, situated just west of the present-day Ukraine, in a region generally known as "Galicia" or "Halychyna". This region is a part of the region that contributes to the Vistula River. This region itself has had historical influences from Prussia, but this was a part of the region of Poland which, after being partitioned, belonged for a time to the Russian Empire. The Empress Catherine II invited many Germans into this region (and other regions also) of the empire in order to re-establish organised farming after the invasions by the Ottomans had been repelled (1774). This began in the mid-late 18th century. The Lopushinsky family, along with very many others, assimilated to the Rusyn environment in which they had settled, and they became immersed in the unique culture and language of the Jaroslav region of southeastern Poland. Within the Sian River Basin, this region had its own distinctive dialect (“Hadayivs’ky hovir”). They also became Eastern Catholics as were their neighbours.

In their case, the Lopushinsky family were both fervent and informed Eastern Catholic Christians.

The Eastern Catholic Rusyns of this region were largely Slavic people who had historically been Orthodox Christians. The town of Jaroslav itself had been established by Yaroslav the Wise, the Prince of Kyivan Rus', in the early 11th century, and the Orthodox Christian Faith had been established in this region from that time.

It was not until the development of the Kingdom of Poland and the dominance of the Roman Catholic Church that the situation changed with the forced Union of Brest, which occurred in 1595-1596. Although the people had been placed under the authority of the Pope of Rome, and they constituted a large portion of the population, the Roman Catholics of the region regarded them as "second-rate", and those who were still Orthodox Christians regarded them as betrayers.

It was situations such as this, as well as economic uncertainties and the political uncertainties that accompany the shifting of borders between neighbouring empires that provided some impetus to considering a move when the opportunity eventually came. Many people from this region emigrated to Western Canada, and mostly to the region northeast of Edmonton in the Northwest Territories (now Alberta), in what became called the "Edna-Star Block Settlement". An exception was the family of Theodore and Anna Fuhr, who settled on land to the southwest of Edmonton.

Early life of Hrihory and Rosalia

In 1841, Hrihory Lopushinsky was born in Sviate, in the Jaroslav county of Galicia, presently in southeastern Poland. In 1898, this region was a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Hrihory was born as a serf at a time when serfdom had not yet been completely abolished. The feudal system had been in place in the Austro-Hungarian Empire for a long time, and it took several decades to be removed (by 1848).

In 1843, Rosalia was born in Ludkiv, Jaroslav County, Galicia.

They were married in Sviate, Jaroslav County.

Immigration to Canada, 1898

In early 1898, Hrihory and Rosalia, together with their 4 children, emigrated from their homeland to Canada.

The children they received from the Lord were : Theodore, John, Julia and William/Wasyl.

They arrived at Strathcona, Northwest Territories (now Alberta), on 1 June, 1898. They arrived in the Skaro district soon afterwards. It would have taken several days at least to walk with the carts along the Victoria Trail to their destination, a distance of 93 km (68 mi). Their son Theodore had to remain behind for 2 years in order to complete the compulsory military service.

At the age of 57, Hrihory undertook the task of starting a new home and life in a new country.

Founding Holy Ascension Temple, 1898 ; building a home

In 1898, Hrihory and Rosalia were founding members of Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church in Skaro, in what is now Alberta, and they helped to build the Temple. This first Temple was constructed from logs ; it served the parish until the Temple was rebuilt with wood sawn from the original logs in 1920. Hrihory and Rosalia Lopushinsky lived to see this re-construction.

The first Temple in this region to be constructed had been that of the Holy Transfiguration at Star, in what is now Alberta. Other Temples under construction along with that of the Holy Ascension in Skaro included Holy Trinity Temple at Stary Wostok (near Saint Michael) and Nativity of the Theotokos Temple at Kysylew (near Andrew).

On 19 July, 1899, Hrihory officially applied for his homestead land ; he then received approval, and upon fulfilling the conditions of a homesteader, he was given ownership. These conditions (in effect since 1872) included : upon payment of a $10.00 administration fee, the receipt of 160 acres (16 ha) without further cost, if a permanent dwelling would be erected within 3 years and the land was being worked ; further neighbouring land might be added with the payment of an additional fee, once the required improvements were made.

An important difference between the Canadian and USA systems was that farmers under the Canadian system could buy a neighbouring lot for an additional $10 registration fee, once they had made certain improvements to their original quarter-section. This allowed most farmsteads to double in size quickly, and was especially important in the southern Palliser's Triangle area of the prairies, which was very arid.

On 23 July, 1902, Hrihory was naturalised as a British Subject.

Hrihory and Rosalia laboured much, and they were truly blessed. From them grew a family of more than 650 descendants and more than 6 generations by 2016.

One of the best-known of the descendants of Hrihory and Rosalia Lopushinsky would be their grandson Victor Lopushinsky (son of Theodore and Euphemia), who became an extremely active parishioner of the Cathedral of Saint Barbara in Edmonton, Alberta.

Holy Ascension Temple, Skaro

About the children of Hrihory and Rosalia

Theodore (1874-1952) married Euphemia Dunaisky (1883-1941) in 1900. She had been born in Brody, a city a little farther east of Jaroslav, within the Lviv province of the former Polish Kingdom (present-day Ukraine). His son John Lopushinsky was later ordained to the Holy Priesthood within the Russian Exarchate.

John (1879-1951) was married to Katherine (1911-2004).

Julia (1886-1932) married Michael Maciborsky (1882-1961), who had immigrated from the same region in Galicia.

William/Wasyl (1889-1953) married Eva Kutt (1890-1956).

Repose, 1927

Both Hrihory and Rosalia fell asleep in the Lord in the same year.

Hrihory Lopushinsky reposed on 29 March, 1927.

Rosalia Lopushinsky reposed on 29 September, 1927.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-person were served for each of them in the Holy Ascension Russo-Greek Orthodox Church in Skaro.

After the funeral services, they were interred in the cemetery of the Holy Ascension Russo-Greek Orthodox Church in Skaro.

Holy Ascension Temple and cemetery

Reflections

When Hrihory and Rosalia Lopushinsky arrived in Canada, they arrived without any government subsidy, as did others from Galicia (Halychyna). There was a general prejudice by already-established Canadians against people from this region, as well as against most people arriving from Eastern Europe (a prejudice which lingered long in Canadian society).

They had to begin everything on their own : travel to the new land, to the new settlement, to the new homestead ; clearing the land ; construction of a home and barns ; acquiring animals ; acquiring necessary tools. Other, more favoured religious groups, were able to arrive in Canada and to settle with the assistance of various sorts of government assistance. As was written regarding others who were arriving at about the same time :

 For most of those who arrived from Eastern Europe, the government simply dumped trainloads of the 
 Slavs of Galicia and Romanians of Bukovina on the prairies or in the forests of the 
 parkland to the north.  They were expected to fend for themselves and to survive as they might.  
 However, 40% of the infants under 2 years of age did not survive.  Ukrainians were not alone 
 amongst the unsubsidised newcomers.

There are some details about the Lopushinsky family in the “Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta”, pp. 160-161 :

 No. 293. Star, Alta., 1899; Star, Alta., 1902; Skaro, Alta. P.O. 1923. 
 LOPUSHINSKY, Hryc, Lopuszniski Hrez, Lopuszynski Hryc.  Born 1841 in Sviate, 
 district Yaroslav, Galicia, Austria.  Died 29 March 1927 in Leeshore, aged 86.  
 Wife Rosie born 1843 in Ludkiv, district Yaroslav, Galicia, died 29 September 1927 
 in Leeshore, aged 84.  Sailing record not available.  
 Sons : Fred (Theodore) b. 1875 (d. 1952), John (Ivan) b. 1879 (d. 1951), 
 Wasyl b. 1889 (d. 160 1953).  HGR Vol. 18. 1899-1900. No. 79000.  Date of Application : 
 19 July 1899. 
 Name : Hrez Lopuszniski.  Homestead : NW-13-57-20-W.4.M. Applic. No. 5218. Distr. No. 44. 
 List. No. 634. Patent granted.  Naturalisation granted 23 July 1902.  Supr. Crt. NWf Edmonton, Alta.  
 Name : Hryc Lopuszynski. Residence : Star, Alta.  Occupation : Farmer.  Former residence : Galicia.  
 In 1921 H. Lopushinsky is listed on NY2-13-57-20-W.4.M. and on SW-24-57-20- W.4.M. P.O. Skaro, Alta. 
(CRDM Alta. No. 169. 1923).  In 1949 on same quarter section is listed D. T. Lopushinsky. 
 (Mun. Distr. of Lamont Map, 1949).  Euphemia Lopushinsky, wife of Theodore (eldest son of Hryc 
 Lopushinsky), born 1883 in district Brody, Galicia, Western Ukraine, died 26 December 1941 in 
 Lamont hospital aged 58, residing on NY2-13-57-20-W.4.M.

The "Canadian Encyclopaedia" gives a brief description of typical pioneer life, such as what the Lopushinsky family did experience :

 Some pioneer settlers brought personal belongings, including furniture, kitchen utensils, 
 books and ornaments.  Some settled on land prepared by Colonisation Companies or within 
 reach of villages or towns.  For most, however — especially before roads, canals and railways 
 provided communication and transportation of goods — pioneering on all of Canada's frontiers 
 meant isolation, deprivation and hardship.  Success was often measured by sheer survival.  
 Yet, usually within a few years, primitive pioneering was followed by relative comfort, and the 
 prospect of security and even prosperity for one's children.  Persistence, optimism, thrift, 
 resourcefulness and the acceptance of unremitting hard work became character traits valued by 
 succeeding generations long after pioneer conditions had passed.

Temples constructed at about the same time, in association with the earliest pastoral visit of the Priest Dmitry Kamnev, 1897

Holy Ascension Temple, Skaro, winter

Holy Transfiguration Temple, Star

Holy Trinity Temple, Stary Wostok, original

Holy Trinity Temple, Stary Wostok

Nativity of the Theotokos Temple, Kysylew

References

Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta pp. 160, ff. Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta (Edmonton : Ukrainian Pioneer Association of Alberta, 1984), pp. 160-162.

‘Lopushinsky Family Reunion’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, (1986), pp. 51-52. (This “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” is a journal formerly published in Edmonton, Alberta, by the Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada.)

“Pride in Progress” (Chipman, Alberta : Alberta Rose Historical Society, 1982). ISBN-10 : 0-88925-369-2. ISBN-13 : 978-0889253698.

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Additional information :

Holy Ascension Russo-Orthodox Church, Skaro, Alberta

Holy Transfiguration Russo-Orthodox Church, Star

Holy Trinity Russo-Orthodox Church, Stary Wostok

Nativity of the Theotokos Russ-Orthodox Church, Kysylew

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Saint Tikhon (Belavin)