Igumen John (Scratch)

Igumen John (Scratch) (1941-2006)

See the articel "Matushka Suzanne Scratch"

Early life of Gordon Alfred Clare Scratch

Gordon Alfred Clare Scratch (usually called Clare) was born in Lethbridge, Alberta, on 2 August, 1941, to Lydia and C Clare Scratch.

Carmen Clare Scratch, his father, was a well-known Pentecostal minister and missionary. During World War II, his father, Clare, was interned in Tientsin in China in a Japanese Camp, near where he had been doing missionary work for some time. He survived this experience, but he lost a considerable amount of weight.

After this, the young Clare spent his early life joining his parents and his sister Lorraine on missions to the third world and the Orient, in particular to China and India.

It was during one of these trips that he first encountered Orthodoxy as young boy, in the streets of Shanghai, China, namely in the presence and person of Saint John (Maximovitch). Father John would often say that his time in China was a definitive factor and blessing in his journey to and in the Orthodox Faith. He experienced another aspect of the Orthodox Faith when his family lived near and amongst the Oriental Orthodox of South-west India in the State of Kerala.

Because his father was a Pentecostal minister and missionary, Clare grew up with a clear experience and understanding of Who is Jesus Christ.

In his youth, Clare became an Anglican, and he tested the monastic inclination he was feeling with the Society of Saint John the Evangelist in Bracebridge, Ontario.

Anglican theological studies

Clare began theological studies at Bishops University in Lennoxville, near (now part of) Sherbrooke, Québec. It was there that he met his future wife, who was also studying at that university.

Marriage, 1967

In 1967, Clare married Suzanne Park in Toronto, Ontario, and he continued his studies at Bishops University.

Anglican ordinations, 1969

He was later ordained a deacon and then a priest in the Anglican Church, in early 1969.

Thus began the sixth generation of the Scratch family to serve the Lord as clergy.

Anglican pastoral service

During these years, their first children (Gregory and Jeremy) were born. Their following years of service were in the area of Blanc Sablon, Québec (near the border with Labrador, and near the entrance of the Strait of Belle Isle), and these years were extremely difficult, economically. As did all their parishioners and neighbours, the family lived in a subsistence manner. This included fishing. It was at this time that their next 2 children (Sebastian and Lydia) were born. From there, they moved to Bracebridge, Ontario. There, they lived near the ageing Anglican monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist. Father Clare helped with some of the monastic services, and he also helped the monks to care for their dependent nearby churches in the Muskoka district. It was there that their next 2 children (John and Mary) were born. From Bracebridge, they were transferred to Ottawa, Ontario, and to an urban parish.

Conversion to the Orthodox Christian Faith, 1979

By this time, the turmoil and secularisation in the Anglican Communion was causing deep concern for both Father Clare and Suzanne. Father Clare later commented that by this time, Suzanne had become convinced through her reading and personal encounters that the Orthodox Christian Church was where they really belonged. She seemed to have, at a very deep level, a natural, almost instinctive understanding of the Church's spirituality. However, she waited until her husband and family were ready to enter it with her. They had serious conversations with the rector of Saint Nicholas’ Russian Orthodox Church in Ottawa, the Mitred Archpriest Oleg Boldireff. These conversations (together with meeting the parishioners) helped them to make a final decision. Thus, Father Clare and his family left the financial security of the Anglican Church, and they found refuge in the Orthodox Church.

After further conversations with Archbishop Sylvester of Montréal and Canada, in the spring of 1979, Clare, Suzanne, and their 6 young children were received into the Orthodox Church in the parish of Saint Nicholas in Ottawa, under the omphor of Archbishop Sylvester. When the conversion to the Orthodox Church had been accomplished, Clare was given the name John, after the holy Evangelist. Nevertheless, Father John often liked to remind people that the name “Clare” means “light”, just as does the Greek name “Photini” (Fotini). He knew that this was the name of the Samaritan Woman, the Martyr and energetic evangelist of the apostolic period. Knowing the deep love for our Saviour that Saint Photini had, he likewise cultivated this dominical love within himself, and within those who became his spiritual children and friends. The name "Clare" is a name given to both males and females.

Orthodox ordinations, 1979

In 1979, John was ordained first to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Sylvester.

Pastoral service

Father John Scratch then paid a retreat-like visit to Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

He subsequently became beloved of the Ottawa parishes, each of which he served at one time or another throughout the 1980s. During these years, in order to support his family, Father John found work as a security guard. Later, his wife also found work with the Canadian government. Nevertheless, there were times when the family would be eating “Irish soda-bread”, hand-made by Father John, because the cupboards were described as being similar to those of Mother Hubbard. A family anecdote recognises with great humour the fact that it had to be thus, because although Matusha Suzanne was a remarkable baker, she was notoriously incapable of cooking.

Establishing a mission, 1980

In the winter of 1980, Father John, Matushka Suzanne, along with a small handful of people, founded the first English Orthodox mission in Ottawa, Holy Transfiguration Mission, in the living room of a house in the “Mechanicsville” district of Ottawa. During this time, partly because of an inheritance, the family was able to purchase a modest home in the hamlet of Ventnor, near Spencerville, about 45 minutes south of Ottawa. From here, both Father John and Matushka Suzanne commuted to Ottawa for work and for services.

Father John and Matushka Suzanne at Holy Tranfiguration Mission (before 1987)

Holy Transfiguration Mission, Ottawa, 1987

Illnesses ; reconciliation of communities, 1987-1988

In February of 1987, because of a cerebral aneurism, Matushka Suzanne suffered a major stroke (in a difficult place), after which she was spared from almost certain death by the wonder-working intercession of Saint Herman of Alaska. Father John had received some earth from the grave of Saint Herman of Alaska, thanks to the Archpriest John Breck. With some of this earth and with anointing oil, Father John anointed his wife. It was only then that the spasms in her arteries stopped and the surgery could be done which stopped the bleeding. Those spasms had persisted for a week.

This situation forced Father John into semi-retirement in order to care for her and for his children.

In the midst of all this, Father John was still able to shepherd the flock he cared for into amalgamation with its mother parish. With the help of Nikita and Mary Ann Lopoukhine and Boriss Mazikins (the last president of the Parish of Saint Nicholas), this amalgamation reunited the 2 communities under the protection of the Mother of God in the Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral. All this was accomplished under the blessing of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), who was at that time the “locum tenens” of the Archdiocese of Canada, with the help of the Vicar-Bishop Seraphim. This unique re-union and reconciliation of communities would have far-reaching effects.

Because Father John Scratch was available and active, when the bishop was absent during pastoral visitations in the diocese, Father John would look after all the pastoral needs in his place. When the bishop was present, the pastoral work was shared. This arrangement contributed greatly to the economic welfare of the archdiocese, which at that time had not yet developed a properly functioning financial base. This arrangement also contributed greatly to the pastoral stability of the amalgamating communities.

As a consequence of the goodwill and ready mutual forgiveness on the part of both communities, it soon became possible to serve only one Divine Liturgy of a Sunday, with 2 languages being used. In addition, the youth of the mission (and the significant number of children who came with them) provided a great encouragement to the older members of the parish of Saint Nicholas.

By the end of the 1987, the 2 parishes had merged to form the cathedral parish of the Archdiocese with the name blessed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America : Annunciation to the Theotokos-Saint Nicholas Cathedral.

Archpriest John Scratch at the cathedral

Retirement

For the next few years, Father John became more involved with the 24-hour care of Matushka Suzanne. After suffering a serious heart-attack himself, he retired fully. Nevertheless, he was always devoting himself to the care and well-being of the rational sheep in his care, even if he was often not physically available or accessible.

Bereavement, 1998

On 10 January, 1998, Matushka Suzanne fell asleep in the Lord after the catastrophic ice-storm of that month.

After the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Lay-Person had been served at the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral on Clarey Avenue, the body of Matushka Suzanne was was interred at the Saint Nicholas Section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

More pastoral service, 1998

After a time of reflection, at the request of Bishop Seraphim, Father John came out of retirement, in order to serve, together with the Archpriest Dennis Pihach, at Saint Herman’s Sobor, in Edmonton, Alberta. The house in Ventnor was sold.

For a time, from 1998-2002, Father John served the flock in Edmonton, where he was, as always, very much beloved. His service there once again involved helping with strengthening and consolidating a community during a period of change.

Father John during Pascha in Edmonton with Fathers David (Edwards) and Philip Sperenza

However, after a second and more serious heart attack, he retired fully once again. With the help of his children, he moved back to Ottawa so as to be with his family and his ever increasing number of grand-children. As a result, he was later able to witness the ordination of his eldest son, Gregory, to the Holy Diaconate on 2 February, 2003.

Ordination of Deacon Gregory Scratch, 2003

Monastic tonsure, 2004

On 21 August of 2004, Father John became, as the bishop described, truly “what he was” already. At the Annunciation-Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, he was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name John (now named after Saint John the Forerunner). He was attached to the Monastic Community of Saint Silouan the Athonite in Johnstown, Ontario.

He had previously considered this possibility, since he had been widowed. After considerable prayer and consultation, he had asked the bishop to be tonsured a monk. From this act, he derived considerable strength in order to persevere in serving Christ.

He was immediately elevated to the dignity of igumen (abbot).

After his return to Ottawa, Father John found the cathedral family to be in the process of trying to find an adequate and large enough building into which to move. For a long time already, the long-serving building at 55, Clarey Avenue had been too small for so many people. Its structure was weakening. A new and larger facility was offered to the cathedral for purchase by the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Ottawa (Marcel Gergais). He wanted this building, already dedicated to the Mother of God, to remain associated with her, even though there were too few Roman Catholic parishioners to sustain it. At this time, Father John had the opportunity to venerate the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God when the icon visited the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) Temple of the Protection of the Theotokos. At this time, Father John had a profound experience and encounter with the Mother of God, who clearly showed him that it was the blessed and right thing to do for the cathedral family to take on the responsibility of this large building. Had he not had this encounter, the cathedralites would not likely have dared to take on such a great debt.

It was during these last few years as a monk, that Father John’s witness of faith, perseverance, and suffering for the love of the Lord, was truly blessed, and revealed to others. For him, and for those around him, the assurances of the Lord’s abundant mercy always brought consolation and peace. It was in this context that he always cared for, and in a fatherly way nurtured, those who turned to him. It was in this context that he was a Christ-like pastor to the very end. In the days just before his repose, he was diagnosed as having a large tumour in his colon. Immediately, he blessed and thanked God for all that had been given to him in his whole life. He accepted the situation with great peace, and with open confidence in God’s love. He was radiant with joy.

Father John lived in the Scriptures. The evening before his repose in Christ, he paid a pastoral visit to one cathedral family, and he remained far longer than usual before returning home late at night. Because of how he was found by his family in the morning, it is obvious that he had gone to sit in his usual chair, and that he had begun to read the Scriptures. He had made various notes, which were found on the floor beside the chair. He always trusted in the Lord’s guidance. One of the last passages which he copied, and which was still in his hands, was this passage :

 Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusts in Thee
 (Isaiah 26:3).

The following citation from Saint Silouan the Athonite was published on a monastic web-site, which applied it to the person of Father John :

 We know that the greater the love, the greater the sufferings of the soul.  The fuller the love, 
 the fuller the knowledge of God.  The more ardent the love, the more fervent the prayer.  The more 
 perfect the love, the holier the life.

Repose, 2006

The Igumen John (Scratch), aged 64, a member of the Monastic Community of Saint Silouan, former Dean of the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Ottawa, Ontario, and in retirement attached to the Bishop’s Chapel of Saint Silouan the Athonite, fell asleep in the Lord, in his home in the early morning of Sunday, 15 January, 2006. That evening, there was a panikhida served, and another in the evening of 16 January.

At the Cathedral of the Annunciation in Ottawa (in the newly-acquired, large building), on Tuesday evening, 17 January, the Service for the Burial of a Monk was offered, and on Wednesday morning, 18 January, the Memorial Divine Liturgy was served. Afterwards, Father John was buried in the Saint Nicholas section of the Pinecrest Cemetery in Ottawa.

Father John was survived (at that time) by his sister Lorraine and her husband Roy, his nephew Gregory, and by his 6 children : Priest Gregory and Taesia (and the child Alexander to be born of her) Scratch, Subdeacon Jeremy and Helen Scratch, the Deacon Sebastian and Helen Scratch, Lydia and Michael Holden, the Subdeacon John and Michelle Scratch, Mary Teresa and Karl Nye ; and by his grand-children Juliana, Gabriel, Alexandra, Sevastjan, Maria Suzanne, Taiece, Seraphim, Benjamin, Elizabeth, Parryn, and Ariadna.

Grave marker

Reflections

Although Father John had begun the sixth generation of his family to serve as Christian clergy, he also began the first generation to serve as an Orthodox Christian priest.

With the ordinations of 2 of his sons to the Holy Priesthood, the seventh generation of clergy (in general) began, and the second generation to serve as Orthodox Christian clergy.

Father John had a special gift from God for pastoral service, and for spiritual leadership. There is a characteristic statement about the nature of his pastoral service (with regard to his service in Edmonton) :

 His presence in the parish, although brief, brought considerable hope and consolation to the parishioners 
 through his prayerful way of life, and his sense of humour.

There was a "down-to-earth" and "matter-of-fact" manner about Father John which enabled the Lord to bridge the gaps of fear and/or mistrust that bound many people (a characteristic of most people, perhaps). Because of the activity of God's Grace in him, people were enabled to overcome their own pains and limitations and to work together in harmony as a Christian family.