Saskatoon SK Saint Vincent of Lerins Antiochian Orthodox Church 1987

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan : Saint Vincent of Lerins Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1987

Lerins may be spelt Lérins.

Prehistory

In 1978, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, a group of mostly Mennonite Christians (with influence from the "Campus Crusade for Christ") established New Covenant Orthodox Church, a community of the "New Covenant Apostolic Order". The community was led by Jerold Gliege. They embraced a movement that tried to live in a manner in greater harmony with the manner of life described in the New Testament. This was a group which became the Evangelical Orthodox Church of the United States and Canada (EOC).

A strong movement developed which desired to bring the communities fully into the Orthodox Christian Church which many of the leaders had encountered, and about a decade of conversations to that end progressed.

In Saskatoon, there were conversations on a regular basis between Bishop Jerold Gliege and Archpriest Orest Olekshy of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church. The conversations continued subsequently over many years.

Ultimately, most of the parishes were received into the canonical Orthodox Church, although a portion of them remained outside. Those who remained with the Evangelical Orthodox Church perceived themselves to be able to act as a sort of bridge for evangelical Christians to encounter the Orthodox Christian Faith.

The main group of Evangelical Orthodox were received into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America in 1987 by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) and by his Vicar-Bishop, Bishop Antoun (Khouri).

Founding the parish, 1987

In March, 1987, many members of the Holy Covenant Orthodox Church were received in Saskatoon by Bishop Antoun (Khouri) into the Orthodox Christian Church, and into the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

With the blessing of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba), Bishop Antoun travelled to Saskatoon in order to chrismate the previously-baptised parishioners. At the same time, he ordained Father Bernard Funk and Father Larry Reinheimer to the Holy Diaconate and to the Holy Priesthood, and Peter Isaac, Wilhelm (Willie) Friesen and Daniel Guenther to the Holy Diaconate.

After several years, Deacons Daniel Guenther, Peter Isaac and Willie Friesen moved to other places of service.

Father Larry Reinheimer continued to minister to the community in Borden, Saskatchewan, until he was transferred to Andrew, Alberta, (and later to Calgary, Alberta).

At first, the community worshipped in temporary quarters.

Father Bernard Funk was the founding priest of the community, and under his leadership the parish grew steadily.

Parishioners in March, 1987, with Bishop Antoun (Khouri)

Standing from left include : Deacon Daniel & Wendy Guenther ; Deacon Peter & Julia Isaac ; (Vera Matheson) ; Myra Reinheimer ; others

Seated l to r : Priests Dennis Pihach ; C Daniel Matheson ; nn. ; Priest Larry Reinheimer ; Bishop Antoun ; Priest Bernard Funk ; Priest Gordon Walker ; Priest Orest & Oksana Olekshy

First Temple

In late 1988, the parish of Saint Vincent purchased a church building that was the former Resurrection Orthodox Church, on Avenue C and 25th Street West.

First Temple

Congregation at the first site

Parishioners with Bishop Basil (Essey), after 1995

Seated centre : Priest Bernard & Linda Funk ; Bishop Basil (Essey) ; Deacon Wilhelm & Agnes Friesen

At the first site, the parish grew steadily. Once it had outgrown the space, another site was required.

Second Temple

In February, 2009, the parish purchased an old Presbyterian church building at Avenue E and 30th Street, where the community continued to grow steadily. The parish summary states :

 We joyfully and with some difficulty learned what it was like to become Orthodox Christians 
 in some of its many facets during those years.

Saint Vincent of Lerins, Second Temple

Interior at the second site

Congregation in 2009

In 2015, a news article gave public exposure to the active work in the parish in support of refugees. Although this is not the only way in which the parishioners help those in need, it is a visible and in important facet of service.

Aster Dombrowsky and Lois Machnee at Saint Vincent's Temple

Lois Machnee has prepared many immigration papers, and recently the parish was approved as a refugee community agency in some special way.

In 2015, Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) (the new head of the Antiochian Archdiocese) made an archpastoral visit to the parish.

In 2015, John Youchezin (a long-time parishioner and subdeacon since 1995) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui).

Priest James Fields arrived with his family in the parish at the time when Archpriest Bernard Funk retired from active service after more than 30 years of careful pastorate in the parish. Father Bernard remained in the parish in retirement.

By this time, the parish had grown to such an extent that the building in which the parish had been worshipping had, as with the previous structure, become too small.

Third Temple

On 1 July, 2021, the parish of Saint Vincent of Lerins purchased the Third Avenue United Church building in the city-centre area of Saskatoon. This building had been declared by Saskatoon city council to be an official historic site in 2017. (The historic designation refers particularly to the building’s exterior, hammer-beam rafters, stained glass windows and the Casavant organ, whose construction as a Methodist church took place during 1910-1913.)

The building was described in a tourist article as follows :

 Third Avenue United Church in Saskatoon is one of the three largest United Churches in Canada featuring English Gothic 
 design.  By guided tour see the enormous stained glass windows and the Casavant organ with three manuals, 39 stops, 
 2,468 pipes and 20 bells.

This particular purchase was perceived to be Providential not only for the parishioners, for the building itself and its former occupants, but also for the centre of the city of Saskatoon.

Saint Vincent of Lerins Temple, third site

Interior of the new Temple

2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 closure of parishes

Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the federal, provincial and city governments with regard to the Coronavirus-19 pandemic, there were limitations applied to the nature, number and frequency of public services from March, 2020. When there were services, they followed the rules regarding social distancing, and the numbers permitted for any gathering. Over all, such measures are similar to those that were taken in the past, in various parts of the Orthodox world, during the time of a plague. The conditions surrounding the virus affected the parish, parishioners and all society for the remainder of the year, and for most of 2021.

Election of new metropolitan-archbishop of Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, 2023

Following the retirement in 2022 of Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), the Patriarchate of Antioch provided a Locum-tenens bishop until a successor could be nominated and elected. Patriarchal Vicar Metropolitan Antonios (El-Souri) of Zahle, Baalbek, and Dependencies arrived in New York soon after the retirement of Metropolitan Joseph. He was the temporary administrator of the archdiocese until the election of a successor to Metropolitan Joseph, and he presided over the preparatory process and the convention of nomination on 13 January, 2023, in Dallas, Texas.

On 23 February, 2023 (following the nomination convention), the Holy Synod of the Church of Antioch assigned Metropolitan Saba (Esber) to become the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. He arrived in New York a short time later, and straightway, he took up his responsibilities.

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Antiochian Orthodox Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest (which is administered by the Bishop of the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West), of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The bishop is Metropolitan Saba (Esber).

The parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint Vincent of Lerins, 24 May.

In 2023, the rector of the parish is Priest Herman Fields.

Archpriest Bernard Funk, retired, is attached to the parish.

Deacon John Youchezin is the deacon of the parish.

Address :

Saint Vincent of Lerins Orthodox Church

The corner of 24th Street East at Third Avenue North

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Mailing Address :

Saint Vincent of Lerins Orthodox Church

304, Third Avenue North

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

S7K 2J1

Telephone : (306) 244-4009

Web-site : www.stvincentoflerins.net

E-mail : stvincentorthch@sasktel.net

Facebook page

Directions :

Saint Vincent of Lerins Antiochian Orthodox Church is situated in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on the north side of the South Saskatchewan River. In the city-centre, and near City Hall, the Temple is at the junction of Third Avenue North and 25th Street East. The entrance of the Temple is on 24th Street East.

From the north : Approach Saskatoon from Highway #16 East ; or from Highway #11 or Highway #12 South. Pass Circle Drive on Idylwyld Drive North. Continue until 25th Street East. Turn left on 25th Street East. Turn right at Third Avenue North. The Temple is at the left at the end of the block. The entrance of the Temple is on 24th Street East.

From the west : Approach Saskatoon from the west via Highway #7 or Highway #14. Highway #7 joins Highway #14. Continue eastwards on Highway #14 past Circle Drive on 22nd Street West. Pass Idylwyld Drive North. At Third Avenue North, turn left ; drive 2 blocks north. The Temple is on the right at 24th Street East. The entrance of the Temple is on 24th Street East.

From the south and east : Approach the city via Highway #16 West or Highway #11 North. At the junction of Circle Drive and Yellowhead Route, drive north on Yellowhead Route until College Drive/Highway #5 West. Turn left on College Drive. If arriving via Highway #5, continue straight on Highway #5, which becomes College Drive. Cross the University Bridge (over the South Saskatchewan River). The road becomes 25th Street North. Turn left at Third Avenue North. The Temple is on the left at the end of the block. The entrance of the Temple is on 24th Street East.

By bus : Consult Saskatoon Transit.

Saskatoon may be accessed by various airlines through the John G Diefenbaker Saskatoon International Aeroport.

Saskatoon may be accessed by railway through VIARail.

There is interurban bus service available within Saskatchewan, and with service to Edmonton, Alberta.

Priest Herman Fields, rector

Telephone : (306) 244-4009

Archpriest Bernard Funk, retired

Deacon John Youchezin