Vancouver BC Saint John of Shanghai Orthodox Church 2005

Vancouver, British Columbia, Church of Saint John of Shanghai and Saint Nina of Georgia, 2005

Prehistory

The Orthodox Church in the name of Saint John of Shanghai in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, is an English-language Orthodox parish of the Archdiocese of Canada in the The Orthodox Church in America. It was, in its earlier days, the only wholly English-language Orthodox Church in the city of Vancouver.

This parish began as a mission on 15 August, 2005, as a “daughter parish” and “church-plant” of Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church in Langley, British Columbia. Saint Herman's Church was, for many years, the only canonical English-language Orthodox Church in the whole of the Lower Mainland of the province.

Establishment of missions ; merger ; establishment of the mission, 2006

In the summer of 2006, there was a merger of Saint John of Shanghai's Orthodox Mission with the Saint Nina of Georgia Orthodox Mission – another English-language Orthodox mission in Vancouver whose priest had moved to Ontario. Therefore, the mission’s full name came to be Saint John of Shanghai and Saint Nina of Georgia Orthodox Church, a rather large name for what was a rather small (although growing) mission. The parish considers itself to be a long-term mission to the City of Vancouver in order to make more available access to the Orthodox Christian Faith for the English-speakers of the city and region.

First chapel, 2006

The community of Saint John of Shanghai began to meet in the chapel of what used to be Saint Clare's Franciscan convent, a historical building located in East Vancouver, at 1967, Napier Street (at the corner of Napier Street and Semlin Drive, directly across the street from Saint Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church).

Many parishioners (including the priest and deacon) are converts to Orthodox Christianity, which makes Saint John’s a particularly great place to encounter the riches of the Eastern Orthodox Christian tradition for the first time. As the Apostle Philip said to Nathaniel, “Come and see” (Saint John 1:46).

The first chapel site

Parishioners

The complete facility

Archpastoral visit, 2013

On Saturday, 5 January, 2013, the Saint John of Shanghai and Saint Nina of Georgia Orthodox Mission was greatly blessed to begin the year with a visit from Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), on the Eve of the great feast of Theophany. After Great Vespers, Vladyka Irénée celebrated the Great Blessing of Water. Then, with the blessed water, he blessed everyone present, and the building itself. This included the blessing of the new iconostas (built by the vice-president of the parish council, Jeremy Eisenhauer, with help from the parish president, Aaron Huizenga). Following the service, a time for tea and a period of questions-and-answers with Vladyka Irénée was held in the church fellowship hall. The visit was a great blessing to all who were able to attend.

New iconostas

Blessing water

Saint John parishioners with Vladyka Irénée

Vladyka Irénée (Rochon) and parishioners

On Saturday, 12 October, 2013, this mission parish was blessed to have Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) presiding "from the throne" (as it were) at the regular Great Vespers service. The service was followed by a communal meal and a lively question-and-answer session with Vladyka Irénée. During this time, a wide variety of topics were raised and discussed. They ranged from the health of the archdiocese to parish life, and to outreach to First Nations. All those who were able to make it to this Thanksgiving weekend service were very thankful to have had the opportunity to pray and to chat with Vladyka Irénée, and with the hard-working Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko.

Vladyka Irénée (Rochon) at Vespers

Choir and parishioners at Vespers

Questions and answers with Vladyka Irénée

Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2014

On Sunday, 9 March, 2014, representatives of many Orthodox parishes of Greater Vancouver took part in Great Vespers commemorating the "Triumph of Orthodoxy".

The celebration took place at Saints Nicholas and Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in East Vancouver.

The following clergy served during Great Vespers : Protopresbyter Dorotheos Trifonopoulos (Greek Orthodox Church) ; Protopresbyter Demetrios S Partsafas (Saint George Greek Orthodox Cathedral) ; Archpriest Miroslav Dejanov (Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church) ; Archpriest Michael Fourik (Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, OCA) ; Archpriest Steven Slipko (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saint Mary) ; Priest Evangelos Aravantino (Saint Nicholas and Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church) ; Priest Nicolae Lapuste (Holy Trinity Church, Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America) ; Priest Konstantinos Tsiolas (Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, Surrey) ; Archpriest Michael Gillis (Holy Nativity Antiochian Orthodox Church, Langley) ; Priest Justin Hewlett (Saint John of Shanghai Orthodox Church, OCA) ; Priest Malisha Milanovic (Serbian Orthodox Church) ; Priest Marko Radmanovic (Holy Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church) ; Hierodeacon Philip (Ptashnik) (OCA).

During this service, Father Justin Hewlett preached a homily.

Homily, Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2014

Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2017

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, 5 March, 2017, priests from several Orthodox Christian jurisdictions of the Greater Vancouver Area and their flocks gathered at Saints Nicholas and Dimitrios Greek Orthodox Church in Vancouver, British Columbia, in order to celebrate the "Triumph of Orthodoxy".

During the service, Priest Justin E Hewlett of Saint John of Shanghai Church gave the homily, and a collection was taken for All Saints of Alaska OCA Church in Victoria, British Columbia.

Mitred Archpriest Michael Fourik of Holy Resurrection Sobor in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Priest Matthew Francis of Holy Apostles Church in Chilliwack, British Columbia, were also present.

Sunday of Orthodoxy Vespers, 2017

On that day also, Subdeacon Barnabas Neufeld challenged the priests to support a new Orthodox ministry to persons in prison, as follows :

I am happy to say that I have been appointed to the 'Interfaith Committee
on Chaplaincy' by His Grace, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa, who is
the ruling bishop of the Archdiocese of Canada in the Orthodox Church in America.

This was only the first step : I then had to be approved by the Interfaith Committee
which is made up of representatives from most faith groups in Canada, including
several non-Christian religions (i.e. Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, etc.).
Due to my experience and background, they voted to approve me, and I am now
the first Orthodox representative to the Chaplaincy Services of the
Correctional Service of Canada.

Part of my role is to assist with evaluating current Chaplaincy services.
Every Chaplain no matter what their religious persuasion must find
appropriate supports, and materials to serve every religious need. Often,
this means identifying and recruiting volunteers of different faiths. It
is my role to ensure that the religious and dietary needs of all Orthodox
prisoners in Canada are being met. Another of my duties is to raise
awareness of the great need for religious services to Prisoners in my own
faith community : The Orthodox Christians in Canada. Once I am aware of
an Orthodox prisoner, I work with the chaplain in that institution to find
an Orthodox clergyman nearby to provide the necessary services.

As far as we know, there is only one Orthodox Prison chaplain in Canada,
and that is Father Richard René who serves at Kent Institution and
Mission Medium Security Institution. There are only three members of the
Interfaith Committee from British Columbia : The Roman Catholic representative,
the Buddhist representative, and me. The Roman Catholic representative,
Dan O’Hara, is only too happy to have me as a colleague, as he is familiar
with the work of Father Richard René. Prison Chaplains in Canada are now
employees of a Private Contractor, 'Bridges', and the Interfaith Committee
on Chaplaincy provides guidance.

We attended a meeting with Ms. Anuradha Marisetti, the Pacific Regional
Director of Corrections, and the Rev. Dr. Dwight Cuff, Pacific Regional
Chaplain : Correctional Service of Canada. We explained some of our
concerns that the contractor didn’t seem to understand the difference
between Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox. For example, Correctional
officials seemed to think an Orthodox inmate could make his confession to
a Catholic priest ! Government Policy stipulates that each prison must
have access to both Catholic and Protestant religious services, but we
explained how the Orthodox Faith was completely different.

Then they asked us to join a team that will be evaluating the Chaplain at
William Head Institution on Vancouver Island on 15 March. Mr. O’Hara
asked : What standard should we use ? Dr. Cuff said : 'The GOLD standard
of Chaplaincy : the way Father Richard René does things !' Corrections is
obviously very pleased with his work.

Father Richard has registered a BC Society called 'Saint Silas Orthodox
Prison Ministry Society'. It should be incorporated shortly, at which
time he will set up a bank account. The next step would be to apply for
charity status at the federal level, so we can issue tax receipts. Anyone
is welcome to donate now, but they should know that we cannot provide a
receipt yet. New board members familiar with charitable societies would
be welcome.

The three goals of the Saint Silas Prison Ministry Society are as follows :
1. To provide support for clergy to undertake prison ministry to Orthodox Christian inmates.
2. To provide for the various spiritual and religious needs of Orthodox Christian inmates
(books, items, teaching, services).
3. To raise awareness of the needs of Orthodox Christian inmates at the regional
and national levels, specifically the Interfaith Committee.

Currently, Father Richard is serving Liturgy at Mission Medium Institution
twice a month, with up to 12 men attending. Symeon Price, a member of
Saint Herman's OCA in Langley, also goes twice a month to run an inquirer's group.
They have two catechumens currently, and at least one 'cradle' Orthodox
returning to communion.

The Saint Silas Society has the following needs :
1. Donations to support the education of one inmate, who is working on
Orthodox studies by correspondence (Saint Stephen's Antiochian House of Studies)
2. Prayer ropes (bracelet types)
3. Orthodox Study Bibles (Old and New Testament)
4. Paper icons
5. A seamstress willing to make an altar cover
6. A set of gold vestments to leave at the Institution

A profound passage in Matthew Chapter 25 takes us to Judgement Day where
our Lord separates His sheep, those who will inherit His kingdom, from the goats,
who will not, and He tells them by what measure we would be judged :
'I was hungry and you gave me food'.
'I was thirsty and you gave me drink'.
'I was a stranger and you took me in'.
'I was naked and you clothed me'.
'I was sick and you visited me'.
'I was in prison and you came to me'.

Major change, 2022

It had been known all along that the former convent in which the community was worshipping could not be a permanent site. Frequently, suggestions were made that some sort of redevelopment would occur eventually. Certainly, the parishioners were aware of the need to move at some indefinite moment.

In 2022, more concrete plans for redevelopment of the property became visible, and an architectural proposal was published.

Providentially, the community would not be left homeless ; but what became available brought about drastic changes.

2023 : a new site, Second Temple

In late September, 2022, Saint Martin's Anglican Church in North Vancouver closed after 122 years. The remaining parishioners merged with another nearby Anglican parish.

This left an opportunity for the Saint John of Shanghai community to make a rather dramatic move, and a change in its direction and visibility. This move was announced as follows :

 Saint John of Shanghai Orthodox Church is moving to North Vancouver.  Our new 
 home is the beautiful Anglican church dedicated to Saint Martin, located at 
 195 East Windsor Road, North Vancouver, BC.  We continue to serve as the 
 only fully English-language Orthodox Church in the greater Vancouver area, 
 and we will be continuing to serve Divine Liturgy on Sundays, beginning 
 with the Hours at 9:00 a.m., and Great Vespers on Saturdays at 6:00 p.m., 
 with weekly book studies (currently conducted via Zoom ; e-mail : 
 info@stjohnofshanghai.org for login details) on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. any 
 week when there is not a Great Feast being celebrated.
 
 Our first service at the new location will be held this Saturday, October 1st 
 (Great Vespers at 6:00 p.m.), with services being held at that location 
 thenceforward.
 
 We are grateful to our very generous landlord of the past fifteen years, 
 Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, and now also to our new landlord, 
 the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster.  We are thankful to God that He 
 has provided us with a place where we can worship Him !

At the last Sunday in East Vancouver

New site, first services, 1 October, 2022

Second Temple

2023 : July visit of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

On 29-30 July, 2023, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited both Holy Resurrection Sobor and the Temple of Saint John of Shanghai in Vancouver. On Saturday, 29 July, 2023, he served the Vigil in Holy Resurrection Sobor.

On Sunday, 30 July, he served the Divine Liturgy (video of the complete service) in the newly-acquired Temple of Saint John of Shanghai in North Vancouver. This is the site of the former Saint Martin Anglican Church.

First Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, July, 2023

Archpastoral visit, 2024

During his archpastoral visit to British Columbia, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) made an archpastoral visit to the parish of Saint John of Shanghai.

On Saturday, 19 October, 2024, at 9:00 a.m., Vladyka Irénée led the parish in the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by 6 priests and 4 deacons.

During the Divine Liturgy, Subdeacon Gareth John Howell (of Kamloops, British Columbia) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate. Deacon G John Howell was assigned to serve as deacon at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Mission in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Serving clergy

Parishioners

Parish organisations

Holy Wisdom Bookstore

The bookstore which is operated by the parish offers an assortment of useful books for the formation and the information of Orthodox Christians and potential Orthodox Christians. The books, booklets, and periodicals that are offered for sale feature authors from Russia, Romania, Greece, the Holy Land, the Americas and more. The bookstore also has available oil lamps, prayer ropes, mounted icons, buttons, and Crosses.

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Deanery of British Columbia & Yukon of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Mitred Archpriest Michael Fourik. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

The parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, 2 July. The secondary Feast-day is the Feast of Saint Nino of Georgia, 14 January.

In 2025, the pastor of the parish is the Archpriest Justin E Hewlett. The deacon of the parish is Deacon Evan Freeman.

Address :

Saint John of Shanghai Orthodox Church

195, East Windsor Road

Vancouver, British Columbia

V7N 1J9

Telephones : 604-541-7343 ; 778-737-5646

Web-site : http://www.stjohnofshanghai.org

Facebook

Directions :

By car :

The Temple is found in the northern part of North Vancouver, between Lonsdale Avenue and Saint Georges Avenue, north of Highway #1. (It is also high on a mountain-side.)

On Highway #1, drive north-west across the Second Narrows bridge, and continue until the Lonsdale Avenue exit. Exit to the right, and turn northwards on Lonsdale Avenue. Continue past 29th Street until Windsor Road. Turn right on Windsor Road. The Temple is at the end of the block, on the right, before Saint Georges Avenue.

By bus :

Vancouver Transit offers bus service on (Route #230) along Lonsdale Avenue.

Metropolitan Vancouver offers a SeaBus link from the City of Vancouver across Burrard Inlet to North Vancouver, which stops near Lonsdale Avenue.

By rail :

Vancouver has passenger rail service from Eastern Canada provided by VIARail Canada. There is also passenger service from Seattle, Washington, USA and other connecting sites provided by AMTRAK.

Vancouver is accessible by road, chiefly by Highway #1 from the west, and Highway #99 from the south.

It is accessible by various airline companies through the Vancouver International Aeroport.

It is accessible by ferry through BC Ferries at either Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay.

Archpriest Justin Edward Hewlett

36436, English Road

Mission, British Columbia

V2V 0B1

Telephone : 604-541-7343

Mobile : 778-737-5646

E-mail : frjustin@stjohnofshanghai.org

Deacon Evan Freeman