Veregin SK Saint Michael Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900

Veregin, Saskatchewan, Church and Cemetery of Saint Michael, 1925

The name "Veregin" is spelt "Verigin" as well.

Historical background

The region in the vicinity of Veregin, Saskatchewan, Canada, was settled by both Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Christians from what is now Western Ukraine. However, this particular region derives its name from Peter Verigin, the leader of a very large group of Doukhobors from the Russian Empire, who came to Canada with the help of Count Leo Tolstoy (the well-known author). Besides other efforts, he raised 30,000 rubles to help to pay for the passage and re-settlement. They departed from Batumi, Georgia (and some later from Cyprus), and by the end of 1899, there were 7,400 Doukhobors settling in Saskatchewan. The Doukhobors are pacifists, and they tend to live communally, as do the Hutterites (albeit in a different manner).

The homestead lands reserved for them in this area formed the Doukhobor “South Colony” (one of 4 such settlements in Saskatchewan). Here is situated now the National Doukhobor Heritage Village. However, the concession given by the Minister of the Interior at that time, Clifford Sifton (regarding living in villages and fulfilling homestead obligations that way) was withdrawn by the new Minister of the Interior, Frank Oliver. One reason was because these were good lands that were perceived by others to be standing empty (because the Doukhobors followed the “mir” system of Russian landholding. They lived together, and they cultivated the lands together : hay pastures, grain fields, and the like). To the average land-seeker, it was inconceivable that good lands were not being cleared in the usual way (the required 15 acres cleared on each homestead within 3 years ; and improvements on the property, including a house, a well, and a stable). Because they lived together in a settlement, the Doukhobors would have a quarter-section 100% cleared if it were for grain growing, while another quarter might be pasture only. Such a variation from "the rules" seemed to be unacceptable to certain Western-European immigrants.

Therefore, the Doukhobor homesteads were cancelled, and Peter Veregin moved many of his followers to lands he bought in the Kootenay region of British Columbia. Not all Doukhobors went away. Some became "independents" and took lands around Veregin. However, there were Doukhobors loyal to Verigin who remained in the area. For example, there was an estate there called "Otradnoe" (a majestic 2-storey house similar to the "National Heritage Village House"). There were also the 6 Chernoff brothers and their old mother, who had a Doukhobor horse and cattle breeding centre. All the brothers lived together. They were Veregin’s cowboys, who tamed and trained horses brought from Alberta.

In this region, because the Orthodox and the Doukhobors lived near one another, co-operation was naturally required. This might be said to be a greater challenge in this region, since Doukhobors tend to speak Russian, whereas the majority of other settlers in the region tended to speak one or another dialect of Ukrainian. However, despite the local perceptions (of those who had arrived from Western Europe), the Doukhobors were not alone in their inheriting the "mir" system of land use. Ukrainians who were Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic would be accustomed to a similar method of living together and working the land (even though such farm-lands might be privately owned). Even certain Scandinavians followed a very similar system until the late 19th century.

Prehistory, 1890s

The early Orthodox Christian settlers in the region southeast of Canora and northeast of Rhein, in east-central Saskatchewan, came to Canada primarily from the region of Bucovina in the Austro-Hungarian Empire. They were amongst the very many who responded to the enticements by Dr. Josif Oleskow, and who were supported by the Canadian government. Before World War I, more than 100,000 people from Bucovina and Galicia had been established between southeastern Manitoba and northwestern Alberta, primarily in the vicinity of the transcontinental Grand Trunk Railway (now Canadian National Railway). In Saskatchewan, this settlement also included some of the south-central and southwestern regions, nearer to the transcontinental Canadian Pacific Railway line.

Holy Ascension Church and Cemetery, Rhein, 1900

It was from amongst these early arrivals that the first Temple of Holy Ascension was established in 1900. This parish was found to be poorly situated because of a high water-table. For this reason, the Temple was closed, and a new parish nearby was established under the patronage of the Holy Archangel Michael. This small move placed the new site closer to Veregin.

The original Holy Ascension Temple

Construction of a new Temple, 1925

The Church of Saint Michael is the newer building for the parish of the Holy Ascension, Rhein, Saskatchewan. Therefore, the foundation of this community may be found in 1900. This parish of Saint Michael (and the older parish of the Holy Ascension nearby), visibly reflects the presence in this region of Orthodox Christians who had settled this region at about the same time as the Doukhobors. There were subsequently many inter-marriages, and some of the Doukhobors accepted the Orthodox Christian Faith. Although this Temple’s name-day is correctly on the feast-day of the Archangel Michael, because of practicalities, the observed feast-day is the Ascension of the Lord.

Bell-house

Historical cairn

Rural depopulation

As have all other rural parishes across Western Canada, this parish community suffered from rural depopulation, which began in the 1930s. This accelerated after World War II with the increase in mechanisation and the consolidation of small farms into larger ones. The consequence of this was the move of many people into various urban areas.

By the 1990s, the number of farms had decreased even more greatly because a great many had been bought by larger and larger farming operations.

Saint Michael's Cemetery, 1900

The parishioners established a cemetery for the parishioners at the same time that the Temple was constructed.

It is situated at Land Description site SW ¼ 34-28-01 W2 in the Rural Municipality of Sliding Hills #273.

Sign, cairn, list of names

List of names

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Nunavut Deanery 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 New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Archangel Michael, 8/21 November.

In 2023, this Temple is served from the Church of Saint Mark in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Address :

Orthodox Church of Saint Michael the Archangel

Land Description site SW ¼ 34-28-01 W2

Veregin, Sliding Hills RM #273, Saskatchewan

S0A 4H0

Directions :

Veregin is located about 60 km (37 mi) northeast of Yorkton, Saskatchewan (about half-way between Canora and Kamsack), in the Rural Municipality of Sliding Hills.

The Temple is located 13 km (10 mi) south of Veregin, Saskatchewan at Land Description site SW ¼ 34-28-01 W2 Sliding Hills RM #273.

From Yorkton, drive north on Highway #9 towards Canora. Turn right on Highway #5 to Veregin, which is 73 km (45 mi) from Yorkton. At Highway #637, turn right and drive southwards on the gravel highway for 13 km (8 mi). The Temple is on the left.

Alternatively, from Yorkton drive north on Highway #9 to Highway #309, and turn right (eastwards) towards Rhein (total about 37 km (23 mi)). At Rhein, turn left on Highway #637 (gravel) and drive north. Follow the right and left bends on this highway, and after the left bend which leads north, the Temple will be on the right (total about 21 km (13 mi)).

Archpriest Rodion Luciuk

310, Circlebrooke Drive

Yorkton, Saskatchewan

S3N 2T1

Telephone : 306-782-2482

E-mail : fatherrod@sasktel.net

Saint Michael's Temple from the south

References

Archdiocese of Canada — Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part 1

The Russian Mission in North America

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, "Romanian Immigrants to Saskatchewan"

Archer, Dr. John H, “Saskatchewan, a History” (Western Producer Prairie Provinces, 1980). ISBN-10 : ‎0888330642 ; ISBN-13 : 978-0888330642.

Martynowych, Orest T, “Ukrainians in Canada : The Formative Period, 1891–1924” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta, 1991. ISBN 10 : 0920862764. ISBN 13 : 978-0920862766.

Archdiocese listing

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

OCA listing

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Saint Tikhon (Belavin)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)