Archimandrite Seraphim (Filimonoff)

Archimandrite Seraphim (Filimonoff) (1908-1988)

Seraphim may be spelt Serafim, Séraphim, Sérafin.

Filimonoff may be spelt Filimonov, Philimonov.

— edited from an article by John Langston

Early life of Gregory Filimonoff

On 30 January, 1908, Gregory Filimonoff was born in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

He was baptised with the name Gregory, and he was raised from birth in the Orthodox Christian way of life the bosom of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Like countless others, he suffered the evil and oppressive consequences of the Bolshevik Revolution.

Freedom/exile, 1918

While he was serving in the Red Army in World War II, he was delivered to freedom in the West. He first went to Germany, where, however, like many displaced persons, he was assigned to brutal forced-labour work in the mines. Despite the situation, Gregory was one of the 4 men who had at first gathered around Archimandrite Vitaly (Ustinov) (later the Metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia) while they were in Fischbeck (near Hamburg), Germany. Through him, Gregory became interested in monastic life.

His interest blossomed.

England, 1948

In 1948, Gregory followed Archimandrite Vitaly to England, and he there continued to follow the archimandrite's example, despite the continuing adverse conditions.

Transfer to Uruguay, 1951

When, in 1951, the newly-ordained Bishop Vitaly (Ustinov) set out for South America where he served as the Bishop of Montevideo, Uruguay and Brazil, he was accompanied by his Saint Job of Pochaev Brotherhood. Gregory was included. Soon, the young bishop opened his own print shop and established a small orphanage for boys where they were taught the daily cycle of services.

Monastic tonsure, 1951

In Uruguay, Gregory was tonsured to be a monk by Bishop Vitaly, and he was given the name Seraphim ("aflame for God", after Saint Seraphim of Sarov).

Ordinations, 1951

Soon after the tonsure in 1951, the Monk Seraphim (Filimonoff) was ordained first to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood.

Transfer to Canada, 1954

In 1954, the brotherhood moved again, this time to Canada, where Bishop Vitaly was assigned to be the ruling bishop of Edmonton, Alberta, and the western provinces.

Arrival at Grenada, Alberta

It was a difficult time for the brotherhood, which now numbered about 14 monks, until an abandoned sawmill and the surrounding 300 acres in the so-called wilderness west of Edmonton became available. This was at Granada (near Wildwood) and the Northville post-office, in Yellowhead County. This placement was amongst other subsistence farms nearby, and quite near Chip Lake (a source of fish). The subsistence farms usually had some livestock, and there was some grain farming in accordance with the conditions necessitated by a cold climate.

Monastery of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Grenada

Situated on the north side of the highway, the monastery faced the main highway between Edmonton and Jasper. There, they established a new monastic community dedicated to the Holy Dormition of the Mother of God.

A controversy arose in the region. There was a small Temple which belonged to the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes near Tomahawk, near Drayton Valley, about 50 km distant from Granada. This Temple was seldom used, and Bishop Vitaly secured an agreement with one of the parishioners that the Temple be moved to Granada. It is this Temple which served the monks and then remained there until the present. However, those left bereft of their Temple were not quick to forget the event. Nevertheless, accommodations were quickly built for the now numerous brotherhood. The main building included some cells.

Abbot of Grenada Skete, 1957

In 1957, Bishop Vitaly was unexpectedly transferred to Montréal, Québec, in order to become the Archbishop of all Canada in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). His brotherhood likewise moved away with him, and they left Father Seraphim behind in Granada as the keeper and abbot of the now tiny Dormition Skete. Plans to expand the monastery were therefore abandoned. Some other monastic communities near Edmonton were also left behind, likewise with a few brothers remaining.

Solitary life ; pastoral service

At the same time, Father Seraphim was assigned to serve as the circuit priest for the parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia in the rural areas west of Edmonton. These responsibilities included serving the Temples in Granada, Wildwood, Edson and Bluffton. These demanding responsibilities, he fulfilled faithfully and obediently right up until the time of his repose. His life was quiet and unassuming. In between his pastoral responsibilities, he lived in his chosen isolation, and he prayed and worked hard. There were eventually built 12 small log cabins, which were constructed in the north-Russian style.

Father Seraphim was a tireless worker, a strong, weathered and muscular man. He had remarkable strength and endurance. It is said that he suffered from poor health for much of his life, but were it so, it was not visible to those who met him. He tended a very large garden ; he baked prosphora ; and he, himself, sewed and mended his monastic garments (besides sewing new vestments). There is one very interesting book of photographs, with several unexpected and beautiful pictures of Archimandrite Seraphim. It is a large-format coffee-table book of black-and-white photographs published in 1987, entitled "The Best of Alberta", by Tom Radford and Harry Savage. In the section of "The works of Orest Semchishen" (on pages 116, 117, 119 and 120) are beautiful photos of Father Seraphim, of his cell, of him at prayer, of him making prosphoras, and of his hands as he served the Divine Liturgy at Granada (Northville).

Father Seraphim at work

One person who met him from time to time wrote that Father Seraphim "had massive, calloused hands from his constant physical labour. He was always very tanned from being outdoors, and he was slim and muscular".

When a new house was built for him (modest though it was), he preferred to keep to his old quarters. The house had been built on money left for the monastery in the estate of Ivan Vasilievich Ciupak. Ivan was a very quiet bachelor, a faithful member of Saint Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church in Edmonton, who, in his retirement, loved to spend time at the monastery with Father Seraphim. The simplicity of Father Seraphim's surroundings was appropriate to his childlike trust and innocence. They were also in harmony with and a reflection of the peace and joy which were invariably communicated by his presence. Indeed, like his patron saint, his constant counsel was to strive for a quiet peace of soul in order to acquire the Holy Spirit. Saint Seraphim considered this to be the whole aim of the Christian life.

Despite his preferred isolation from the world, Father Seraphim was always accessible to those seeking the "other world". Although he spoke very little English, his desire to share about heavenly things was so strong that he would break out in a rich blend of Russian, English and German, combined with exuberant sign and body language, which effectively communicated to any non-Russian speaking converts his soul-saving counsel. "God grant it ! Thank you, Lord !" What could more clearly express the truth that God intends everything that happens in our lives to be profitable for our salvation ? Even in times of illness and other adversity, Father Seraphim had the humility and faith gratefully and gladly to declare, "All is from God !" Whenever anyone near him would be weak in this area, he would encourage them to pray, "Lord, have mercy on me". Such a simple and boundless faith was a constant source of amazement and inspiration to the spiritually fainthearted to whom he ministered so generously.

Although he lived mostly as a solitary, Father Seraphim had to support himself through his agricultural products and his sewing. This required that he travel from time to time to Edmonton so that he could sell his produce and purchase supplies. While there, he encountered many persons, and the accompanying conversations made strong impressions on those with whom he spoke. He strengthened the resolve of many to persevere in living and practicing their Orthodox Christian Faith.

Father Seraphim lived for the most part on what was the result of his labours. Perhaps someone would bring fish caught in Chip Lake, but his garden sustained him, and it produced some income. He kept bees and prepared honey. He grew very many cabbages and potatoes. A main item which contributed to his survival was the very large raspberry patch which he had nurtured. One person commented that

 He had a kind of 'deal' going with my aunts 'M' and 'K', cousins 'E' (Matushka Varsanofia), 'N' and 'A', and other faithful from 
 Edson.  He grew and tended a very large raspberry patch, but when the berries started to ripen, it was too much for him to handle.  
 An urgent call would go out to Aunt 'M' in Edson, and a whole brigade of parishioners would drive the forty or so miles with every 
 possible pot, pan or pail that could be used for picking, and descend on the monastery (which, fortunately, was right on the main 
 highway).  They also brought jars and sugar.  The deal was that you could pick all you wanted for yourself ; but he also 
 needed the canned raspberries for his survival.  So they picked and canned both for themselves as well as for Fr. Seraphim -- 
 hundreds of jars, sometimes over the course of several days.  

Such a phenomenon is commonplace in Eastern Europe and the Balkans even in this present time.

Another commonplace in monastic experience is the arrival of pilgrims for the Altar-feast of the monastery. A senior parishioner in Edmonton, "N", recalls that

 Because the weather at this time of year was very 'iffy', near the lake, and in the muskeg, everyone would always be praying for 
 sunshine.  Sometimes their prayers were answered.  Often, however, they would get a deluge of rain and thunderstorms, which forced 
 the pilgrims to seek refuge in the minimalist 'cabins', which were there as remnants of the sawmill work camp.  They, like the 
 Temple, were very cold and poorly heated. 

Despite such unpredictable early autumn weather at the end of August, the experience of pilgrims at such a feast-day was strengthening. People brought food to contribute to the general supply for everyone to eat on this day, but they also brought some contributions for the monk(s) for the coming winter.

During the last years of his life, Father Seraphim often made the long drive to Bluffton to serve the Divine Liturgy for the nuns who were lacking a regular priest. The distance is about 120 km (75 mi) ; but in those days, the secondary highways were often gravelled roads. To add to the context,

 he had a 'beat up' pickup truck that ran mostly on faith, but it got him to the places he needed to serve and certainly helped haul 
 wood and other things needed for the monastery. 

There are photographs available in the book, "The Best of Alberta", pp. 116, 117, 119, 120.

Father Seraphim's ceaseless labours for the Kingdom of God reached their end with one final trial : a serious and painful illness. His bodily strength faded fast, but God granted his desire to rejoice in one last Feast of Pascha.

Repose, 1988

Archimandrite Seraphim (Filimonoff) reposed in peace on Saturday, 10/23 April, 1988, at the age of 80.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Presbyter were served at the monastery by local clergy.

Funeral

After the funeral services, his body was interred in the cemetery at the Holy Protection of the Mother of God Convent (skete) near Bluffton, Alberta.

Three views of the Protection Skete Cemetery

Reflections

Now it is the nuns who are serving Father Seraphim as they lovingly tend his grave and pray for the eternal repose of his soul. Others, too, visit his grave in order to offer prayers and to express their gratitude for Father Seraphim's words of edification, for his love and consolation, and for the taste of that other-worldliness which he cultivated in his "wilderness" skete through long hours of prayer and the constant remembrance of God.

Alas, Father Seraphim left behind no monastic disciples. The skete now stands empty, and its future is uncertain. May God grant to some young men or women the desire and the determination to revive the flame of monastic life in Northville, a flame to illumine the way into the Heavenly Kingdom, a flame which Father Seraphim faithfully kept burning for so many years.

Archimandrite Seraphim (Filimonoff) could well be considered a desert-dweller of modern times. His "desert" was the vast boreal forest-land and muskeg of western Alberta, near the approach to the Rocky Mountains. This was far removed from his native Russia, but there are similarities in the terrain and climate. In 30 years, only a handful of monastic strugglers shared with him its wealth of solitude. This is not an unusual place in any way for such a hermitage. The long white winters and isolation kept the world at bay to some extent, which allowed the desert-dweller to cultivate an other-worldly atmosphere, as it were, the atmosphere of prayer and worship and life in Christ. In this man, good fruit was produced through his devoted service.

The site of the Dormition Skete may be found by driving on Highway 16. The monastery is on the north side of Highway 16, 3 or 4 km (2-2½ mi) to the west of Wildwood.

The Northville post-office is (or was) found by turning north on Range Road 101, then turning right on Township Road 535A.

Reference

Langston, John, ‘Fr. Seraphim of Northville’ in “Orthodox America”, issue 83, vol. 9, no. 3 (September, 1998).

Additional information :

Radford, Tom ; Savage, Harry et al, "The Best of Alberta" (Edmonton : Hurtig Publishers, 1987), ©Hurtig, 1987. ISBN-10: 0-88830-319-X

Seide, Georg, "Monasteries and Convents of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad", English translation by Theophilos Lasswell (Munich : Monastery of Saint Job of Pochaev, 1990). ISBN 3-926165-13-8. (See pp. 23-24.)

Original article, Father Seraphim of Northville

Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia web-site

Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodumov) founder of the Holy Protection skete in Bluffton, Alberta

Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)

The Monastery of the Holy Protection in Bluffton, Alberta

Cemetery of the Holy Protection Monastery in Bluffton, Alberta (see photo of cemetery where Archimandrite Seraphim is buried.)

Bluffton Dormition Monastery Cemetery photos

ROCOR listing for the Holy Protection Virgin Convent in Bluffton, Alberta