Save as PDFMemory Eternal! LOPUSHINSKY, Victor
Victor LOPUSHINSKY (1915 – February 27, 2013)
On Wednesday, February 27, 2013, Victor Theodore Lopushinsky, the Honorary Member the Church Board of St. Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton, AB, passed away peacefully at the age of 97.
Victor will be sadly missed and forever remembered by his wife of 38 years, Lucy and his children, Diane (Jerry) Shieron and Eugene Lopushinsky; grandchildren, Victoria (Joel) Hunt, Alexandra Shieron and Brittany (Derek) Sabo; great-granddaughters, Keili and Hailey Sabo and two stepchildren, Lorna Holowaychuk and Larry Holowaychuk. He is also survived by two sisters, Pearl Chernyk and Anne Herchek. Victor was predeceased by his son, Ted; his parents, Theodore and Euphemia; seven brothers and three sisters.
Condolence Message of His Grace Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada on the passing of the late Victor Lopushinsky.
Reverend Fathers, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, dear Lucy – widow of the departed Mr. Victor Lopushinsky, his beloved children, grandchildren and all relatives and members of his big family!
Please, accept the condolences and deep sympathies from His Holiness, the Holy Patriarch of All Rus Kirill and all administration of our Russian Orthodox Church, in connection with the recent repose of the oldest member of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada – Victor Theodorovich Lopushinsky.
Victor Theodorovich devoted all his life to serving the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada. For many years he worked zealously as an editor of the “Canadian Orthodox Messenger”, while holding various positions at the Patriarchal Parishes of Canada, such as the secretary-treasurer of all Patriarchal Parishes, and the secretary of the Bishop’s Council. In recent years he was the Honored Member of the Council of our Parish of Saint Barbara’s Cathedral. All these years were very difficult and crucial for our Church. And he, in this period in particular, devoted all his strength and knowledge to serving God and our people. Working as the secretary of the Bishops’ Council, he prepared all documentation for the Bishops and clergy who arrived from Russia and Ukraine to serve in Canada. He took care of them: he met them at the airport, provided them with lodging and the means of transportation. He was the chief coordinator of the Great Celebration of the Centenary of our Saint Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton and the Centenary of when the First Orthodox Liturgy was served here in Alberta, Canada by the Russian clergy.
Victor Thodorovich was also the head of the editorial staff that released a number of books on the history of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, on the century-long history of Our Cathedral of Saint Barbara in Edmonton, as well as on the Celebration of the 1000th Anniversary of the establishing the Christian Orthodox Faith in Russia and Ukraine. The last book from this series was published in 2002 and was called “The Century of Faith”. Through his fervent efforts our parish library and museum of Saint Barbara’s Cathedral were also created and are in existence now.
A couple of times Victor Theodorovich visited Russia and Ukraine on pilgrimages to the Shrines of the Russian Orthodox Church. This special person was well known and respected for his unique diligence and responsibility, his openness and friendliness towards other people. He always performed any task or mission that was entrusted to him conscientiously, scrupulously, and on a highly- professional level. This honest attitude gained him recognition and respect from both Clergy and the members of all our parishes. His faithfulness and his long-term service to the Russian Orthodox Church were highly valued by all Administrators of the Patriarchal Parishes. For his assiduous service he was awarded many medals of the Moscow Patriarchy. The last award he received by the blessing of His Holiness, the Holy Patriarch Kirill Himself in 2010, at the Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Sanctification of our Cathedral.
Merciful God, Our Lord, granted him a truly Christian and peaceful conclusion to his earthly life. Few days before his peaceful repose, he received from me Holy Communion. It happened in the nursing house, where Mr. Lopushinsky resided for the last 2 years, because of his health conditions. After receiving Holy Communion, Mr. Lopushinsky was greeted by His Eminence Mark, the Archbishop of Hust and Vinogradov, who for more than 11 years had been the Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada and who at this time is on a private visit in Canada. His Eminence underlined the colossal help Victor Theodorovich provided to him and to all Administrators and the Clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada in their challenging Service in Canada.
Let us pray the Lord of Our Lives and Deaths, Jesus Christ, to accept the soul of His faithful departed servant to the Heavenly Kingdom, and to grant him eternal rest and make his memory to be eternal!
I wish to all his relatives, close friends and to all parishioners of our Churches to have the same faith, the same aspiration to serve God and Our Church that the departed Victor Lopushinsky had.
I also wish to you all, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, physical and spiritual strength and the blessing of Our Lord and the Heavenly Father.
With love in our Lord Jesus Christ,
+Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.
Prayer Service (Panikhída) will be held on Sunday, March 3 at 7:00 p.m. and Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service on Monday, March 4 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 10105 – 96 Street with His Grace Bishop Iov and Archpriest Sergey Kipriyanovich concelebrating. Interment to follow in St. Barbara’s Cemetery (Nisku), 3 miles west of Hwy. #2 on Hwy. #19 (Devon Highway). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund – St. Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral, 10105 – 96 Street, Edmonton, AB T5H 2G3.
In a blessed falling asleep, grant, O Lord, eternal rest unto Thy newdeparted servant VICTOR and make his memory to be eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal! Memory eternal!