Father
James McLuckie, a priest of outstanding missionary work experience and a talented
iconographer. Father
James McLuckie, a priest of outstanding missionary work experience and a talented
iconographer.
Fr. James comes from a typical dual Canadian ethnic background. His maternal great- grandfather, his wife and children emigrated from western Ukraine in 1890 and homesteaded in the Beausejour area of Manitoba. However, his father was born in Scotland and as a young boy came to Canada with his family in 1929.
Fr. James was born in Trail, and his parents moved 20 miles north to Castlegar where he spent his school years, graduating from high school. Receiving his BA in sociology with a philosophy minor from the Catholic University of America in Washington D.C. and he continued his theological studies in this institution. He further noted that throughout his formative years due to his Ukrainian heritage, he acquired a continuing and growing interest in the Eastern Orthodoxy, especially iconography, slowly starting to write icons. In his seminary years Fr James traveled extensively to study early Christian and Byzantine art.
Shortly afterwards of his receiving of a Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology... STB, he was received in to the Orthodox Church through Chrismation in 1971. Through the Antiochian Archdiocese he continued post-graduate studies in St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crest wood, NY until 1973. Throughout his interim years He taught High School in Washington DC, then doing considerable voluntary work in Orthodox Christian education in his home parish in DC. He was ordained as a Deacon, then elevated through the Priesthood by Patriarch Elias IV of Antioch in July 3, 1977. He was assigned as an assistant pastor in San Francisco. Later on, he started St. John the Evangelist and Theologian Orthodox Church, in Orinda CA, nearby in Oakland. Working throughout three other Mission churches, esjtaMshino, as parish status, Fr. James was transferred into the Orthodox Church in America in 1989. At this same year he was asked to establish another church, namely St. Innocent Mission Parish in Fremont, CA. In this very spot St Innocent visited Mission San Jose in 1836 at an old California church Mission San Jose. It is the same mission where St.. Innocents serves regular services. As a note, he studied Russian in San Francisco State University for a number of years.
On
July 2, 1995, Fr. James received a sudden, unexpected massive heart attack,
following through bypass surgery. The story is brief, post -op complications,
than followed a stroke.
Through his family Fr. James returned to British Columbia, under-going rehabilitation therapy, etc. In the past years he has been doing active volunteer work with re covering addicts and alcoholics in the Prince George area until he moved to Vancouver.
He continues his writing of icons, and previously he had some extensive work murals, restorations, etc. hopefully to become an active and continuing member, in various churches in the USA. Fr James feels very thankful to be in Holy Resurrection Parish and hopefully to become an active and contributing member.
Welcome to our Church family, Father James! We are happy to have you among us and wish you God's blessings.
His
Grace, the Right Reverend Seraphim, Bishop of Ottawa and Canada, and Father
James McLuckie - September 23, 2002