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1998 – A brief summary from Annual Meeting

On March 15, 1998, the Second Sunday of the Great Lent, the Annual General meeting of the Russian Orthodox Society was held in the Upper Hall, with only 22 people in attendance. The eight proxies made up for the requirement of 50% minimum of physically present members, instituting the legal quorum. This is certainly not very good, and it doesn’t look like it may be better in the future.

The meeting begun with the prayer “O, Heavenly King…”, and “Memory eternal” to the former rector of the Church, Mitred Archpriest Oleg Boldireff and two parishioners: Peter Yasinesky, a former reader and singer, and Barbara Nikoniuk, the sister of John Zazchuk. Then Fr. Andrey, who chaired the gathering, blessed those in attendance and the Meeting proceeded in accordance with the approved Agenda. Sandra Ellis was chosen to take notes.

The five new members of the Russian Orthodox Society: Gennadi Belokopitov, Sophia Weremchuk, Gloria Prystupa (Elmer), Basil Bill Mitrocsak and Nina Chudin, earlier accepted by the Council were confirmed. Congratulations!

The events of the previous year were highlighted in the reports presented by the Rector, the President of the Council and other executive officers. They were interesting, intriguing and quite elaborate. They resurrected in our minds the individual events, profiles of the people and the achievements of the Parish. It was certainly a year “rich in events and hard on those parishioners, who took the responsibility for implementing the projects and the individual tasks.”

The divine services in our Church, both the regular and the special, were conducted with the traditional beauty and devotion and the complementary activities within the Church proceeded successfully throughout the year. The number of the attendees at the Lenten Retreat, organized for as second time, doubled in comparison with the previous year, showing the growing interest in the Orthodox community in Vancouver. The Holy Week, the Paschal services, the day of the Myrrh bearing Women (our Sisterhood feast), Troitsa – the Pentecost, our Patronal Feast, celebrated on the day of the Elevation of Holy Cross with Bishop Mark, of Kashira presiding over the service, and finally, the celebration of the “Winter Pascha” – the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ – all the above events went well, thanks to God!

The Adult Education lead by Fr. Stephen and Matushka Mary Slipko was received well by a group of parishioners who wanted to learn more about the history of the Church, and especially about the Ecumenical Councils. Both the leaders and the members of the Group were thanked for their efforts.. The Sunday school finished a successful year of education for our children who were awarded certificates for good attendance. The teachers: Sandra Gorda and Matushka Mary Slipko who then received little gifts of appreciation, were thanked once again.

Highlighted were also activities and achievements in the other areas of the Parish’s daily life: in the Sisterhood, in Culture and Education, in Group of Compassion – the “Miloserdie”, in “Project Mexico”, the celebration of Anatoli Portnoff’s 90th birthday etc., as well as the financial aspects of these activities, all that and even more, were reported and commented on.

Special thanks and appreciation was noted regarding the project of the Kitchen Renovation, which was well planned and executed under management of the tireless Vice-president of the Church Council Igor Chudin. The other achievements e.g. roof repair (Arthur Kostiha), landscaping (Sandra Ellis), new tables (Anatoli Portnoff), library resetting (Irina Makarow, Pavel Sorokin), cleaning and organizing the basement (Igor Chudin and Sandra Ellis) and others were acknowledge with appreciation.

Over the passing year many new faces, mostly of the Russian newcomers, were noticed in our Church. All newcomers were welcomed. Among them: Igor and Elena Timoshchuks, Djordje and Neda Hohlacovs, Gloria Prystupa (Elmer), Alexander Tchouev, Youri and Irina Skripniks, Tatiana Kouznetsova, Albina and George Parrik, Sergei and Karina Zagoudayev, Corey Nicholas Leclerc, Dr. Donald Smellie, Andrei Kostebelov, Vadim Shestakov and Tatiana Nesterova, Alexander and Irina Naverniuk and others. They all are very welcome in our Church! May God Almighty encourage them to stay with us!

Also were noted arrivals of two other families – Fr. Sviatoslav Doubanenko’s and Nejourin-Kollesh’s. Father Sviatoslav arrived unexpectedly in February, leaving his family Matushka Tatiana and twin daughters: Valeria and Eugena back in Yorkton, Sask. He was allowed to stay temporarily in the rectory’s guest suite and did acquire a secular job in order to make enough money to bring his family to Vancouver. Eventually, with financial help of the Parish he was able to move his family here just before Pascha. In order to be canonically received into the ranks of the Orthodox Church in America, Fr. Sviatoslav approached his home Bishop, asking him for release. Apparently he wasn’t able to receive the release yet. Because of this, Fr. Sviatoslav is not serving in Holy Resurrection, but is welcome to sing in the choir, read, or just be with us in the Church.

The family Nejourin (Alla and her sin Vitali) moved to U.S.A. Dimitri Koolesh, Alla”s older son, stayed behind His immigration case was separate from theirs. Dimitri was admitted to St. Tikchon’s Seminary in 1996 but was rejected entry visa by the US authorities. During last year our parishioner Catherine Sas, a Lawyer, was able to secure for Dimitri the Minister’s Permit for staying in Canada for three years. Everything looked good. Dimitri was admitted to the Seminary for second time, but again, was not allowed entry into the US, because in the meantime his Israeli passport expired. There is nothing more that the Archdiocese or our Church can do to help Dimitri.

In course of the General Meeting’ dealings, the Financial Statement, which was prepared by the Treasurer Olga Fetissoff and was checked and confirmed by the Auditing Committee (George Vishniakoff, Nelica Volrich), was also approved by the gathering, with special thanks to the Treasurer. The Budget for 1998 Fiscal year, balanced on both sides at $ 105,000 was accepted as well.

The members of the new Council and the Auditing Committee, the Church Warden and two delegates for the upcoming Diocesan Assembly in Winnipeg were elected. The officers of the out going Council, Auditing Committee and the Church Warden were warmly thanked for their great involvement in Parish administration and organization and for their individual achievements. Also thanked with the stress on their generosity were the donors to the Church: Victor and Lydia Klassen, Anatole and Kathryn Portnoff, Basil Bill Motrocsak, Boris Kovenko, Irina Makarow, Larissa Tkatshow, Constantine Somow, Victoria Phillips, Zinaida Pietrov and others. May God return them hundred fold!

After evaluating the year, which has just passed by, and expression of joy and appreciation were made on many achievements of it, the General Meeting attendees also looked forward to needs of our Church, especially its growth and well-being. The membership was called to attention on the next year celebration of Holy Resurrection 75th Jubilee. A lot of work will have to be done in order to prepare this celebration successfully. All together in unity, love and understanding, supporting each other, the members expressed their firm intention to continue to take good care of our beloved Church, restoring it to its original beauty, with renovated domes and repainted buildings, renewed landscaping. Shortly: to do everything to make the 75th Jubilee a memorable event.
May God Almighty help to our endeavors!

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