Metropolitan Wasyly honored in Winnipeg for double anniversary (12/05/99)

Metropolitan Wasyly honored in Winnipeg for double anniversary

by Dr. Roman Yereniuk

WINNIPEG - Metropolitan Wasyly, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), was honored by special moleben and banquet on November 1 at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. The evening was well attended by faithful of the Church who came to honor the metropolitan on his 90th birthday and the 55th anniversary of his ecclesial vocation.

Six bishops attended the celebratory event headed by Archbishop John of the Western Diocese of the UOCC. Other bishops in attendance included Bishop Georgije of the Serbian Orthodox Church; Bishop Seraphim of the Orthodox Church of America (Canadian diocese); Archbishop Mark of the Russian Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Mikalay of the Belarusian Orthodox Church; Metropolitan Michael Bzdel of the Ukrainian Catholic Church and Bishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Church. Due to weather problems, three expected bishops could not attend (Metropolitan Sotirios of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Canada, Archbishop Antony of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and Bishop Yuriy of the UOCC's Eastern Diocese).

The moleben of thanksgiving was celebrated by Archbishop John, 16 priests and four deacons in the presence of the honoree, hierarchs, priests, deacons and over 350 faithful. Responses were sung by the Cathedral Choir directed by Dr. John Mayba.

At the end of the moleben Archbishop John turned to Metropolitan Wasyly with a pastoral address, stating: "We are gathered here to honor you as our pastoral father-metropolitan and wish you many years of health, happiness and God's blessing."

The banquet was chaired by the Very Rev. Dr. Oleh Krawchenko, chairperson of the UOCC presidium. The honoree was formerly introduced with a text by Bishop Yuriy, read at the banquet by the Rev. Andrew Jarmus.

In addition, greetings were extended by: the Standing Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine, read by Deacon Cornell Zuritsky; the Greek-Orthodox Metropolis of Canada, read by the chairperson; the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Canada - Metropolitan Bzdel; the Orthodox Bishops in Canada - Archbishop Mark; the Government of Canada - Dr. R.D. Pagtakhan, member of Parliament; and St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg, Dr. V. Olender.

Personal greetings and gifts were extended also by family members, Justice Eugene Fedak, son of the honoree, and Justine Fedak, granddaughter.

Musical selections were presented between greetings by the St. Andrew's College chamber choir, Dostoyno, and soloist Tetiana Navolska, instructor of Church music at St. Andrew's College.

Numerous gifts and written greetings also were presented to Metropolitan Wasyly. On behalf of the entire UOCC a gift of a pastoral cross and two panahiias was formally presented by Archbishop John. Lastly, birthday cake was brought to the honoree with the singing of "Mnohaya Lita" and "Happy Birthday."

Metropolitan Wasyly responded by commenting on his youthfulness: "You are honoring me as a elderly person, but I want you to be sure that I am still young - young at heart and youthful in my thinking. I'm going to be with you for a long time. In concluding he thanked one and all - the bishops, clergy and faithful - stated humbly, "in honoring me you are also honoring the entire Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada."

Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak) was born on November 1, 1909, in the village of Kadobivtsi, Zastavna county, Bukovyna, Ukraine, to Wasyly and Anastasia (nee Ternowetska) Fedak. When he was only 2 years and 9 months old, Wasyl and his family emigrated to Canada and settled in the Sheho district in the province of Saskatchewan. Upon completing primary and secondary school, he enrolled in the Teachers' College in Saskatoon, and upon graduation received the teacher's certificate and taught for 14 years.

In 1932 he married Paraskevia Tymofii, and they were blessed with three sons, Eugene, Yaroslaw and Emil. The metropolitan has seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

In 1941 he enrolled into the Church's seminary in Winnipeg, which he completed in 1944 with a certificate in theology, later upgraded to a licentiate of theology from St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg. The same year, he was ordained into the diaconate and later into the holy priesthood by Archbishop John. The Rev. Fedak served parishes in Manitoba and Ontario, where he organized and supervised the construction of five new churches. He was pastor of St. Volodymyr's Cathedral in Hamilton for 30 continuous years

Apart from his pastoral efforts, he also served on the board of the Church's Consistory for 10 years. For his dedication to the Gospel and his pastoral efforts, Metropolitans Ilarion (Ohienko), Michael (Khoroshy) and Andrew (Metiuk) bestowed upon him various priestly honors. The Rev. Fedak distinguished himself, not only as an outstanding churchman, but also as a community figure and leader. In 1966, he was honored by both the city of Hamilton and the Premier of Ontario.

In April 1976, the Rev. Fedak was widowed. Soon thereafter he was recommend as a candidate for bishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. In 1978 his candidacy was unanimously approved by the Consistory and by the Sobor (General Council) with the title bishop of Saskatoon and vicar of the Central Diocese. On July 15, 1978, he was consecrated a bishop by Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk), Archbishop Boris (Yakowkevich) and Bishop Nicholas (Debyn).

In 1983 Bishop Wasyly was elevated to the office of archbishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy. After the repose of Metropolitan Andrew, Archbishop Wasyly was elected metropolitan, archbishop of Winnipeg and primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada by the Sobor of the UOCC on July 15, 1985.

In 1990, after a lengthy process, Metropolitan Wasyly was instrumental in leading the UOCC in attaining Eucharistic union with the Orthodox Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Metropolitan Wasyly has been recognized with many awards and honors. He holds honorary doctorates from St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg (doctor of divinity) and the Ukrainian Free University in Munich, Germany (doctor of canon law). He has been recognized as a leading Ukrainian Canadian receiving honors from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress Centennial Committee and the Taras Shevchenko Medal and from the Governor-General of Canada in commemoration of Canada's 125th anniversary. In 1993 he was appointed to the prestigious position of an officer of the Order of Canada.

The celebration of Metropolitan Wasyly's anniversaries was indeed a most important event in the history of the UOCC. In honoring its primate, the UOCC acknowledged the leadership and pastoral dedication of its "first hierarch."

In the special booklet issued on the occasion of the celebration Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople wrote: "We communicate to you, Metropolitan Wasyly, and warmly congratulate you on your fruitful ministry that you have lovingly executed to this important day."

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