At the end of the first week of Great Lent, on Saturday of St. Theodore, at 7.30 in the morning, Hegumen Stefan (Novitsky), the eldest brother in the brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev in Montreal, passed away peacefully and quietly.

Hegumen Stefan (in the world known as - Sergius Novitsky) was born in 1925 in the city of Kiev in the Ukraine. During the war (1941-1946) he found himself in Germany, and in 1951 he emigrated to Canada. He joined in 1959 the monastic brotherhood of Saint Job of Pochaev in Montreal, which was under the leadership of Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov) - the present Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. It was under his spiritual guidance that the deceased led his monastic life and was tonsured into the small schema (mantle). The main obedience task of Fr. Stefan at the Episcopal podvorie consisted in the manufacture of candles, which he fulfilled very precisely and thorough. He helped his superior, Metropolitan Vitaly during services in the Holy Transfiguration skete in Mansonville and assisted as reader on the kliros (choir).

In 1981 he was ordained as hierodeacon and hieromonk, and at the beginning in the 90s he was elevated to the rank of Hegumen. He served for a while in the Holy Resurrection church in Winnipeg and in the Holy Dormition church in Lethbridge, and fulfilled also the duties of spirituel father at the Holy Virgin Protection convent in Bluffton (Alberta).

Fr.Stefan distinguished himself by his profound knowledge of the writings of the holy fathers and due to his excellent memory, he was able to quote by heart prolonged passages with accuracy. He also had good knowledge of past and present order of services, especially for lenten services.

Fr.Stefan's sociability seemed at first glance to be his main feature, however in actual fact, he loved solitude and not only reading, but dilligent study and thoughtful meditation of the holy patristic heritage, which he tried to apply by actions to his spiritual life.

Like everyone who is seeking his salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ, the newly departed, whilst passing through his earthly life was not spared according to God's will his share of trials and sorrows. For "We must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God" (Acts 14,22). The Saviour said “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world". (St.John 16,33).

Fr.Stefan suffered right up to his end from a severe illness of his foot, but he accepted totally uncomplaining and with gratitude everything the Lord has sent to him in this life, and steadfastly he endured this ordeal. The burden of this illness has not disparaged his good-nature and benevolence towards people.

The deceased remained not indifferent towards the destiny of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. During the time of ecclesiastical discord he showed fervour concerning the purity of orthodox confession of faith, remaining faithful to the teaching and he traditional anti-ecumenical stance of the Exile Church and to his Abbot-Superior, Metropolitan Vitaly – Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, who had been subjected to persecution from his former co-brothers, who have receded from God’s truth.

The funeral service was held in the St. Seraphim of Sarov church in Lachine, a suburb of Montreal.

May the Lord grant eternal rest to the soul of His servant Higumen Stefan, who has been taken from us and assign his soul to the adodes of the righteous.

Eternal Remembrance.

A co-brother in Christ,
March 2003