REV. FR. MICHAEL SAMSIN

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REV. FR. MICHAEL SAMSIN Peacefully, in his ninety-second year, Fr. Michael fell asleep in Christ in the early hours of Wednesday, December 30, 2015, at the Seven Oaks Hospital in Winnipeg, MB. Fr. Michael was born on June 6, 1924 in the village of Tyszycia in what was then Poland and is now the L'viv oblast of Ukraine. At the age of eighteen his life changed abruptly and completely when with a day's notice, he was deported along with other town youth by German occupying forces, to work as an Ostarbeiter (forced labourer) in Austria. He was in Austria from 1942 to 1947, first as a labourer and then a resident of Displaced Persons camps. Refusing to return to what was then the Soviet Union, he chose Canada, and settled in Winnipeg. He was employed by CN Rail and VIA Rail for twenty-seven years, travelling the length of his adopted country many times. Early on, Fr. Michael discovered a gift for singing tenor, and for ten years sang the Nicene Creed every Sunday as a soloist at St. Mary the Protectress Cathedral. He furthered his gift by joining the Winnipeg Opera Company in the 1970s, where he performed his favourite role of El Remendado in Bizet's "Carmen." All the while, he pursued a degree at the University of Manitoba in between time spent on the rails, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1981. His gift for song led to Fr. Michael's second life in the ministry of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, after retirement from VIA in 1984. On February 28, 1988, Fr. Michael was ordained into the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Metropolitan Wasyly. For many years thereafter he served parishes in rural Manitoba as needed, before his health gave way. Fr. Michael is survived by his loving wife Irene (née Swidinsky), son Myron (Kimberly), brother Stepan of Chervonohrad, Ukraine, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by parents Ivan and Tatianna, brothers Mykola, Vasyl, Dmytro, Slawko, and sister Olya. Prayers will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, January 4, 2016 at St. Mary the Protectress Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, 820 Burrows Ave., followed by Divine Liturgy at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 5 at St. Mary the Protectress, officiated by The Very Rev. Archpriest Gregory Mielnik. Interment to follow at Glen Eden Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of choice. VICHNAYA PAMYAT KORBAN FUNERAL CHAPEL 204-956-2193

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 02, 2016