In Memory of Very Reverend (Abbot) Loren Kubin

The Ukrainian Orthodox community and the community at large was greatly saddened with the eternal repose of Fr. Loren Kubin of Smoky Lake in the University of Alberta Hospital on Saturday, December 19, 1987.

Fr. Loren was born to Tom and Olga Kubin at Vegreville, Alberta on September 24, 1946. Here he received his primary and secondary education. There after he enrolled in the theological faculty at St. Andrew’s College in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Upon completing his programs of studies, Fr. Loren was ordained a priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada on November 2, 1969. He served as a parish priest to Ukrainian Orthodox Churches in Lethbridge, Alberta from December, 1969 to August, 1970; in Lac La Biche, Alberta from September, 1970 to July, 1975; and in Smoky Lake, Alberta from August 1975 to his repose.

While assigned to the Smoky Lake District he also provided temporary pastoral services to the Bonnyville and Radway Parochial Districts. During his pastoral ministry Fr. Loren furthered his education at the University of Alberta, graduating with Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Divinity degrees. His life was devoted to ministering to the people of God and his memory will have a lasting impact on people he touched, especially the children whom he loved so dearly. The words expressed by Very Rev. Victor Lakusta at the funeral most appropriately reflected the personality of Fr. Loren, and I quote: "With the blessed repose of Fr. Loren we have lost an inspiring pastoral leader, a dear loving and kind friend, and an artistically talented individual – but let us not idolize Fr. Loren for the person he was. He would not want that! Let us cherish the teachers he shared with so many during his pastoral ministry… The best memorial we can give in memory of Fr. Loren is our personal commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Remember the "Salvation Message" he preached!" Father Loren used every opportunity to share that "Salvation Message", even from the hospital bed prior to his eternal repose. With his repose many had testified how they had come to accept the Christian way of life because of his ministry.

Besides his active and most blessed ministry, Fr. Loren had a number of personal interests. Iconography for one! His God given artistic talents and his excursions throughout the world in search of ancient icons had inspired him to become an acclaimed iconographer. Traces of artistic talents may be found in various Ukrainian Orthodox Churches of the Smoky Lake district.

As a result of monastic experiences in Greece, Isreal and United States, Fr. Loren was further inspired to establish a Monastic Society of St. Anthony and St. Theodosius. It was his personal intention to construct the Holy Transfiguration Monatery and Retreat Complex in the Stry, Alberta district. On August 18, 1985 a heavy wooden Orthod cross was erected above a set of terraces overlooking the North Saskatchewan River from the north. With the raising of the cross, the consecrated site now awaits the construction of the monastery retreat complex. Unfortunately Fr. Loren was not to realize his dream. Maybe others will be inspired to complete this project in his memory.

Fr. Loren leaves to cherish his memory his sister, Mrs. Betty (Clare) Mulligan of Edmonton; his grandmother, Mrs. Ann Farion of Vegreville; his father, Tom Kubin of Munare. He was predeceased by his mother, Olga in 1968 and his grandfather, Harry Farion in 1968. Fr. Loren will be sadly missed and fondly remembered by his family and friends. We saw evidence of this by the great multitude of people who attended the funeral prayer service held at Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Smoky Lake on December 22 and the Divine Liturgy held at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Vegreville, Alberta on December 23. Both services were celebrated.