Archpriest Raphael David Johnston peacefully fell asleep peacefully in the Lord on July 31, 2020. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Matushka Debbie; sons, Ian (Laura) and Michael; and grandchildren, Aiden, Emma, and Makayla.
Father Raphael served the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America from 2004 to 2018. He was the missionary priest and pastor of the Protection of the Holy Theotokos Antiochian Orthodox Church in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta from 2004-13. Father Raphael was then the priest-in-charge of the Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation in Calgary, Alberta from 2013-16. He was attached to St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church of Edmonton, Alberta from 2016-18 and also served in other Orthodox churches in Alberta. He was then received into the Orthodox Church in America in August of 2018 and served as Rector of Saints Peter and Paul Russo-Greek Orthodox Church in Dickie Bush, AB, and as a regular assisting priest at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Edmonton.
Father Raphael served his country of Canada with honor and distinction as an officer and chaplain in Her Majesty’s Canadian Armed Forces, most notably serving with the 3rd Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery based at Canadian Forces Base in Shilo, Manitoba. He also served as chaplain in the recreation unit: Rocky Mountain Horse Artillery Regiment.
Due to the restrictions in place during this current COVID-19 pandemic, services will be offered by invitation only at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church (OCA) of Edmonton, Alberta in order to maintain social distancing and to limit contact to a small number of people. In order to allow as many as possible to participate, the services will be livestreamed. Vigil will be held on Thursday, August 6 at 7:00 PM Mountain Time. The Divine Liturgy and Funeral Service for a Priest will be held on Friday, August 7 at 10:00 AM Mountain Time. Interment will follow in St. Stephen’s Orthodox Cemetery, Edmonton.
Photos, memories, and condolences may be shared through www.parkmemorial.com.
May Father Raphael’s memory be eternal!