Monsignor Doctor
Alexander Baran
(1928-2004)
Monsignor Doctor Alexander Baran was born on March 28, 1928, in a suburb of
Uzhorod (Koncove) in Transcarpathian Ukraine. His mother came from a priest's
family and his father was secretary to the last three prime ministers in pre-war
Czechoslovakia.
Baran completed his primary and secondary education in Uzhorod. He went on
to study at universities in Prague and Rome. In Rome he completed two doctorate
degrees, one in Theology from Urbanianum and the other in History from the
Pontifical Oriental Institute. He was ordained to the priesthood in Rome,
on March 25, 1954, by Archbishop Ivan Buchko. Following his ordination, he
exercised his priestly ministry among the Ukrainian immigrants in England
and Belgium.
In August 1961, Father Baran arrived in Canada and settled in Winnipeg, where
he worked in various parishes, namely Holy Eucharist, Blessed Virgin Mary,
St. Josaphat, Christ the King, and Sts. Peter and Paul. and others. Baran
served as a member of the Consistory of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg and worked
as a vicar of the marriage court. He has conducted many retreats and missions
across Canada.
Baran completed a master’s degree in Philology from the University of
Ottawa. In 1964, he became the chaplain of Obnova, the Ukrainian Catholic
Students' Organization at the University of Manitoba. In 1966, he became a
full-time professor of history at the same university, where he taught until
1991. In addition to history, Baran taught courses in religion and Byzantine
art.
Doctor Baran is the author of many scholarly works on the history of the Ukrainian
Church. His articles have appeared in theological and historical periodicals,
such as Analecta OSBM. He also assisted
Josyf Cardinal Slipyj in editing scholarly publications of St. Clement's Ukrainian
Catholic University.
For ten years, Baran served as the president of the Ukrainian Academy of Arts
and Sciences (UVAN) in Canada. He has been a full member of the Shevchenko
Scientific Society (NTSh) and served as vice-president of the Ukrainian Historical
Society.
On February 3, 2004, the clergy of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg celebrated
Father Baran's 50th and Mitrat Jaroslaw Holowaty's 60th Jubilees. And, in
April of 2004, Pope John Paul II bestowed
upon Father Baran the dignity of 'Chaplain of His Holiness' (Monsignor).
Monsignor Alexander Baran died on Tuesday, October 12, 2004, in Winnipeg. Priestly Parastas was celebrated at Sts. Volodymyr & Olga Cathedral, Friday, October 15 at 7:30 pm; Funeral Divine Liturgy on Saturday, October 16 at 9:00 am. Interment followed at All Saints Cemetery.
As a special friend and long-time collaborator of the Basilians, the Order expresses their condolences to Monsignor's family and friends and pays for his eternal repose. Vichnaja pam'jat!