Remembering Father Anthony Estabrooks

by Archpriest Gregory Scratch

The last few days have been full of introspection for me, with the falling asleep in the Lord of Fr. Anthony (Spencer) Estabrooks; and as I have been sifting through my time and interactions with him (which was admittedly limited and sporadic), I have come to realise just how much of a positive example of the priesthood he has been for me. If I am being honest, the youthful enthusiasm that enlivened my priesthood, was always an easy target for hubris and conceit. This stood in stark contrast with the quiet and reflective presence that Fr. Anthony provided. Regrettably this contrast skewed my understanding of this vocation (beyond its fundamental sacramental characteristics). Ironically, my understanding of priesthood's validation was more formed by what “I” was doing, or what “I “thought a priest should do.

This understanding of what I thought validated the priesthood was tempered by those elements that Fr. Anthony demonstrated. What I came to realise was that the fundamental context or validation of the priesthood, was that of faithfulness as demonstrated in being a servant; for the Lord came “to serve, and not be served and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). Simply put, the Priesthood is Christ’s; the sacrifice and salvific work is Christ’s - in which He had shared with Fr. Anthony (and all those called to the priesthood like myself).

This of course didn’t happen the moment he was ordained. In fact, for many years, Fr. Anthony (or Spencer as he was known then) was engaged as a layman, in the promotion and proclamation of Orthodox Christianity in English. This is something to consider, because by God’s grace, many of us take for granted nowadays; yet only a few decades ago, this  was something of an oddity and even a betrayal. Even before his ordination, every moment presented the opportunity for him to bear witness to what the Lord was doing, and every person he met presented him the opportunity to invite them to participate with Lord in this work, regardless of whether he was Spencer, or Father Anthony.

Working closely with the Protoprysber Miron Kylsh, the Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, and our own Fr. Bob Kenaugh, he sought to offer our faith in a way that everyone could either encounter the Lord’s saving love, and or, deepen their relationship with Him. This all came together with the founding of the Saint Arseny’s Institute (SAI)  in 2002, which provided an alternative option for theological education in Canada. This is something in itself, yet his work was certainly not limited to that - I would go so far as to say that it far exceeded this. 

Although Fr. Anthony never intended to become a priest, (in fact he once told me at an Archdiocesan council meeting in 2006 that this was furthest from his desire - as he thought his talents were better served as a layman). Nonetheless, he was ordained to the Diaconate (at St. Nicholas) and then Priesthood in 2010, with the responsibility for serving the Life Giving Springs Mission in Winnipeg. His priesthood in many ways reconciled his many years of work, with the sacramental  life of the Church - manifesting the Lord’s mystical presence and blessings as the context and application for his teachings and work.

What I have now come to see as being amazing (even profound), is that on the surface, his witness was subtle and unnoticeable -  indeed one could say that it was unquantifiable. Yet the same way that love, as an expression of selflessness and sacrifice can seem quiet, subtle and hard to quantify - it is nonetheless verifiable. In like manner, Fr. Anthony’s humble love of God and neighbour alike, might not have been quantifiable, but was certainly verifiable in his life and especially his priesthood, as many people can attest - including me.

Although he never had proper liturgical training and his service was very limited - he  nonetheless served, in his love for God and neighbour alike. Although he never really had administrative and dynamic skills or time to expand his community - he nonetheless was a father in every respect, in his love of God and neighbour alike. Although he never had the structure or forum to expound about his teaching and writings-  he nonetheless inspired those around him, in his love of God and neighbour alike. 

Although Fr. Anthony never manifested those elements or qualities that I initially considered as being maybe the only quantifiably important elements of the priesthood (proper liturgics, expansion of mission, and exposition of work, etc) I came to realise in time, that what he offered was the very foundation of all those elements, and even more! Nothing less than faithfulness to the Lord as offered in humility and thanksgiving, was more important to Fr. Anthony, regardless of whether he was in front of the Altar, or at home with his wife Matushka Irene, children and grandchildren. Like Mary (the sister of Lazarus) Fr. Anthony saw the exceeding value of sitting at the feet of the Lord, and hearing His words, rather than fussing around and being “distracted with much serving” like Martha (Lk. 10: 38-42). In many respects, this aspect of his ministry is somewhat reflective of the kind of work a good farmer employs

As most farmers might know, the hardest part of growing anything is not necessarily the toiling of the soil, or planting of the seeds, or even the harvesting of the fruits. Those things indeed take a lot of work to do; yet it is being patient and faithful that maybe the most difficult challenge to navigate. A farmer can hope that it will rain (and not rain too much), care for the young sprouts, and have faith that there will be a bountiful harvest; but beyond this, nothing really can make a crop grow faster, no matter how much fussing around and being “distracted with much serving”  happens. This is something that Fr. Anthony understood as a principle in which he applied to his priesthood. 

For as the Lord says. “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,  and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.” (Mk. 26:4-9). This was Father Anthony's witness, as being entrusted to care for the Lord's Vineyard- The Church.

We now find ourselves at a place where our churches are full and growing, indeed “the harvest has come”  - wrought not by our own work, but by the grace of God. What I have been called to do, is like Fr. Anthony, be faithful and patient with all that the Lord is doing. - for this harvest is of the Kingdom of heaven - and not of me or any other priest.

Yet often I wanted  to see and have the fruits of my work, as if the  Lord wanted "results". So often I have wanted to validate my priesthood by rushing or managing things beyond my control, because things had to be done - Alas, I have more often than not ended up being more frustrated than anything else. Yet the example of faithfulness, patience, and humility offered by Fr. Anthony was a witness to me what can happen when what is offered is of Christ, rather than just for Christ. 

Indeed Fr. Anthony has compelled me to attend to the "one thing that is needful" in my life as a priest and Christian. For this I offer my profound thanksgiving to God for such a servant and priest, for he had“chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from him”. 

May his memory be eternal!