The area north of Boyle was settled by Ukrainians in the late 1920s. Among them were supporters of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. Rev. Petro Sametz, one of the founding “Fathers” of the UGOC, was the first priest invited to celebrate Divine Liturgy at Grassland on 4 December 1936. The next liturgy took place on 24 January the following year, with Fr. I. Hykawy officiating. Fr. D. Kisiliuk held the third service in the community on 6 July 1937, but subsequently no detailed information is available on UGOC missionary activity in the area for the next fourteen years.
During this time, however, records indicate that Fathers H. Wasyliw, M Fyk and W. Melnychuk all provided pastoral care to the Grassland faithful, undoubtedly administering the sacraments and celebrating occasional liturgies. In 1951 Fr. H. Wasyliw held a service in the community on Holy Transfiguration Sunday. A long-time activist and future president of the parish, Fred Yakowchuk, first began urging local supporters to consider building a church.
On 19 August 1952, an especially memorable event took place when Metropolitan Ilarion officiated at a Hierarchical liturgy at Grassland’s Anglican Church. It was followed by a dinner and program at a local hall. A Divine Liturgy was again celebrated on the Feast Day of the Transfiguration in 1952. Fr. P. Zubrytsky provided 8 services to the community in 1954. Other documented Divine Liturgies in Grassland took place on Sunday 23 September 1956 (with Fr. A. Teterenko officiating), 21 September 1957 (sung by Fr. Kryshtanowych), and 13 April 1958 (Fr. M. Chomenko). During this period the loosely organized congregation—which belonged to the Lac La Biche parish district—would gather for services at private homes, the Green Pine School and Spruce Valley Hall, or at the Anglican Church, if it was available.
Finally, thanks to the encouragement of Fr. Stetzenko, a founding meeting was held on Wednesday 12 November 1958. A formally elected executive was charged with the responsibility of initiating construction of a church. At this gathering, when the congregation had just $95.03 in its bank account, it was decided to write educational authorities requesting permission to build a sanctuary on the property west of the Grassland school. Then, at the annual meeting on 18 January 1959, building and financial committees were struck and the process of erecting a church began to move forward in earnest. On 15 July of the same year an acre of land was purchased from Mike Duniec for $125. On 11 August the plans for the church received official approval. The sanctuary was to measure 50’ by 28’, and was modelled after Sts. Peter and Paul church in Thorhild, which had been built in 1947. In the meantime, preliminary work had already started on the foundation, but unfortunately the footings were incorrectly oriented on a north-south axis. When Fr. Stetzenko pointed out that the altar should be facing east, the trenches were quickly re-dug before construction proceeded.
By 19 July the foundation had been poured and materials assembled. This enabled members to begin work on the main structure. Construction was largely done with volunteers working under the direction of the chief carpenter, Joe Romanyshyn. While construction slowly progressed, fundraising went into a high gear. The women played a lead role in organizing a variety of activities, including bingos, bazaars, catering at functions, hosting special events and Christmas carolling.
In April 1960 the congregation reported having twelve families as members, or 46 people in all counting the adults and children. Another 6 families were described as “sympathizers.” Correspondence with the Consistory at this time indicates that a decision had already been made to dedicate the new church to the Holy Transfiguration, perhaps under the inspiration of the pivotal services held almost a decade earlier.
That same summer the church was sufficiently ready to be put to use, the first wedding in it taking place on 22 July 1960. Of course, it took several more years, additional fundraising, and some skilled help to fully finish the interior and exterior of the sanctuary. The facade was adorned by three domes, a larger one over the entryway, and two smaller domes atop columns on the corners.
By 1964 the congregation had decreased to nine members, but this did not prevent them from working to improve and beautify their place of worship. Walter Gasiorek of Athabasca was hired to make the ikonostas as well as the three domes that were added to a new façade. These featured two smaller domes on flanking towers and a larger central dome over the entryway. Fr. Stefaniuk lent a helping hand with some of the finishing details. Fr. Kubin, during his tenure, contributed his talents to painting the ikonostas.
Electricity, a gas furnace and other improvements followed, as the church was modernized and made more functional. Although it was later discovered that there had been mix-up in registering the legal ownership of the church property, this was eventually cleared up in 1973. That Grassland had by this time become a key component of the Lac La Biche parish district, is indicated by the fact that by 1972 it was hosting 11 services a year.
During a visitation by Archbishop Andrew on the parish feast day in 1973, Holy Transfiguration Church was formally consecrated with the prayerful assistance of Fathers L. Kubin, E. Stefaniuk, I. Kutash and a. Chomiak. Another highlight in the congregation’s history was the 18 June 1988 commemoration of the Millennium of Christianity in Ukraine at a hierarchical service celebrated by Metropolitan Wasyly and Rev. H. Fil.
Over the years numerous renovations have also been made to the church, including the installation of carpeting and the construction of a covered porch over the main doors. The roof has been re-shingled, rows of spruce trees planted around the lot, and many loads of gravel were spread over the churchyard in an effort to combat problems associated with occasional flooding.
Unfortunately, not long after vinyl siding was put over the original stucco exterior of the church it was promptly damaged in a June 1995 hailstorm, necessitating subsequent repairs. More recently, the churchyard has been fenced and the area in front of the church has been paved, creating an area suitable for parking regardless of the season.
An open bell-stand is conveniently situated adjacent to the entryway stairs, and the front of the church is now flanked by an outdoor cross on one side and an attractive arched sign on the other. The faithful of Holy Transfiguration obviously continue to take pride in their lovingly maintained sanctuary.
Play Memory Eternal Chant
Visit this Cemetery
GPS Co-ordinates: 54.819872, -112.693623
Cemetery GPS: 54.82046, -112.69755
Affiliation: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
Financial support generously provided by: 