Located on a small hill, this sanctuary is known locally as “Farus” after the original owner of the land on which the church is situated. The parish was incorporated in 1904 and the church was built three years later. By 1920 the congregation had more than forty members. The church’s tripartite shape points to its early construction date, as does the closed dome and the absence of a choir loft, both of which required sophisticated construction methods that were not readily available. The octagonal-based domes and round-headed windows are typical of rural Ukrainian churches.
The church’s interior has been thoroughly renovated over the years. A cemetery and wooden bell tower stand adjacent to the structure.
See HERE for more information and a detailed history of this parish.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.7613049, -112.3047948
Affiliation: Patriarchial Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada
St. John Russo-Greek Catholic Orthodox Church – Farus, AB
Homesteaders who settled in the vicinity of Chipman in the late 19th century began organizing their religious life in 1901–1902. Seven years later a church was built two miles east of the present-day village and dedicated to the Nativity of The Virgin Mary. However, a division subsequently developed within the congregation, with some of the faithful wanting to be affiliated with the Ukrainian Catholic Church, and others wanting to be under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1915, reinforced by support from ten Orthodox families living closer to Chipman, the latter group obtained legal title to St. Mary’s. The Catholic followers withdrew and constructed their own place of worship.
The Orthodox believers continued using the original sanctuary until it was destroyed by fire in 1923. Steps were then immediately taken to erect a new church in the village itself, a task that was completed two years later. This sanctuary was an impressive structure, with a particularly beautiful interior, and was consecrated under the patronage of St. John the Baptist to honour the three members of the building committee who shared the name John.
Tragically, this imposing three-domed edifice was also consumed by fire in 1963. The parishioners commissioned a design for another sanctuary, and the present church was constructed in 1965. This rectangular structure is crowned with a large central dome that is open to the interior and four cupolas that are mounted over the corners. An iconostasis of carved wood, imported from Greece, was installed and blessed in 1976.
See HERE for more information and a detailed history of this parish.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.696124, -112.633236
Affiliation: Patriarchial Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada
Russo-Greek Catholic Orthodox Church of St. John – Chipman, AB
For several years the settlers of the Wilton Park area travelled to the Nisku St. Mary’s Orthodox Church to attend services. As time progressed services were held at the Wilton Park School. Divine Liturgies were also held in the home of Metro Dobko. Kost Dobko initiated plans to have a Russian Orthodox Church built in the Wilton Park district.
The first Church meeting was held on January 10, 1927. Anton Mankow donated two acres of land to be used for the purpose of building a Russian Orthodox Church. A part of this parcel of land was to be used as a church cemetery. At a parish meeting held on February 15, 1927, the following were elected to the church board: Kost Dobko, chairman; Fred Popowich, secretary-treasurer; and trustees Mike Workun and Mike Chimera. A constitution was drawn up and approved by members of the board.
The first and founding parishioners were: Kost Dobko, Peter Dobko, John Kachmar, George Koziol, John Kuta, Anton Mankow, Fred Popowich, Nick Popowich, Mike Workun, Don Wurban and John Yaremko.
With the help of local carpenter Nick Kozak, construction of the new church began in the summer of 1927. In early November 1927, the church was consecrated by Bishop Arseny. From then on the church was called the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Calmar. As time passed more and more families joined the church.
In the summer of 1973, the church interior was renovated and repainted.
On May 31, 1987, the 90th Anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada was held at the Church. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy was headed by His Eminence Bishop Clement of Serpukhov.
It is located in the most beautiful farming country and is only thirty miles southwest of Edmonton. The Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church is dearly loved by the children and grandchildren of her founders. It continues to serve the spiritual needs of her faithful Orthodox members.
Go HERE for more information and history of this parish.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.293806, -113.926991
Affiliation: Patriarchial Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada
Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church – Calmar, AB
The Ukrainian settlers, who homesteaded the area immediately north of the modern-day town of Mundare, referred to this district as Beaver Lake. At the end of the 19th century an arm of Beaverhill Lake extended nearby. In 1901, Beaver Lake residents embarked upon the construction of St. Jacob’s Church (now commonly known as St. James), which they completed the following year.
In 1903 the sanctuary was consecrated by Bishop Tikhon of the Russian Orthodox Mission who, from 1917–1925, served as the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Renovated and placed on a concrete foundation in 1942, the church, one of the oldest sanctuaries in Lamont County, is adorned with hung icons painted by the artist, Peter Lipinski.
The age of this well-maintained structure is reflected in the fact that it is based on a tripartite plan, rather than on the more architecturally sophisticated cruciform pattern that was usually adopted for later churches. St. James is unusual because the belfry, which is situated over the narthex, is an integral part of the church, whereas the majority of the churches built by the Ukrainian pioneers have freestanding bell towers, as was the tradition in the Old Country.
See HERE for more information on this parish.
See HERE for more information on Peter Lipinski.
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GPS Co-ordinates: 53.63302, -112.36163
Affiliation: Patriarchial Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada
