Chahor AB Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1904

Chahor, Alberta, Church and Cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul, 1904

Founding the parish, 1904

In 1904, the first organisation of the congregation as Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church at Chahor, Alberta, Canada, was made by the newcomers who had settled in this region. These settlers named their area after the village Chagor in the Glybok region of the Chernivtsy county of Bukovina, which at that time was in Moldavia, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (now Ukraine).

As usual with Orthodox Christians, they began to gather together quickly so as to offer worship-services in improvised facilities. When there was no priest, they offered the services in the abbreviated form used by a Reader. The nearest Temple with regular services was at Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church in Smoky Lake. Even though a priest may not have been able to travel often to the settlement, the people kept the worship of the Lord as a priority in their daily lives.

Gabriel Semenuik donated 4 acres at the land description site NE 1/4 10-60-18 W4 for the purpose of establishing a Temple and a cemetery for the people in this region. He and Tom and Metro Predy had come to Canada from the village of Chahor in Chernivtsy.

In Canada, Chahor is located in the Barich Township of the County of Smoky Lake, Alberta.

Constructing the Temple, 1919

In the spring of 1919, the construction of the Temple was begun. Everyone in the area who was of the (Russo Greek) Orthodox Faith helped by donating money, lumber, nails, and especially labour. The men of the parish built tables, benches, etc., while the ladies prepared food, embroidered altar cloths and wove bench-covers and rugs. The head carpenter was Gora Purich and he was assisted by Martin Yasinsky. Their workmanship stands today in the form of a Temple which is a historical landmark at Chahor, Alberta.

The founding members of the parish were :

 Fred Boychuk ; Wasyl Boychuk ; Andrew Chahley ; John Dowhaniuk ; John Forst ; Metro Forst ; George Hupka ; 
 Steve Hupka ; Tanas Hupka ; Josel Wasyl ; Bill Karcha ; Gregory Klem ; Tanas Klem ; William Klem ; John Kozma ; 
 Bill Kozub ; Dick Medvid ; Gora Melnychuk ; Metro Melnychuk ; Simon Meroniuk ; Anton Pawliuk ; Peter Paliuk ; 
 Bill Pirzek ; John Pirzek ; Metro Predy ; Tom Predy ; Gora Purich  Tymofi Purich ; Gabriel Semeniuk ; 
 Bill Serediak ; John Serediak ; George Starchuk ; Nick Starchuk ; Andrew Striletski ; Metro Temchuk ; 
 Alex Wowk ; John Wowk ; Sam Yaworski.

Beginning of services, 1920 ; continuation of finishing work

The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Temple on 12 July, 1920, the Patron Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul. The Temple was used for 10 years, until 1930, before the final details of the finishing work were able to be completed. The Rebak brothers from Edmonton constructed the iconostas (icon screen) and they also painted the interior and exterior of the Temple.

1945, construction of the bell-house and parish hall

In about 1945, a combination bell-house and parish hall was built. Metro and Russel Kulchinsky were the carpenters, and they were assisted by other parishioners. It became the centre of parish social life, much as did similar structures in other parishes.

In 1950, Mike Semeniuk redesigned the Crosses on the cupolas of the Temple so that they conformed to the standard formats for Orthodox Temples. Wasyl Koub paid for the use of a caterpillar tractor to landscape the grounds. He also paid the bill for the resurfacing of the Temple floor with tiles. Fred Purich from Calgary donated a 6-foot steel-link fence to enclose the parish property. The most significant donors have been Jakob Doroskevich, Peter Hupka, Anne and Harry Hartshore and Mary Gawryluk.

Priests who served in this parish

The priests who have served in this parish since 1920 include :

 Archpriest Gregory Soroka ; Priest John Khrustawka ; Archpriest Andrew Kokolsky ; Priest Wasyl Woytowich ; 
 Archpriest Teodosij Taschuk ; Priest Gregory Olynek ; Priest-monk Mefody (Osadchuk) ; 
 Archpriest Peter Vdovichenko ; Priest Metro Tomkewich ; Archpriest John Wasil ; Archpriest Pavel Kramarenko ; 
 Priest Vitaly Bahanovich ; Archpriest Evgeny Bartchewsky ; Archpriest Dimitri Sagan ; Archpriest Boris Grigori ; 
 Igumen Dimitri (Schur) ; Archpriest Oleg Kotov ; Archpriest John Borcha ; Priest John Kostiuk ; 
 Archpriest Arseny Melnyk ; Priest Ilia Antoniuk ; Archimandrite Gerasim (Power) ; 
 Archpriest Vitalie Manoli.

Temple, Bell-house, hall, graves

From the beginning, parish life and worship in this region has continued in the midst of farm life. The Holy Divine Liturgy is celebrated 4 or 5 times per year. The devoted members of the parish always participate in services in order to pray to God and to thank Him for His blessings.

Blessing of water, 12 July, 1993 (Archpriest Michael Fourik)

Vladyka Irénée visits Saint Peter & Saint Paul Church in Chahor, Alberta, 2024

On 15 September, 2024, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited the Temple of Saints Peter and Paul at Chahor, Alberta. The visit was to mark the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the parish in 1924.

During the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, Vladyka Irénée was assisted by Archpriest Vitalie Manoli ; Protodeacon Jesse Isaac ; and Protodeacon Edward K Jordan.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, Vladyka Irénée presented a gramota from the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America on the occasion of the centennial anniversary.

Presenting the Synodal Gramota

Parishioners at the centennial festival

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Cemetery, 1904

The parish cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul is on the same 4 acres of land as the Temple, and it was established at the same time.

There are more than 100 known interments in this cemetery.

Parish name-sign (left) ; Names of parish founders (rear of sign) (right)

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Deanery of Alberta & Northwest Territories, of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is Archimandrite Gerasim (Power). The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, 29 June/12 July.

In 2025, the pastor of the parish was Archpriest Vitalie Manoli.

Address :

Saints Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church

Land description site NE 09-60-18 W4

60176 Range Road #183

Chahor, Alberta

T0B 2R0

Directions :

The Temple is approximately 112 km (70 mi) northeast of Edmonton.

From Edmonton, drive northeast on Fort Road and Manning Drive to Fort Saskatchewan. Turn onto Highway #28 and continue to Smoky Lake.

From the intersection of Highway #28 and Secondary Highway #831, drive east 10 km (6 mi) to Range Road #184 and turn left. Drive north 10 km (6 mi0 to the first stop-sign and turn right. Drive 2 km (1.3 mi) east, and the Temple is on the right. The Temple and the cemetery are on the southwest corner of the intersection of Township Road #602 and Range Road #183.

From the town of Smoky Lake

From Smoky Lake drive west on Highway #28 to Range Road #184, then north 10 km (6 mi) to Township Road #602, then east for 2 km (1.3 mi). The Temple and cemetery are on the southwest corner of the intersection of Township Road #602 and Range Road #183.

Mailing address :

Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church

Smoky Lake, Alberta

T0A 3C0

Aerial view of the Temple and cemetery

Archpriest Vitalie Manoli

640, Allard Boulevard SW

Edmonton, AB

T6W 2G3

E-mail : vitalie.manoli@gmail.com

References

“Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada : Pictorial Memories, 100 years, 1897-1997” (Edmonton : Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, 1997).

Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, “Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, Millennium of the Baptism of Rus’” (Edmonton : Russian Orthodox Church History Book Committee, 1988). ISBN: 0-88925-830-9.

“The Russian Mission in North America”

“85th Anniversary 12 July 1920-2005 Chahor Saint Peter & Paul Russo Greek Orthodox Church” (Chahor : Saint Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, 2005). [85th Anniversary folder]

Original article

Additional information :

Archdiocese listing

OCA listing

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Archdiocese of Canada Facebook

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church of America

Orthodox World listing

Historic Places : Saints Peter and Paul Russo Orthodox Church

Chahor Church and Bell Tower (photos)

Findagrave cemetery reference