Abbotsford BC †Russian Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul 1934-1975
Abbotsford, British Columbia, †Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church, 1934-1975
Founding the parish, 1934
In July, 1934, the idea arose (amongst parishioners of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church in Vancouver), British Columbia, Canada, to build a chapel for the spiritual needs of the small group of Orthodox Christian people in the Abbotsford area of the Fraser River Valley.
A brotherhood society was created, which included :
Victor Kuritsin ; Maria Kuznetsov ; Sergei Laskavy ; Andrei and Nadezhda Mitrofanov ; Joseph, Alexandra, and Nadezhda Okulitch ; Konstantin, Faina, and Peter Pichugin.
Konstantin Trofimovich Pichugin donated a plot, 40 by 30 feet, for free use.
Father Alexander Kiziun blessed the plot, laid the cornerstone and helped energetically in the construction. The society members worked hard, and the Saints Peter and Paul Church was sanctified on 30 December, 1934. Icons and decorations were donated by the members.
This chapel served the people who lived in the Fraser River Valley region for many years thereafter.
Closure of the parish, 1975
In 1964, because of a lack of parishioners, the chapel was handed over to the Russian Orthodox Society of Vancouver, and services continued to be offered there by priests who travelled from Vancouver. This continued until 1975, when the chapel was sold.
Last clergy to serve in the community
The last clergy to serve in this Temple included :
Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk) Mitred Archpriest Peter Kurzemnek, Archpriest Oleg Boldireff Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch)
Parish particular information
This chapel was part of the British Columbia & Yukon Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America.
This chapel followed the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this chapel was the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, 29 June/12 July.
References
Additional information :
Archdiocese of Canada web-site
Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada
Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America
Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch)
Mitred Archpriest Peter Kurzemnek
Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver, British Columbia
Canadian Encyclopaedia article about the Fraser River Valley
Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Abbotsford, British Columbia