Boyle AB Descent of The Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1940

Boyle, Alberta, Descent of The Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1940

Prehistory

The Village of Boyle, Alberta, Canada, founded in 1916, is located in Athabasca County, 163 km (101 mi) north of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Immediately north of Boyle, the area which is bordered by Flat Lake on the west and Skeleton Lake on the east, was settled largely by immigrants from various provinces of Ukraine, and mostly after World War I.

By the mid-1930s, the first Orthodox Christian parish in the region had been established. However, as was the case in other communities, there were concerns which developed about the language of worship and about certain other matters. Some people wished to be able to worship in the Ukrainian language instead of in the Slavonic language.

Founding the parish, 1940

The Ukrainian Orthodox parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit in Boyle, Alberta, was established in 1940. The first service was offered in the town of Boyle by the Priest Michael Fyk, in Saint Paul's Anglican Church. Alex Humeny organised the parishioners, and collections were taken in order to purchase land for building a Temple.

The original financial and labour contributors were :

 Paul Hrynyk ; John Humeny ; Nick Krawec ;  Steve Kushnir ; Metro Lazarchuk ; Mike Luchka ; 
 Mike Nykipilo ; Peter Nykipilo ; Jacob Poleschuk ; Steve Pysyk ; Theodore Pysyk ; John Samirsky ; 
 William Sherban ; Mike Swityk ; Theodore Yaremko.

Various fundraising projects were organised, and in 1942 a bazaar was organised.

In 1945, 3 lots were purchased in the village, which were cleared and prepared.

In January, 1946, it was determined to build a Temple, and funds were raised during the next 2 years towards that objective.

Constructing the Temple, 1948

Construction of the new Temple within the village began in 1948, and the structure was usable by 1949. Those who constructed the Temple included :

 Mike Feditz ; Nick Krawec ; Steve Kushnier ; Fred Mikityshyn ; Mike Nykipilo ; Nick Nykipilo ; 
 Pete Nykililo ; Jakob Poleschuk ; Steve Pysyk ; Metro Scherban ; Mike Soroka ; Mike Swityk.  
 John Humeny made the Cross for the dome, and Theodore Yaremko constructed the windows.  
 Alice Hutzal donated the chandelier, and Jack Swityk donated the censer.

All other items were purchased by the parish itself.

The first marriage was blessed in the new Temple on 13 June, 1949.

The first Divine Liturgy to be served in this Temple was offered on Sunday, 14 June, 1949, on the Feast of Pentecost, by Michael Fyk.

Because of the nature of the Altar Feast-day of the parish (the Feast of Pentecost), the Temple is sometimes referred to as "Holy Trinity Church".

Parishioners

Purchase of a parish hall, 1959

In 1959, the former Granville School (which had been moved into the village) was purchased and moved in behind the Temple, and it began to be used as a parish hall.

1990 : Change in status of the UGOCC

In 1990, the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada” was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of the Parliament of Canada in 1990.

Acceptance into the Patriarchate of Constantinople

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

Archpastoral visit, 2012

On Sunday, 25 March, 2012, Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) of Edmonton, Alberta, and the clergy from the Vegreville Deanery celebrated the "Passia" Service in this Temple.

Greeting of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)

Parishioners and visitors at the service

At the dismissal

Clergy at the refreshments afterwards

Centennial of the UOCC, 2018

In 2018, the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and also of Holy Trinity Cathedral were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The purpose of the sobor was to celebrate 100 years of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of Saint Petro Mohyla Institute, presided by Bishop Andriy (Peshko) of the Eastern Eparchy, with the responses sung by the Clergy led by Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

Centennial Clergy Conference

All gathered for Vespers at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes

In early 2020, the Covid-19 virus made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide pandemic. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.

As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.

Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022

Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "on-line". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral) ; Vancouver, British Columbia (Holy Trinity Cathedral) ; in Edmonton, Alberta (Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Holy Trinity Cathedral) ; in Toronto, Ontario (Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral) ; in Montréal, Québec (Saint Sophie Cathedral).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk).

There were 3 candidates who were considered : Archbishop Job (Getcha), Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk), and Bishop Andriy (Peshko). The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople (as is described in the Consistory By-laws).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Archbishop Job (Getcha) to become Metropolitan of Pisidia, in west-central Türkiye (Turkey), north of Lycia, and east of Ephesus.

Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the Phanar in Constantinople for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) in the Cathedral of Saint George at the Phanar.

Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by Bishop Andriy (Peshko), many priests, several deacons, subdeacons and Altar-servers. Present also were Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas), Exarch of Canada for the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk), Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at Saint George's Cathedral in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Job (Getcha) of Pisidia, Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos) of Nazianzos, and the Honourable Roman Nedilskyi, General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the New (Revised Julian) Calendar. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the Old (Julian) Calendar.

It seems that subsequently, John's Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, was the first to adopt the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next general sobor of the UOCC. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion issued a formal letter concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)). He called the resisters to repentance

Priests who have served this parish include :

 Priest Michael Fyk ; Priest H O Wasyliw ; Priest Melnychuk ; Priest P Zubritsky ; the Priest D Maceluch

In contrast with many other nearby parishes, this community seems not to have been able to establish its own cemetery.

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Lac La Biche District of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop is Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk).

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit, Most Holy Trinity).

In 2024, the pastor of this parish is the Archpriest Michael Domaradz.

Address :

Descent of The Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Village of Boyle, Alberta

Directions :

Boyle, Alberta, is situated in Athabasca County, on Highway #63, approximately 163 km (101 mi) north of Edmonton. It is 66 km (41 mi) southwest of Lac la Biche (a hamlet, a large lake and a county).

From Edmonton, drive on Highway #28 to Highway #831. Turn left (north) towards Boyle. The Temple is in the Village of Boyle.

The mailing address of the parish is the address of the priest.

For specific information, please contact the priest.

Archpriest Michael Domaradz

Telephone : (780) 689-7552

E-mail : domaradzm@outlook.com

Archpriest Michael Domaradz is also responsible in the Lac la Biche District for : Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Athabaska) ; Mary the Protectress Parish (Noral) ; Holy Transfiguration Parish (Grassland) ; Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Sarrail)Saint Demetrius Parish (Craigend) ; Saints Peter and Paul Parish (Sarrail) ; All Saints Parish (Lac la Biche).

References

Boyle and District Historical Society, “Forests, Furrows and Faith: A History of Boyle and Districts” (Boyle, AB : The Society, 1982)

Lac La Biche Parish District of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, “Svatkyvannya 2000, a Celebration of our Faith” ("Quebécor Jasper", Edmonton : Lac La Biche Parish District, 2000). ISBN 0-9687654-0-8.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Yereniuk, Prof. Roman, “A Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)”.

Additional information :

A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Descent of the Holy Spirit parish listing

Ukrainian Orthodox Western Eparchy web-site

Orthodox World listing

Wikipedia article about the Western Eparchy of the UOCC

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site

Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople