Calgary AB Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Orthodox Church 1990

Calgary, Alberta, Church of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, 1990

Prehistory

Before 1990, there were Orthodox Christians who attended several already-existing Orthodox parishes in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. However, they wished to be able, if possible, to worship in the English language. An extra encouragement was provided when several persons moved to Calgary in southern Alberta, (Calgary region) from the city of Edmonton in central Alberta (Edmonton Region), and from elsewhere. These more recent arrivals already had experience of worship in the English language in other Orthodox Christian parishes.

Founding the community, 1990

In 1990, the Church of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut was established in Calgary, Alberta, with the blessing of Bishop Seraphim (Storheim) of Ottawa and Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America.

Deacon Peter, Julia Isaac

Several families in Calgary had a strong desire to see an Orthodox parish established in Calgary that used the English language exclusively as its liturgical language. One of those families was the family of Deacon Peter Isaac. Deacon Peter had just recently attended Saint Tikhon’s Seminary in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, and he was living with his family in Calgary. Arising from this concern, these few families began to meet in their homes in order to pray together. This led to the expressed desire to form a mission.

Support from Edmonton : Archpriests Stephen J Keaschuk, Dennis A Pihach

The first Divine Liturgy in the newly-established community was served by the Archpriest Dennis Pihach, who travelled from Saint Herman's Sobor in Edmonton for this purpose. For some time, the Archpriest Stephen J Keaschuk travelled to Calgary to serve the Divine Liturgy for the nascent mission. When he was unavailable, Deacon Peter would lead the families in worship as a reader would do. They would read the prescribed services for such occasions.

The community grew slowly, and attracted people from a wide variety of backgrounds : Orthodox Christians who had married English-speaking non-Orthodox who were ready to convert to Orthodoxy ; lapsed Orthodox who came back to the Faith ; Orthodox who wanted to pray and worship in a language that they understood ; converts to the Orthodox Faith from a variety of backgrounds ; and, as well, recent immigrants from traditional “Orthodox” countries. It became clear that one of the strengths of the parish of Saint Peter is its diversity of people. Until this time, services were offered in various places.

Priest Philip Speranza

In 1991, the Priest Philip Speranza was attached to the parish to serve until Deacon Peter was ordained to the Holy Priesthood, and to mentor the new priest. This ordination occurred in August, 1992.

In 1993, Father Philip was transferred to the rural parishes northeast of Edmonton.

First rented quarters, 1993

By this time, the community had moved into more stable rented quarters, a small, rundown building, which was transformed into a Temple by the participants in the mission. They began to assemble there for services.

After some time, when the founders of the mission of the Antiochian Archdiocese in Calgary were looking for a place to worship, they came upon this little building already set up as an Orthodox worship space, and they were quite surprised. They made an arrangement with the owner to start using it as well.

After this, the space was shared for a time. However, the Antiochian mission was able to purchase the property, and it became necessary to find a new, stable place in which to worship.

Priest Peter Isaac transferred to the USA, 1995

By 1995, the Priest Peter Isaac was transferred to the USA, in order to serve a parish there.

Rented quarters (after sale)

Priest Larry and Mother Myra Reinheimer, 1995

In 1995, the Priest Larry Reinheimer was transferred with his family from central Alberta to Calgary, and he began serving the parish of Saint Peter as its rector.

Father Philip Speranza, 1997

In June, 1997, the Priest Philip Speranza returned to the parish. He served there as an attached cleric, until he was transferred to serve the Holy Trinity parish in Edmonton in 2003.

First Temple, 1997

After meeting and worshipping in several different places, the parish community was able to purchase a building in August, 1997.

This building was then transformed into an Orthodox Temple. The situation in Calgary of this building proved to be convenient for many : on 33rd Avenue SW, in the area known as “Marda Loop”. Everything about this acquisition was received as a gift from God, and it served well.

Nevertheless, not long after this development (because of the steady growth), the parishioners began to plan for the possible construction a new Temple, as God might bless.

First Temple

The community of Saint Peter continued to develop steadily. During this time, Father Larry (being competent at cabinetry) constructed the iconostas for the Altar ; analoys for the icons in the nave ; the Holy Table in the Altar ; the proskomedia table. He encouraged other persons gifted with various crafts, and they produced various beautiful items. Amongst these was the seven-branched candle-stand for behind the Holy Table.

In this parish family, there is and has been a strong commitment to proclaiming the Truth of Orthodox Christianity to the people of Calgary, and to make it possible for persons who are hungry and thirsty for righteousness to be able to participate in the life of the Kingdom of God in the Church. Persons looking for a place to serve Christ will find many opportunities to do so in this close-knit Orthodox community.

Deacon Richard René ; additional nurturing of the Cranbrook/Creston, BC, mission

Not long after his ordination to the Holy Diaconate, Deacon Richard René and his family arrived in Calgary from Saint Vladimir's Seminary in Yonkers, New York, USA. He was a recent graduate. Deacon Richard and his wife settled in Calgary, and they lived in one of the houses now owned by the parish (the parish had purchased several properties next to the Temple). Immediately, Deacon Richard began to help Father Larry by serving in the parish. On 6 March, 2005, Deacon Richard was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in the Church of Saint Peter ; and as Second Priest, he further helped Father Larry with caring for the germinal mission in Cranbrook-Creston, British Columbia, which Saint Peter's was nurturing. This mission developed well, and by 2008, it had grown enough to be able to ask that Father Richard be transferred to the new Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne's Mission in Cranbrook. The move was blessed, and they began their work. The warm and friendly relationships that had been developing between the Calgary and Cranbrook communities continued afterwards through many personal visits.

Deacon Kevin Wigglesworth

Kevin Wigglesworth, a Calgarian, had studied elsewhere, and he was received into the Orthodox Christian Church in British Columbia. After further study, he was tonsured a reader in January, 2006, at Holy Martyr Peter Church. From 2007 to 2011, while living in Winnipeg, he studied Orthodox theological courses at Saint Arseny Institute. He was ordained a subdeacon in August, 2009. After he returned to Calgary in 2011, he served in this parish, and he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on 22 July, 2012, by Bishop Irénée (Rochon).

Deacon Kyle Parrott

In 2008, Kirill Kyle Parrott (a young man with Protestant missionary experience abroad, and having an education in history and Greek and Roman studies) and his wife Leanne (a photographer) were received into the Orthodox Church and married in the parish of Saint Peter. In 2011, they entered Saint Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood/Yonkers New York, and their daughter Sophie was born.

During the more than 15 years that Father Larry Reinheimer served the parish, the community continued to grow. Properties were purchased near the Temple, along 33rd Avenue, with a view to possible construction. However, this was not to be. Despite one attempt to purchase an Anglican church building in a neighbourhood some distance away, and despite proposals to build on the existing properties, neither direction bore fruit. Rather, the community continued to grow and to consolidate.

By 2010, another possibility began to appear. Although there was not yet anything firm, this possibility later became a reality.

Father Reinheimer medical leave-of-abscence, 2011

In September, 2011, Father Larry Reinheimer requested to take a medical leave-of-absence, and the request was blessed.

Father Gerasim Power, 2011

Therefore, the Priest Gerasim Power was sent to serve the parish in his stead from September, 2010, until Pascha, 2011. At that time, he was transferred and assigned to serve several rural parishes in central Alberta.

At about this time, the now Archpriest Larry Reinheimer requested to be released from his responsibilities.

Transfer of Father Larry Reinheimer to Victoria, British Columbia

When this was blessed, he was transferred and assigned to serve the parish of All Saints of Alaska in Victoria, British Columbia.

Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, 2011

Then the Archpriest Phillip Eriksson was transferred to Calgary to serve the parish. It was after his arrival that a more serious possibility began to appear for a move to larger quarters. A long series of discussions and considerations began. After these negotiations, the existing properties were sold, and then an agreement was made for the leasing and possible purchase of the Anglican church building of Saint Mark and Saint Philip. This structure was very near to the building which the community had previously owned.

On 20 October, 2013, Seminarian Kirill Kyle Parrott was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) at Saint Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, New York.

Priest Kirill Kyle Parrott, 2014

On 25 May, 2014, Deacon Kirill Kyle Parrott was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Bishop Michael (Dahulich) of New York at Holy Trinity Church in Yonkers, NY, where he had spent a year serving as a pastoral intern. After his ordination, he returned to Calgary, where he began to serve as Second Priest at Saint Peter's.

Second Temple, 2015

On Saturday, 6 June, 2015, parishioners of Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church, Calgary, celebrated a special service in order to mark their move into the building of the Anglican parish of Saint Mark and Saint Philip, which they were now leasing from the local Anglican diocese. The plan was that, for the near future, the 2 communities would share the space, while operating independently. Nevertheless, the main worship area was renovated to enable Orthodox worship.

Meanwhile, the iconostas, the Holy Table, the Proskomedia Table, and other items were transferred from the first Temple to the second Temple. Icons were kept in the first Temple until the last moment.

In this context, Holy Martyr Peter’s rector, Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, began the celebration of Great Vespers in the parish’s old building. The clergy and faithful then processed 2 blocks to its new location. Concelebrating Vespers with Father Phillip were Kyle Parrott ; Priests (Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation) George Dahdouh (Antiochian Orthodox Church of the Annunciation) ; (Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church) Peter Rougas (Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church) ; and Deacon Kevin Wigglesworth. On this occasion, CBC Calgary (CBR) was represented by reporters and photographers, and there was a televised report about the move.

Procession from the First Temple to the Second Temple

Preparing for the procession

Procession from the First Temple

Clergy enter the Second Temple

Procession with icons

Job and Maria Mantle entering

First Vespers in the Second Temple

Second Temple

After Vespers, the Reverend Brian Way of the Anglican parish welcomed the Orthodox Faithful to their new home. Also present were several pastors from throughout the community of “Marda Loop” in Calgary.

On Sunday, 7 June, 2015, the clergy and Faithful of the parish of Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut offered the first Divine Liturgy together in the new Temple.

Moving day : first Divine Liturgy in the new Temple

New Temple eastern interior (left) ; Altar portion (right)

New Temple western nave (left) ; Blessed copy of the Pochaiv Icon of the Theotokos (right)

25th anniversary, 2015

During the Sunday Hierarchical Divine Liturgy during the autumn, 2015, celebration of the 25th anniversary of the parish, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) invested the rector, the Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, with a jewelled Cross. He had been given the blessing to wear such a Cross by the Holy Synod of Bishops of The Orthodox Church in America at its spring session.

Since that time, normal parish life has proceeded regularly and quietly ; and the new, expanded space has allowed for growth of the community without over-crowding, along with a certain comfort. The worship space is rather larger than before, and the spaces for meeting are now much more accommodating.

In 2017, the second priest in the parish, Father Kyle Kyrill Parrott and his family, moved to Victoria, British Columbia, where Father Kyle was assigned to serve at the parish of All Saints of Alaska and Saint Arseny.

At the Archdiocesan Assembly in Edmonton, Alberta, in July, 2017, it was announced that the Archpriest Phillip Eriksson had been assigned to serve as the chancellor of the archdiocese, in addition to his duties as the rector of this parish.

Priest Sebastian Scratch

On 24 September, 2017, the Altar Feast-day of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) made a pastoral visit to the parish. On this occasion, during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, the Deacon Sebastian Scratch (of Edmonton) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood. He was attached to Holy Martyr Peter Church.

On 1 February, 2018, Priest Sebastian Scratch was assigned as the Second Priest at Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church.

His pastoral service in the parish enabled Father Phillip Eriksson more easily to fulfil his responsibilities as chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada.

Vladyka Irénée, clergy, Priest Sebastian Scratch

2020 Coronavirus-19 closure of parishes

During the time of the 2020-2021 Coronavirus 19 pandemic, in accordance with the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish of the Holy Martyr Peter stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) required that the civilian rules be obeyed, including the rules regarding social distancing, and the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering. Consequently, this parish was unable to have any more of the usual services in the Temple until the lifting of the restrictions. These measures are similar to those that had been taken in the past, in various parts of the Orthodox world, during the time of a plague. The parish was able to resume liturgical services in the summertime, but with the conditions of social-distancing, mask-wearing and hand-sanitising, and the conditions surrounding the virus affected the parish, parishioners and all society for the remainder of the year, and into 2021.

2022 Ownership of the Second Temple

By 31 May, 2022, the details had been negotiated between the Parish of the Holy Martyr Peter and the Anglican Diocese of Calgary which enabled the Orthodox Christian community to acquire the ownership of the Temple in which they had worshipped already for 7 years. This meant that the means had been arranged by which the parish of Saint Peter would pay off over time the remainder owing on the purchase amount. The official change of status took place on 1 June, 2022.

Priestly ordination, 2025

On Saturday, 13 September, 2025, at Holy Resurrection Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the Altar-Feast-day of the Sobor (the Sanctification of the Cathedral of the Resurrection in Jerusalem). During this Divine Liturgy, Archbishop Irénée ordained Deacon Jonathan Goossen (of Calgary) to the Holy Priesthood, and Subdeacon C Edwin Hay (of Winnipeg) to the Holy Diaconate.

The Priest Jonathan Goossen was assigned to serve as a priest at Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church in Calgary, Alberta.

Clergy serving with Vladyka Irénée (Rochon)

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 Archpriest Vincent B Lehr. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

The parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, 24 September.

In 2025, the rector of the parish is Mitred Archpriest Phillip Eriksson. He also serves as the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada.

The second priest is Priest Sebastian Scratch.

The third priest is Priest Jonathan Goossen.

The deacon is Deacon Kevin Wigglesworth.

Address :

Church of the Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut

1802-33 Avenue SW

Calgary, Alberta

T2T 1Y9

Telephone : 403-242-6754

Web-site : https://www.saintpeter.ca

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Directions :

By car :

From the east or the west of Calgary, follow the Trans-Canada Highway, which in Calgary is 16th Avenue East and West. Turn onto Crowchild Trail south.

From the north, follow Highway 2 until the 16th Avenue exit. At 16th Avenue, turn right and drive to the Crowchild Trail, and follow it to the south.

From the south, follow Highway 2 into the city and turn west on Highway 8, Glenmore Trail. Turn right (north) at Crowchild Trail and exit at 33rd Avenue SW.

By car, there is an exit from Crowchild Trail at 33rd Avenue SW. At the exit drive eastwards for 6 blocks (past the "Marda Loop"). The Temple is on the left.

From 14th Street, turn onto 33rd Avenue SW and drive westwards for 3 blocks. The Temple is on the right.

By bus :

Calgary Transit provides bus service on 33rd Avenue SW into the "Marda Loop".

Calgary is accessible by road, principally Highway #1 (east-west), and Highway #2 (north-south).

It is accessible by various airlines through the Calgary International Aeroport.

It is accessible by interurban bus through various Alberta companies (Red Arrow ; Ebus ; Rider Express ; Poparide ; Cold Shot ; abestx.com, and others).