Calmar AB Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1927
Calmar, Alberta, Church and Cemetery in the Name of the Holy Ascension, 1927
Prehistory
The settlement by Slavs in the area west of Leduc and Nisku, Alberta, Canada, followed the previous settlement of the region by Scandinavians as early as the 1880s.
For several years, the settlers of the Wilton Park area (Calmar, Alberta), southwest of Edmonton, travelled to the Nisku Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church to attend services. As time progressed, services were held at the Wilton Park School. Divine Liturgies were also served in the home of Metro Dobko. Kost Dobko initiated plans to have a Russian Orthodox Church built in the Wilton Park district. It is reasonable to believe that the dedication of the Temple which was constructed reflects the dedication of the first Orthodox Temple in the region, at Rabbit Hill (a settlement 4.8 km (3 mi) west of Highway #2 on Highway #19 (Devon Highway)), near Nisku.
Founding the parish, 1927
The first church meeting was held on 10 January, 1927. Anton Mankow donated 2 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. The site given was at the land description site NW 6-50-27-W4. At a parish meeting held on 15 February, 1927, the following were elected to the church committee : 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 committee.
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 ; John Yaremko.
With the help of the local carpenter, Nick Kozak, construction of the new Temple began in the summer of 1927. In early November, 1927, the Temple was sanctified by Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov). From then on, the Temple was called the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Calmar. As time passed, more and more families joined the parish.
In 2018, there were 20 families in the parish.
The Priest Alexy Shovgeniuk was the first priest who served the newly-founded parish. Other clergy who served the parish are :
Priest Alexander Kiziun 1927-1930 Priest Andrew Kokolsky 1930-1938 and 1946-1965 Archpriest Nikanor Komarnitsky 1938-1940 Priest Theodore Korablinoff 1940-1942 Priest Evgenii Prystupa 1942-1946 Priest Constantine Stakhowsky 1965-1967 Archimandrite Alexei Sokolovsky 1967-1969 Hegumen Germogen (Cherkasin) 1969 Archpriest Victor Petluchenko 1970-1975 Protopresbyter Vitaly Politylo 1975-1978 Protopresbyter Peter Vlodek 1979-1987 Archpriest Michael Kit 1987-1989 Priest Alexander Smediuk 1989-1997 Archpriest Igor Kisil 1997-2018 Priest Alexey Surayev 2018-____
45 years, 1972
On 22 July, 1972, more than 100 persons arrived in order to celebrate the anniversary of 75 years since the arrival of Kost Dobko. There was a Divine Liturgy served by the Archpriests John Margitich and Victor Petluchenko on that day.
In the summer of 1973, the Temple’s interior was renovated and repainted.
On 31 May, 1987, the 90th Anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada was held at the Temple. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Makary (Svistun) of Serpukhov, Russia.
Today, Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Calmar remains located in the most beautiful farming country and it is only 50 km (30 mi) southwest of Edmonton.
The Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church is dearly loved by the children and grandchildren of her founders, and the parish continues to serve the spiritual needs of her faithful Orthodox members.
Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Cemetery, 1927
The cemetery is situated near the Temple, at the land description site NW 6-50-27-W4, in Calmar Township of the County of Leduc.
Particular parish information
This parish is a part of the Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada. The bishop is Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.
This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Ascension of Christ.
In 2022, the pastor of the parish is Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko.
Address :
Holy Ascension Russo Orthodox Church
Land description site NW 05-50-27 W4
Range Road #275, Calmar Township
County of Leduc, Alberta
T0C 0V0
Directions :
The Temple is 61 km (38 mi) southwest of Edmonton.
From Edmonton, drive south on Highway #2 until Highway #39. Take the westward exit to Highway #39 towards Calmar. Drive 8 km (5 mi) west of Calmar on Highway #39. At Range Road #275, turn right and drive 3 km (2 mi) north.
The Temple is on the right.
The mailing address of the parish is the address of the priest.
Please contact the priest for specific information.
Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, Pastor of the parish
10812-108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
T5H 3A6
Telephone : (780) 426-5163
Mobile : (780) 818-7343
E-mail : pokrova70@gmail.com
Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh,
Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada
Addresses :
10812-108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Telephone : (780) 420-9945
OR :
67, Ennismore Gardens
London, SW7 1NH
United Kingdom
Telephone : 011-44-207-584-0096
E-mail : sourozhdiocese@me.com
Holy Ascension Church, Calmar (aerial view)
References
Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate in Canada, 100 years of Orthodoxy in Canada 1897-1997 : Pictorial Memories (Edmonton, Alberta : Patriarchal Parishes of the Moscow Patriarchate 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.
Additional information :
Moscow Patriarchate Parishes web-site
“History of Patriarchal Parishes of Russian Orthodox Church in Canada”
Wikipedia article about the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada
Orthodoxwiki article “Russian Orthodox Church in Canada”
Canadian Encyclopaedia article about the Orthodox Church
"Orthodox IX group of parishes"
Wikipedia article about Calmar