Edmonton AB Saint Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church 1978

Edmonton, Alberta, Saint Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church, 1978

Prehistory

In the late 1970s, 17 Antiochian Orthodox Christian families residing in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, agreed together to try to establish a Temple in Edmonton. Such a Temple would allow them to observe their Orthodox Christian Faith, and to establish a spiritual foundation for their children, which would also serve the generations to follow. At that time, although other Orthodox Temples existed in the city, none conducted the services (in whole or in part) in the Arabic language, the native tongue of these few families. Most members of the group were bilingual, but many of the elder members were not fluent in English. Thus, especially for them, it was difficult for them to comprehend completely the sermons and prayers offered in English in other Orthodox parishes.

In this way, the path was prepared for establishing and implementing the eventual construction of a new Temple.

Foundation of the community, 1978

In September, 1978, after only a few years of small-scale fundraising, the group was able to establish a mission parish in Edmonton under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. The establishment of this mission of Saint Philip was the first step towards the establishment of a Temple. It set in motion the practical and the legal requirements which could bring about the founding of a Temple, and the assignment of a full-time pastor. This process required much faith, dedication and hard work.

Parish status ; fundraising

The establishment of the mission was followed with tireless fundraising by means of bake sales, raffles, charity dinners, and member donations. As a result, after only a couple of years, the status of the mission was elevated to that of a “church” (that is, a parish).

Although an actual building did not yet exist, the members practiced their Orthodox Christian Faith together as they rented halls and church basements in order to conduct the Divine Liturgy every Sunday, and to observe other Orthodox feast-days and celebrations.

During this time also, organisations were established, including the Antiochian Women ; the parish choir ; the “Teen SOYO” (Society of Orthodox Youth Organisations), and the Church school. These all were established in order to enhance and to build upon the spiritual foundation of the parish. Members donated their time and service, and they approached their own personal suppliers about the donation of building materials and services.

Constructing the Temple, 1980-1981

Construction of the Temple commenced in 1980. The building was then completed in June, 1981.

Sanctification of the Temple

On 14 June, 1981, Saint Philip’s Antiochian Orthodox Church was sanctified by Metropolitan Philip (Saliba), the head of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. It was the first Temple and parish in the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese to be established in Western Canada Although Father Joseph Sakkab had established a mission in the area of Vancouver, British Columbia, the year previous, it was at that time only at the mission stage.

Since its inception, the parish of Saint Philip has grown to include many families. It came to include at least 70 families, including more than 170 persons. The various organisations within the parish community have grown in size and they remain strong in the vital role that they play. The Temple serves as the spiritual foundation of the congregation. The parish uses both the English and Arabic languages, and it serves the new generation of youth and converts predominantly in the English language. The parish community also helps to preserve many cherished ethnic customs and traditions from the Middle East. Since its construction, the Temple itself has continued to provide for the spiritual development of the parishioners. Several improvements and renovations have been made to the Temple over time.

25th anniversary, 2006

On 17 June, 2006, the parish celebrated its 25th anniversary. With the blessing of Metropolitan Philip (now of blessed memory) and Bishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui), Bishop Job (Smakouz) of the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes in Canada led the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on that occasion. A congratulatory letter was sent by Bishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui).

Parish clergy

Priest Basil Salounias, 1981

In 1981, the Priest Basil Salounias was assigned to serve in the parish. He continued his service until 1986.

Archpriest Joseph Sakkab, 1986

The Archpriest Joseph Sakkab, who had been born in Jerusalem, and who later spent some years in the USA, came to serve this parish. However, he had first established a mission in the Vancouver, British Columbia, region.

A missionary-minded priest, he served this community from 1986 to 1991. Afterwards, he was sent to Calgary, Alberta, in order to establish the mission which eventually became the Annunciation Antiochian Parish. After having continued on from there in 1997 to re-establish the Antiochian mission in Vancouver, he retired in 2002 and returned to Edmonton. On 10 August, 2017, the Archpriest Joseph Sakkab fell asleep in the Lord. On 14 August, 2017, the funeral services at Saint Philip’s Church were led by Bishop Thomas (Joseph) of the Antiochian Diocese of Oakland, Charleston and the Mid-Atlantic. He was assisted by many clergy and faithful parishioners.

Priest Elias Ferzli, 2004

On 1 May, 2004, the Priest Elias Ferzli was assigned to be the rector of the parish of Saint Philip in Edmonton.

Born in 1963, in Tripoli, Lebanon, Elias Ferzli received his first education and completed his high school at “College St. Joseph”, south of Beirut. In 1985, he entered the Lebanese University in Zahle, where he studied Arabic Literature. He completed the first 2 years before emigrating to Canada in 1988. Living in Ottawa, he was a regular member of Saint Elias Cathedral, where he served as a chanter for several years. In 1995, he was married to Nada Abou-Fares, and God later blessed them with 4 children : Adib, Mariam, Christina, and Elena. In 1999, he received the blessing of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) to enrol in the University of Balamand’s Saint John of Damascus Theological Institute in Tripoli, Lebanon. There, he spent 4 years studying. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on 4 November, 2001, by Metropolitan Elias (Korban) of Tripoli, and to the Holy Priesthood on 11 May, 2003, by Bishop John (Yazigi), the Dean of Balamand. In June, 2003, He graduated with a degree in theology from the Institute of Saint John of Damascus, Balamand. Immediately after that, he was assigned to serve as assistant priest at the parish of the Virgin Mary in Montréal, Québec. He served in this parish of Saint Philip in Edmonton after his transfer and assignment on 1 May, 2004.

Priest Nicholas Hanna, 2019

On 7 July, 2019, Priest Nicholas Hanna was assigned to serve the Parish of Saint Philip in Edmonton.

In 1970, Nicholas M Hanna was born in Beirut, Lebanon, to devout parents Mansour and Samira Hanna. As a child, he attended the public school system in Beirut until grade 6. With his parents, he moved to Jeita near Jounieh in Keserwan, where he completed high school, and he graduated from Notre Dame of Louizé in Keserwan in 1987. He than travelled to Michigan, USA, where he continued his studies, and where he received the MBA degree in 1995. Like his late father (who was killed during the Lebanese Civil War in 1983), he was extremely interested in theology from a young age, and also in the lives of the saints. He and his wife Khouria (Presbytera) Sofia emigrated to the USA in July, 2004, where he joined the Diocese of Los Angeles and the West at Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Los Angeles, California.

In 2011, during the Chicago Archdiocesan Convention, he received from the hands of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba) the Master of Arts (MA) Degree in Pastoral Theology.

He served at Saint Nicholas Cathedral from 2004 to 2014.

Archbishop Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui) ordained him to the Holy Priesthood on 15 September, 2013, after which he was assigned to serve as Pastor of Saint George Church in Upland, California, until his move to Canada.

Parish Organisations

Saint Philip's Church has several organisations entrusted to carry out the programmes and activities of the parish, under the guidance and leadership of Father Nicholas M Hanna :

Parish Council

The elected parish council assists the priest in the administration of the parish.

E-mail : spaoc@telus.net

Antiochian Women

The Antiochian Orthodox Christian Women of North America was founded in 1973 through the blessing and encouragement of Metropolitan Philip (Saliba). This organisation belongs to the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese, which is led by Metropolitan Joseph (Al-Zehlaoui). Its purpose is to develop amongst the women of the parish and of the archdiocese a spirit of Christian leadership, awareness, and commitment ; to foster a genuine expression of love and service through works of charity ; and to instil a sense of fellowship and a deeper understanding of the Holy Orthodox Faith. They are a “Sisterhood Serving Christ Through Serving Others”.

The Antiochian Women are organised within each diocese, but they all come together for communication and collaboration through the North American Board (NAB), which consists of officers, co-ordinators, and delegates from each diocese. On their web-site is posted information about their programmes (Religious, Humanitarian, Membership). There is information about their various grants. There is also information about their spiritual resources, which include the lives of the women saints, and “How to Read the Bible in a Year”. Back-issues of their newsletter “DIAKONIA”, and their religious programmes, “SOPHIA”, can also be found on this site in PDF format. Any woman over the age of 19 is welcome to participate.

Teen SOYO (Society of Orthodox Youth Organisations)

As a part of the NAC SOYO and the Department of Youth of the “Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America”, the Teen Soyo of Saint Philip’s parish is committed to “Living the Orthodox Faith in Christ through Worship, Witness, Service and Fellowship”. In order to fulfil this service, and in an effort to raise up a generation of leaders and disciples, there is a weekly Bible Study every Sunday (10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.). The members participate in worship. The members have a monthly full-day gathering. The members participate in seasonal fundraising, and in most activities of the Antiochian archdiocese.

Teen Soyo

Church School

The purpose of the Church school is to teach the youth of the parish the doctrines, principles, laws and rituals of the Holy Church, using texts and materials published or approved by the Archdiocese Department of Christian Education for this worthy purpose.

Church school

Fellowship of Saint John the Divine

The Fellowship of Saint John the Divine was formerly known as the "Senior SOYO". This fellowship develops and oversees a wide variety of programmes on the parish, diocesan and archdiocesan levels by focussing on Orthodox unity, spiritual renewal, missions, outreach and evangelism. This fellowship is the oldest of all the archdiocesan organisations, and it was responsible for the early development of choirs, church school programmes and youth ministry programmes. Included in the activities are the “Library Project” and the “Saint Philip Prayer Discipline”.

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.

Particular parish information

This parish is a part of the Diocese of Eagle River and the Northwest (headquartered in Eagle River, Alaska, and overseen by Metropolitan Joseph through the Los Angeles chancellory) of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (headquartered in Englewood, New Jersey). The archdiocese is a part of the Antiochian Orthodox Church (headquartered in Damascus, Syria).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calenda.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of the Holy Apostle Philip, 14 November.

In 2022, the pastor of the parish is the Priest Nicholas M Hanna.

Parish sign

Address :

Saint Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church

15804-98 Avenue

Edmonton, Alberta

T5P 4R9

Telephone : 780-489-7943

Fax : 780-930-2095

Web-site : https://www.stphilipedmonton.org/

E-mail : stphilippriest1978@gmail.com

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Directions :

Saint Philip’s Church is situated in the inner west end of the city, and located at 98th Avenue between 158th and 159th Streets in West Edmonton (West Jasper Place).

The parish may be approached from the far south, the far west and northwest, and the far northeast by using the Anthony Henday Freeway (Highway #216). Exit to the east on 100 Avenue NW, and drive as far as 159 Street NW. Turn right (south) on 159 Street NW and drive 2 blocks. Turn left on 98 Avenue NW. The Temple is on the left.

From the east and southeast, drive westwards on the Whitemud Freeway (Highway #2) until 170 Street NW. Exit to the right, and drive north on 170 Street NW until 100 Avenue NW. Turn right (east) and drive eastwards until 159 Street NW. Turn right (south) and drive 2 blocks. Turn left on 98 Avenue NW. The Temple is on the left.

There is a parking lot by the Temple.

By bus :

Consult Edmonton Transit.

Bus #1 and Bus #2 stop several blocks to the north of the Temple at 100A Avenue and 157 Street.

Edmonton is accessible by road, chiefly by Highway #16 and Highway #2.

It is accessible by bus through various interurban companies (Red Arrow, Rider Express, Poparide, The Canada Bus, Ebus, and others). There is service from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

It is accessible by various airline companies through the Edmonton International Aeroport (near Nisku).

It is accessible by railway through VIARail.

Priest Nicholas M Hanna

E-mail : stphilippriest1978@gmail.com