Edmonton AB Saint Vladimir Russian Orthodox Church 1946

Edmonton, Alberta, Russian Orthodox Church of Saint Vladimir, 1946

Founding of the parish, 1946

This Temple was originally established in the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The building itself is more than a century old. It was purchased by Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodumov) in the late 1930s, and the parish was formally founded in 1946. Later the parish served as the cathedral church of the ROCOR of Western Canada. Bishop Sava (Saračević) of Edmonton lived in the house portion of the Temple for some years (1958-1973).

Cathedral status, 1954-1957

From 1954 to 1957, this parish served as the cathedral seat and residence of Bishop Vitaly (Ustinov). During his time of service in Edmonton, Bishop Vitaly travelled to many places in the region, and he expanded the settlement of monastic communities wherever he went. He established in the Edmonton region two such communities : one near Dickie Bush, Alberta, and another near Wildwood, far to the west on the highway to Jasper. In 1957, he was transferred to Montréal.

Bishop Sava (Saračević), 1958-1973

The Temple of Saint Vladimir served next as the residence and cathedral of Bishop Sava (Saračević), from 1958 until 1973, when he reposed in Christ. He was Vicar-Bishop of Edmonton to Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov). During his time of service there, the Orthodox Christian Serbs in the region found their home in this Temple. He was highly respected and loved.

From this Temple, many surrounding communities of the ROCOR were served.

Hall and house entry

In the 1990s, Priest (now Archpriest) Andrew Kencis became the parish pastor.

Archpriest Andrew Kencis

Move to ROCA, 2001

In 2001, when Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) went into schism with the ROCOR and established the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile, the parish of Saint Vladimir joined this division. It joined the subsequent division, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, after the repose of Metropolitan Vitaly.

In 2016, the parish was under the omophor of Metropolitan Agafangel (Pashkovsky) of Odessa, and Andronik (Kotliaroff) of Ottawa and Eastern America. Its headquarters are in Odessa, Ukraine.

On 4 April, 2017, Archbishop Andronik (Kotliaroff) and Bishop Stefan (Sabelnik) of Trenton, New Jersey, signed a declaration ("ukaz") of Eucharistic Communion between them. The liturgical concelebration took place on 14 May, 2017.

Move to the "Genuine Greek Orthodox Church", 2017

From 24-29 November, 2016, Metropolitan Demetrios (Kyriacou), accompanied by his chancellor Archimandrite Agathangelus, arrived in Edmonton to make a pastoral visit to the 5 communities which had recently been taken under his omophor : Saint Vladimir's Church in Edmonton, Saint Andrew's Church in Edson, Saint George's Church in Wildwood, the Holy Dormition Skete at Grenada, and the Holy Protection Monastery in Bluffton.

Upon arrival in Edmonton late on Thursday, 24 November, the metropolitan and archimandrite spent their first night at the Dormition Skete in Wildwood, about 1½ hours west of Edmonton.

Metropolitan Vitaly founded the Skete in 1955. It is on a large acreage of about 56 hectares (140 acres), with woods, muskeg and fields, and there are several out-buildings. A small wooden, monastic Temple is near the main house. Archpriest Andrew Kencis, the rector of Saint Vladimir's parish, lives at the skete with his matushka. A small prayer chapel dedicated to Saint Seraphim of Sarov is on the main floor of the house. The Rasophor Monk Seraphim (Filomonoff), the last surviving member of Metropolitan Vitaly’s brotherhood (from Mansonville, Québec), lived for very many years in a small cabin on the other side of a large vegetable garden.

On Friday, Father Andrew gave a tour of the skete : the Temple ; the print-shop of Monastery Press ; an adjoining candle shop where beeswax candles are made for parish use. In the evening, a vespers service was served for Saint John Chrysostom. Father Andrew served ; his matushka was in the cliros.

On Saturday afternoon, they all drove into Edmonton, to Saint Vladimir’s Temple. They spent Saturday night in the residence part of the Temple. A Saturday night vigil was served at 6:00 p.m. for the Holy Apostle Philip. Almost all the parishioners were present for the vigil, and many prepared to receive Holy Communion at Sunday’s Divine Liturgy. After the vigil service, there was a small meal in the “little trapeza” (little dining-room). Several parishioners stayed to have more time to meet and speak with Vladyka.

The Sunday Divine Liturgy was well-attended. Metropolitan Demetrios (Kiriacou) preached. After the service, there was a meal in the “big trapeza room”. When the meal was over, chairs were brought up into the nave of the Temple. Vladyka Demetrios gave a talk to the parishioners, after which he answered questions. The parishioners were glad of the experience. That Sunday evening, the clergy returned to Dormition Skete.

On Monday, 28 November, the metropolitan and the archimandrite were driven to the small, rural cemetery owned by Saint Vladimir's parish. Saint Vladimir's Chip Lake Cemetery is situated a few miles west from Dormition Skete. There are some graves there, of which the earliest is dated 1939. Then the clergy drove to the Women's Monastery at Bluffton (a 1½ hour drive).

The abbess is Great-schema nun, Mother Ambrosia. With her mother, Nun Theodora, she re-established monastic life there in 1993. The nuns have a house church, and the renowned log church and bell tower next to a tidy cemetery. They keep goats and chickens and a large garden. They maintain a full monastic cycle of services. Many faithful from Edmonton, Calgary and Red Deer are regular visitors there. A lenten meal was served. Vladyka Demetrios answered many questions. Father Andrew and his matushka then returned to their home, while the metropolitan and the archimandrite remained in a guesthouse adjoining the convent property. The next morning, Tuesday, 29 November, the nuns drove them to the Edmonton aeroport for their return flight back to New York State, to the Monastery of Saint John of Shanghai (to the west of Albany).

Metropolitan Demetrios and Archimandrite Agathangelus visit

By 2017, it seemed clear that the parish had indeed moved with its priest to the "Genuine Greek Orthodox Christians of America". This is the same jurisdiction to which belongs the Monastery of the Holy Protection.

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 informtion

This parish is a part of the “Genuine Greek Orthodox Church of America”, under the omophor of Metropolitan Demetrius (Kyriacou) of New York and America. It is a part of the Diocese of Etna and Portland.

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint Vladimir, 15/28 July.

In 2022, the rector of the parish is the Archpriest Andrew Kencis.

Address :

Saint Vladimir's Russian Orthodox Church

6824-128 Avenue NW

Edmonton, Alberta

T5C 1S7

Telephone : (780) 476-2381

Web-site : http://stvladimirs.ca

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Directions :

Saint Vladimir's Church is located in the neighbourhood of North Edmonton, near the intersection of Fort Road, 66 Street and 127 Avenue. It is north of the Yellowhead Highway (#16).

By car :

From 66 Street NW, turn westwards on 128 Avenue. The Temple is found on the right at the corner of 128 Avenue and 68 Street.

By bus :

Consult the Edmonton Transit Service

There is bus service on 66 Street. The LRT Belevedere Station is at 129 Street and 62 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.

Archpriest Andrew Kencis

c/o Dormition Skete

P.O. Box 104

Wildwood, Alberta

T0E 2M0

E-mail : frandrew@monasterypress.com

Telephone/Fax : 780-325-2357 (call first for faxing)

Monastery Press web-site : www.monasterypress.com/index.html