Horen AB Saint John the Baptist Church and Cemetery 1949
Horen, Alberta, Church and Cemetery in the Name of Saint John the Baptist, 1949
Prehistory
After World War II, more immigrants began to arrive in Canada. They came especially from Western Ukraine, and many of them settled in several places to the west of Edmonton, Alberta.
In September, 1949, the small community of Horen, Alberta (which is in Parkland County), held its first church service at the Dnepro School (named for the Dnipro River, the main river of Ukraine). The Priest Wasyl Hochachka officiated and the choir was made up of amateur singers and others who tried to follow along with the singers. Because of the successful attendance, these services were continued to be held in this school for another 2 or 3 years.
Founding the parish, 1951
On 23 September, 1951, the Slavic people who now lived in the vicinity of Horen, Tomahawk, Seba Beach, Moonlake, Berymoor and Highvale in the region around Lake Wabamun held an organisational meeting with the help of Father Vasily Hochachka.
At that time, Father Vasily Hochachka was serving at Saint Barbara's Church (later cathedral) in Edmonton, Alberta. Saint Barbara's Church was, at that time, part of the Archdiocese of Canada, of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America ; but a few years later, it became part of the Russian Orthodox Exarchate of North America. When this move occurred, several rural parishes (including Saint John the Baptist, Horen), which were associated with Saint Barbara's through pastoral service, transferred to the Exarchate as well.
Mr. Bill Yurchak was approached by the parish council as to whether he would sell an acre of his land for the new church site. Bill Yurchak very generously donated an acre of the Southwest half of 6-52-55. The people were very grateful. Mr. Philip Ryznik also offered to donate lumber for the construction of the new Temple at its present location.
Founders
The first executive officers were elected in the autumn of 1951 ;
Eli Chimich, Starosta ; Konstentin Porowski, Vice-president ; Philip Ryznik, Secretary ; Fred Walaschuk, Recording Secretary.
The congregation began with 29 members, and they tried to make themselves visible to other Orthodox Christians in the region.
By the spring of 1952, the congregation had increased to 45 members, and more donations were received. They now had enough funds to start building. Mr. Nick Berznuik was hired to be the head carpenter, and other members contributed voluntary help. By the autumn, the exterior of the new Temple building was completed. Then, on 13 November, 1952, it was incorporated as the “Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist”.
In 1953, new members with trade skills assisted in the completion of the interior of the Temple. Mr. Paul Kozel, and Metrofan Bobryk and his sons donated their labour for the completion of the iconostas and the ‘finishing’ carpentry. This took about 3 years.
The Horen Cemetery of Saint John the Baptist, 1954
Next, the congregation discussed the need for a cemetery. In 1954, a site was chosen, which was on the hill, 1.6 k, (1 mi) north of the Temple. Si Refus, who owned the property, was approached regarding the possible sale of 1 acre of his land, which was a corner of the SE Quarter-12-52-65. This good-hearted man donated the land which became the Horen Cemetery.
The land description site (physical address) of the Horen Cemetery of Saint John the Baptist is : SE 12-52-06 W5, Parkland County.
The first interment was in 1955, and there are now more than 44 graves.
Cemetery sign
Purchase of a hall-building and land, 1954
In 1954, the Dnepro School was put up for sale by the Stony Plain School Division (now called the Parkland School Division. The members decided to purchase this building and its two-acre parcel of land for a parish hall.
As the Temple was being completed, the parishioners donated many of the needed articles, often as memorials of relatives.
86th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada, 1983
On 3 July, 1983, the parish hosted the celebration by the patriarchal parishes of the 86th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada.
60 years of the parish, 2012
On Saturday, 7 July, 2012, on its Altar Feast-day, the parish of Saint John the Baptist in Horen, Alberta, marked the 60th anniversary of its foundation.
Bishop Job (Smakouz) of Kashira, of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, led the festal Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by the rector, Archpriest Igor Kisil, and by Priest-monk Vladimir (Lysak) of The Orthodox Church in America. The parish choir was directed by Matushka Natalia Kisil. Father Vladimir was participating on this occasion partly because he grew up in this region.
Bishop Job (Smakouz), Archpriest Igor Kisil, Priest-monk Vladimir (Lysak) at the Divine Liturgy
After the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Job greeted the numerous worshippers on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the parish. This was followed by a Moleben with the Blessing of Water. Then came a festal procession around the Temple. “Many Years” was sung. After that, a Memorial Litia was served for the departed founders and parishioners of the parish . “Memory Eternal” was then sung. After these things, a group photograph was taken on the parish grounds nearby the Temple.
Lesser Blessing of Water
Blessing of the Temple with holy water
Parishioners 2012
Following this, a festive anniversary banquet and programme was held in the nearby parish hall at Horen. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of the parish, many parishioners were awarded with archpastoral "gramotas" ("certificates of blessing").
Vladyka Job (Smakouz) and Father Igor Kisil with 2 parishioners who received a gramota
The hall was also arranged with several stands of pictures displaying the 60 year history of the parish. A special anniversary booklet, consisting of the message of Bishop Job, a history of the parish, and the life of Saint John the Baptist was prepared by Father Igor Kisil.
Although this congregation is small, its members are very active with church functions and other activities.
Parish clergy
Priests who have served this parish include :
Archpriest Vasily Hochachka 1949-1955 Monks from the Granada monastery 1956-1960 Archpriest John Margitich 1960- Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) Priest Emilian Kuzmich ____-1962 Priest Kyrill Stakhowsky 1962-1966 Priest Dimitry Sagan 1966-1968 Priest Harmonhan Karsowski 1968-1972 Priest (unknown) Zayets 1973-1976 Priest Anatoliy Harkusha 1977-1978 Archpriest Peter Vlodek 1978-1984 Archpriest Nikanor Shymko 1985-1987 Priest Feodor Kobiliatski 1987-1990 Archpriest Igor Kisil 1990-2018 Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko 2018-____
Particular parish information
This parish is part of the Moscow Patriarchate Parishes administration in Canada, of the Moscow Patriarchate (Russian Orthodox Church). The bishop is Bishop Matthew (Andreev).
This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist, 24 June/7 July.
In 2022, this parish is served by Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko.
Address :
Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist at Horen
Land description site SE 12-52-06 W5
Highway #79
Parkland County, Alberta
Directions:
The Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John the Baptist is located 80 km (50 mi) west of Edmonton, and 11 km (7 mi) south of Seba Beach, Alberta.
From Edmonton, drive westwards on Highway #16. Turn left (south) on Highway #31/#759, and then drive 11 km (7 mi) south past Seba Beach, to Tomahawk. The church is on the left.
The mailing address of the parish is the mailing address of the priest.
Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, Pastor of the parish
Telephone : (780) 426-5163
Mobile : (780) 818-7343
E-mail : pokrova70@gmail.com
References
"Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada, 100 Years of Orthodoxy in Canada 1897-1997 : Pictorial Memories" (Edmonton : 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 :
Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia web-site
Patriarchal Parishes of Canada listing for Saint John the Baptist Parish, Horen
Wikipedia article about the Patriarchal Parishes of Canada
Orthodoxwiki article about the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada
Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia
Orthodoxwiki article about The Church in America
The Russian Exarchate of North America
Metropolitan Dositheus (Ivanchenko)
Archbishop Jonathan (Kopolovitch)
Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk)
Findagrave reference to the Horen Cemetery, Horen, Alberta
History of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada
60th anniversary of Saint John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church in Horen, Alberta (14 July, 2012)
Interview with Vladyka Job (Smakouz) on the Occasion of the 120th Anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada (12 August, 2017)
125th Anniversary of the First Orthodox Liturgy on Canadian Soil (14 July, 2022)