Lady Lake SK Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1907

Lady Lake, Saskatchewan, Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church and Cemetery, 1907

Demetrius may be spelt Dimitrius, Dimitrios, Dimitrie, Dmitry.

Prehistory

Most of the original members of the parish of Saint Demetrius at Lady Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada, emigrated from the Bucovina area of Ukraine/Romania. There were long-standing family relationships between this parish and the parish of Holy Trinity in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

In the region from which the pioneers emigrated, the people historically were Orthodox Christians. However, under the pressures of the Austro-Hungarian Empire when it came into control of this territory, many people had been pressed into the "Unia" (union with the Roman Catholic Church). Besides this, there were many other pressures on the people who worked the land in that region which made life very difficult. When the opportunity arrived for people to emigrate to Canada, a large number of Orthodox Christians and others took this opportunity despite all the potential difficulties and risks.

As elsewhere, upon arrival in Canada, the pioneers of this region who came from Bucovina began to establish their homesteads in accordance with the rules of settlement. Land had to be cleared, ploughed and seeded quickly in order to provide for the basic needs of the coming winter.

At first, the families quickly erected sod houses on the basis of earthen floors known as “soddies” or “bordays”. Once the pioneers had managed this much, they banded together to construct for themselves a spiritual house, a Temple in which to worship the Lord, because this had been and remained the focus of their lives. Without the Lord, they would not have had the strength to endure and to persevere.

Retaining, living and practicing daily their Orthodox Christian Faith, the settlers gathered together to worship together in their homes (they used a reader’s form of services such as "Typica"), and they began the work required to organise the parish and to construct a Temple to the Lord. As usual, a portion of property was donated for this purpose.

Construction of the Temple, 1907

Property was acquired for the purpose of establishing a Temple, and a cemetery. The parish was also legally registered with the government of the recently-established (1905) new Province of Saskatchewan, and the parish acquired legal status.

The Temple of Saint Demetrius was constructed of logs in 1907, and by 1918, other structures had been completed. It was Wasyl Kalenchiuk who is recorded as having been the designer and the leader in the construction of this Temple, which is in a typical format for Romanian Temples on the Canadian prairies. It reflects the character of Temples in Romania, but it retains a very simple format, with a hip roof, a rectangular shape and a small rounded apse on the east side of the building. The interior of the Temple has a wooden chandelier, and several hand-Crosses, all locally hand-made in the early 20th century. The decorated Altar area and the iconostas include numerous wood moldings, intricately carved Royal Doors, and 10 icons on the iconostas. The construction also includes 2 recesses on the sides, all covered by the single straight roofline. These recesses give the interior of the Temple a cruciform shape.

Constructed on a large hill overlooking the community of Lady Lake, the Temple is visible from a great distance, which makes it into a local landmark. It is one of the oldest public buildings in the municipality.

Side view from south

There was also established a 2-storey bell-house by the Temple, which also kept a simple and practical format which is found with very many rural Orthodox Christian Temples on the prairies. There are several styles, but the one used by this parish is the most typical. In a usual Romanian parish, it is not only the bell (or bells) which is used to announce the services, but also the “toacă”, or “semantron”. This is a long wooden plank which is especially shaped for holding in the hands, or it is a fixed thick piece of wood. In either case, it is beaten rapidly with a mallet or mallets.

The Temple and bell-house viewed from the east

In addition, the parishioners constructed a rectory, where a priest was resident for many years.

Consequences of rural depopulation, after 1930s

As with other rural parishes in Saskatchewan and the other prairie provinces, the community suffered from rural depopulation from the 1930s onward, and a steadily declining number of parishioners. This decline occurred as younger people moved to cities in search of work, and as farms were consolidated when they began to be incorporated into larger farms and then agricultural businesses.

Historical site, 1990

On 5 February, 1990, the Temple and Cemetery were recognised by the local government as a municipal heritage property, and thus a historical site.

Despite the depopulation, there are many people in other communities whose family origins are focussed on this Temple, and who maintain an active interest and periodic participation in this parish. There remain some Orthodox Christians in the region who maintain the buildings and the grounds.

Saint Demetrius Orthodox Cemetery, 1907

Land description is NW 24-35-5 W2, in the Lady Lake district of the RM of Preeceville.

The first interment in this cemetery was in 1907.

There are more than 170 interments in this cemetery. The graves are marked customarily with an upright concrete Cross.

View of the cemetery

Particular parish information

Lady Lake is a hamlet situated about 105 km (65 mi) north of Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

The parish of Saint Demetrius in Lady Lake, Saskatchewan, is a parish of the Archdiocese of Canada in The Orthodox Church in America.

This parish is a part of the Deanery of Saskatchewan-Manitoba-Nunavut, of the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA). The dean is the Archpriest Gregory Scratch. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity).

In 2025, the pastor of this community was the Archpriest Rodion Luciuk of Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Address :

Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church

Land description site NW 24-35-5 W2

Lady Lake,

RM of Preeceville #334,

Saskatchewan

Directions :

Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church is situated at Lady Lake, Saskatchewan, located 11.3 km (7 mi) north and 3.2 km (2 mi) east of Preeceville, Saskatchewan. It is 105 km (65 mi) northeast of Yorkton.

From Yorkton, drive north on Highway #9 and continue on this highway past Canora, Stenen, and Sturgis. At the junction of Highway #47 at the access to Preeceville, follow Highway #9 to the right towards Lady Lake.

GPS : 52.023617 degrees north, 102.600682 degrees west

Mailing address :

Saint Demetrius Orthodox Church

c/o Fred Lesko

P.O. Box 895

Preeceville, Saskatchewan

S0A 3B0

Please call the priest for specific information.

Archpriest Rodion Luciuk

310, Circlebrooke Drive

Yorkton, SK

S3N 2T1

Telephone : 306-782-2482

E-mail : fatherrod@sasktel.net

References

Archdiocese of Canada – Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Department of Culture, Youth and Recreation Heritage Resources Branch 1919 Saskatchewan Drive Regina, SK File: PHP 1319.

Rural Municipality of Preeceville No. 334 Bylaw 4-1990.

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Wikipedia article

Additional information :

Anderson, Alan, “Ethnic Block Settlements in Saskatchewan”

Ukrainian Churches of Canada Architectural Styles

Archdiocese listing

OCA listing

Orthodox World listing

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Wikipedia article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America