Ottawa ON Protection of the Holy Virgin Russian Orthodox Memorial Church 1965

Ottawa, Ontario, Memorial Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin, 1965

“Protection of the Holy Virgin” is often written “Protection of the Holy Theotokos”, or "Holy Virgin Protectress".

Prehistory

The first Orthodox parish to be organised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, was the Holy Trinity Bukowinian Church. It was begun in 1913 by a small group of immigrants from Bucovina (now in southwestern Ukraine) who, on the Feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God on 28 August, 1918, sanctified the first Orthodox Christian Temple in Ottawa. It was located on Gladstone Avenue. During the 1920s and 1930s, Holy Trinity Church was a place of worship for all Orthodox Christians in the Ottawa area. In the following decades, most of the various Orthodox ethnic groups organised their own parishes in the nation’s capital. Russians, however, continued to pray at the Bukowinian church since it was a member of the Eastern Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia.

Founding the parish, first Temple, 1965

By the mid-sixties, the Russian community in Ottawa decided to organise its own Orthodox parish. With the blessing of Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov) of Montréal and Canada, the Protection of the Virgin Mary parish opened in Ottawa on 21 October, 1965.

At first, this new community met in the home of Claudia P Gitalenko, one of the founding members of the parish. Visiting priest-monks from the Saint Job of Pochaev Brotherhood in Montréal served at the new church several times a month.

Only 2 years after forming, the parish was able to buy a two-story house at 10, Arthur Street. The building was converted into a Temple, parish hall, and apartment for the rector. Father Theodore, one of the monks of the Saint Job of Pochaev Brotherhood, was active in furnishing the new Temple, with the help of the diocesan administration.

In 1968, Father Vladimir Chikanovsky was assigned as the first rector of the Protection parish. During his short stay, a sisterhood and parish school were organised.

Father Vladimir was replaced as rector by Archimandrite Gregory (Moiseyevsky) in May, 1969. Although Father Gregory stayed only one year in Ottawa, he is still remembered for his love of the church services and for his care in teaching the young people of the parish reading and singing on the kliros (the raised dais on the right and/or left side of the Temple, just before the iconostas, where the readers and singers may stand).

By the end of the sixties, it had become clear that the recently purchased house-church was not sufficient for the needs of the community, and a search began for a building to replace it.

In 1970, Father Michael Milonow was assigned as the new rector. He had transferred from The Orthodox Church in America. He was soon transferred to London, Ontario, after which the Archpriest Dimitri Sever became the parish priest.

New site, second Temple, 1970

In May, 1970, the parish acquired a location at a former Protestant church at 267, Richmond Road. In the several months that followed, the interior of this building was completely rebuilt and decorated to make it suitable for Orthodox worship. Icons were painted by Kirill M Kotkov for the newly-built iconostas. The exterior of the Temple was crowned with 2 Russian-style cupolas that were constructed and donated by the church-warden from Montréal.

For the next 18 years, this parish was to be the main centre of prayer and fellowship for the Russian Orthodox community in Ottawa. On 18 October, 1970, only 6 months after its purchase, the Temple on Richmond Road was sanctified by Archbishop Vitaly (Ustinov). Fathers Theodore and Gregory, who had worked diligently to establish the parish, participated in the sanctification.

Second site, Richmond Road

New site, new projects, 1986-1989

In the early 1980s, the parish began exploring the possibility of building a large Russian Orthodox Temple in order to house the growing community. Soon it was decided to build not only a new church, but also a large senior citizens’ residence to house elderly Orthodox Christians who wished to live near the Temple. This ambitious project was dedicated as a monument to the upcoming 1,000-year anniversary of the Baptism of Rus'.

In 1986, Father George Skrinnikow was assigned to serve as the assistant rector. In the same year, a large piece of land was acquired at 89 and 99, Stonehurst Avenue for the construction of the future Saint Vladimir’s Russian Seniors’ Residence and Holy Virgin Protection Temple. Throughout the mid-1980s, Orthodox Christians from all over the world sent donations to help to build the new residence and Temple.

In 1987, Saint Vladimir’s Residence, with 65 apartments for qualified seniors, was completed.

Saint Vladimir's Retirement Residence

In 1988, the year of the 1,000th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus', the new Temple with the golden domes was completed, and the first service was offered to the Lord. The Temple (adjacent to Saint Vladimir's Residence) had been designed by the Ottawa architect George M Moiseyev, who was also the project architect for the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

In 1988, a group of parishioners who lived in the far western regions of the city received the blessing from Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) to establish a new community in Kanata, an Ottawa suburb. This would become the Blessed Xenia of Saint Petersburg Russian Orthodox Church.

Third Temple, 1989

The newly-built Memorial Temple was sanctified on 6 August, 1989, by Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov), Archbishop Laurus (Skurla) of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York, and Archbishop Paul (Pavlov) (+1995) of Australia who in the 1960s, while still a priest-monk, had travelled from Montréal, Québec, in order to serve at the newly organised Protection parish in Ottawa.

Holy Protection Memorial Temple

In 1989, Tatiana N Vartanova was commissioned to paint the icons for the five-tiered iconostas.

Iconostas and interior

New challenges, 1999

The Mitred Archpriest Dimitry Sever was removed from his responsibilities as the rector of the Protection of the Holy Virgin parish in September, 1999. Father Dimitry and some others in authority were removed because Father Dimitry, the parish council and others had decided to transfer to the jurisdiction of the Moscow Patriarchate. This was before the ROCOR itself had entered into communion with the Russian Orthodox Church. The following years proved to be difficult for the parish.

Return of Archpriest George Skrinnikow, 2002

In 2002, after several other priests had served as rectors, the Archpriest George Skrinnikow was assigned to serve as the new parish priest and life began to return to normal.

Archpriest Stelian Liabotis, 2004

In 2004, the Archpriest Stelian Liabotis was assigned to serve as the assistant priest and, in 2006, he replaced Father George, who retired, as the senior priest. Under their guidance, the parish school was re-established and classes for adults organised. People were again catechised, baptised, and married. Work on the iconostas resumed, and it was finally completed in 2011.

Father Stelian served the parish until 2013, when Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) himself became the rector.

Priest Alexis Pjawka, 2013

In 2013, Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) (the ruling bishop of the Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia) assigned the Priest Alexis Pjawka to serve as his assistant in Ottawa.

Parish Feast-day

Several charitable fundraisers are held by the parish throughout the year. In the spring, before Great Lent, the parish hosts a "bliny" (a Russian yeast crepe) dinner. Since October, 2012, the parish has held its annual "Taste of Russia Festival", in which local artists present a variety of performances and wares including traditional Russian dance, paintings, and genuine Russian products. The licensed event provides a unique opportunity in Ottawa for attendants to purchase Russian beverages and homemade Russian cuisine.

2020

In 2020, the events associated with the pandemic affected this parish also. There were challenges to pass through with limitations imposed by the government on attendance, and some complete closures as well. Ways were found in which the parishioners could be kept together and also have opportunities to worship.

During this difficult year, the 5 domes of the Temple were renewed, since the original coverings of the "onion" tops were suffering noticeably from weathering. The 4 smaller ones were replaced with blue-coloured tops, and the main cupola was replaced with a golden top which had been prepared by an Orthodox Christian man in Calgary, Alberta. This work was completed during the warm weather of 2020.

Holy Protection Temple with new dome-tops, autumn 2020

Archpastoral visitation, 2022

On 14 October, 2022, the Altar feast-day of the Protection of the Most-Holy Theotokos Temple was marked and celebrated.

Archbishop Gabriel of Montréal and Canada made an archpastoral visit to the parish, and officiated at the festive divine services. On the eve of the feast-day, Archbishop Gabriel, assisted by the parish clergy and guests from the neighbouring parish of Saint Xenia, served the All-night Vigil.

On the feast-day, Archbishop Gabriel celebrated the Hierarchical Liturgy. He was assisted by Archpriest Oleg Mironov, rector of Saint Xenia Church in Kanata, Priest Alexis Pjawka, acting rector of the Protection Church in Ottawa ; Priest Ephraim Willmarth, cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York ; Protodeacon Vasily Milonov, cleric of Saint Xenia Church in Kanata ; and Protodeacon Alexander Zakharov. During the Divine Liturgy, Father Alexis Pjawka was elevated to the dignity of archpriest. After the singing of "It is truly meet", Subdeacon Andrey Anishchenko was ordained to the Holy Diaconate. The choir sang prayerfully under the direction of the parish choir director, Julia Krukovskaia. After the service, Archbishop Gabriel addressed the Faithful with a homily, and he congratulated the parishioners with the feast-day. Following the homily, a moleben was served with a procession around the Temple, with the blessing of the exterior walls.

Festal blessing of the walls

After the conclusion of the Liturgy, a festive meal, prepared by the parish sisterhood, was held in the parish hall.

In 2023, the parish was a multi-ethnic community with Orthodox Greeks, Serbs, Bulgarians, Ukrainians, Arabs, Romanians and Canadian converts to the Orthodox Christian Faith, joining with Russians of all 3 immigrations and their descendants, to worship God.

Since 1965, the Protection of the Holy Virgin parish in Ottawa has served the Russian Orthodox community in Ottawa and southeastern Ontario. Former members of the parish include a bishop, a deacon, nuns, choir conductors, and seminarians, serving God in various parts of Canada.

Holy Protection Cemetery Section at Pinecrest Cemetery, 1960s

During the early years of this parish community, a section of the Pinecrest Cemetery was secured for the use of this parish. Situated in the south-central part of the cemetery, it has continued to serve this community and those related to it.

Holy Protection Cemetery

Parish particular information

This parish is a part of the Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR), within the Moscow Patriarchate. The bishop is Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Protection of the Theotokos, 1/14 October.

In 2023, the pastor of the parish is the Archpriest Alexis Pjawka.

The deacons are Protodeacon Basil Milonov and Protodeacon Alexander Zacharov.

Address :

Memorial Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin

99, Stonehurst Avenue

Ottawa, Ontario

K1Y 4R7

Telephone : (613) 729-1362

Web-site : https://www.memorialchurch.ca/en/parish

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Directions :

The Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church is a parish of the ROCOR Diocese of Montréal and Canada. The Temple is located in the Mechanicsville area of Ottawa.

It is approached from Scott Street, to the east from Parkdale Avenue. Turn north at Carruthers Avenue, and right at Stonehurst Avenue. There is space in a parking lot, and there is parking available on neighbourhood streets.

Archpriest Alexis Pjawka

356, Britannia Road

Ottawa, Ontario

K2B 5X8

Telephones : 613-828-5200 : 613-316-9820 (mobile)

E-mail : fr.alexis@memorialchurch.ca