Sarrail AB Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1929

Sarrail, Alberta, Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul, 1929

Prehistory

Sarrail, Alberta, Canada, is situated about 165 km (103 mi) northeast of Edmonton, and 6.4 km (4 mi) north of Grassland. The Grassland area is about a half-hour's drive by car to the east of the town of Athabasca, Alberta. It is in Central Alberta. Sarrail is also located a few kilometres to the east of Donatville, which is 17 km (11 mi) north of Boyle, Alberta.

The region around Donatville and Sarrail was settled earlier in the 20th century, before the arrival of the railway, but it was not until after World War I that more serious farming began. Even then, those who arrived did so by foot, and/or by horse and cart until the railway did arrive. Ukrainian-speakers began to arrive in the Athabasca region around 1912. When more Ukrainian-speakers arrived after World War I, while they settled, they also began to assemble together in groups for worship.

Donatville was settled by the Québec farmer P Coté, and it took him many years of labour to establish himself and to bring all his family together there. Others followed him to the region, and a school was built in 1915 ; however, it closed after 1917 because of a lack of teachers after the war. Although the railway had arrived in Boyle, it had been decided not to bring it to Donatville. The muskeg between Donatville and Boyle was an obstacle that could be dealt first by the construction of a winter road in 1920, and a year-round road by 1925. Until then, the nearest settlement was Athabasca. By about 1925, after the construction of the road and the arrival of new people, it was possible for the school to be extended and re-opened for a time. However, when busing of students later began, the students were transported instead to the school in Boyle. It was after the opening of the Fort McMurray "tar-sands" in about 1967 that more settlement began in this region.

In 2024, the only information available on the internet about this parish community seems to be the excerpt from the book "Dreams and Determination - A History of Grassland and Districts" published in 1985. There is also a certain amount of information about the region in the book : “Forests, Furrows and Faith : A History of Boyle and Districts” by the Boyle and District Historical Society.

Establishing the parish, 1929

In 1929, the residents of Sarrail (northeast of Athabasca) decided that it was necessary that they have an Orthodox Christian Temple in which they could worship according to the custom of their homeland, and to provide for daily spiritual needs as Orthodox Christians. There was convened an organisational meeting, and it was decided they would construct a Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church. Arsene Sawchuk is noted as being the founder of the parish. This parish was the first Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church to be constructed in the Lac la Biche district.

Jacob Hewko had a sawmill, and the farmers got a permit for cutting logs for the building. All the work was done by volunteers.

The first members were :

 Mike Bilon, John Budney,  William Gerela, Jacob Hewko, Joe Hewko, Nick Hewko, Peter Hewko, Sam Hewko, 
 Fred Holowenko, Mike Lazarchuk, William Nykolyn, Fed Pysyk, John Samborsky, Arsene Sawchuk.

The land for the Temple and the cemetery was donated by Wasyl and Ksenka Nykolyn. Later, an additional amount of land was donated by their son, Paul Nykolyn. This land was used for the first Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church in the Lac la Biche district.

The Temple being constructed

The Temple which they established remained a "shell" for over a decade. In this primitive environment, the faithful gathered to worship as possible in warmer weather for more than a decade.

The first priest to serve this parish was the Archpriest Evgeniy Olendy.

Then, in 1944, William Nykolynwas the president, and John Pisarewski was the secretary of the parish committee. At this time, under their leadership, George Fleming Sr. was engaged to do the interior finishing, the painting, and the construction of the chimney.

The priests who served in this parish did not serve the Divine Liturgy on a regular basis. Since most of them lived in Edmonton or other centres, this Temple was served only on particular occasions during the year, and on other occasions when the need arose.

This parish chose the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul for the annual "Hram" or Altar Feast-day, which was celebrated on 12 July. From the beginning, this annual service in particular provided a welcome social occasion for the members and their families. Following the Divine Liturgy of the Feast-day, it is customary that water be blessed, and that during a procession the Temple's 4 exterior walls be blessed with this water. Normally, in such a parish, this would also serve as the occasion for the blessing of the graves in the cemetery and for offering prayers for the departed there.

After the conclusion of the services, there was customarily a picnic, and as usual there would be plenty to eat. There would also be a time for games, and one of them would be Bingo. In the evening, a dance in the evening in the parish hall completed the day.

Rural depopulation

As have all other rural parishes across Western Canada, this parish community suffered from rural depopulation, which began in the 1930s. This accelerated after World War II with the increase in mechanisation and the consolidation of small farms into larger ones. The consequence of this was the move of many people into various urban areas.

By the 1990s, the number of farms had decreased even more greatly because a great many had been bought by larger and larger farming operations.

Sanctification of the Temple, 1964

In 1964, the Temple of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was formally sanctified by Archbishop Andrew (Metiuk) of Edmonton.

Blessing the Temple

The parish and the cemetery became listed as a Historical Site in 1980.

Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC) by an Act of the Parliament of Canada.

The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

81 years : 2010

On Saturday, 10 July, 2010, beginning at 9:30 a.m., the parishioners were led in the celebration of their Altar Feast-day with the serving of the Divine Liturgy. Afterwards, as is customary, water was blessed, the four exterior walls of the Temple were blessed, and then there followed memorial services at the graves in the cemetery. Following all these events, there was a community meal.

Centennial of the UOCC, 2018

In 2018, the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and also of Holy Trinity Cathedral were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The purpose of the sobor was to celebrate 100 years of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of Saint Petro Mohyla Institute, presided by Bishop Andriy (Peshko) of the Eastern Eparchy, with the responses sung by the Clergy led by Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

Centennial Clergy Conference

All gathered for Vespers at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

Centennial of the UOCC, 2018

In 2018, the 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada and also of Holy Trinity Cathedral were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

The purpose of the sobor was to celebrate 100 years of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The celebrations were attended by Ukrainian Orthodox faithful from across Canada and beyond.

The Sobor began on Thursday, 9 August, 2018, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of Saint Petro Mohyla Institute, presided by Bishop Andriy (Peshko) of the Eastern Eparchy, with the responses sung by the Clergy led by Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz. This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.

Centennial Clergy Conference

All gathered for Vespers at the Mohyla Institute Chapel and this was followed by a wine and cheese reception as the delegates and guests registered for the Extraordinary National Council.

The celebrations continued for a year.

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.

Election of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk), 2022

Election of a nominee by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

On 15-19 June, 2022, the 24th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada was convened "on-line". This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network : in Winnipeg, Manitoba (Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral) ; Vancouver, British Columbia (Holy Trinity Cathedral) ; in Edmonton, Alberta (Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (Holy Trinity Cathedral) ; in Toronto, Ontario (Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral) ; in Montréal, Québec (Saint Sophie Cathedral).

There was a total of 205 delegates, which was near the average attendance for such sobors.

In the course of the work of the Sobor, there was the necessary election in order to nominate to the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople a candidate for election as Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, who would succeed the Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk).

There were 3 candidates who were considered : Archbishop Job (Getcha), Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk), and Bishop Andriy (Peshko). The final choice of the members of the sobor was Archbishop Job (Getcha). He had received more than the minimum required 51% of the votes, and there was no subsequent voting required.

The election by the Sobor (Assembly) of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada then had to be confirmed by the Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople (as is described in the Consistory By-laws).

Upon having received the nomination (with accompanying documents) from the Sobor of the UOCC, the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) to become Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada.

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Archbishop Job (Getcha) to become Metropolitan of Pisidia, in west-central Türkiye (Turkey), north of Lycia, and east of Ephesus.

Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the Phanar in Constantinople for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022. He co-served the Divine Liturgy with Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) in the Cathedral of Saint George at the Phanar.

Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served. Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by Bishop Andriy (Peshko), many priests, several deacons, subdeacons and Altar-servers. Present also were Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas), Exarch of Canada for the Patriarchate of Constantinople, and Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk), Former Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) at the Phanar, Istanbul, 2023

On Sunday, 2 July, 2023, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at Saint George's Cathedral in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Job (Getcha) of Pisidia, Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos) of Nazianzos, and the Honourable Roman Nedilskyi, General Consul of Ukraine in Constantinople were also present and praying with the congregation of the Faithful.

Change of calendar for the UOCC, 2023

On 1 December, 2023, in accordance with the resolutions of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) announced that, effective that day, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada moved to use the New (Revised Julian) Calendar. He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the Old (Julian) Calendar.

It seems that subsequently, John's Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, was the first to adopt the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

However, a previously-existing group of persons began to encourage resistance to the immediacy of this change. It was their understanding that the process would be determined ultimately and finally at the next general sobor of the UOCC. Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion issued a formal letter concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)). He called the resisters to repentance.

Saint Peter and Paul’s Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Cemetery / Sarrail Cemetery, 1929

The cemetery can be found at land description site SE31-66-18-W4

Donatville, Alberta.

Although the cemetery had been set apart, it was not until 1934 that the first funeral and interment occurred.

In that year, the first interment took place with the repose in Christ of Hewko.

Cemetery

With the parish, the cemetery became listed as a Historical Site in 1980.

Commemorative plaque

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Lac la Biche District of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop of the eparchy is Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul, 29 June/12 July.

In 2024, the pastor of this parish is the Priest (Dr.) Roman Shiyan, and by the retired Archpriest Michael Domaradz.

Address :

Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Land description site SE31-66-18-W4, Sarrail

Donatville, Alberta

Directions :

Call the priest for specific directions.

Sarrail is situated 6.4 km (4 mi) north of Grassland. Grassland is situated 47 km (29 mi) east of Athabaska, on Highway #55. Athabaska is situated 148 km (92 mi) north of Edmonton, Alberta, on Highway #2 North. Sarrail is also located 20.6 (12.8 mi) north of Boyle.

The Temple and cemetery are also to the east of Donatville, near North Buck Lake.

Sarrail is also situated 108 km (67 mi) northwest of Smoky Lake, Alberta.

From Edmonton :

Sarrail is located about 165 km (103 mi) northeast of Edmonton. The driving time is about 1 hour and 55 minutes.

Drive northeast on the Fort Road and Manning Drive (Highway #15) towards Fort Saskatchewan. Follow Highway #825 North and Range Road #224 to Highway #28 East. Turn left on Highway #63 North (signs for Fort McMurray), and drive to Donatville. Drive north a few kilometres until the right turn towards Sarrail, which is 4.2 km (2.6 mi) distant from Donatville.

Priest (Dr.) Roman Shiyan

Telephone : (780) 439-7217

References

A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Boyle and District Historical Society, “Forests, Furrows and Faith : A History of Boyle and Districts” (Boyle, Albera : The Society, 1982)

“Dreams and Determination – A History of Grassland and Districts of Alberta” (History Book Committee : Grassland, Alberta, 1990)

Lac La Biche Parish District of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, “Svatkyvannya 2000, a Celebration of our Faith” (Quebecor Jasper, Edmonton : Lac La Biche Parish District, 2000). ISBN 0-9687654-0-8.

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.

Additional information :

“Collection of Material Relating to the 50th Anniversary of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918-1968” (Winnipeg : Consistory of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1968).

Palmer, Howard, and Tamara Palmer, eds. “Peoples of Alberta : Portraits of Cultural Diversity” (Saskatoon : Western Producer Prairie Books, 1985)

Sametz, William, “My father the priest : the life and times of the Very Reverend Dr. Peter Sametz : founding missionary priest of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (Toronto : Hypertex Plus, 2008). ISBN : 9780969670056.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul, Sarrail, Alberta parish listing

Orthodox World listing

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site

Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site

Church of Constantinople web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)

Metropolitan Polikarp (Sikorski)