Smoky Lake-North Kotzman AB Saint Michael the Archangel Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1916

Smoky Lake-North Kotzman, Alberta, Church and Cemetery of Saint Michael the Archangel, 1916

The nickname of this parish is Shevchenko.

General history

The Temple and Cemetery of Saint Michael the Archangel had always been attached to Holy Trinity Church in Smoky Lake, Alberta, but it was not listed separately.

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.

Saint Michael the Archangel Russo Orthodox Cemetery, 1916

The first burial in the Cemetery of Saint Michael is noted as having been in 1916.

Located northeast of the town of Smoky Lake, Alberta, Canada, this place is often popularly called the Shevchenko Church or the North Kotzman Church.

“Kotzman” is, in fact, the German spelling of Kitsman, of the Kitsman Raion (county), in the Chernivtsi Oblast (province) in Bucovina, Ukraine. The place-name itself suggests the region from which most of the founding members came when they immigrated to Canada before World War I.

This region is a farming area in the midst of many lakes. As other regions, it has suffered from rural depopulation, and places such as the North Kotzman post-office and the Temple of Saint Michael no longer exist. Nevertheless, particularly with regard to the property on which the Temple stood, and the cemetery which remains, the remaining local people take care of it and maintain it.

Cemetery grave-markers

Particular parish information

This community is part of the Alberta & Northwest Territories Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Archpriest Vincent Lehr. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This community followed the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this Temple was the Feast of the Holy Archangel Michael, 8/21 November.

In 2023, the cemetery and community are cared for by deanery clergy.

Address :

Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church

Township Road #604 and Range Road #170

Part of Section 30, Township 60, Range 16, West of 4th Meridian

County of Smoky Lake, Alberta

Directions :

Smoky Lake is located 112 km (70 mi) northeast of Edmonton, which takes about 1½ hours by car.

Drive north of Smoky Lake on Highway #855. At Township Road #600, turn right. Drive eastwards to Range Road #170, and turn left. Follow Range Road #170 northwards as it passes round a lake until Township Road #604. The cemetery and the Temple site are at this corner.

Mailing address :

Saint Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church

c/o Archpriest Vincent Lehr, Dean

9930-167 Street

Edmonton, Alberta

T5P 4W7

Archpriest Vincent Lehr, Dean

Telephone : 780-484-9804

Emails : frvincent@sthermans.ca ; priestvincent@gmail.com

References

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

A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part I

Dictionary of Ukrainian Canadian Biography of Pioneer Settlers of Alberta (Edmonton : Ukrainian Pioneer Association of Alberta, 1984).

Kotzman cemetery

"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.

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.

Additional information :

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

Patriarchal Parishes in Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Adam Philipovsky

Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)