Spirit River AB Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Spirit River, Alberta, Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Prehistory

The whole region sometimes called the "Grande Prairie" (from the French for Large Prairie), or the “Peace River Region” (because the Peace River of Alberta, Canada, dominates the area) is mostly agricultural. However, this foundation was supplemented much later by the oil and natural gas industry.

The Peace River

There are 2 sites associated in Northernwestern Alberta with the history of the Temple of Saint Elias : Rycroft, and Spirit River, which are 7 km apart. These sites are located about 511.6 km (318 mi) northwest of Edmonton (about a 5 -hour drive via Highway #43 E), and approximately 78 km (48 mi) north of Grande Prairie, at the junction of Highway #49 and Highway #731.

Spirit River is named for the small river flowing nearby (Spirit River), which was identified by resident Cree people as “cîpay sîpîy” (tchepe sepe), “ghost river” or “spirit river”.

Ranching in the area started as early as the 1840s and farming in the 1880s. In general, these operations were related to the supply of the Dunvegan trading-post which functioned in the Peace River Valley after 1805. A Roman Catholic Mission “Saint Charles” was begun in 1867 by the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate”. The mission cared for the farmers, and cared for the indigenous people as well.

In 1891, a new trading-post engendered the original settlement along the banks of the Spirit River. The first school opened in 1910.

In 1915, to the northwest, on Section 22, the Edmonton, Dunvegan, and British Columbia Railway subdivided a townsite called Spirit River Station. Then the residents and storekeepers at the old settlement moved, and created a village in 1916. On 16 February, 1916, the "Herald Tribune" reported that McRae & Co. opened a general store.

It seems that the first Orthodox Christian settlers in the Peace River region of northwestern Alberta and northeastern British Columbia in Canada were actually Old Believers, who settled at Hines Creek, Alberta, in the 1920s. They arrived after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.

Later, between the late 1920s and the 1940s, other Orthodox Christian settlers arrived. They were generally from Western Ukraine.

In the late 1920s, pioneer homesteaders began settling on virgin land north and west of the town of Spirit River, which was then the frontier and the end of the line of the Northern Alberta Railway. The virgin land which they acquired was heavily forested, and it took considerable work to clear for farming. However, the trees which they cut served well for constructing homes, barns, and other structures. In due time, the very fertile land became an extremely productive grain-producing region.

Horse-drawn reaper (left) ; Early Spirit River (right)

It is known that the Temple of Saint Elias was erected first at Rycroft, Alberta, situated about 7 km southeast of Spirit River. However, it is not indicated when or how this occurred. It is probable that this Ukrainian Orthodox parish had been established as distinct from the several Russian Orthodox communities in the region (such as Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church).

The Temple

In 1965, the Temple of Saint Elias, Spirit River, was moved from Rycroft, Alberta, Canada (7 km/4.3 mi east of Spirit River). It is now situated at the east end of Spirit River, along Highway #49.

In 2024, there is no more information available on the internet about this parish beyond what is presented in this article.

It is obvious, however, that since its foundation, the parish of Saint Elias has promoted the Faith of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and that the parishioners have maintained the structure of the building, and the grounds surrounding it. At this time, Divine Services are infrequent.

Parish information

There is no cemetery in internet sources that is clearly related to this Temple. However, a possible site is the "Volin Cemetery" situated at NW 10-79-4-W6M Lassiter Road.

Volin Cemetery

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.

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.

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.

Particular parish information

This parish is a part 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 is the Feast of the Prophet Elias (Elijah), 20 July/2 August.

In 2024, the parish is served by clergy of the Western Eparchy, Edmonton District.

Address :

Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Spirit River

Alberta

T0H3G0

Mailing Address :

Saint Elias Ukrainian Orthodox Church

Box 702

Spirit River

Alberta

T0H3G0

Directions :

The Temple is located just north of the Town of Spirit River, north of the Spirit River Highway, Alberta #49, near the Spirit River Municipal Airport.

From Edmonton :

Driving time from Edmonton is about 5 hours and 15 minutes. The distance is about 512 km (318 mi).

Drive westwards on the Yellowhead Highway West (Highway #16 West) past Stony Plain to Highway #43 North. Turn right. Continue on Highway #43, past Valleyview, to Bezanson. After Bezanson, turn right (north) at Highway #733. Before Wanham, turn left (west) onto Highway #49 (Spirit River Highway). Drive on Highway #49, past Rycroft, to Spirit River.

From Grande Prairie :

From Grande Prairie to Spirit River, the distance is 92 km, and the driving time is about 1 hour.

Follow Highway #2 north from Grande Prairie, past Clairmont, Sexsmith and Rycroft. At Highway #49, turn left (west) to Spirit River.

References

A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

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).

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.

Yereniuk, Professor Roman, “Short Historical Outline of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada” (UOCC)

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saint Elias, Spirit River, Alberta parish listing

Orthodox World listing

Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

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

Church of Constantinople web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)

Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)