View source for Red Deer AB Three Holy Hierarchs Orthodox Mission 2026



[[File:ThreeHolyHierarchs 2.jpg]] 

'''Red Deer, AB : Three Holy Hierarchs Orthodox Mission, 2026'''

'''Three Holy Hierarchs Orthodox Mission, Red Deer, Alberta, 2006'''




==Prehistory==

There are several elements to the prehistory of the community of Saint Nicholas in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Deer,_Alberta Red Deer], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada].

The general area was inhabited for many centuries by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Nations_in_Canada First Nations] peoples including the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfoot_Confederacy Blackfoot], [https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/aboriginal-people-plains Plains] [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cree Cree] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nakoda_people Stoney] before the arrival of European [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan_River_fur_trade fur traders] in the late eighteenth century.  A First Nations trail ran south-north from the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montana_Territory Montana Territory], across the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bow_River Bow River] (near what is now [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary Calgary]), and on to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Edmonton Fort Edmonton] (later known as the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_and_Edmonton_Trail Calgary and Edmonton Trail]). The trail crossed what is now known as the Red Deer River at a wide, stony shallows.  The “[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Red_Deer_River Old Red Deer Crossing]” is 7 km (41⁄2 mi) upstream from the present-day city.

Cree people called the river “Waskasoo Seepee”, which means “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk Elk] River”. European arrivals sometimes referred to North American elk as “red deer”, after the related [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_deer Eurasian species], and it was they who later named the community after the river.  

First Nations on the north side of the river entered into [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_6 Treaty 6] in 1876 and on the south side, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_7 Treaty 7] in 1877.  After this, farmers and ranchers began to settle on the fertile lands.

'''Settlement and development of Red Deer'''

Although what is now Red Deer began to develop after the founding of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Normandeau Fort Normandeau] in 1885, the city’s origin was in the development of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_and_Edmonton_Railway  Calgary and Edmonton Railway], and the acquisition of a large tract of land (500 hectares (1,240 acres)) from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leonard_Gaetz Leonard Gaetz] (the first Eastern Canadian to settle there), a little to the east of the fort.  

The city of Red Deer is approximately equidistant from the cities of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary Calgary] (in fact, slightly nearer to Calgary).  Because of the nature of the work and movements of people, there have likely been solitary (or nearly so) Orthodox Christians living in Red Deer for at least a century.  

This city experienced the arrival of some [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox Christians] ([Greeks], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanians Romanians], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serbs Serbs], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainians Ukrainians], converts, and others) from towards the end of the 20th century.  Primarily, they arrived from other places because of transfers in their work, or because of work-opportunities.  The city provided more and more work opportunities beyond agricultural supply : oil-related companies, [https://www.guytecindustries.com/ sand and gravel companies], [https://www.reddeer.ca/business/business-environment/key-industries/ various large industrial operations], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_plant chemical plants], [https://www.cossd.com/l/red-deer-ab/pipeline-contractors  pipeline supplies], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil_refinery refineries], and others.  [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/red-deer  Red Deer] has been a growing city for many years, and in 2022, the population was more than 105,000.    

Regardless, for most of the 20th century, Orthodox Christians had to travel to Calgary, to Edmonton, or to other places where an Orthodox Christian Church existed in order to receive spiritual and pastoral care.  

'''Romanian services from Calgary, 1988'''

To begin with, the [https://www.oca.org/in-memoriam/archpriest-michael-lupu Priest Michael Lupu] from Calgary offered some services to the Orthodox Christian believers in Red Deer from 1988-1990.  Although the primary focus may have been Romanian, Father Michael would have used English to some extent in the services.  He, personally, was one who embraced all Orthodox.

In the years that followed, various further attempts were made to establish an Orthodox Christian mission in Red Deer.  As in very many other missionary endeavours throughout the country, these attempts faced many difficulties because of challenging practical circumstances. 

'''Temporary services from Edmonton, 1993'''

In 1993, since some Orthodox Christians in Red Deer asked for the possibility of services in the city,  the [http://mcdiocese.com/en/voskresenskaya-cerkov-winnipeg-mb-canada/ Hieromonk Raphael (Vereshak)] with some Faithful from [[Edmonton AB Saint Herman of Alaska Orthodox Sobor 1977 |Saint Herman's Sobor]] in Edmonton served [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy] bi-weekly until 1995.  These efforts were supported by Cliff and Lynn Stegman, her sons Joshua, and Jonathan, and several local [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_Canada Greek Orthodox] families.   

In about 1995, Father Raphael discontinued his visits because of a transfer.  There followed sporadic services by clergy from Saint Herman's Sobor in Edmonton.  However, there was no-one available who could provide regular services during many of the following years.

Moreover, Cliff Stegman was killed by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Lake_tornado Pine Lake Tornado] on 14 July, 2000.  Others in the family were injured.  This had a devasting effect on this family. 

'''Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Mission, 1999'''

The Ukrainian Orthodox Christian community in Red Deer was first established as an official mission of the [http://uocc-we.ca Western Eparchy] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] in 1999, in order to try to meet the spiritual needs of this small and growing community, and it was dedicated to the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Trinity Most Holy Trinity].  

At first, liturgical services were provided by clergy from either Edmonton or Calgary on a regular basis.  

'''Historical comment'''

A historical comment about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada and its relationship with other [https://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_Parishes_in_Canada Orthodox Churches in Canada] is in order, in view of events which followed the establishment of the mission.  The comment is merely for the sake of context. 

From 1918 until 1990, the [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Category:UGOCC Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church] (as it had been known at that time) had existed outside [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_communion canonical communion] with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/List_of_Patriarchs Orthodox patriarchs] around the world.  There had been initial concerns about the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Canon_law canonicity] of the first bishops of this Church.  However, in 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada made 2 significant adjustments which were part of the resolution of most of those difficulties.

In 1990, the “Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada” was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].

Also in 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946#Re-naming_of_the_UGOCC,_1990 to enter into Eucharistic Union] with the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

'''Development of the Holy Trinity Mission'''

During the 15 years following 1999, [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-parish-6/ Holy Trinity Mission] functioned in various funeral homes, community halls, and other rentable spaces.  Services were offered in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian] and English languages.  Visitors were always welcome. 

Divine Liturgies were offered on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month, at 10 a.m., eventually at [https://www.cylex-canada.ca/company/clearview-community-hall-23396108.html Clearview Hall] (93, Cornett Drive, Red Deer, Alberta).  [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers] was served on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the same address.

'''Saint Nektarios Mission, 2003-2008'''

Then, in 2003, the [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/schaplowsky-archpriest-michael  Priest Michael Schaplowsky] began a missionary venture only in the English language in Red Deer.  A few more parishioners of [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_Herman_of_Alaska_Orthodox_Sobor_1977 Saint Herman’s Sobor] in Edmonton now lived in Red Deer, and they hoped to be able to develop a stable community.  Thus, the mission in the name of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Nectarios_of_Pentapolis Saint Nektarios of Aegina] was initiated.  Services were held at the [http://www.parklandfuneralhome.com Parkland Funeral Chapel] at 6287-67A Street.  

This venture lasted until 2008, by which time circumstances had changed.  Father Michael Schaplowsky departed from Alberta for a time for study in the field of medicine.  

It was understood that the already-existing mission of the Ukrainian Orthodox diocese in Red Deer would be able to care for everyone, and the Saint Nektarios Mission was closed.

'''Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 2014'''

Meanwhile, the Holy Trinity Mission continued to offer services on the basis of missionary outreach from Calgary and Saint Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church there.  This was under the leadership of the founding priest, [https://st-anthonys.ca/index.php/about-us/our-clergy Archpriest Timothy Chrapko], who was at that time the rector of [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Calgary_AB_Saint_Vladimir_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1928 Saint Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church] in Calgary.  

It was because of the dedication and persistence of the people in the parish, as well as some very generous donations from Calgary and Edmonton, that the mission community was able to begin building their own Temple in 2014.

Father Timothy travelled from Calgary to Red Deer in order to provide religious services, generally 2 times monthly.  On 31 July, 2016, the Temple was sanctified by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)  Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], the Bishop of Edmonton and the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Western_Eparchy_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada_1959  Western Eparchy], along with many clergy.  
At this time, the dedication of the parish was changed from “Holy Trinity” to “[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Red_Deer_AB_Saint_Nicholas_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1999 Saint Nicholas]”. 
The Support of Saint Vladimir’s in Calgary enabled Father Chrapko to serve the community until 2019.  After that, Father Chrapko continued to serve the parish (along with other clergy) from Saint Anthony of Kyiv Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Edmonton, to which he had been transferred.  He served the Saint Nicholas parish on the first Saturday of every month.  [https://www.st-anthony.ca/index.php?view=category&id=8&start=4  Archpriest Stephen Keaschuk] (retired and attached to Saint Anthony's parish in Edmonton), served additionally on the third Sunday of every month.  The parish was served also by other priests of the Western Eparchy of the UOCC when they were available. 

With the passage of time, there began to be an increase everywhere in Alberta of Ukrainian-speaking immigrants, including in Red Deer.

'''Other developments'''

During the 2020s, there was a renewal of interest by English-speaking Orthodox Christians in Red Deer in trying to establish again an English-speaking Orthodox presence.  Upon occasion, clergy would serve in various places in Red Deer.  They were travelling principally from [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_Herman_of_Alaska_Orthodox_Sobor_1977  Saint Herman’s Orthodox Church] (Sobor) in Edmonton.  

==Mission-station status==

By May, 2026, there enough faithful Orthodox Christians in Red Deer who wished to begin worshipping together, fundamentally in English, that the groups was blessed to become a Mission Station of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada  Archdiocese of Canada], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America  The Orthodox Church in America].  This is the first stage in the development towards parish status.  

From then, the community grew quickly in commitment, and in number.  

==Mission status==

On Friday, 11 September, and Saturday, 12 September, 2026, [https://www.archdiocese.ca/fr/clergy/lehr-archipretre-vincent-brian  Archpriest Vincent Lehr] visited the mission, and he served [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers Vespers], and the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy Divine Liturgy].

On this day, he declared that the community had progressed sufficiently to become an official mission of the Archdiocese of Canada.  

The mission began officially to be named “The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Three_Holy_Hierarchs Three Holy Hierarchs] Orthodox Mission”, named for the 3 saints commemorated on 30 January, namely [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Basil_the_Great Saint Basil the Great], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Gregory_the_Theologian Saint Gregory the Theologian], and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/John_Chrysostom Saint John Chrysostom].  

From then, deanery clergy began to take it in turn to offer services at the Three Hierarchs Orthodox Mission in Red Deer.  When clergy were not available, the Faithful in the community gathered for worship.  They used the reader’s form of Vespers, [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Typika  Typika], and other services for this.  


[[File:RedDeerChapel 2.jpg]]  '''Three Holy Hierarchs Chapel'''


[[File:ArchpriestVincentLehrVespers 2.jpg]]  '''Dean, Archpriest Vincent Lehr at Vespers'''


[[File:ArchpriestVincentLehrDivineLiturgy 2.jpg]]  '''Archpriest Vincent Lehr at the Divine Liturgy'''


[[File:FatherSeraphim, Entrance 2.jpg]]  '''Father Seraphim Bohatsky, Entrance at Divine Liturgy'''


[[File:FatherSeraphimBohatsky 2.jpg]]  '''Father Seraphim Bohatsky, at the Divine Liturgy'''


Already, the Mission of the Three Holy Hierarchs had available a book-store, with icons, books, candles, and other useful items for sale.


[[File:ThreeHierarchsChapel,Store 2.jpg]]  '''The entrance, store, and chapel'''

==Particular parish information==

The Mission of the Three Holy Hierarchs in Red Deer, Alberta, is a mission of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Category:Alberta_%26_Northwest_Territories  Alberta Deanery] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada  Archdiocese of Canada] in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America  The Orthodox Church in America].  The [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dean  Dean] is [https://www.oca.org/clergy/vincent-lehr  Archpriest Vincent Lehr].  The bishop is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Irénée_(Rochon)  Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]. 

This mission parish follows the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar  New (Revised Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of the Mission is the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Three_Holy_Hierarchs  Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs], 20 January.  


Meeting Place :

Three Holy Hierarchs Orthodox Church

5305-50 (Gaetz) Avenue 

Red Deer, Alberta

T4N 4B6


Mailing address :

Three Holy Hierarchs Orthodox Church

c/o [https://www.gbmusicandsound.com/ GB Music & Sound]

5303-50 (Gaetz) Avenue 

Red Deer, Alberta

T4N 4B6

Telephone : 403-352-6358

[https://www.facebook.com/groups/reddeercommunity/posts/1953070892079875/ Facebook]


Local contact : Gregory Burkin 

Telephone : 403-352-6358


Directions :

Red Deer is accessible by various interurban bus lines.  

By car : 

From north or south, travel on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_2 Highway 2 (Queen Elizabeth II)] towards Red Deer.  
The place of worship is at [https://www.google.ca/maps/search/5303-50+(Gaetz)+Avenue++Red+Deer,+Alberta+T4N+4B6/@52.2524357,-113.9860429,11z/data=!3m1!4b1?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MTAyMC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D 5303-50 Avenue].  

From the north, use the exit for Highway 11 eastwards.  At Gaetz Avenue (50 Avenue, Highway 2A), turn right, and drive southwards.  The meeting place is on the left, just before 53 Street.  

From the south, use the exit for 32 Street eastwards.  At Highway 2A (50 Avenue), turn left (north), and drive northwards.  Follow Highway 2A as it veers to the right and becomes 49 Avenue.  Continue northwards until 54 Street.  Turn left onto 54 Street (west), and then turn left onto 50 Avenue (south).  Drive south less than 1 block.  The meeting places is on the left, just before 53 Street.  


[[File:ThreeHierarchsChapel2026 2.png]]  '''Three Holy Hierarchs Meeting Place, 2026f'''



Alberta Deanery Clergy

c/o [https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/lehr-archpriest-vincent-brian Archpriest Vincent Lehr], Dean

==References==

[https://www.facebook.com/groups/reddeercommunity/posts/1953070892079875/ Facebook Mission Facebook]


'''Additional information :'''

[https://www.archdiocese.ca Archdiocese of Canada web-site]

[https://www.facebook.com/canadianarchdiocese/ Archdiocese of Canada Facebook] 

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archdiocese_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church_in_America Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America]   

[http://stpetercamp.weebly.com/ Saint Peter the Aleut Summer Camp] 

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Red_Deer_AB_Saint_Nicholas_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_1999 Article about Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Red Deer]

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Irénée_(Rochon)  Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)]

[https://www.archdiocese.ca/clergy/lehr-archpriest-vincent-brian Archpriest Vincent Lehr]

[https://st-anthonys.ca/index.php/about-us/our-clergy Archpriest Timothy Chrapko]

[https://www.st-anthony.ca/index.php?view=category&id=8&start=4  Archpriest Stephen Keaschuk]

[https://www.facebook.com/groups/christthekingorthodoxedmonton/ Archpriest Michael Shaplowsky]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Deer,_Alberta Wikipedia article about Red Deer, Alberta]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Normandeau Wikipedia article about Fort Normandeau]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary_and_Edmonton_Railway Wikipedia article about the Canada and Edmonton Railway] 




[[Category:Parish Communities]]  [[Category:Alberta]]  [[Category:ADOCA]]  [[Category:OCA]]