Lethbridge AB Holy Dormition (Assumption) Orthodox Church 1954

Lethbridge, Alberta, Holy Dormition (Assumption) Orthodox Church, 1954

Prehistory

It is not clear when Orthodox Christians began to settle in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It is likely that there were Serbian people in Lethbridge from time to time after 1900, since there were many newcomers to Canada who were working in coal mines and on the railways. However, their connexion with the Orthodox Church was only in Calgary, Alberta.

It is known that Ukrainians began to arrive in the region in the earliest part of the 20th century, although many were migrant workers, much as were the Serbs. Orthodox Ukrainians sometimes travelled south from the main Ukrainian Bloc Settlement in Central Alberta in order to find work in mines or with the railways.

The first visible presence in Lethbridge came in 1920 with the establishment of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church. It was a frequent occurrence that in the early days of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, the Ukrainian Catholic Church appeared first. This was largely because of the historical situation in the Ukrainian homeland.

Then, in 1942, during World War II, the Holy Trinity Parish of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was established in Lethbridge. However, since this community was not in communion with the canonical Orthodox Churches, there were many who travelled elsewhere for sacramental needs, usually to Calgary, Alberta.

Then, in 1942, during World War II, the Holy Trinity Parish of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was established in Lethbridge.

However, since this community was not in communion with the canonical Orthodox Churches, there were many who travelled elsewhere for sacramental needs, usually to Calgary, Alberta, and to All Saints Russian Orthodox Church.

Establishment of the parish

Following the end of World War II, and an increase in immigration which affected Lethbridge, people began to gather together informally, and they organised and registered the Parish of the Assumption (Dormition) of the Holy Virgin. Then they petitioned Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov) for a pastor to establish a parish in Lethbridge.

Establishment of the Temple

In 1954, when Archimandrite Aggay (Mazur-Shymko) (1885-1970) was transferred from the parish of All Saints in Calgary to establish a parish there, he brought with him the idea of having an actual Temple to the Lord in which to worship. However, during the years of their formation and development, the congregants of Assumption of the Holy Virgin met in the tiny, rented back room of the Top Pizza restaurant.

In 1965, the parishioners canvassed and raised enough money to purchase a Baptist Church, and to convert it into the Orthodox Church. It is that building which would be used well into the 21st century.

Holy Dormition Temple

Temple interior

About Archimandrite Aggay (Haggai) (Mazur-Shymko)

Archimandrite Aggay (Mazur-Shymko) was a significant personality himself. In 1928, he had arrived from Yugoslavia to Canada. He arrived after Bishop Arseny (Chahovtsov) who had arrived from there 2 years earlier, and he then went to live and serve at Sifton, Manitoba, at the monastery which Vladyka Arseny had established there : Holy Ascension Monastery. As a hieromonk, Father Aggay (Aggei, Haggai) served in this monastery until 1940, when he was sent to Vancouver, British Columbia.

There, he served Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church until after the 1946 division between the "Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America" (ROGCCNA) and the "Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia" (ROCOR).

In 1948, he moved into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, and he became the rector of All Saints' parish in Calgary, Alberta, in 1950.

In about 1954, Archimandrite Aggay was assigned to be the rector of the Holy Dormition parish in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Since that time, there were many renovations, and changes. The community’s population waxed and waned during the following years, as people came and went.

In March, 2025, the parishioners welcomed Father John Rosner as Parish Priest.

60th anniversary

In 2025, besides welcoming a new priest, the parish marked the 60th anniversary of worshipping the Lord in the current Temple.

By this time, the language of worship, and general parish communication had become the English language.

As the parish information indicates, the Assumption of the Holy Virgin Orthodox Church (now Dormition of the Holy Theotokos) is a small, quaint, and cozy church.

Collage of historical photos

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Diocese of Montreal and Canada of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The bishop is Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov).

This parish follows the Julian (Old) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, 15/28 August.

In 2025, the parish pastor is Priest John Rosner.

Address :

Holy Dormition (Assumption) English Orthodox Church

907 - 9 Avenue North

Lethbridge, Alberta

T1H 1E9

Web-site : https://dormitionlethbridge.ca/

E-mail: dormitionoftheholytheotokos@gmail.com

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Directions :

From Highway #2, turn east on Highway #3, near Fort McLeod, and drive on Highway #3 until Lethbridge. Upon approaching Lethbridge, follow the exit for 5th Avenue North to the left (east). Drive on 5th Avenue until Stafford Drive North. Turn left (north) onto Stafford Drive North. At 9th Avenue North, turn left (west) onto 9th Avenue North. The Temple is immediately on the right.

The Temple sits quietly nestled in-between 2 houses in a residential area of the city.

Priest John Rosner

E-mail : fr.john.rosner@gmail.com

Telephone : 1(403)634-0919

References

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. Original article

Orthodox World reference

Additional information :

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians

Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian diaspora

Ukrainian Immigration to Canada

"Historical Overview" about immigration of Ukrainians to Alberta

Wikipedia article about Lethbridge, Alberta

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Lethbridge, Alberta

Russian Orthodox Churches in Canada, 2025

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Russia

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR)

Russian Orthodox Diocese of Montral and Canada web-site

Wikipedia article about Russian Canadians

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Russian Canadians

Canadian Encyclopaedia timeline article about Russian Canadian history and settlement

Canadian Government article about immigration from the Russian Empire

Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky)

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)

Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla)

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral)

Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky)

Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)

Archimandrite Aggay (Mazur-Shymko)

Orthodoxwiki list of Orthodox parishes in Alberta RODMC