Calgary AB Saint John Chrysostom Russian Orthodox Church 2005
Calgary, Alberta, Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John Chrysostom, 2005
Founding the parish, 2005
The Temple and parish in the name of Saint John Chrysostom in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was founded in 2005.
The parish worships in a small former Presbyterian church building in the southern part of the city on the Macleod Trail.
The first rector of the parish was the Priest Svyatoslav Dubanenko (with his Matushka, Tatiana), who was assigned by Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montréal and Canada, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR).
Saint John Chrysostom parish unites parishioners in Calgary who profess the Orthodox Christian Faith and who live mainly in the southern part of the city.
Sisterhood, 2011
In 2011, the parish council of the Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John Chrysostom conceived the idea of establishing a sisterhood, the purpose of which was to help the life of the parish through the practical fulfilment of tasks in the implementation of various charitable projects.
In February, 2012, the first meeting of the women was convened. During the meeting, the sisters were asked to name the organisation, and the result was the "Sisterhood of Saint Barbara". They established an executive at this time.
On 8 April, 2012, the 103-year old bell (after 30 years of silence) sounded again over Midnapore, Calgary.
Parish church school for children
Children, of course, are the most valuable asset of the parish family. However, children living in another language environment, lose their knowledge of and facility with their native language. Education in the parish school will help to avoid this problem and to open the way for children to the fascinating world of free communication, to expand their horizons, and to help them understand this world better from an Orthodox Christian perspective. Therefore, it is important to provide them with everything necessary to live an Orthodox Christian life in the present and in the future.
For such reasons, the parish now operates a parochial school, which offered 2 courses : "The Russian Language", and "Fundamentals of Orthodoxy".
Children 4-9 years old attended an experimental class. After 3 months, it was seen that there was a great desire to learn and understand, and that the children were more interested in the process than the parents. Therefore, the parish council raised the question of the need to find more spacious classrooms.
The council shared this topic with all the parishioners of the parish. A small questionnaire was designed, which helped in the development of a training programme and which confirmed the interest of the parents and children in the project.
Since September, 2014, there has been made an arrangement with Saint Mary’s University, which is within walking distance from the Temple. Thus, classes began to meet in the bright, spacious classrooms there. The professional teachers teach in small groups, carefully selected by age group and level of knowledge.
The school is open on Saturdays, and it includes 3-4 classes.
The curriculum for children 4-12 years : 1. Fundamentals of Orthodoxy. 2. Russian language. 3. 'I understand the world' (painting, sculpture, thematic preparation for holidays, entertaining experiments in physics, chemistry, biology). 4. Russian literature (as a set of groups). 5. Church singing (as a set of groups). Contacts for the school : E-mail : vetavd@mail.ru Phone : (403) 244-2203 (leave a message)
Renovations
With the development of the parish, renovations to the building itself were undertaken, and they progressed from 2011 through 2018. After this time, however, there is no further information available.
The original bell of the building (from about 1909) was found upon the ground, and it was returned to the belfry which was also returned to its place above the western door.
Repairing the belfry
Fire-damaged wood in the interior of the building was replaced, and the whole interior of the building was cleaned and re-varnished.
Interior of the Temple at Vespers
A beginning was made on repairing and replacing the wooden siding of the building.
Archpastoral visitation of Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)
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.
Particular parish information
Services in this parish are offered in Church Slavonic.
This parish is part of the Diocese of Montréal, of the Archdiocese of Montréal and Canada, of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The ROCOR is a metropolitanate of the Moscow Patriarchate.
This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of Saint John Chrysostom, 13/26 November.
In 2018, the pastor of the parish was Priest Svyatoslav Dubanenko.
The state of the parish and of its pastor became unclear after 2018 (with regard to available information).
Address :
Russian Orthodox Church of Saint John Chrysostom
14608, Macleod Trail SE
Calgary, Alberta
T2X 1Z7
E-mail : orthodox.calgary@gmail.com
Sisterhood e-mail : st.barbara.sisterhood@gmail.com
Church school e-mail : vetavd@mail.ru
Directions :
The Temple is the next building north from an old Anglican church, and it is not far to the west from Saint Mary’s University.
By car, from the south, drive on Macleod Trail northwards, past Highway 22X/201. The Temple is on the right, after 3 intersections. Access from Highway 2 is by following Highway 2A after passing the intersection with Highway 562.
From the north, drive on Macleod Trail southwards, past Anderson Road and Canyon Meadows Drive SE. The Temple is on the left. Access from Highway 2 is from the Anderson Road exit. Drive west to Macleod Trail, and turn south.
By public transport :
Take the C-Train and get off at the Fish Creek / Lacombe station. Climb the stairs to the bridge and cross Macleod trail. To the right, the Temple can be seen. When leaving the bridge, turn right.
Calgary is accessible by road, principally Highway #1 (east-west), and Highway #2 (north-south).
It is accessible by various airlines through the Calgary International Aeroport.
It is accessible by interurban bus through various Alberta companies (Red Arrow ; Ebus ; Rider Express ; Poparide ; Cold Shot ; abestx.com, and others).
Telephones : (403) 903-4013 ; (403) 452-2880
E-mail : stanomsk@hotmail.com
References
Seide, Gernot, "History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from its Beginnings to the Present : Part IV, Chapter 1.9 – The Dioceses in Australia and New Zealand" (rocorstudies.org)
......, "History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from its Beginnings to the Present : Part IV, Chapter 1.5 – The Dioceses in Canada" (rocorstudies.org)
Shchukin, Archpriest Sergei, “A brief History of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 1922-1972”.
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 :
Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)
Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)
Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)
Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral)
Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodumov)
Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)
Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Wikipedia article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia