Kayville SK Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 1915

Kayville, Saskatchewan, Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 1915

Prehistory

The prehistory of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church of Kayville, Saskatchwan, Canada, is approximately the same as that of Saints Peter and Paul Romainian Orthodox Church of Kayville.

Indeed, there was effectively no difference in the early history until about 1915.

By this time, the so-called “The Russian Mission in North America” had been developing various parish communities in Western Canada (beginning in 1897), and these clergy were labouring under the leadership at that time of Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) of New York, North America, and the Aleutian Islands. This missionary work intended to include all the Orthodox Christians of all nationalities in order to develop a unified local Orthodox Church on the continent. However, not all the immigrants agreed to this, and amongst them were some of the Romanian newcomers.

The earliest clergy who served in the region (first, Archimandrite Evanghie (Ungureanu), who had been sent from Romania ; second, Priest Benedict Iliescu, who had come through North Dakota, USA) were not able to prepare a solid foundation. The former did not stay very long. The second, who stayed longer, fell into various temptations, and there arose considerable confusion and consternation as a consequence.

In addition to this, because all important decisions had to come from Romania, and there was no clear chain of responsibility between Saskatchewan and Romania, it was difficult to resolve difficulties. The contact was not with the Romanian Patriarchate, but with several diocesan metropolitans. The fact that an exchange of letters about a subject could take 6 months to a year or more was not helpful. Some letters received no response.

It was in this context that the first division occurred with the establishment of Saint Mary’s Church at Kayville.

Establishment of the parish

The second division occurred at about the same time with the establishment of Holy Trinity Church at Kayville in 1915.

The Temple itself was constructed in 1923 by Mr. Dumitru Cuciuranu on land which had been donated by Clim Ritco.

Mr. Cuciuranu built 3 other Orthodox Churches during the same period. He constructed [Saint Mary’s Church] (which is located 10 km (6mi) north-west of Kayville, on John Ursu’s farm) ; [Saint Peter and Paul Orthodox Church] (near Kayville itself) ; and the Ascension of Our Lord Orthodox Church at Elm Springs.

The first executive of the parish included John Jacob Ambrosi, President ; John Silverson, Secretary-Treasurer ; and Trustees Jacob Rotar, Elie Ritco, Clim Ritco, and Anton Silverson.

The first priest who was resident, to serve the parish, was the Mitred Archpriest Symeon (“Sam”) Ivanoff.

During 1953 and 1954, an addition was added to the existing parish hall. In 1980, a tool-shed was purchased from Martin Ritco, who moved it and set it by the church house.

In June, 1990,, the trustees at that time hired D. O’Dell and Darcy Ritco to fix the existing fence surrounding the church grounds, paint the fence posts and gates white, and build a chain-link fence to enclose the cemetery.

In 1994, the building was declared a Heritage Property, and extensive restorations took place in 1994. These included repainting the Temple in its original colours.

In the past, this parish had been administered by a parish council that cared for both Saint Mary’s and Holy Trinity Churches. The services would alternate between the 2 communities 7 times a year. Parishioners would attend the services wherever the priest might be.

For many decades, services were provided by the priest who served at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

These priests included Archpriest George Pokrowsky, and Archpriest Svetislav (“Sam”) Balevich.

The current Church Board of Trustees (Parish Council) are :

Tim Ritco – President

Myrtle Davison - Vice President

Gail Peterson – Secretary Treasurer

Matt Ritco - Trustee

Leora Lee Jones - Board Trustee

Martin Ritco – Advisor to the Trustees

Holy Trinity Orthodox Cemetery, 1920

Holy Trinity Cemetery was established in 1915, and the first interment was in 1920. In 2026, there were 102 interments noted.

Land description : SW 15-9-24 W2

GPS Co-ordinates : 49.727277 N – 105.189227 W

Township Road #92

Key West County #70

Kayville, Saskatchewan S0H 2C0

Particular parish information

The Parish of Holy Trinity of Kayville, Saskatchewan, is listed as a parish of the Saskatchewan-Manitoba Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada in The Orthodox Church in America. The Dean is Archpriest Gregory Scratch. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

In 2026, the pastor of the parish is Archpriest Andrew Piasta.

This parish follows the Julian (Old) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Pentecost.

Address :

Holy Trinity Church

GPS Coordinates : 49.72739, -105.18923

Township Road #92

Key West County #70

Kayville, Saskatchewan

S0H 2C0

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Directions :

From Moose Jaw :

From the Manitoba Expressway, turn south onto Highway #2 South. Continue southwards on Highway #2 for about 33 km., until Highway #36 South (signs for Willow Bunch). Veer to the left, and turn onto Highway #36 South, and continue to drive southwards for about 45 km. Then turn left onto Highway #717 East. Drive eastwards for 24.4 km. Then turn left onto Range Road #2245. Drive northwards for 3.3 km. Pass Township Road #92. The Temple is on the right.

From Regina :

Follow the Can-Am Highway #6 south from the city. Drive south for about 45 km. At the junction with Highway, #334, turn right (west) onto Highway #334. Follow this highway to Avonlea, and continue southwards on the same highway for a total of about 75 km. At Township Road #94/First Avenue, turn right, and drive through Kayville for about 3.2 km until the junction with Range Road #2245. Turn right, and the Temple is on the right.

Archpriest Andrew Piasta

Telephone : 306-782-0113

E-mail : axios@sasktel.net

References

Archdiocese of Canada listing for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan

Additional information :

Anderson, Alan, “Settling Saskatchewan” (Regina : University of Regina Press, 2013).

Anderson, Alan, "Ethnic Block Settlements in Saskatchewan"

Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6. McLennan, David “Our Towns : Saskatchewan Communities from Abbey to Zenon Park” (Regina, Saskatchewan : Canadian Plains Research Center, 2008). ©2008 Canadian Plains Research Center. ISBN: 978-0-88977-209-0.

Pacurariu, Mircea, ‘Romanian Christianity’ in “The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity” (Oxford : John Wiley & Sons, 2007). ISBN 10 : 0631234233 ; ISBN 13 : 9780631234234.

Sandulescu, Archpriest George,’'Saskatchewan’s Romanian Orthodox Communities Including Dysart, Wood Mountain, Kayville, Assiniboia, Pierceland, Regina’ in “SGS (Saskatchewan Genealogical Society) Bulletin”, vol. 19, no. 1, 1988.

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.

‘Archimandrite Eughenie (Ungurianu)’ in “Romanians in Canada”, pp. 89, 113.

Orthodox Church in America listing for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan

Orthodox World listing for Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan

Community stories printable

Saint Mary and Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Kayville, Saskatchewan article

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan article

Patriarch (Saint) Tikhon (Belavin)

Metropolitan-Primate Conon (Arămescu-Donici)

Patriarch Miron (Cristea)

Metropolitan Pimen (Georgiescu)

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)