Gronlid SK Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1913

Gronlid SK Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1913

Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery, Gronlid, Saskatchewan, 1913, 1931

Prehistory

Gronlid, Saskatchewan, Canada, is situated at the junction of Highway #6 and Highway #335. It is part of the Rural Municipality of Willow Creek No. 458. It is one of the more northerly Ukrainian settlements in the province, and it is 20.6 km northwest of the municipal centre, Brooksby. Gronlid is also not far southwest of the Saskatchewan River Forks (the junction of the North and South Saskatchewan Rivers. It is also to the north of Melfort, Saskatchewan.

Settlement of the Gronlid region by Ukrainian immigrants began around 1905. They came primarily from regions such as Zaiishchyky and Zbarazh counties in present-day Ukraine. This region is part of the region known as Galicia (Halychyna). Some of those who began to farm in the Gronlid region had previously lived on farms in Manitoba, in places where the soil was difficult.

Ukrainian settlers faced many hardships on the untamed Saskatchewan prairie near the turn of the 20th century, but they came together weekly to worship at their small rural church.

Establishing the parish

In 1913, the Orthodox Faithful in the Gronlid region met together, and they decided to organise themselves formally into a parish group. Land was donated for the future Temple and cemetery.

In 1916, the families who had arrived in the region banded together, and they erected the first Temple, Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church, to the north of Gronlid. This humble Temple was constructed of logs, and it was 5 metres wide, and 6 metres long. The 2 main founding families seem to have been the Arsenie family, and the Sturby family, although the Panchuk family, and many others were clearly active.

Because of the date of the founding of the parish, and the context of immigration, it is likely that the first clergy to serve this parish were provided by the North American Diocese of the “Russian Orthodox Mission”.

However, there was a widespread movement across the prairie provinces in particular to move towards a more national expression of the life of parishioners by using the term “Ukrainian” in reference to the Orthodox Christian Church, and the use of the Ukrainian language in their worship and function.

Founding of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918

On 18-19 July, 1918, a confidential conference of disenchanted lay Roman Catholics from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta created a Ukrainian Orthodox Brotherhood. Its goal was to organise the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada. Although the Ukrainian settlers who took part in the organisation of this Church body were not theologians, they were aware of the canon law that a Church body cannot exist without a bishop.

Thus, the brotherhood contacted Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky), an ethnic Ukrainian in the “Russian Orthodox Mission in North America”, and from 1916, its first resident bishop in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially, he had accepted to become the temporary bishop of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC) and to preside at its first Sobor ; but later, he refused (in part because of pressures concerning this in the USA).

First Sobor of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada, 1918

Nevertheless, the first “Sobor” (assembly) took place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, on 28 December, 1918, without the presence of a bishop. This assembly led to the establishment of the first seminary in Saskatoon. Its later descendent in Winnipeg, Manitoba, was Saint Andrew's College (1932).

Second Sobor of the UGOCC ; Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadeh), 1919

The second Sobor was held on 27 November, 1919, in the presence of the Antiochian Metropolitan Germanos (Shehadeh) living in the USA at the time, and who accepted to lead the UGOCC until the time it would have its own bishop. He headed the Church for 5 years, until 1924.

It is not stated, but it is likely that this parish entered the newly-founded Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada some years later. It seems that many such moves occurred around the year 1922.

One of the contributing reasons was that by then the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was able to provide priests more easily than was the North American Diocese, which was greatly affected by the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 and its attending catastrophic consequences.

Second Temple

With the progression of immigration, families steadily came to fill every quarter section. The first Temple was far too small, so the residents of the region set about constructing a new, larger Temple. It is not clear whether this occurred in 1931 or 1938, or even both, since accounts differ. It is possible that the construction took that length of time, because these were the years of the Great Depression.

Nevertheless, the following is an account written by a local person :

 My dad's cousin told me that the chief carpenter hired to build this church was from British Columbia. His price was $350.00 in wages, to be billeted to 
 live in the homes of the local residents and to have all of the whiskey that he wanted. The carpenter man hand sawed the lumber and he directed the 
 volunteer workers where to and how to nail each specific board into place. My father was put to work inside the high center dome, on the south side, 
 when my father was 16 years of age.  According to my dad's cousin, the chief carpenter wasted very few lumber boards as nearly 100% of every board 
 that the carpenter hand sawed, was a perfect fit, which is quite a feat considering that he wasn't on the ladder to measure the length of the next board to 
 be cut as he remembered all measurements in his head – and --a part of his wages contract was that he was provided with as much whiskey as he 
 wanted. Two young men from the area offered to place the top cross on the highest high dome. On the said day that the top cross would be placed, the 
 priest from Gronlid came to this church site, by horseback as that was the mode of transportation, gave each young man Confession and then the two 
 young men went up and placed the cross, which still stands perfectly straight 95 years later.

Another description :

 Built in the traditional style, the church features an expansive dome roof soaring to 24 metres topped by a cross and held up by six metre pillars of 
 solid timbers logged in the district.

 The church bells, as per tradition, are housed in a small white building near the front steps of the church. They were used for services but also as a 
 rallying cry for help in the days before high tech communications.  “If you heard the bell ring in the district, you knew there was trouble,” said Sturby.
 The church was heated with oil and wood, which volunteers would use to start warming the church the day before services.
 A partial basement was later dug to house a furnace.

This Temple continued to serve the Orthodox Christians of the region through the years of World War II, and the following decades of steady rural depopulation (which was occurring everywhere in the 3 prairie provinces).

Second Temple, with exterior Cross and table

Saint Mary's Temple Interior

Change of name of the UGOCC, 1990

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.

Acceptance by the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990

In 1990, under the leadership of Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak), the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg decided to enter into Eucharistic Union [which means in this case “to be in communion with”, “to be able to serve the Divine Liturgy together with", "to be a part of the canonical Orthodox Church"] with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (Istanbul).

This decision came after a significant dialogue with the Church of Constantinople. This act brought the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada into the full communion of the canonical Orthodox Church. The decree of Patriarch Demetrius (Papadopoulos) recognised the Church’s internal autonomy under its metropolitan, and it justified the reception of the UOCC under the Patriarchate’s protection on the basis of the historical headship of the Church of Constantinople in Ukraine.

This decision changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

Ordination

On 28 July, 1991, Deacon Taras Udod was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in this Temple by Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk). He had been ordained to the Holy Diaconate in 1985, and he had served the Church as such until now.

Father Udod had previously been married to his wife Sonia (born Kulchysky ) in this same Temple.

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.

Renovation

After 2000, the Temple building was re-sided and painted, windows have been replaced, the cemetery stones straightened and trees planted. Electric chandeliers replaced the wax candles that once brightened the sanctuary. Even the stars on the ceiling were removed, refreshed and reattached.

In 2011, the small well-preserved Temple that was once a focal point for Ukrainian settlers in the district was maintained by a congregation of 22, and a core of dedicated volunteers. Money was scarce, so the parish shared its priest with 10 other parishes.

In 2013, the parish of Saint Mary marked the 75th anniversary of the construction of their second Temple.

100 years

On 18 May, 2014, Saint Mary's Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Gronlid celebrated its 100th anniversary since its foundation. This milestone was marked by the serving of the Divine Liturgy. This was followed immediately by the blessing of the graves, and by a lunch provided by parish members.

The celebration was attended by over 100 family members, and relatives, who came from Alberta, Manitoba, B.C., and around Saskatchewan itself. This fact highlighted the parish's significance in the Ukrainian community. The theme of the celebration was the link between today's parish and its founders. It signified also the importance of the parish's history, and its role in the lives of its current members.

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.

Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery

Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery was established in 1913, at the same time as was the parish of Saint Mary at Gronlid.

In 2026, there were 25 interments listed.

Saint Mary's Temple from the cemetery

Historical cairn

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Wakaw-Melfort-Nipawin Region of the Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The bishop is Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, 8 September.

In 2026, the pastor of this parish was Priest Patrick Powalinsky

[Saint Mary’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery

GPS Coordinates: 53.14618, -104.41599

Gronlid, Saskatchewan

S0E 0W0

Telephone : (306) 382-1510

Fax : (306) 382-1580

E-mail : ppowalinsky@sasktel.net

Directions :

Drive north from Melfort on Highway #6. Then drive east on Highway #335 from Gronlid. At the second cross-roads, turn left (north), and drive 5 km northwards. The Temple is on the right.

Priest Patrick Powalinsky Telephones : (306) 382-1510 ; (306) 371-9090 Fax : (306) 382-1580 E-mail : ppowalinsky@sasktel.net

Related parishes :

Sts. Peter And Paul Parish, Yellow Creek, Saskatchewan

Dormition Of St. Mary Parish, Wakaw, Saskatchewan

Holy Trinity Parish, Tarnopol, Saskatchewan

St. Mary The Protectress Parish, St. Julien, Saskatchewan

St. Mary (Dormition) Parish, Nipawin, Saskatchewan

All Saints Parish, Melfort, Saskatchewan

St. Michael Parish, Lepine, Saskatchewan

St. Mary Parish, Gronlid, Saskatchewan

Holy Trinity Parish, Cudworth, Saskatchewan

Sts. Peter And Paul Parish, Codette, Saskatchewan

Sts. Peter And Paul Parish, Saskatchewan

All Saints Parish, Alvena, Saskatchewan

References

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

Church stands test of time by Karen Morrison, Western Producer, 20 October, 2011

Additional information :

Bush, Peter, ““The Independent Greek Church in Canada, 1903–1912 : A Middle Ground on the Canadian Prairies between Ukrainian Immigrants and Presbyterianism” (Hungarian Journal of English and American Studies, Vol.28, No 2 (2 December, 2022))”.

“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.

Wikipedia article about Gronlid, Saskatchewan

Facebook article

Index of photos about Saint Mary’s

UOCC parish reference

UOCC location reference

Findagrave reference

Prairie Churches photographs

Melfort, Nipawin, Wakaw Ukrainian Orthodox Facebook

Orthodox World reference

Facebook article

Ukrainian Prairie Settlement : Alberta, Saskatchewan