Wildwood AB Saint George the Great-Martyr Russian Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1955

Wildwood, Alberta, Russian Orthodox Church in the Name of Saint George the Great Martyr, 1955

Prehistory

Originally named “Junkins” by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway (using an alphabetical system), Wildwood, Alberta, Canada, was established in 1908 by the Lobstick River by a group of 20 African-American immigrants as a “block settlement”. Although the name was that of a vice-president of a railway consulting company, those who lived in the village were not satisfied. In 1929, the name was changed to Wildwood by popular vote.

Establishing the parish, 1955

The settlement of this region by others came later, including those of primarily Ukrainian origin. The parish of the Great-Martyr George was established in 1955, in association with the appearance of the Dormition Skete near Chip Lake in 1954. On the north side of Chip Lake, which is to the west of Wildwood, there is now a camping-park and bird sanctuary.

Parishioners from both the Wildwood parish and from the Edson parish of Saint Andrew regularly supported the monastic community nearby, and this was particularly the case when Archimandrite Seraphim (Filimonoff) was left mostly alone there. This parish was served, in turn, principally by Archimandrite Seraphim until his repose in 1988.

Thereafter, the parish continued to be served by clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in the region. However, in 2001, there was a split between the Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) and its former leader, Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov). This "parting of ways" (having to do in part with differences of opinion about whether or not to have any relationship with the Moscow Patriarchate) had many repercussions. The split (schism) produced the so-called Russian Orthodox Church in Exile (ROCE), which was led (at least officially) by Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov).

After that schism, this parish of Saint George was served by clergy of the schismatic (ROCE) group, which calls itself the "Russian Orthodox Church Abroad - Provisional Supreme Church Authority", under the omophor of Metropolitan Agafangel (Pashkovsky) of Odessa (Ukraine), and Archbishop Andronik (Kotliaroff) of Ottawa and Eastern America.

However, further controversies arose, and this community (in association with the Parish of Saint Vladimir in Edmonton) was moved to the authority of the Metropolis of America of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece.

Saint George the Great-Martyr Cemetery, 1955

The cemetery was established at the same time as the parish was formed.

The cemetery is situated at Pt. NE-28-053-09-W5, to the west of the town, at 53418, Range Road 93A in Wildwood.

In 2023, contact for this cemetery was c/o Walter Nikolyuk, Box #278, Wildwood, Alberta T0E 2M0, telephone 780-325-3897.

View of the cemetery

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Metropolis of America of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece. The bishop is Metropolitan Demetrius (Kiriacou).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Great-Martyr George, 23 April/6 May.

In 2023, the parish is served by the Archpriest Andrew Kencis.

Saint George Temple and cemetery, from southeast

Saint George Temple and cemetery, from northeast

Address :

Russian Orthodox Church of Saint George the Great Martyr

NE-28-053-09-W5

53418, Range Road #93B

Wildwood, Alberta

T0E 2M0

The mailing address of the parish is the address of the priest.

Directions :

Wildwood is a hamlet in west-central Alberta, within the Yellowhead County.

Wildwood is situated on the north side of Highway #16 (the Yellowhead Highway), approximately 112 km (70 mi) west of Edmonton. It is 82 km (51 mi) east of Edson.

The Temple is situated at the corner of 52 Avenue and 49 Street in Wildwood, Alberta, that is, 53418, Range Road #93B.

Archpriest Andrew Kencis

c/o Dormition Skete

P O Box 104

Wildwood, Alberta

T0E 2M0

E-mail : frandrew@monasterypress.com

Telephone/Fax : 780-325-2357 (call first for Fax)

Monastery Press Web-site : www.monasterypress.com/index.htmlGranada-Wildwood, Alberta