View source for Smoky Lake AB Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1927


[[File:Holy Ascension UOC Smoky Lake 2.png]]

'''Smoky Lake, Alberta, Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1927'''


Toporivtsi may be spelt  Toporauţi, Toporoutz.


==Prehistory==

Most of the settlers of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake_County Smoky Lake area] of [http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta/ Alberta], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada], had originated in villages near the city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi Cernăuţi (Chernivtsi)] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi_Oblast Chernivtsi province] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine Ukraine], which is historically northern [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukovina Bucovina].  

This part of Bucovina-[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavia Moldavia] was of mixed [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_language Romanian], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language Russian], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian Ukrainian] speakers, and it was this part that was severed as one result of the [https://www.britannica.com/event/German-Soviet-Nonaggression-Pact Molotov-Ribbentrop] pact between [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Joseph-Stalin Mr. J Stalin] and the [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Allied-powers-World-War-II western powers] before [https://www.britannica.com/event/World-War-II World War II].  The early emigrants had left their homelands which at the end of the 19th century were within the [https://www.britannica.com/place/Austria-Hungary Austro-Hungarian Empire].  

In this region, there had been a constant oppression of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith] for several hundred years.  At this particular time, the [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/history-since-confederation Canadian Government] had sent its agents as sales-promoters to attract [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians would-be future farmers] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada].  The principal of such agents was [http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/people/oleskow_j.shtml Dr. Josef Oleskow].

In the 1890s, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavs Slavic] immigrants began arriving in Canada from Bucovina and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Galicia-historical-region-Eastern-Europe Galicia].  The first pioneer to arrive in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Smoky Lake] area was [http://www.prairiesouls.com/Smoky%20Lake,%20AB%20-%20Holy%20Trinity%20Cemetery/Mycemetery-131.htm Stefan Franko Dwernychuk] (†1957) from the village of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toporivtsi Toporivtsi] (Toporauţi), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sadhora Sadagora] (Sadhora), Bucovina.  Toporivtsi is about 24 km (15 mi) north of the city of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi Chernivtsi] (Cernăuţi) in Bucovina.  In 1899, he arrived in 1899 with his parents, Tanasko and Domka Dwernychuk and other relatives.  In 1903, Stefan married Maria Starchuk.  He opened a store, and he operated the post office.

In the years between 1900 and 1910, many families from the village of Toporoutz (Toporivtsi) arrived and settled in the [https://regionaldashboard.alberta.ca/region/smoky-lake-county/#/ Smoky Lake area].  Families came from other villages, such as Volocha, [https://dragusanul-ro.translate.goog/povestea-asezarilor-bucovinene-revazuta-mahala-ostrita/?_x_tr_sl=ro&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Ostricha (Ostritza, Ostriţa vel Cliscăuţi]), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molodiia Molodiia] (Mologhia vel Plaiul Cosminului) near Chernivtsi, and [https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=http://www.bukovinasociety.org/Bukovina-Village-Name-List.html&prev=search Rarancha] (Rarancze, Rarancea) in Sadagora, as well as from villages in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galicia_(Eastern_Europe) Halychyna (Galicia)]. 

'''Early missionary activity'''

The [[Smoky Lake AB Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1900 |Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church]] had therefore been established north of the present town-site of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Smoky Lake] in 1900.  This foundation was in the context of the missionary work of the “[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America Russian Orthodox Mission in North America]”.  This missionary venture had been established first in [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Alaska Alaska] (when it was part of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire]) in order to care for the workers of the “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian-American_Company Russian American Company]”, and for the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Natives indigenous peoples] of that region who embraced the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Faith].  The Mission developed its work through caring for immigrants, first to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States USA], and then to Canada.  The first missionaries were sent by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Nicholas_(Ziorov) Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)] from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco San Francisco], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California California], USA, to the area around Smoky Lake, and to many other parts of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Canada Eastern Canada].  

'''Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada'''

However, some changes in attitude and sense of purpose began to develop in the region after the establishment of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada] (1918).  A wave of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationalism Ukrainian nationalism] had developed in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine] during the previous 2 decades, but this was stifled by political events there.  A form of this nationalism found an outlet in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Canada Western Canada], as immigrants discovered that they had the freedom to form organisations and to determine the direction of their cultural expression.  The complaint was that the culture and church of the Ukrainian people had been “russified” by the leadership in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow Moscow] (referring to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire Russian Empire]).  Those who accepted this wanted to have a distinctive Ukrainian Orthodox Church, and this led to the emergence of the [http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Ukrainian Orthodox Brotherhood] in Canada.  From this lay organisation developed the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Ukrainian Orthodox Church].  This movement had a great deal to do with the use of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_language Ukrainian language] in worship (instead of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_Slavonic_language Church Slavonic]), and also with the development of a more “[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egalitarianism egalitarian]” (democratic) form of parish and church government than the people had previously experienced.

==Establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox parish, 1928==

In the mid-1920s, several Ukrainian Orthodox communities were established (such as [[Edmonton AB Saint John Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral 1923 |Saint John’s]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], Alberta, [[Calgary AB Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1928 |Saint Vladimir’s]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calgary Calgary], Alberta, and [[Calmar AB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church and Cemetery 1927 |Holy Trinity]] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calmar,_Alberta Calmar]), Alberta.  

Then, in 1928, those in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Smoky Lake] who had decided to participate in the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church formed their own parish, distinct from the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Smoky_Lake_AB_Holy_Trinity_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1900 Holy Trinity Church] in Smoky Lake.  They organised themselves, purchased property in the town, and then they constructed their own Temple.  

'''Influence of rural depopulation'''

During the ensuing decades, the phenomenon of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rural_flight rural depopulation] (caused mostly by the consolidation of small farms into larger operations) contributed to some increase in the population of Smoky Lake itself, and hence this parish.  However, the majority of those who left their life of farming went to the larger urban centres, such as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], and others.

==Millennium celebration, 1988==

In 1988, celebrations of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1000th_anniversary_of_the_Christianization_of_Rus%27 Baptism of Rus'] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyiv Kyiv] were held in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchwan Saskatchewan].  It was at this time that the statue of  [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vladimir_of_Kiev Saint-Prince Volodymyr] (Vladimir) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aV3K0DieUk was blessed].  It was prominently displayed on the north side of the [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918#Millennium_celebration,_1988 Holy Trinity Cathedral Temple].  

==Re-naming of the UGOCC, 1990==

In 1990, the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada was officially renamed “[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]” (UOCC) by an Act of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parliament_of_Canada Parliament of Canada].  

'''The UOCC entered into Eucharistic union with the Patriarchate of Constantinople, 1990'''

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/manitoba Manitoba], decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecumenical_Patriarch_of_Constantinople Ecumenical Patriarchate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] (Istanbul).  This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.


[[File:Holy Ascension UOC Smoky Lake from south 2.png]]  '''Holy Ascension Temple from the south'''

==Centennial of the UOCC, 2018==

In 2018, the [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OOEew2Belw 100th anniversary of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] and also of [https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-trinity-cathedral-2/ Holy Trinity Cathedral] were marked at an extraordinary sobor (assembly) at the cathedral in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon Saskatoon], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatchewan Saskatchewan].

The purpose of the sobor was to [https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#inbox/FMfcgzGxRwxvkcXcZDBxWbrrKQfPcchP?projector=1 celebrate 100 years] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada 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 [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Saint_Petro_Mohyla_Institute_1916 Saint Petro Mohyla Institute], presided by [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)] of the [https://uocceast.ca/ Eastern Eparchy], with the responses sung by the Clergy led by [https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-michael-lomaszkiewicz/ Father Michael Lomaszkiewicz].  This was followed by an All-Canada Clergy Conference.  


[[File:CentennialConferenceSaskatoon 2.png]]  '''Centennial Clergy Conference'''


All gathered for [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Vespers 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.

==2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes==

In early 2020, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COVID-19 Covid-19 virus] made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandemic 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.

==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 "[https://www.dictionary.com/browse/online on-line]".  This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg Winnipeg], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manitoba Manitoba].  There were 6 cathedrals in Canada where this meeting took place simultaneously through a computer-network :  in Winnipeg, Manitoba ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral]) ; Vancouver, British Columbia ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Vancouver_BC_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1937 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Edmonton, Alberta ([http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1923 Saint John's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral]) ; in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan ([https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saskatoon_SK_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral_1918 Holy Trinity Cathedral]) ; in Toronto, Ontario ([https://www.stsvladimirandolgacathedral.ca/ Saints Vladimir and Olga Cathedral]) ;  in Montréal, Québec ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Sophie_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Cathedral 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 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople 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 [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)].  

There were 3 candidates who were considered :  [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Archbishop Job (Getcha)], [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk)], and [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) 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 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod_of_Constantinople Holy Synod of Bishops of Constantinople] (as is described in the [https://uocc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/UOCC-Bylaws.Amended.July-15.2010.pdf 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 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winnipeg  Winnipeg] and Metropolitan of the [https://www.uocc.ca/about/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Canada].  

The Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected [https://orthodoxia.ch/en/name/736/show Archbishop Job (Getcha)] to become Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], in west-central [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey Türkiye] (Turkey), north of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lycia Lycia], and east of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephesus Ephesus].    

'''Confirmation of election in Constantinople/Istanbul, 2022'''

On 29 August, 2022, Vladyka Ilarion (Rudnyk) was at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantinople Constantinople] for the purpose of the first confirmation of the election in June, 2022.  He co-served the Divine Liturgy with [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Patriarchal_Church_of_Saint_George_(Phanar) Cathedral of Saint George] at the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fener Phanar].

'''Enthronement as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, 2022'''

On Saturday, 19 November, 2022, at 9:30 a.m., in [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Winnipeg_MB_Holy_Trinity_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Metropolitan_Cathedral_1946 Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral] in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the [https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/469634775273077/ Enthronement Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served].  Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) presided at the Divine Liturgy.  He was assisted by [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)], many [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter priests], several [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon deacons], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Subdeacon subdeacons] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Acolyte Altar-servers].  Present also were [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Sotirios_(Athanassoulas) Metropolitan Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas)], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Exarch Exarch] of Canada for the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Patriarchate of Constantinople], and Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) 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 [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)] was present and praying during the Divine Liturgy at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._George%27s_Cathedral,_Istanbul Saint George's Cathedral] in the Patriarchate compound. He gave the blessing that Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) preside ("horostasia") over the Divine Liturgy. [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Job_(Getcha) Metropolitan Job (Getcha)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pisidia Pisidia], [https://www.goarch.org/-/bishop-athenagoras-of-nazianzos Bishop Athenagoras (Ziliaskopoulos)] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazianzus Nazianzos], and the Honourable [https://uk-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/%D0%9D%D0%B5%D0%B4%D1%96%D0%BB%D1%8C%D1%81%D1%8C%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%91%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B4%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87?_x_tr_sl=uk&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc Roman Nedilskyi], [https://orthodoxtimes.com/ecumenical-patriarch-met-new-consul-general-of-ukraine-in-constantinople/ 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, [https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-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 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Revised_Julian_Calendar New (Revised Julian) Calendar].   He allowed that for a brief period of time, a parish might remain on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].  

It seems that subsequently, [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Edmonton_AB_Saint_John_Saint John's Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta Alberta], was the first to adopt the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revised_Julian_calendar 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 [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sobor general sobor of the UOCC].  Therefore, on 16 December, 2023, Metropolitan Ilarion [https://www.uocc.ca/communique-from-the-office-of-the-metropolitan/ issued a formal letter] concerning the situation, together with a letter of support sent to him by his predecessor (Retired [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]).  He called the resisters to repentance.

==Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, 1930==

After the establishment of the parish, [https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2264065/holy-ascension-ukrainian-orthodox-church-cemetery the cemetery] property was purchased south of the town.

The Holy Ascension Church Cemetery is located on SE 16-59-17-W4. The cemetery entrance is 1.85 km (1.2 mi) south of the 4-way stop in Smoky Lake along Secondary Road #855, and 250 m (273 yd) west on Township Road #592. 

The cemetery contains more than 150 graves, and the headstones face eastwards.  The earliest interments occurred in 1931. 

Telephone : 780-367-3669 


[[File:Cemetery entrance.jpg]]  '''Cemetery entrance'''


[[File:Memorial Stone.jpg]]  '''Memorial stone at the cemetery'''

==Particular parish information==

This parish is a part of the [http://uocc-we.ca Western Eparchy] of the UOCC, in the [https://www.uocc.ca/eparchy/western-eparchy/smoky-lake-willingdon-district/ Smoky Lake-Willingdon District].  The bishop of the eparchy is [https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk)].  

This parish follows the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_calendar Old (Julian) Calendar].

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Ascension of Christ] (40 days after the Feast of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Pascha Pascha]). 

In 2024, the pastor of the parish is the [http://uocc.ca/en-ca/parishes/clergydetails.asp?ClergyID=8 Priest Benny Ambrosie].  

In 2024, the local contact person for the parish is John Roshko, at telephone 780-656-3665.  


Address :

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-ascension-parish-3/ Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church]

3, [https://www.google.com/maps/place/White+Earth+St,+Smoky+Lake,+AB/@54.112468,-112.473853,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x53a11e4e838cb495:0x505725e3f32dc9dc!8m2!3d54.112468!4d-112.473853!16s%2Fg%2F1w4vjm3s?entry=ttu White Earth Street]

Smoky Lake, Alberta

T0A 3C0

(It is just north of the 4-way stop along [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Secondary Road #855] ([https://www.google.com/maps/place/50+St,+Smoky+Lake,+AB+T0A+3C0/@54.1072356,-112.5143621,13z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x53a11e4888d80153:0xa85a5de212d4b631!8m2!3d54.1072356!4d-112.4757383!16s%2Fg%2F1tfj_jw0?entry=ttu  50 Street]).) 


Directions :

The Temple is located at #3, White Earth Street, at the junction of [https://www.google.com/maps/place/White+Earth+St,+Smoky+Lake,+AB/@54.112468,-112.473853,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x53a11e4e838cb495:0x505725e3f32dc9dc!8m2!3d54.112468!4d-112.473853!16s%2Fg%2F1w4vjm3s?entry=ttu White Earth Street] and 50 Street in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Town of Smoky Lake].

From Edmonton : 

The shortest distance from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton Edmonton] is 113 km (70 mi), and the driving time is about 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Drive northeast on the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Road,_Edmonton Fort Road] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_15 Manning Drive].  Turn left (north) at [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_28A Highway #28A].  Drive north past [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gibbons,_Alberta Gibbons], now on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_28 Highway #28], to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redwater,_Alberta Redwater] and continue to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_Lake Smoky Lake].  Turn right on [https://www.google.com/maps/place/44+Ave,+Smoky+Lake,+AB+T0A+3C0/@54.1099976,-112.4876619,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x53a11e45f0820799:0x96f3be509daa7a56!8m2!3d54.1099976!4d-112.4799371!16s%2Fg%2F1tctx7bb?entry=ttu 44 Avenue] and drive to 50 Street.  Turn left and drive 1 block to White Earth Street.  

An alternative, somewhat longer route is to drive east from Edmonton on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_16 Highway #16 (Yellowhead)] as far as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mundare Mundare].  Turn left (north) on [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_855 Highway #855], and drive to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew,_Alberta Andrew].  At [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alberta_Highway_45 Highway #45], turn left (west) and drive to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Highway #855].  Turn right (north), and drive to Smoky Lake.  The Temple is on the right after 44 Avenue.  



Mailing address :

Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Church

P O Box 490

Smoky Lake

Alberta

T0A 3C0


[https://www.uocc.ca/clergy/the-rev-fr-benny-ambrosie/ Priest Benny Ambrosie]

Telephone : (780) 476-7014

Fax : (780) 476-3666

Mobile : (780) 719-9619

E-mail : bambrosie@shaw.ca


[[File:CEM2264065 137883704289.jpg]]  '''Holy Ascension Temple'''


[[File:Holy Ascension UOC Smoky Lake winter sunrise 2.png]]  '''Winter sunrise'''

==References==

[https://www.uocc.ca/about/history/ A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]  

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “[https://archive.org/details/orthodoxamerica10000unse/page/n3/mode/2up  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 :'''

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/A_Chronological_History_of_the_Archdiocese_of_Canada,_Part_1 A Chronological History of the Archdiocese of Canada, Part I]  

“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). 

“[https://books.google.ca/books/about/Our_Legacy.html?id=zlxgNAEACAAJ&redir_esc=y Our Legacy : History of Smoky Lake and area]” by : (Smoky Lake, AB : Smoky Lake and District Cultural and Heritage Society, first edition, 1983) ASIN : B00442HI6O, 973 pp.  
(Available at Toronto Public Library & Marshall Wells, as DVD only.) 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America Russian Mission in North America]    

Sametz, William, “[https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/7079/file.pdf 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 : [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/index.php?title=Special%3ABookSources&isbn=9780969670056 9780969670056].

[https://www.uocc.ca/parish/holy-ascension-parish-3/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Holy Ascension, Smoky Lake, Alberta parish listing ]  

[http://orthodox-world.org/en/i/24727/Holy_Ascension_Orthodox_Church_Smoky_Lake Orthodox World listing]

[http://www.smokylake.ca/Churches  Local directory of Smoky Lake churches] 

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Smoky_Lake_AB_Holy_Trinity_Russo_Orthodox_Church_and_Cemetery_1900 Holy Trinity Russo Orthodox Church and Cemetery, Smoky Lake, Alberta]       

[https://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site]   

[https://uocc-we.ca/ Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]   

[https://patriarchateofconstantinople.com/index.html Church of Constantinople web-site]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Constantinople Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Constantinople]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Bartholomew_(Archontonis) Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Tikhon_(Belavin)  Patriarch Saint Tikhon (Belavin)]  (Prehistory “[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/The_%E2%80%9CRussian_Mission%E2%80%9D_in_North_America Russian Mission in North America]” up to 1928)   

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Nicholas_(Ziorov) Bishop Nicholas (Ziorov)] (Prehistory up to 1928)  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_(Saint)_Arseny_(Chahovtsov) Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)] (Prehistory up to 1928) 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Alexander_(Nemolovsky) Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)] (Prehistory up to 1928) 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archbishop_Evdokim_(Meschersky) Archbishop Evdokim (Meschersky)] (Prehistory up to 1928)     

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Platon_(Rozhdestvensky) Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)] (Prehistory up to 1928)     

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Theodorovych) Metropolitan John (Theodorovych)] 

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Mstyslav_(Skrypnyk) Bishop Mstyslav (Skrypnyk)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_I_(Ohienko) Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Michael_(Khoroshy) Metropolitan Michael (Khoroshy)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Andrew_(Metiuk) Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Wasyly_(Fedak) Metropolitan Wasyly (Fedak)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_John_(Stinka) Metropolitan John (Stinka)]    

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Yurij_(Kalistchuk) Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)]   

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_(Rudnyk) Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)]  

[http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Bishop_Andriy_(Peshko) Bishop Andriy (Peshko)]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Mitred_Archpriest_Jacob_and_Matushka_Barbara_Korchinsky Mitred Archpriest Jacob and Matushka Barbara Korchinsky]  

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Archpriest_Vladimir_and_Matushka_Rose_Alexandrov Archpriest Vladimir and Matushka Rose Alexandrov]  

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Feast of the Holy Ascension]     

[https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2264065/holy-ascension-ukrainian-orthodox-church-cemetery Findagrave reference for Holy Ascension Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery]

[https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2264065/memorial-search?page=1#sr-115636795 Findagrave cemetery list of names]

[http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianOrthodoxChurchofCanada.htm Encyclopaedia of Ukraine article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] 

[https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CA%5CL%5CAlberta.htm Encyclopedia of Ukraine article about Alberta]  

[https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ukrainian-canadians/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Canadians Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Canadian]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_diaspora Wikipedia article about Ukrainian Diaspora]

[http://wayback.archive-it.org/2217/20101208162026/http://www.edukits.ca/multiculturalism/student/immigration_ukrainian_e.html Ukrainian Immigration to Canada]

[http://provincialarchives.alberta.ca/docs/UkrainianGuide-English.pdf Thesis about the immigration of Ukrainians to Alberta]

[https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/history-ethnic-cultural/Pages/ukrainian.aspx  Library and Archives of Canada article about the Ukrainians in Alberta]

[https://www.smokylake.ca/ Town of Smoky Lake, Alberta, web-site]

[http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/calgary/ Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Calgary] 

[https://www.stdemetriusuoc.ca/news_181216_1 Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada : 100th Anniversary Sobor in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan]  (2018) 

[https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Metropolitan_Ilarion_II_(Rudnyk)#Enthronement_as_Metropolitan_of_the_Ukrainian_Orthodox_Church_of_Canada,_2022 Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (19 November, 2022)   

[https://www.facebook.com/HTUOMC/videos/555039916629548/ Video : Enthronement of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)] (19 November, 2022) 

[https://www.uocc.ca/%d1%80%d1%96%d0%b7%d0%b4%d0%b2%d1%8f%d%bd%d0%b5-%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%bd%d1%8f-%d1%94%d0%bf%d0%b8%d1%81%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%82%d1%83-%d1%83%d0%bf%d1%86%d0%ba-nativity-epist/ Nativity Epistle from the Episcopate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada] (2022-2023) 

[https://www.uocc.ca/%d0%bf%d0%b0%d1%81%d1%85%d0%b0%d0%bb%d1%8c%d0%bd%d0%b5-%d0%bf%d0%be%d1%81%d0%bb%d0%b0%d0%bd%d0%bd%d1%8f-2023-paschal-epistle-2023/ Paschal Epistle of Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk)] (16 April, 2023)   

[https://www.uocc.ca/primatial-encyclical-annoucement-of-the-adoption-of-the-revised-julian-calendar-by-the-ukrainian-orthodox-church-of-canada/ Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar] (1 December, 2023)   








[[Category:Parish Communities]] [[Category:Alberta]] [[Category:UGOCC]] [[Category:UOCC]] [[Category:UOCCWE]] [[Category:EP]]