Vancouver BC Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church 1938

Vancouver, British Columbia, Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 1938, 1954

Foundation of the parish, 1938

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church was formally initiated in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, by the Archpriest Philemon Gorelik, who desired to purchase and preserve the Orthodox church building which had been built by the late Archpriest Alexander Kiziun (or Kizyun) between 1938 and 1940. This foundation marks the actual beginning of the community.

Archpriest Alexander Kiziun

Archpriest Alexander Kiziun was born within the Russian Empire.

Having left before the Bolshevik Revolution, he had travelled to the USA as a missionary. In 1916, in Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York City, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky) of the North American Diocese of the "Russian Mission in North America". Afterwards, he was given several parish assignments, which took him to Alberta, Canada. Then, in 1931, Father Alexander was moved to Vancouver, British Columbia, where he was assigned to be the rector of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church. At that time, this parish was still on 7th Avenue. Father Alexander served there from 1931 to 1937.

Archpriest Alexander Kiziun (1892-1953)

Construction of the Temple, 1940

However, in 1937, because of differences with the parish administration, he was forced to leave. As a consequence, he moved into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). Then, almost single-handedly, with a few but loyal and reliable parishioners, he began the construction of the Holy Trinity Temple on Campbell Avenue in the Vancouver-Strathcona district, in which lived many Slavs who had immigrated to Canada. The construction was completed in 1940. In effect, it was a “private” Temple, since it was built by Father Alexander on land owned by Father Alexander. The construction was on the basis of traditional Russian canons for building Orthodox temples.

Two views of the Temple from the south

Those who came to attend this parish were of various nationalities – Russians, Serbs, and Greeks. Eventually, there were also Canadians who had accepted the Orthodox Christian Faith. Because there were many Serbs, who at that time did not have distinct Serbian temples, the parish was sometimes called either a "Russo-Serb" or a "Russo-Greek-Orthodox" parish. The term "Russo-Greek-Orthodox" seems to have been coined by Bishop Tikhon (Belavin) when he was developing a legal corporate status for the Orthodox Church in Canada in 1902-1903. Father Alexander was never able to complete the Temple in all respects, but it was fit for worship. Father Alexander continued to serve there until the end of his life. He fell asleep in the Lord in 1953, and he was interred at the Mountain View Cemetery on Fraser Street.

Bereavement, 1953

On 3 June, 1953, Archpriest Alexander Kiziun fell asleep in the Lord in Vancouver.

The Funeral Services for the Burial of a Priest were offered in Holy Trinity Church.

After the funeral obsequies, the body of Archpriest Alexander Kiziun was interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Vancouver.

Formal organisation of the parish, 1954

In 1954, the parish was more formally organised under the guidance of Archpriest Philemon Gorelik, of the Russian Orthodox parish of Saint Nicholas. Because the Temple had been put up for sale by the widowed Matushka of Father Kizyun, there was a risk that someone would buy the Temple and either use it for other purposes, or raze it.

However, Father Philemon and the Saint Nicholas parishioners wished to save this Temple for the Russian “diaspora” (there were many people immigrating at that time). Therefore, Father Philemon and those parishioners managed to purchase the Temple from Matushka Kizyun. Then the Saint Nicholas community re-founded the parish of Holy Trinity. They provided a suitable constitution, and parish life continued in a normal fashion.

Then, Father Philemon remained at Holy Trinity parish, from where he cared for both communities. In 1956, the parish of Saint Nicholas received another priest, Hieromonk Seraphim (Popov). Parish life continued to develop in 2 different Temples with 2 distinct communities and 2 distinct priests.

It is useful to keep in mind that it was in 1956 that Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Church (in the Archdiocese of Canada of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (ROGCCNA)) had been forced by the City of Vancouver to move from its original site because of the construction of a bridge. It was in this year that their new Temple was constructed and sanctified at 43rd Avenue and Quebec Street, to the south of these parishes.

Reconciliation of the ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate, 2007

On the Feast of the Ascension of Christ (17 May, 2007), Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla), along with many of the clergy of the ROCOR, participated in the signing of the “Act of Canonical Communion” in Moscow, Russia. Together with this signing, Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla) participated in serving the Patriarchal Divine Liturgy with the Patriarch of Moscow, Aleksey II (Ridiger), at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.

Metropolitan Laurus and Patriarch Aleksey sign the Act of Reconciliation

Metropolitan Laurus, Patriarch Aleksey

60 years : 2014 ; Archpastoral visitation by Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)

By May, 2014, 60 years had passed since the establishment of the Holy Trinity Parish of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) in Vancouver, British Columbia. This anniversary was marked by the Holy Trinity parish on the day of the Holy Trinity, the Feast of Pentecost (the Feast of the Descent of the Holy Spirit), which is the patronal feast-day of the Temple. For this event, the patronal feast and parish anniversary, the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Canada, Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) of Montréal and Canada visited Vancouver.

On the eve and on the day of the Holy Day of Pentecost, Archbishop Gabriel presided at the celebration of all the services. On the day of the Holy Trinity, 8 June, Vladyka celebrated the Divine Liturgy, followed by Great Vespers for the Day of the Holy Spirit, and he lead the Cross-procession around the Temple. At the Lesser Entrance of the Divine Liturgy, by decree of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia the archbishop awarded Archpriest Serge Overt, the right to wear a pectoral Cross with jewels. Father Overt had already been the rector of many years, and Dean of the parishes of the western part of the Diocese of Canada. At the end of the service, Archbishop Gabriel read the Gramota of Blessing (an honourary certificate) that was bestowed to the entire parish by the Synod of Bishops to commemorate the 60 years of its existence.

Temple interior

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia is based on the mission of preserving the loyalty of the Russian Orthodox Christians in exile, the Russian Orthodox Church, and the Russian Orthodox spiritual culture. This mission has been carried out and executed in daily life in Temples, schools, and homes, and in the concern about preserving the Russian spiritual life as far as possible in a foreign environment.

Election of a new First Hierarch, 2022

On 13 September, 2022, at the Meeting of the Holy Synod of Bishops in New York, Bishop Nicholas (Olhovsky) was elected to be First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. He was to be elevated to the dignity of Metropolitan, and to be the ruling bishop of the Diocese of Eastern America and New York.

On 14 September, 2022, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church approved his election.

On 17 September, 2022, he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan in the New York Synodal Cathedral of the Sign of the Theotokos.

On 18 September, 2022, Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) was assigned by the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to be First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia.

He was later elected to serve as a Member “ex officio” of the Presidium of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian Orthodox Church.

Enthronement

On Sunday, 18 September, 2022, Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) was enthroned by the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR) as Archbishop and Metropolitan of New York and the Diocese of Eastern America, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia. The enthronement took place during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Sign of the Theotokos Cathedral in New York City, New York. A video of the enthronement service may be found here.

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Archdiocese of Montréal and Canada of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). The bishop is Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov).

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit, the Most Holy Trinity).

In 2023, the pastor of the parish is the Archpriest Serge Overt.

Address :

Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity

710, Campbell Avenue

Vancouver, British Columbia

V6A 3K1

Telephone : (604) 254 2571

Web-site : http://russianorthodoxchurch.ca/en/

Directions :

The Temple is on Campbell Avenue, just south of East Georgia Street. It is to the west of Clark Drive, 6 blocks south of Hastings Street, and 3 blocks north of Prior Street.

By car :

From Highway #1 (Trans-Canada), take the exit at East 1st Avenue or East Hastings Street. In both cases, drive west until Clark Drive.

From Hastings Street, continue on until Campbell Avenue and turn left (south). Drive south 6 blocks.

From East 1st Avenue, turn right at Clark Drive, and drive north until Venables Street. Turn left. Venables Street becomes Prior Street. Drive until Campbell Avenue and turn right (north). Drive north 4 blocks.

By bus :

Consult BCTransit.

There is bus service on East Hastings Street, on Clark Drive and on Venables and Prior Streets.

By rail :

Vancouver is accessible by rail (and hence this parish) by VIARail from points to the east in Canada. It is accessible also by Amtrak from Seattle, Washington, and other connecting stations.

Vancouver is accessible by road, chiefly by Highway #1 from the west, and Highway #99 from the south.

It is accessible by various airline companies through the Vancouver International Aeroport.

It is accessible by ferry through BC Ferries at either Tsawassen or Horseshoe Bay.

Archpriest Serge Overt

E-mail : batushka@russianorthodoxchurch.ca

Views of the Temple decorated for the Feast of Pentecost, the Holy Trinity :

East ; West ; South ; North

References

60th anniversary article

Additional information :

Parish web-site

Diocese listing

Archdiocese of Montréal and Canada web-site (in Russian)

Archdiocese of Montréal and Canada web-site

The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

Wikipedia article about the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia

ROCOR Parish Directory

Orthodox Church of Russia web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Russian Orthodox Church

Saint John (Maximovitch)

Patriarch Aleksey II (Ridiger)

Patriarch Kirill (Gundyaev)

Metropolitan Antony (Khrapovitsky)

Metropolitan Anastasy (Gribanovsky)

Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesensky)

Metropolitan Vitaly (Ustinov)

Metropolitan Laurus (Škurla)

Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral)

Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky)

Bishop Jerome (Shaw)

Archbishop Gabriel (Chemodakov)

Reference to Holy Trinity parish near the end of the Saint Nicholas history

Saint Nicholas the Wonder-worker Russian Orthodox Church, Vancouver, British Columbia

Wikipedia article about the Russian Diaspora

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Russian Canadians

Wikipedia article about Russian Canadians

Holy Trinity Temple virtual tour on Pentecost

Orthodoxwiki list of Orthodox parishes in British Columbia

Friendship Festival celebrates Metro Vancouver’s Russian-speaking Communities (in Russian) (25 August, 2019)

Memory of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir, Enlightener of the Russian people (15/28 July, 2023)

Metropolitan Nicholas led the Celebration of the 1,035 Anniversary of the Baptism of Rus at Saint Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, New Jersey (29-30 July, 2023)