Victoria BC Saint Sophia Russian Orthodox Church 1989

Victoria, British Columbia : Saint Sophia Russian Orthodox Church, 1989

Sophia may be spelt Sofia.

Prehistory

There is no evident parish history available on the internet with regard to this Orthodox Christian community in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

However, it may be suggested that this community came into existence at first in the context of, and as a tangent of sorts to the earlier development of the mission that was initiated from Vancouver, British Columbia, through the efforts of clergy and Faithful of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor there.

In 1972, the “Annunciation Orthodox Mission” had been established in Victoria, and it was served primarily by Archpriest John Karateyev (†1976) after his retirement from active pastoral service. He served often with Bishop Joasaph (Antoniuk). Bishop Joasaph (who had blessed this mission into being) visited the mission many times before his repose in 1978, and he was accompanied frequently by Deacon Andrey Somow.

During that time, a priest, Gleb Jensen, had been ordained by Vladyka Joasaph to foster this mission. However, after the repose of Vladyka Joasaph, because of certain controversies, this priest took the majority of parishioners out of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and into the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (ROCOR). Then, he founded the Church of Saint Sophia in Victoria.

It is useful to be aware that it was near the time of the establishment of the “Annunciation Mission” in 1972 (as previously mentioned) that the Greek Orthodox Church and Community of the Presentation of the Lord was established in Victoria (likewise with help from Vancouver, from Saint George's Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Vancouver).

Formal establishment of the Saint Sophia parish, 1989

As has happened with many communities, the missionary group continued its regular life of worship, prayer, and service for a long time before it was ready to become visibly, formally, and legally established. In the case of this parish, the official registration as a Crown charity took place on 1 April, 1989. This implies that by this date, the parish had become legally incorporated (most parishes do so through the Provincial Societies Act as not-for-profit entity), and had adopted a set of by-laws that were acceptable both to the Diocese of Montréal and Canada (Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia), and to the civil authorities represented by the Canada Revenue Agency. In the earlier days, the parish (along with other Western Canada parishes) was cared for pastorally by the ROCOR Diocese of San Francisco and Western America.

This particular parish is dedicated, in fact, to Divine Wisdom (in Greek, "Sophia"). This means that the dedication of the parish is to Jesus Christ the Lord Himself. Parishes dedicated to Christ celebrate on various feast-days of the Saviour throughout the year. In this parish, it is the third Feast of Christ in August, the Feast of the Icon of the Saviour not Made by Hands.

Icon of Christ Not Made By Hands

English language services

Whether the use of Slavonic or English and/or in what proportions may have influenced the separation of the community from the Archdiocese of Canada in the early 1980s, by 2023, the parish had come to offering all services in the English language.

Current Temple

The second Temple began as a house. It is not clarified in available writings whether or not this house is the present structure. Nevertheless, whether it was from the 1980s or later, the present building was developed from on a house, which was extended to the east in order to accommodate parish worship. It is situated at the junction of Joseph and May Streets, and there is on-street parking available. After a time, a ramp was constructed so as to allow for better access to the main door of the Temple straight from May Street.

The location of the Temple makes it easy to find.

The Temple at Joseph and May Streets

In addition to regular worship, the parish offers an abundance of educational resources for the young, for long-term Orthodox Christians, for newly-arrived Orthodox Christians, and for enquirers. The primary concern is the healthy spiritual development of everyone.

The parish has a sisterhood which supports the parish family in various ways, and which gives support to the needy.

The parish offers a monthly, digital newsletter, “Sophia”.

The Temple interior at Pascha

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

Return to the Montréal and Canada Diocese, 2008

Upon the arrival of Bishop Gabriel (Chemodakov) as Bishop of Montréal and Canada in 2008, the Saint Sophia Parish was reunited (along with other Western Canada parishes) to the Diocese of Canada of the ROCOR.

Be that as it may, the geographical situation of Victoria presents access to the USA through Seattle and Port Angeles in Washington State, that in certain ways, there is extra support available easily from the Seattle region.

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.

Bereavement, 2024

On 12 August, 2024,

Particular parish information

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

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of the Icon of Christ Not Made by Hands, 16/29 August (in this parish, 3 September).

In 2023, the rector is Archpriest John Adams ; Priest Philosoph Uhlma is the Second Priest.

The deacons are : Protodeacon Gordian Bruce ; Deacon Olexandr Savytskyi.

Regular services (in English) :

Saturday, 6:00 p.m., Vigil

Sunday, 10:00 a.m., Divine Liturgy

Saint Sophia Orthodox Church

195, Joseph Street

Victoria

British Columbia

V8S 3H6

Telephone : (250) 704-2838

Web-site : https://saintsophia.ca/

E-mail: saintsophia@shaw.ca

Directions :

Victoria, British Columbia, is situated on Vancouver Island.

It is approached by air at Victoria International Aeroport.

It is approached by sea with BCFerries from Vancouver ; with FRS Clipper from Seattle, Washington, USA ; or with Black Ball Ferry from Port Angeles, Washington.

From northeasterly parts of Vancouver Island, Victoria is approached by road with the BC/Transcanada Highway #1 (between Nanaimo and Victoria) and BC Highway #19 (North of Nanaimo).

From westerly parts of Vancouver Island, Victoria is approached by the West Island (Sooke) Highway #14.

Saint Sophia Church is situated at the corner of Joseph and May Streets in Victoria.

Parish sign

References

Parish web-site

Additional information :

Orthodox World listing

Diocese listing

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

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

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)

Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver, British Columbia

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (ROCOR) in Vancouver, British Columbia

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

Mapquest reference for Saint Sophia Orthodox Church

Saint Sophia Orthodox Church Newsletter

Orthodoxwiki list of Orthodox parishes in British Columbia

Act of Reconciliation of the ROCOR and the Moscow Patriarchate (2007)

90th Anniversary of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad (2010)

‘The Sisterhood and other Parish News’ in “Sophia Newsletter”, issue no. 115 (November, 2021), p. 5.

Election of Metropolitan Nicholas (Olhovsky) new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia (18 September, 2022)

‘History of the Parish’ in “Sophia Newsletter”, issue no. 135 (September, 2023), p. 3.