Lethbridge AB Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church 1942

Lethbridge, Alberta, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 1942

Prehistory

It is not clear when Orthodox Christians began to settle in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. It is likely that there were Serbian people in Lethbridge from time to time after 1900, since there were many newcomers to Canada who were working in coal mines and on the railways. However, their connexion with the Orthodox Church was only in Calgary, Alberta (either at Saint Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, or at All Saints Russian Orthodox Church).

It is known that Ukrainians began to arrive in the region in the earliest part of the 20th century, although many were migrant workers, much as were the Serbs. Orthodox Ukrainians sometimes travelled south from the main Ukrainian Bloc Settlement in Central Alberta in order to find work in mines or with the railways.

The first visible presence in Lethbridge came in 1920 with the establishment of Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church. It was a frequent occurrence that in the early days of Ukrainian settlement in Canada, the Ukrainian Catholic Church appeared first. This was largely because of the historical situation in the Ukrainian homeland.

Establishment of the parish

Nevertheless, the first appearance of an Orthodox Christian parish did not take place until after the beginning of World War II.

On 22 April, 1942, the Holy Trinity Parish was officially approved and was incorporated. It was then accepted into the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada.

Then, after the end of World War II, there was an influx of newcomers to Canada, displaced Ukrainians, who, on immigration to Canada, arrived in southern Alberta in search of work in the sugar beet fields.

It was because of them that the existing Temple was constructed. In time, the Holy Trinity Parish came to be a multiethnic community (more than 8 ethnicities) of Orthodox believers striving to live their Orthodox Christian Faith in Lethbridge, Alberta.

Holy Trinity Temple

Change in status 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.

In 1990, the 18th Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in Winnipeg, Manitoba, decided to enter into Eucharistic Union with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople (Istanbul). This decision also changed the relationship with the other Orthodox dioceses and parishes in Canada in a positive way.

The following items clarify the nature of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada : “The Church declares that its faith, dogma and doctrine are those of the One, Holy, Orthodox, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church, as taught by the Holy Scriptures, Sacred Traditions, the Seven Ecumenical Councils, Ten Local Councils and the Holy Fathers” (Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, Bylaws : Fundamental Principles, 2.01, 10 July, 2010).

Further, “The Church recognizes the supreme canonical authority of the Patriarchal Synod in all matters pertaining to faith and canonical order” (By-Laws : Fundamental Principles, 2.02). As such, "The Church is an Archdiocese/Metropolia under the spiritual umbrella of the Patriachate of Constantinople and, as such, it is an integral part of the One, Holy, Orthodox, Catholic (Universal) and Apostolic Church, the head of which is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ". (By-Laws : Fundamental Principles 2.03)

Southern Alberta Mission Project, 2000

In 2000, the Southern Alberta Mission Project was initially begun. It came to be known as the “Holy Trinity Mission District”. The new ordination of Patrick Powalinsky to the Holy Priesthood, under the sponsorship of Saint Vladimir’s Ukrainian Orthodox Congregation in Calgary, provided the personal resources for this project. Initially, the mission served Lethbridge, Red Deer, Oyen and Cranbrook, British Columbia. A new mission congregation had begun in Cranbrook because of the mission project. However, this Cranbrook mission was taken over by The Orthodox Church in America (OCA), when the Southern Alberta Mission Project was in hiatus. It is now known as Saint Aidan’s Orthodox Church.

Later, Holy Trinity congregation in Lethbridge, Alberta, and Holy Trinity Mission in Red Deer, Alberta, began to grow at a remarkable rate, mainly because of the resources and activity of the mission project. Through this project, these congregations hope to grow to a point where they can support their own priests.

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 this 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.

2020-2021 Coronavirus-19 virus restrictions on parishes

In early 2020, the Covid-19 virus made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide 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 “on-line”. This conference-meeting was convened thus instead of convening physically (as customarily) in Winnipeg, Manitoba. There were 6 cathedrals in Canada in which 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.

Recent immigration from Ukraine

Although the population of the parish had begun to decrease somewhat with the passage of time, the increase of turmoil in Ukraine in the early 21st century resulted in a notable increase in immigration to Canada, and an increase in the membership of Holy Trinity Parish. The membership increased also with the arrival of persons of other ethnicities as well.

Parishioners with Metropolitan Ilarion

Archpastoral visit, 2026

On Sunday, 5 July, 2026, the fifth Sunday after Pentecost, Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk) celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Lethbridge. Hе was assisted by the Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Taras Krochak ; Archpriest Vasyl Hnativ ; Priest Nazarii Kobylniak ; Priest. Oleh Romanyna.

Metropolitan Ilarion and others 5vii2026

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Calgary Region (Deanery) of the Western Eparchy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada in turn is within the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The bishop is Metropolitan Ilarion II (Rudnyk).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

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

In 2025, the parish priest is Archpriest Taras Krochak.

Address :

Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Church

643-13 Street North

Lethbridge, Alberta

T1H 2S9

Telephones : (403)-223-5283 ; (403)-327-5471

Web-site : https://mail.lethbridge-orthodox.org/

E-mail : dana_lickiss@yahoo.com

Directions :

By car :

From Highway #2, turn east on Highway #3, and drive to Lethbridge. Take the exit for 5th Avenue North. Pass Stafford Drive North, and continue until 13 Street North. Turn left (north) onto 13 Street North. The Temple is on the right, at the corner of 7th Avenue North.

Archpriest Taras Krochak

Telephones : (403) 241-7742 ; ( 403) 264-3437 ; (403) 239-5645 (mobile)

E-mail : krochakt@shaw.ca

References

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “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.

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

Original material

Orthodox World article about Holy Trinity Church

Additional information :

A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

“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).

Isajiw, Wsevolod ; Boshyk, Yury ; Senkus, Roman (eds.), “The Refugee Experience : Ukrainian Displaced Persons after World War II” (Edmonton : Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press, 1992).

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.

Ukrainian Orthodox Western Eparchy web-site

Wikipedia article about the Western Eparchy of the UOCC

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian Orthodox of Canada

Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople

Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis)

Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) (Patriarchal Exarch of Canada)

Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych)

Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk)

Metropolitan John (Stinka)

Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk)

Metropolitan II Ilarion (Rudnyk)

Bishop Andriy (Peshko)

Encycopaedia of Ukraine article about the history of the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Ukrainian Canadians

Wikipedia article about the Ukrainian diaspora

Ukrainian Immigration to Canada

"Historical Overview" about immigration of Ukrainians to Alberta

Wikiipedia article about Lethbridge, Alberta

Canadian Encyclopaedia article about Lethbridge, Alberta

Enthronement of Bishop Ilarion (Rudnyk) as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (19 November, 2022)

Metropolitan Ilarion (Rudnyk) announces Change of Calendar (1 December, 2023)