Quebec QC Holy Trinity Orthodox Church 1950
Québec, Québec, Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church, 1950
Québec, Québec, l'Église orthodoxe de la Sainte-Trinité, 1950
Квебек, Квебек, Православная церковь Святой Троицы, 1950
Prehistory
For most of the 19th century, Québec City, Québec, Canada, was the major port for immigration into Canada. It was after 1880 that many people began to arrive in Québec from the regions that are now Poland and Ukraine. Most did not remain in the city, but rather, they journeyed father to the west of the country, where they settled. A significant number of the Slavs settled in Montréal, which was a larger city at that time, with more employment and business opportunities.
Beginnings in Montréal
In 1907, the Russian Orthodox Parish of Saints Peter and Paul was established in Montréal. This parish received Orthodox Christians from other cities in Eastern Canada with hospitality, and any Russian-speakers who might have lived in Québec City would have travelled there when possible. Similarly, any Orthodox Christians who were Romanian- or Greek- or Arabic- speakers would have travelled to Montréal whenever it was possible.
This pattern of immigration continued with approximately the same pattern of movement (even when both Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Montréal, Québec, became more prominent ports of entry).
It was only after World War II that there began to be a Russian-speaking presence in Québec City, when some people arrived and remained in the city or its environs. It seems that the family of Yaroslav Koulomzine arrived in Québec City in 1948, His brother, Theodore, moved to Montréal, and then to Val-d’Or, Quebec, where he was instrumental in the establishment of several parishes in the Abititi region. His brother, Nikita, moved to New York, USA, where he and his wife became active in Church life. Afterwards, the Koulomzine family began to be joined in the city by other Russian-and Ukrainian-speaking immigrants.
Archpriest Oleg Boldireff
It was in 1948 also that Archpriest Oleg Boldireff and his family moved from France and settled in Montréal, Québec. There, he was assigned to serve as rector of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, and to serve as Dean of Québec and Ontario.
Establishment of the parish, 1950
In the context of the beginning of a small community of Orthodox Christians in Québec City, and of the personal contacts between Father Oleg Boldireff and the small community in the city, the desire of the Québec City residents to establish a mission in the city was fulfilled. It took some time, because of the lack of a resident bishop in Canada at that time. However, Father Oleg presented the possibility to Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), the Locum-tenens of the Canadian diocese, and the blessing was given. The Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Mission was established in 1950.
Although there were regular contacts It was, however, not until 1952 that the first Divine Liturgy could be served in the mission in Québec City. This occurred on the Feast of Pentecost (the Feast of the Holy Trinity), and this day became the Altar Feast-day of the parish.
Because of his particular personal gifts, Father Boldireff was able to arrange for the repeated use of a chapel at Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in the city. Holy Trinity Cathedral was very accommodating, and the site was advantageous : it is situated close to the Château Frontenac, in the old heart of the old city, on Rue des Jardins, between Rue Saint-Anne and Rue Saint-Louis. It is situated also near the north bank of the Saint Lawrence River, and the Port of Québec. This arrangement lasted for more than 50 years.
Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral, Québec City
The rented chapel at the cathedral
Incorporation
It was on 31 March, 1959, that the Holy Trinity Mission was incorporated legally and officially.
Archpriest Alexander Mirochnitchenko
Soon after 1952, the Archpriest Alexander Mirochnitchenko (recently arrived in Montreal from Europe) was assigned to serve the mission in Quebec City. Although this service was not weekly, it was regular, and increasingly frequent. He continued in this service until his repose in Christ in 1964.
Archpriest Alexander Mirochnitchenko, Tatiana Woinowsk-Krieger, son Aleksey, 1959
Notable persons
In those early days, there had arrived and remained such families as those of Sergey Eduardovich Woinowsky-Krieger (a man very significant in civil engineering : he contributed to setting up the civil engineering deptartment at Universite Laval, and he co-authored a classic in his field “Theory of Plates and Shells”; Alexander and Tatiana Woinowsky-Krieger, and their sons Aleksey, Michael, and Serge ; Anna Jürgens and her daughters Olga and Helene) ; Georges Ben-Chavchavadze ; the Klimoff family : Eugene E Klimoff ; George Klimoff ; Konstantin Klimoff ; Aleksey Klimoff ; Paul Klimoff ; and their spouses and children ; the Sayn-Wittgenstein family ; the somewhat-related von Schoenburg family. A long-time starosta of the parish was Pavel Ivanovich Voyevodin, who set up the icons and candle stands before every Divine Liturgy ; and, of course, there were others.
In 1958, the following group photo was taken in Quebec City :
Standing : Sergey Eduardovich Woinowsky-Krieger, Olga Jürgens, Georges Ben-Chavchavadze. Sitting : Unidentified Man, Helene Jürgens (not yet Culhane), Irina Klimoff (Ben-Chavchavadze), Tatiana Georgievna Woinowsky-Krieger.
The size of the missionary community varied as some members departed to other places for work, and others arrived.
Photos from about 1959 :
Klimov family
Parishioners, October, 1959
Parishioners in the chapel
Greek Orthodox community established, 1959
In 1959, the Greek Orthodox Community of Quebec City acquired a temple in Québec City. It was developed from an existing house on René-Lévesque Boulevard, near Cartier Street. Named “Evangelismos”, it is called in English “Annunciation”. Its dedication is to the Annunciation to the Theotokos.
Similar to the Holy Trinity parish, the population of Greek Orthodox in the city was small, so that services were not frequent until later.
Regular or occasional services continue
During the first many decades of the Holy Trinity parish, the services were offered in a distinct chapel of Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral in Québec City. This was All Saints Chapel. When a service was scheduled to occur, then Alexander S Woinowsky-Krieger would bring all the necessary sacred items required. During every interim, he and his wife Tatiana kept these items in a special place in their home. Especially during later years (before the renewal of activity in the parish), Alexander and Tatiana served as the main contact persons regarding the life of the community.
Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevich) served the parish regularly from 1984-1995.
Establishment of Saints Peter and Paul Romanian parish, 2001
On 18 March, 2001, the founding Romanian Orthodox community assembly in Quebec City organised itself, and (with the blessing of the bishop), decided on the name "Holy Apostles Peter and Paul" for the parish.
In January, 2002, the first priest was assigned to serve this mission. He was followed by the second priest in 2004. This community, a part of the Romanian Episcopate of The Orthodox Church in America, was already becoming well-populated through immigration.
First resident pastor of Holy Trinity parish, 2008
On 15 May, 2008, Priest Nectaire Féménias was received through Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko) into the Archdiocese of Canada. He was attached at Holy Trinity Mission, Québec, where he began to serve as pastor on a regular basis.
Quebec City's first pan-Orthodox liturgy, 2013
The first pan-Orthodox Divine Liturgy in Quebec City took place on Sunday, 24 March, 2013, on the occasion of the Sunday of Orthodoxy. It brought together Orthodox Christians from many backgrounds.
The Divine Liturgy was presided over by Bishop Irénée (Rochon) of Quebec City, administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, OCA. Priest Costas Constantinou (Greek community), Priest Nectaire Féménias (Russian community), and Priest Daniel Postolache (Romanian community) served together with him.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, there was the celebration of the Rite of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, commemorating the restoration of the veneration of Holy Icons in 787. Afterwards, the Faithful united over a fraternal agape meal.
Archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Quebec City, 2016
On Sunday, 7 February, 2016, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) made an archpastoral visit to Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Quebec City.
He presided at the Divine Liturgy, and he was assisted by Archpriest Andrey Syrkin, priest-in-charge of the parish ; by Deacon Nicolas Svetlovsky ; and by Deacon Igor Aleksandrovskiy. After the Divine Liturgy, congratulations were sung to Matushka Tatyana Syrkin, Matushka Nicole Féménias, and others who were celebrating name-days. Afterwards, a luncheon was shared in the hall.
New site for the parish, 2016
On 18 September, 2016, the clergy and people of Holy Trinity Church in Québec City rejoiced that a new location was found for their services as a parish. With the help of some parishioners, an iconostas was built in one week.
The Divine Liturgy service was offered for the first time in the new building on Sunday, 18 September, with Priest Andrey Syrkin, Priest Nectaire Féménias, and Deacon Igor Aleksandrovsky.
The new site is a portion of the very large Église des Saints-Martyrs-Canadiens, whose front entrance is at 707 Rue Père-Marquette. There are other buildings as well.
Holy Trinity parish uses the side entrance at 945, avenue de Bienville, Québec, Québec, G1S 3C1.
Archpastoral visit, 2017
On Sunday, 2 July, 2017, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec City.
Pascha at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Québec, 2018
Pascha at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Québec, Québec 8 APRIL, 2018
Photos from the celebration of Pascha at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec City.
Ordination of Priest Nicolas Svetlovsky, 2018
On 5 May, 2018, at St Benoît de Nursie Church in Montréal Quebec, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) ordained Deacon Nicolas Svetlovsky to the Holy Priesthood. Archbishop Irénée was assisted by archpriest Gregory Nimijean, Priest Dragos Giulea, Priest Justin Mitchell, Priest Dimitri Choueiry, Archimandrite Marc (Pierre), and Archdeacon Amvrosi (Mlodzyk).
Priest Nicolas Svetlovsky was assigned to serve as the interim pastor of the Holy Trinity parish.
Fr Nicolas Svetlovsky Serving in Québec City
On 31 May, 2018, for the Altar Feast-day of Pentecost, Priest Nicolas Svetlovsky led the services on this festal occasion.
The newly-ordained priest Fr Nicolas Svetlovsky had been assigned to serve at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec City until a full-time priest is assigned.
Archbishop Irénée Visits Québec City, 2018
Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec, Québec, 26 August, 2018.
On Sunday, 26 August, 2018, Archbishop Irénée celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec City. Concelebrating with the archbishop were Priest Nectaire Féménias, Priest Nicolas Svetlovsky, and Priest Nicholas Young (a military chaplain).
New liturgical banners
On 23 June, 2019, after the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of All Saints, Father Nicolas Svetlovsky blessed new processional banners of Christ and of Theotokos for the parish of the Holy Trinity in Québec City.
The new banners were made with loving care by Olga Rusnac.
Foundation of Saint Hilary of Poitiers Mission, 2019
During 2019, the new Mission of Saint Hilary of Poitiers was established in Quebec City. The facility is located within the facilities belonging to the Parish of Saint Monica (north side, door 2).
The Francophone Saint Hilary of Poitiers Orthodox Mission Station aims to help the Orthodox Church flourish in Québec City, serving the spiritual needs of French-speaking Orthodox Christians there, regardless of their origin.
Priest Nectaire Femenias was assigned to serve as the pastor of this mission.
Christ the Saviour Parish Pilgrimage to Québec, 2019
Russian Orthodox Christ the Saviour Cathedral parishioners from Toronto, Ontario, visited Holy Trinity parish 12-14 October, 2019
Over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in October, 2019, Fr Ivan Symchyna led a group of parishioners from Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Toronto on a pilgrimage to Québec, including to Rawdon for a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy with His Eminence, Archbishop Irénée, and to Québec City to visit with Fr Nicolas Svetlovsky and the parishioners of Holy Trinity Orthodox Church.
Seventieth anniversary, 2021
Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec, Québec, celebrated its 70th anniversary on 14 December, 2021.
Two years ago Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Québec City and I were blissfully preparing to celebrate our 70th anniversary, and of course by April we were in lockdown. After the subsequent rather painful adjustment to online worship, I managed to put together a slideshow of the 70 years of our parish life. Granted there is a gap in the photos during the nearly 20 years when our parish was dormant, sometime in the 1980s regular services resumed in our parish. By the end of last year this slideshow was ready and we celebrated our 70th on Zoom. Fr Nicolas
The Mission at Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Mission, 2016
At the intersection of three large Canadian rivers is the fifth largest city in the province of Quebec, Trois-Rivières (three rivers). It is the second oldest city in Canada after Quebec City. It was founded in 1634 and now has more than 120 thousand inhabitants. Mostly, of course, these are French-speaking Canadians, but among them there are several Russian families who for many years invited a priest to celebrate the Divine Liturgy. The missionary community was served through Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, rector of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Montreal, Quebec.
After 2016, the community was cared for by a priest from Quebec City. Services were held on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., on the premises kindly provided by the owner of the Greek restaurant, Mr. Stratos. On the second floor of his restaurant, the owner built a small Orthodox chapel in which the Orthodox Christian community could celebrate the Divine Liturgy.
26 mars à 10h00 Messe à Trois-Rivières (chaque dernier samedi du mois) à l’adresse suivante: 1300, Ste-Marguerite, suite 201 Trois-Rivières, G8Z 1V7 Québec, Canada.
Easter Sunday in Trois-Rivières Posted on April 25, 2016 by протоиерей Андрей Сыркин On Easter Sunday in Trois-Rivières there will be Easter Vespers and blessing of Easter cakes, eggs and meat.
The service will be held at 4:00 p.m. May 1 in the chapel above Stratos Restaurant
7 mai Liturgie à Trois-Rivières fait archevêque d’Ottawa et du Canada Irénée. Le service a été suivie par plusieurs familles de Trois-Rivières. Bishop a félicité les fidèles le jour férié lumineux de la Résurrection du Christ.
Nous vous rappelons que la Divine Liturgie dans le Trois-Rivières est engagé chaque dernier samedi du mois à 10 heures.
26 août, le dernier samedi du mois, traditionnellement lieu la messe à Trois-Rivières. A cette époque, la liturgie chantera la cathédrale Archidiocèse Canadian Choir. Le service aura lieu à: 1300,
1 octobre, traditionnellement lieu la liturgie à Trois-Rivières. Le service aura lieu à: 1300, Ste-Marguerite, suite 201 Trois-Rivières, G8Z 1V7 Québec, Canada. Prot. Andrew Syrkin
Le 13 novembre, 2021 l’archevêque Irénée a officié la première liturgie dans la nouvelle chapelle de Trois-Rivières
For all questions, please call: tel: +1-581-922-50-55 (from Andrey) or +1-819-668-66-08 (Anna)
Particular parish information
This parish is part of the Quebec & Atlantic Provinces Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).
This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of the parish is the Feast of Pentecost (Descent of the Holy Spirit, Holy Trinity).
In 2024, the pastor of the parish is Priest Nicolas P Svetlovsky.
The languages of services are Slavonic and French.
Address :
945, avenue de Bienville
Québec, Québec
G1S 3C1
E-mail : quebecorthodox@gmail.com
Web-site : https://crost.ca/en/ ; https://crost.ca/ru/
Directions :
By bus : Consult Le Réseau de transport de la Capitale (RTC) for routes.
By car :
From the city centre of Québec City, drive towards Quai Saint-André/QC-136 Est. Then take Boulevard René-Lévesque Est and Boulevard René-Lévesque Ouest to Avenue de Bienville. Turn right onto Avenue de Bienville. The destination is on the right.
Priest Nicolas P Svetlovsky
Telephone : Home: 514-773-2992
E-mail : svetlovnic@outlook.com
Aerial view of the place of worship, 2024
References
Additional information :
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.
Archdiocese of Canada listing for Holy Trinity Church
Orthodox Church in America listing for Holy Trinity Church
Pages orthodoxes la Transfiguration listing for Holy Trinity Church