Holy Ascension Parish, Calmar

For several years the settlers of the Wilton Park area travelled to the Nisku St. Mary’s Orthodox Church to attend services. As time progressed services were held at the Wilton Park School. Divine Liturgies were also held in the home of Metro Dobko. Kost Dobko initiated plans to have a Russian Orthodox Church built in the Wilton Park district.

The first Church meeting was held on January 10, 1927. Anton Mankow donated two acres of land to be used for the purpose of building a Russian Orthodox Church. A part of this parcel of land was to be used as a church cemetery. At a parish meeting held on February 15, 1927, the following were elected to the church board: Kost Dobko, chairman; Fred Popowich, secretary-treasurer; and trustees Mike Workun and Mike Chimera. A constitution was drawn up and approved by members of the board.

The first and founding parishioners were: Kost Dobko, Peter Dobko, John Kachmar, George Koziol, John Kuta, Anton Mankow, Fred Popowich, Nick Popowich, Mike Workun, Don Wurban and John Yaremko.

With the help of local carpenter Nick Kozak, construction of the new church began in the summer of 1927. In early November, 1927, the church was consecrated by Bishop Arseny. From then on the church was called the Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Calmar. As time passed more and more families joined the church and at present we have twenty families in the parish.

Reverend Father A. Shovgeniuk was the first priest who served the newly-founded parish. Other clergy who served the parish are: Rev. Kizun, 1927-30; Rev. Andrew Kokolsky, 1930-38 and 1946-1965; Rev. N. Komarnitsky, 1938-40; Rev Timothy Korablinoff, 1940-42; rev. E. Prystupa, 1942-46; Rev. Constantine Stakhowsky, 1965-67; Right Rev. Alexei Sokolovsky, 1967-69; Rev. Hegumen Germogen (Cherkasin); Archpriest Victor Petluchenko, 1970-1975; Right Rev. Vitaly Politylo, 1975-78; Right Rev. Peter Vlodek, 1979-87; Rev. Michal Kit, 1987-89; Rev. Alexander Smediuk 1989-97; Rev. Igor Kisil, 1997-

In the summer of 1973 the church interior was renovated and repainted.

On May 31, 1987 the 90th Anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada was held at the Church. The celebration of the Divine Liturgy was headed by His Eminence Bishop Clement of Serpukhov.

Today Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church of Calmar is seventy six years old. It is located in the most beautiful farming country and is only thirty miles southwest of Edmonton.

The Holy Ascension Russian Orthodox Church is dearly loved by the children and grandchildren of her founders and it continues to serve the spiritual needs of her faithful Orthodox members.