Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Wostok

On July 23, 1897 Deacon Alexandroff filed an application for 40 acres of land for a church site and 120 acres for a priests residence on SW 23­ 56­ 18 W4.

On June 4, 1898, after an out door Divine Liturgy a foundation of the first Orthodox Church in Canada was witnessed by this inscription on a cornerstone. ” In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit” the first Orthodox Church in Canada is founded in the Name of the Holy Lifegiving Trinity on June 4, in the year of our Lord 1898.

On December 13, 1898, Inspector C. W .Speers presented a report to the Commissioner of Immigration in Ottawa. The church of the Russian Orthodox faith on S23 T56 R18 is 35 by 75, is well built, and will cost $1200.00.

In the spring of 1899 Reverend V Alexandroff now an ordained Priest arrived and on Pentecost Sunday May 28, held a service outdoor beside the new church.

In the summer of 1900 a priest’s residence was built and on September 1 st, 1900 Reverend Jacob Korchinski and Matushka Barbara arrived and he assumed duty as resident Priest.

In 1901, Most Reverend Tikhon, Bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church in America arrived and on September 8th, consecrated the church building in the name of” The Holy Trinity “.
In May of 1902, Reverend Korchinski left and was succeeded by Reverend Skibinski. He was a great organizer, and so he formed a reading club for the benefit of the youth and conducted classes in religion and choir singing. A treasury was also established which helped other churches get started.
On October 28, 1907, after memorial Service the church was destroyed by fire. The tragedy was a shock to the community but another larger and more beautiful church was built one mile south of the first site. Also a beautiful tall stone tower for the bell was erected beside the church. A Monastery in the name of Elevation of the Holy Cross was also built by the church. Deacon’s and Monks lived in the Monastery and they also conducted religious classes.

In December of 1932 the second church was also destroyed by fire.

In 1938 the parishioners decided to construct a third church, back on the original site, where it stands today.