Assumption Of The Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, Calgary Ab

Sunday Divine Liturgy Schedule:
9 am (Ukrainian)
11 am (English)
10 am (Holy Days)

For parish office hours, auditorium rental details, cultural event dates, and other information, please visit our website at: www. abvmcalgary.com

Who are we? The Parish is under the jurisdiction of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton, which serves over 30, 000 faithful in Alberta. The Ukrainian Catholic Church, known in Ukraine as the Greek-Catholic Church, has been in union with the Pope of Rome since 1596 and is one of the several distinct rites of the Universal Catholic Church. Globally, the Ukrainian Catholic Church has over five million faithful and is established in over twelve countries. The Patriarchal Seat of the Ukrainian Catholic Church was recently returned to Kyiv, Ukraine, after being situated in L’viv, Ukraine for several centuries.

During the Soviet era, the Ukrainian Catholic Church was outlawed, which resulted in a period of horrific persecution. Ukrainian Catholics continued to exist underground for decades, largely supported by the already established and flourishing Ukrainian Catholic Community in North America. The Ukrainian Catholic Church in Ukraine attained legalisation in December 1989. As a result of the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s tumultuous past, we are commonly referred to as the ‘Church of Martyrs’. In 2001, Saint John Paul II, during his historic papal visit to Ukraine, beatified twenty-eight new Martyrs of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, recognising the significant sacrifices made during this period of history.

BACKGROUND: Ukrainians began settling in the Calgary community in the early 1900s and organised themselves into a Parish community by 1910, under the patronage of St. Stephen. The Parish was officially incorporated in 1912. The first Church building, constructed in 1911-1912, was situated in the north-east Calgary community of Tuxedo, where it also served as a house of worship for St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Parish. In 1926, the building was physically relocated to the Calgary community of Bridgeland on the corner of 1st Avenue and 6th Street NE.

Following an influx of post-war immigrants from Ukraine and migrants from other parts of Canada, it became apparent that a larger edifice was required. The present site was acquired in 1953 and the church cornerstone was laid in September 1955, by Most Rev. Neil Savaryn, OSBM, Bishop of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of Edmonton. By December of 1955, Divine Liturgies were being held in the completed basement of the church, which had been constructed to serve as a parish hall and auditorium. Eventually, the current church edifice was erected during the latter part of that decade.

Its architecture is the traditional Byzantine style, which resembles many of the churches found throughout Eastern Europe. The building is in the form of a crucifix, facing east, with a large central dome. Additionally, four smaller domes adorn each corner of the structure. The current church building has become a Calgary landmark, since the large copper domes can be spotted from various vantage points throughout the city.

The Parish was renamed in 1957 from St Stephen’s to the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary by the then-current pastor, Rev. George Kowalsky, in gratitude to the Mother of God for protecting him while incarcerated in the Auschwitz concentration camp. In 1968, a second Ukrainian Catholic Parish was established in southwest Calgary and adopted St. Stephen as its patron.

BEAUTIFICATION: The church has been beautified in several stages. In 1967, as a Canada centennial project, Ivan Denysenko was commissioned to install an Iconostas, the screen of icons that separates the sanctuary from the congregation. This is a typical feature in Eastern and Orthodox churches. In addition, Mr. Denysenko painted other icons depicting various scenes from the life of the Mother of God, which can now found in the church foyer. In 1996, the Parish commenced an iconography project, commissioning Anton Yavny to adorn the church with religious icons. Mr. Yavny immigrated to Canada from Ukraine and had studied Fine Art in both Europe and North America. Twenty-four carat gold leaf is used throughout, making the interior ever more ornate. All iconography was painted using traditional ‘egg tempera’, which was personally mixed by the artist using natural colour pigments and egg yolk. The iconography project was completed in December 1999 and it continues to be one of Calgary’s greatest treasures. Suspended from the central dome is a large crystal chandelier, which illuminates all the religious artwork in a divine manner.

The icons found throughout the church are representations of various Saints, Martyrs, scenes from Holy Scripture, and the life of the church. Iconography is an art form of Christians normally associated with both (Byzantine) Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. The icon promotes a spiritual link between the human and divine. Within the church, the icon is a visible sign of the relationship between God and man.

The most recent addition to the church has been the installation of an exterior mosaic above the main entrance, the Protection of the Most Holy Mother of God. This was completed in June 2003 by Roman Kowal of Winnipeg. Eastern Christians bear a special dedication to the Mother of God, who bore the Saviour and protected them through various difficult episodes in history.