The Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Throughout the first fifty years of its existence, the Lloydminster district
attracted a significant number of people of Ukrainian origins.
A good portion of these were believers in the Orthodox (Byzantine) faith,
followers of what was formerly known as the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church.
In January of 1960, a small group of these faithful followers decided to
arrange for regular church services in their community. In February of that year, the first Ukrainian liturgy was
held in the basement of the Lloydminster Masonic Lodge, officiated by Rev. M.
Kryschuk, a priest from Myrnam, Alberta.
It was not until April of the same year that the next service was held,
and that was followed by an organizational meeting at which an executive council
was elected. The first president
was Mr. Ben Gulak.
The All Saints Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Lloydminster was incorporated
with the Alberta Registrar of companies on February 8, 1962, and it was on this
date that property for the construction of a church building was purchased on 47th
St. and 56A Ave. With a
congregation of approximately twenty members, construction began in the Fall of
1963. The first mass was held on
September 28, 1964, and six years later, when church construction and land costs
were finally paid off, official dedication services were conducted on June 21,
1970, by Reverend Archbishop Andrew of Edmonton.
The twenty to thirty families in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of
Lloydminster congregation are served by a priest from the Vegreville parish as
part of the Vegreville District Council - receiving an average of fourteen
services per year. Much of the
liturgy is now conducted in the English language, unlike the situation
in the ‘60’s.
The year 1998 held a significant milestone in
in the history of the Ukrainian Church.
In that year, the Ukrainian Orthodox church celebrated the 1000th
anniversary of the acceptance of Christianity by the people of the Ukraine.
| 
