« His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Bonnyville, Alberta »

On Saturday, May 20, 2023, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Bonnyville, Alberta.

Before the beginning of the Liturgy, the Archpastor performed a small consecration of the church.

At the divine service, His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, Rector of the Church.

At the end of the Liturgy, the Archpastor addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of sermon and spiritual edification.  Vladyka noted that the last hierarchical service in this church was celebrated more than 20 years ago by Archbishop Mark of Kashira (Petrovtsiy).

In commemoration of the work on the major repairs of the church building, which was carried out from 2018 to 2022, Stephanie Zhuk, Secretary of the parish council, and a number of parishioners were awarded Bishops' blessing gramota (letters of recognition).

The Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul is located in Bonnyville, 250 kilometers north-east of Edmonton.

The parish was founded in 1939 by emigrants from Ukraine.  The original church was located near Bonnyville, and in 1952 the parishioners moved the church to the city center.

On the western outskirts of Bonnyville, there is a parish cemetery, where once a year panikhidas for all the departed are served by the parish priest .

Due to the small number of members of the community, divine services are celebrated twice a year.

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