Other Names:
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Eldorena Church
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Statement of Significance
Description of Historic Place
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary (also
known simply as “Eldorena Church”), constructed in 1912, is a small cruciform log or
wood frame church, covered in stucco, with onion shaped dome, located in the Eldorena
district of Sturgeon County. It is situated close to the west side of a graveled range road,
and faces east on a site complete with bell tower and cemetery.
Heritage Value
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary is a significant illustration of the transference of religious traditions and adherences from Eastern Europe as part of the settlement process of Alberta. Constructed in 1912, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary has remained in continuous use as a place of worship, and is a valued landmark in Sturgeon County expressing religious and cultural identity in the Eldorena district.
The Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary also possesses unique aesthetic value to Sturgeon County, both architecturally and artistically. It is a regionally representative example of a small Eastern-rite church built on an open dome cruciform plan in the Byzantine tradition, as it evolved in western Canada. The Eldorena Church’s construction is significant in that it is thought to include some of the earliest work undertaken by the noted Prairie Byzantine church architect Reverend Philip Ruh immediately after his arrival in Canada. The elaborate interior decoration, likely executed between 1912 and 1930, has high artistic value as the work of Alberta’s most prolific and well-known church painter Peter Lipinski (1888-1975). Lipinski’s work, in the form of icons on canvas affixed to the walls of the church, is complemented by the work of master carpenter Philip Pawluk (1879-1965), whose work is apparent throughout the church.
Character-Defining Elements
The character defining elements of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church of the Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary include such features as:
Landscape Elements
- The location and orientation of the church on its property;
- The relationship of the church and bell tower to the cemetery;
- The historic tree plantings;
Exterior
- The size, scale, massing, and cruciform plan of the building;
- Cedar wood shingled high-pitched cross gabled roof truncated by a central wood frame drum with onion-shaped dome clad in galvanized sheet metal panels and capped by a cupola with a dome surmounted by metal crosses;
- Additional cupolas with a dome surmounted by metal crosses;
- The pattern of fenestration, including the arched rectangular single hung windows, and the round window surmounting the narthex, which draws light into the choir loft. Interior;
- The spatial configuration of the church building including the nave, side chapels in transept, and sanctuary with separate vestry and diakonikon;
- Vaulted ceilings in the dome, nave, and transepts;
- Pendentives of the dome;
Interior
- Finishes including vertical four inch V-joint tongue and groove paneling above, with painting to give the appearance of wainscoting;
- Tongue and groove plank flooring;
- Decorative mouldings and chair rails;
- Wooden choir loft and stair access;
- Iconographic and decorative elements including the work of Peter Lipinski and Philip Pawluk, including Lipinksi’s original schema of canvas icons affixed to the walls;
- The colour scheme of the church;
- All original liturgical items including the altar services;
- Interior furnishings including altars, pews, railings, benches, cabinetry and light fixtures, including the central chandelier.
Location