Russo Greek Orthodox Church of St. Peter and St. Paul

Smoky Lake, Near

Street Address:	RR 1
Community:	Smoky Lake, Near
Boundaries:	Portion of NE 27-58-15-W4
Contributing Resources:	Buildings: 1

ATS Legal Description:

Mer	Rge	Twp	Sec	LSD
4	15	58	27	9 (ptn.)

PBL Legal Description (Cadastral Reference):

Plan	Block	Lot	Parcel

Latitude/Longitude:

Latitude	Longitude	CDT	Datum Type
54.043410	-112.135330	GPS	NAD 83

UTM Reference:

Northing	Easting	Zone	CDT	Datum Type

Recognition

Recognition Authority:	Province of Alberta
Designation Status:	Provincial Historic Resource
Date of Designation:	2003/07/15

Historical Information

Built:	1909 to 1912
Period of Significance:
Theme(s):
Historic Function(s):	Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship
Current Function(s):	Religion, Ritual and Funeral : Religious Facility or Place of Worship
Architect:	Stephan Rosychuck
Builder:
Context:	HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE St. Peter and St. Paul Church in Dickiebush was built as a secondary expansion of the Russo Orthodox mission system and an aspect of the consolidation of rural communities in east Central Alberta. Prior to that year, most of the region was served by the Russo Orthodox Church in Shandro. As the population expanded to the extent where smaller localities could establish newer churches, the community of Dickiebush was formed. In general, Russo Orthodox Church organizations preceded Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church developments which dominated later. ***************************************************************************************** HISTORICAL CONTEXT: By the time the Canadian Northern Railway was extended to Edmonton from the east in 1905, the rich agricultural region south of the Victoria Settlement had already been partially settled. Most of these first residents were Metis, but, when the land was surveyed for homesteading purposes during the 1890's, a number of Ukrainian settlers began to come in. They can be seen as an extension of the Ukrainian settlement which had already been established around Vegreville and Mundare. After the coming of the railway, more Ukrainian immigrants arrived, and, soon, their presence was extended north of the North Saskatchewan River, where provisions could be acquired from the Victoria Settlement. Just north of this Settlement, a number of immigrants from Bukowinia took homesteads near a place called Wahstao, a Cree word meaning spiritual light. Here, a store and post office were opened in the fall of 1907. As most of the immigrants around Wahstao were strong adherents to the Russo-Orthodox faith, it was soon decided to build a community church. A committee was formed with a $1 membership, and a 10 acre plot of land was donated by John Tachuk for the purpose of a church and a cemetery. Logs were then cut and hauled to Snyder's new sawmill, where they were shaped into 6"x 6" timbers, Additional building materials would be brought in from Bruderheim and Vegreville. In 1909, construction began on a large, cruciform, Byzantine style church, with an open dome, two cupolas and a bell tower. It was built with volunteer labor under the direction of Stephan Rosychuck, who, being familiar with Russo-Orthodox churches in Bukowinia, was also responsible for its design. Construction was slow, for the project was much more ambitious than most community churches, and it was not until 1912 that the exterior was completed. Siding would be added in 1915. In the meantime, finishing work on the interior was undertaken by Reverend Nicholas Levko. Finally, on 12 July, 1913, the Church was consecrated, blessed, and named after both St. Peter and St. Paul. The first priests were from the Shandro Parish, but, in 1916, the first resident priest, Reverend Pahomey, was appointed. When the Canadian Northern Railway (soon to be Canadian National) completed a line through this district in 1919, more settlers arrived. Most of these were non-Ukrainian, and, in 1920, when a school district was established around Wahstao, it was called Dickiebush. Other churches were then built in the area, but the most impressive of them all, and the one with the greatest number of parishioners over the years, remained the Russo-Orthodox church, St. Peter's & St. Paul's. In 1924, Reverend N. Leoko painted images of St. Peter and St. Paul on both the exterior and the interior of the building, while other icons were added in later years. Today, the church stands as a monument to the Ukrainian culture of the area and the depth of the peoples' adherence to the Russo-Orthodox faith. ***************************************************************************************** HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The historical significance of St. Peter & St. Paul's Church lies in its provision of structural and artistic evidence of the Bukowinian culture that prevailed in the northern reaches of what has been termed the Ukrainian Block of northeast central Alberta. It is also significance, in its style and upkeep in an area with many other Orthodox churches, of the faith and religious dedication of the Ukrainian immigrants who settled north of the North Saskatchewan River after the turn of the 20th century.

Additional Information

Object Number:	4665-0839
Designation File:	DES 1954
Related Listing(s):
Heritage Survey File:	HS 35680
Website Link:
Data Source:	Alberta Culture and Community Spirit, Historic Resources Management Branch, Old St. Stephen's College, 8820 - 112 Street, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P8 (File: Des. 1954)