The founders of Holy Ascension Church were the pro-Ukrainian members of St. Dymytria Church when it was still under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Mission. As far back as 1920, Ukrainophile members of the Luzan Church had invited Father Dmytro Stratychuk to celebrate a liturgy in their sanctuary. However, the majority was opposed to having a priest from the newly organized Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church, and thus a split developed within the community between the more nationally conscious Bukovynian farmers in the district and those who were influenced by the Russophile ideology promoted by the Russian Orthodox clergy.
On February 12, 1921, Rev. Lazar Gherman and Rev. I. Kusey celebrated a Divine Liturgy at the one-room Pruth schoolhouse after they were prevented from using St. Dymytria Church by pro-Russian Orthodox church members. Afterwards, Fr. Kusey appears to have held occasional services over the years at the homes of sympathizers of the UGOC, which continued to gain strength at the expense of the increasingly beleaguered Russian Orthodox Church. In 1930, Fr. Kusey’s successor in the area, Fr. I. Mayba, celebrated two Divine Liturgies in the Pruth district, indicating that the differences within the St. Dymytria congregation had not dissipated with the passing of time. Finally, these differences could no longer be contained, prompting forty-two inhabitants of the Pruth district—not all of whom were members of St. Dymytria church—to initiate a Ukrainian Orthodox congregation at a meeting held on February 13, 1931 at the Yuri Fedkovych National Home. Known locally as the Pruth Hall, the Narodny Dim was then used for church services until a proper place of worship could be built by the members of the new congregation.
Land for a church kitty-corner from the Pruth Hall was purchased soon after from William Prosteby with money obtained from donations, membership fees and loans. Steve and Mary Samoil, who had begun teaching at Pruth school in 1929 and were very active in the Fedkovych Society (where Steve was President, and Mary directed plays), figured prominently in the fundraising and membership drive. By August 1931 sufficient money had been raised to begin construction in the late summer, with volunteers working under the direction of Ivan Mnoholitny, who served as the head carpenter. Those who donated their labour were able to work off their membership, earning a credit of $1.50 for each day put in at the site. Construction was suspended at the end of November because of cold weather, but it resumed early the following year. Gradually, an impressive cruciform structure rose on the site with a large central dome, two small domes over the narthex and sanctuary, and similar-sized domes over twin towers flanking the façade. The first service was held in the church by Fr. D. Stratychuk in May 1932, while work was still proceeding on the interior. The sanctuary was then completed in June, and Archbishop Ioan Theodorovich consecrated the church at a Divine Liturgy celebrated on Ascension Day. The Second All-Alberta Convention of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church was also held on the same weekend, 6-7 August, drawing some 400 delegates and faithful to the gathering and celebration.
When it was being organized the congregation had just seven member families and eighteen sympathizers, though membership later grew to twenty-seven. In 1936, Rev. I. Hykawy reported that Pruth was one of the few better-off congregations in Depression-era Alberta. By 1940, however, the formal membership had been reduced to just eight families, as rural depopulation and the hardships of the Depression began to take a toll. This probably explains why the church interior was never elaborately decorated, the sanctuary simply being walled off and hung with icons to create an icon screen, and the walls and ceiling of the church being left largely unornamented, though stars for a time covered the ceiling (since painted over). To this day, the church does not have electrical power.
In 1952 the congregation reported that it had five services and six paid up members, whereas the following year it indicated that six services were held despite membership having declined to four. Nevertheless, the faithful persevered, and
In 1982 Pruth Church marked its fiftieth anniversary with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Reverands S. Semotiuk and J. Puk. A plaque was blessed at the time honouring the founding members, two of whom were present – Mrs. Rachel Skakun and Mrs. William Prosteby. In 1990, the congregation was celebrating eight liturgies each year.
Play Memory Eternal Chant
GPS Co-ordinates: 53.744090, -112.133138
Cemetery GPS: 53.744106, -112.121212
Affiliation: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
