Message from the Parish Priest
Christ is Born! Let us Glorify Him,
As we gather to celebrate the joyous occasion of the Nativity, let us remember the profound significance of this holy day. The Nativity is not merely a festive holiday but a sacred time to come together in reverence and awe for the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The mystery of the Nativity, the Incarnation, is a cornerstone of our faith. In His infinite love and humility, God took on human flesh, becoming one of us to bring salvation to the world. This divine mystery calls us to reflect on the depth of God's love and the transformative power of His presence among us. As St. Basil the Great beautifully expressed, "God is on earth, He is among men... God is in the flesh, not operating from a distance, as did the prophets, but through Him human nature, one with ours, He seeks to bring back all mankind to Himself".
During the Divine Liturgy we hear, "With the Fear of God, Faith and Love draw near." Let us approach this holy season with hearts full of faith, love, and reverence, drawing near to the manger where Christ was born. May we be inspired to live out these virtues in our daily lives, embodying the spirit of the Nativity in all that we do.
On this blessed occasion, I extend my heartfelt greetings to our beloved Hierarchs, clergy, and all the faithful. May the peace and joy of Christ's birth fill your hearts and homes. Be assured of our prayers for you and your families.
Fr. Vasyl Maskal
Message from the Parish President
Glory Be To Jesus Christ!
Beloved brothers and sisters of Christ and all those, who are seeking Him and His abundant mercies, Welcome to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Elia!
Since its creation in the year 1957 our parish, named after the great prophet St. Elia, has been and remains home to the Orthodox Christian faithful of Edmonton and the greater Edmonton area.
At St. Elia we pray together, share our faith, joy and trials, walking together in Our Lord Jesus Christ. As it is sung in Psalm 95: “O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.” And also: “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.” We are trying to live these words in our parish.
As it has been noted by one of my predecessors at this position, “it was the love of God and love of our Orthodox Faith that motivated the original founders of our parish and that same determination and energy continues to exist today.” Indeed, our parish’s present and future depends on all of us, fellow labourers in Christ, and our doors are always open for you as well!
Come to our church. Pray, share, and walk with us in the Lord giving thanks to Him for His countless blessings. Become a part of our church and our parish, become a member of the Body of Christ. For as St. Paul said to the gathering of the faithful: “Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.” (1 Corinthians 12: 27)
Our parish is also home to a men’s “Club Trident”, the “Lesia Ukrainka Branch” of the Ukrainian Women’s Association of Canada, and the Mission Outreach Committee, with all members labouring daily for the glory of God and the betterment of the parish.
We invite you to join us for Sunday Worship at 10:00 a.m. as well as for other announced services and feast day celebrations. Our location is near the intersection of 118th Ave and 66th street. For more information about the parish and the parish life, please visit our website.
In Christ,