St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Christian Church

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Christian Church is a Canadian nonprofit religious organization and parish located in Calgary, Alberta. It is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Canada led by Archbishop Irénée of Ottawa and Canada. The church is also known colloquially as St. Peter’s and has the business registration number 134770387RR0001.

History and Background

The parish was established in 1990 with the blessing of His Grace Seraphim, Bishop of Ottawa, within the Archdiocese of Canada of the OCA. It was founded by several families, including the Deacon Peter Isaac family, who sought to create an English-language Orthodox Christian community in Calgary. Over time, the parish attracted a diverse group of parishioners including cradle Orthodox Christians, converts from varied backgrounds, returned lapsed Orthodox, and recent immigrants from traditionally Orthodox countries.

The congregation initially met at various locations until 1997 when they purchased a building that was transformed into an Orthodox temple. Plans for constructing a new temple have been mentioned as the parish continues to grow gradually.

Community and Worship

St. Peter the Aleut Orthodox Christian Church reflects the multicultural character of Canada, welcoming parishioners regardless of their ethnic or cultural background. The liturgical services are predominantly conducted in English, following the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The parish focuses on providing opportunities for worship, spiritual growth, and service within a close-knit Orthodox family setting. The community strives to proclaim the truths of Orthodox Christianity and support those seeking to participate in the life of the Kingdom of God.

Clergy and Leadership

As of the latest information, the parish is served by Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, the rector, along with Archpriest Sebastian Scratch as his associate priest. Fr. Larry Reinheimer has also been noted for his service beginning in 1995.

Patron Saint

The church is named after Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut, a historical figure who was an indigenous Alaskan martyr known for his steadfast Orthodox Christian faith despite persecution. His story is emblematic of enduring faith and has special significance within the Orthodox tradition in North America.

This parish represents a vibrant English-speaking Orthodox Christian community within the Canadian religious landscape, committed to preserving Orthodox traditions while embracing cultural diversity in Calgary and beyond[1][2][3][4].

[1] https://holymartyrpeter.ca [2] https://www.saintpeter.ca [3] https://www.oca.org/parishes/oca-ca-calspm [4] https://www.saintpeter.ca/about [5] https://orthodoxcanada.ca/Saint_Peter_(Cungagnac)_the_Aleut_of_Alaska