Fonds paa-7733 - Russo Greek Catholic Orthodox Congregation of Holy Trinity fonds

The Russo Greek Catholic Orthodox Congregation of Holy Trinity was formed by settlers who had arrived in the Edna, Alberta area (later known as Star, Alberta) circa (ca.) 1896. The settlers first participated in prayer meetings and informal religious gatherings at various homes in the are, and in early 1897 submitted a request to the head of the Russian Greek Orthodox Church of America for the services of a priest. In July 1897 and the following spring Reverend Dimitri Kamneff and Reverend Vladimir Alexandroff visited the area and surrounding settlements to provide religious services. During the visit in the spring of 1898 the settlers discussed with the priests the possibility of organizing a parish with their own church and cemetery. An application was submitted to the Department of the Interior for a grant of land for religious purposes and when the grant was approved, 40 acres of land were obtained located at St. Wostok, Alberta at Section 23, Township 56, Range 19, West of the 4th Meridian (23-56-19-W4) for the church and cemetery. Construction of the church was begun in the spring of 1899 and on September 1, 1900 Reverend Jacob Korchinski became the first resident priest of the parish. In 1907 the church was destroyed by fire and the church was rebuilt on another location approximately a mile south of the original site. The second church was destroyed by fire in December 1932 and the third church was rebuilt in the spring of 1938 on the site of the first church. The church was incorporated under <em>An Act Respecting the Holding of Lands in Trust for Religious Societies and Congregations on November 9, 1936</em>.