Saint Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church

St. Michaels Bukovinian Orthodox Church

Saint Michael - History - Contact - Services - Schedule - Links - Gallery

Saint Michael the Archangel,

Saint Michael the Archangel is the chief "Commander" of the myriad numbers of the Angelic Hosts of Heaven. His name means, "Who is like God?" taken from his response to the presumption of Lucifer (the "Angel of Light") who imagined that he could be an equal to God. Michael defeated and cast out from heaven Lucifer and his followers.

In the Orthodox Church, St Michael and all Angels are venerated highly and, in order of precedence, immediately after the Most Holy Mother of God and Ever-Virgin Mary.

His Feast Day is celebrated on November 8th (21st Old Calendar). This date was selected for symbolic numerical reasons. "November" refers to what was formerly the ninth month of the old Roman calendar ("Novem") when the beginning of the year was calculated from March. The number "nine" refers to the nine choirs of Angels, or as the Orthodox Church calls them, the "Bodiless Powers" that St Michael heads. The number "eight" stands for the symbolic number of the "eighth day" that refers to Christ's Second Coming to earth which will be heralded by St Michael the Archangel and Commander of the Bodiless Powers.

A number of historic miracles of St Michael are also liturgically commemorated by the Orthodox Church, such as the miracle of Chonae.

St Michael also heads a group of Archangels like himself and these include: St Gabriel, the Angel Guardian of the Mother of God, St Raphael, St Uriel, St Salaphiel, St Jegudiel and St Barachiel.

St Volodymyr the Great, the Enlightener of Kyivan Rus', proclaimed St Michael the patron of his empire and of the City of Kyiv in particular. Ukrainian coats of arms have always depicted St Michael, as does the coat of arms of Kyiv. For about 400 years, the icon of St Michael the Archangel eclipsed even the Ukrainian Trident as the national arms of Ukraine prior to the 17th century!

St Michael along with St George is venerated by many national armies as their protectors in battle, including the Ukrainian Kozaks.

The U.S. military chaplains have chosen St Michael the Archangel as patron of the various U.S. military units, Air Force etc. as he is esteemed by other faiths as well.

One of many prayers to Saint Michael

Prayer for the Protection of the Church

O glorious St. Michael, guardian and defender of the Church of Jesus Christ, come to the assistance of the Church, against which the powers of hell are unchained, guard with especial care her august Head, and obtain that for him and for us the hour of triumph may speedily arrive.

O glorious Archangel St. Michael, watch over us during life, defending us against assaults of the demon, assist us especially at the hour of death; obtain for us a favorable judgment, and the happiness of beholding God face to Face for endless ages. Amen.

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Historical Overview,

St. Michael's Bukovinian Orthodox Church

The Bukovinian Orthodox Church of St Michael was organized in September 1925 with an initial membership of more than 20 families. Many of the members had immigrated to Canada from around Tarashen in the province of Bukovina, hence the name of the church. The Building Committee comprised of Mr. N. Kostiniuk (President); Mr. J. Bilak (Treasurer); Mr. M. Argan (Secretary); plus Mr. J. Kutzak, Mr. P. Stanicky, Mr. P. Chobaniuk, Mr. P. Babuik, Mr. Sam Karpuik, Mr. Mike Karpuik, Mr. J. Magorka, and Mr. Wm. Torungal.

The Church was opened on January 17, 1926, and was consecrated on Sunday, November 21, 1926, by Bishop Arseny, prelate of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada. Assisting the Bishop were: Very Rev. Abbot Athanasy Markowitch of Regina, Very Rev. Alexander Vyacheslavov of Maple Creek; Rev. S. Werbowy of Moose Jaw; Rev. Wolsky of Viceroy; Rev. S. Ivanoff of Kayville; and Rev. Marian Postelnik of the Rumanian Church in Regina.

The first parish executive consisted of Mr. M. Argan (President), Mr. E. Kutzak (Treasurer), and Mr. Mike Marchuk (Secretary). The keys to the Church were held by Rev. Markovich, Mr. J Bilak and Mr. Hutzan.

The parish had, in its first 64 years, the honour of receiving each of the Diocese Bishops during their tenures. Bishop Bohdan visited in September 1943. Bishop Andrew visited Regina on at least two occasions. Bishop Nicholas celebrated Divine Liturgy at St. Michael's not long before he returned to the Carpatho-Russian Church. Bishop Vsevolod celebrated Divine Liturgy in Regina and in the sister parish at Montmartre in July 1988.

Although initially a small parish, membership grew to more than 100 in the 1950s and early 1960s.

In 1960 the members decided to build a new parish hall to replace the one that was built in 1932. A fund raising committee was established and with the blessing of Rev. Fr. Yahodsky an Archbishop Bogdan the project was launched. With the generous support of the contributors and the dedicated and hard work of the Ladies Auxiliary the hall was built and paid for in record time.

Members of the building committee were, George Solomon (Honourary Chairman), George Romaniuk (Chairman), John Gregory, George Karpuk, Nick Mayes, Bill Petrashuk, John Samkoe, and Paul Stanicky.

Many priests served the congregation faithfully since 1926; these included:

Rev. A Markovich
Rev. D. Wyrbove
Rev. A. Shevganiuk
Rev. Roman Samba
Rev. Mike Supenda
Rev. Peter Davenchanko
Rev. C.D. Podolski Rev. E. Shvatz
Rev. Nick Komarnitski
Rev. Ivan Kowalchuk
Rev. E. Ramski
Rev. Zilkavich
Rev. Eli Boyko
Rev. Peter Shwaluk (1941-47)
Rev. Ivan Mundziuk
Rev. Nicholas Podolski
Rev. George Ferenziw
Rev. Joseph Wm. Zahadakweski
Rev. Joseph Vasilew
Rev. M.E. Kolenich
Rev. Y.V. Moseychuk
Rev. Eugene Olendy (1956-'58, 1961-'62)
Rev. George Yahodski (1959-'60)
Rev. Leo Ostrowsky
Rev. Petruik
Rev. Joseph Homyk (1963-'73)
Rev. Hlinski
Rev. Lashinsky
Rev. Krywonos
Rev. Michael Pawlyshyn
Rev. John Melnyk (1985, 1988-'xx)
Rev. Vasile (Bill) Maluzynsky (1985-'87)
Rev. Victor Zaiachkowski (1987-'88)
Rev. V. Petrouchtchak (19xx-'xx)
Rev. Brent Kuzyk (2003-present).

The Congregation wishes to acknowledge the many volunteers and donors that have worked hard to grow and sustain the parish over its entire history. Special mention is due to Mr. M (?) Argan who built the iconostas and to Bill Argan for his icons. Similarly the parish executive deserve special mention and particularly the Presidents who included: Mr. M. Argan, Bill Romaniuk, John Suparsky, Art Toupich, John Karpuik, Sam Karpuik, Bill Stasuik, Bill Petrashuk, George Romaniuk, Nick Sanson and Glenna Melnychuk.

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Contact Information:

Address (rectory)- 2075 McDonald Street, Regina, Sk, S4N 2Y4

Fr. Brent Kuzyk, ph: 565-1756

President - Glenna Melnychuk, ph: 352-8546

Treasurer - Patsy Sorochan

Secretary - Natalie Essey

Director - Vicky Zalutsky

Controller - Michael Reban

Past President - Nick Sanson

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Services & Activities: