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Parish
Background:
St.
Athanasius Orthodox Church began with a small group
of dedicated families in the fall of 2002. Under the
leadership of Fr. Ron Poworoznik, the community
continues to grow. All worship services are in
English with full congregational singing and
participation.
The Church belongs to the Archdiocese of Canada of
the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The OCA is an
autocephalous or "self-governing" Orthodox
Church with parishes situated throughout Canada, the
United States, and Mexico.
The first service was held in Glenwood Memorial
Gardens Chapel on September 15, 2002, for the
celebration of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. With
the name "Sherwood Park Orthodox Mission
Station", the community began celebrating Great
Vespers and Divine Liturgy every Saturday and
Sunday.
In December of 2002, His Grace Bishop Seraphim,
Bishop of Ottawa and Canada, made his first
archpastoral visit to the newly formed Mission
Station. During his visit, he blessed the community
under the patronage of St. Athanasius (Archbishop of
Alexandria, d. 373 AD) and elevated the community
from Mission Station to full Mission status.
Fr. Ron Poworoznik was born and raised in Edmonton.
He and his wife Brenda and two daughters, Michaelene
and Gabriella, currently reside in Sherwood Park.
Fr. Ron attended St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox
Church from his teen years onward. He was ordained,
first as a deacon in 1996, and then as a priest in
1999. Fr. Ron attended one year at St. Vladimir's
Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New
York, and continued his education at Newman
Theological College in Edmonton, Alberta, where he
recently completed his Master of Divinity degree.
Who
is St. Athanasius? St.
Athanasius was the Patriarch of Alexandria in the
4th Century. Born in 297 AD in Egypt, St. Athanasius
was instrumental in writing the Nicene Creed
affirming the doctrine of the faith we hold today,
that Jesus is of one essence with God the Father. In
opposing the heretical opinion of Arius (an
Alexandrian priest who denied Christ's Divinity).
St. Athanasius has been given many titles including
"The hero of our Faith" and "Defender
of the Upright Faith". He played a great role
in the preservation of the Orthodox faith as it was
delivered by the Apostles.
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