Boian, Alberta, Canada, June 9, 2023
Photo: Edmonton.ctvnews.ca
An Orthodox Church in Alberta, Canada, was engulfed in flames on Tuesday.
St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church, erected and consecrated in the Romanian settlement of Boian in 1905, burned nearly to the ground in the evening fire, reports CTV News-Edmonton.
Police are investigating but said on Wednesday it was too early to know if the fire was suspicious.
Photo: stmarysromanianchurchofboian.files.wordpress.com
In 1976, the church was designated a provincial historical resource. It was scheduled to host a celebration of the 125th anniversary of the Romanians’ arrival in Boian in late July. For now, the church plans to hold services outside.
His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada, issued a call for prayer on Wednesday:
I learned a few minutes ago the sad news that the historic church of the Dormition of the Mother of God Parish in Boian (Willingdon), Alberta caught fire and burned completely in the evening of June 6, 2023. I will ask you to remember in prayer Rev. Fr. Mircea Panciuk, Rev. Fr. Gheorghe Petrovan and the community of Boian. Next weekend the farewell celebration for the retirement of Fr. Mircea Panciuk should have taken place and at the end of July the celebration of 125 years since the arrival of the first Romanians in Boian.
The Canadian Romanian Society of Alberta stated:
It is with a heavy heart that we confirm the news that St Mary’s Orthodox Church of Boian has burnt down yesterday. We are currently working with the Church’s Board to figure out a way for all of us to help and to rebuild the church in a timely fashion.
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