Boian, Alberta, Canada, September 5, 2024
Vantage Builders Ltd.
On June 6 2023, the wooden Dormition of the Mother of God Church in Boian, Canada, built and consecrated in 1905, was completely destroyed by fire. It was the oldest church in the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. The tragedy also came just a month before the celebration of the parish’s 125th anniversary.
The parish community was determined to stay together and launched a fundraiser towards the building of a new church. And last month, the ground-breaking service was held for the construction of the new church, reports the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada.
His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian celebrated the Divine Liturgy, followed by the blessing of the site where the new church is being built, the placement of the cross where the altar table will be, and the laying of the foundation stone.
St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church
“We are now in a moment of joy and a new beginning. This generation and the ones to come will thus have a place of prayer where they will participate in the Sacraments of the Church and carry on this extraordinary heritage and identity,” His Grace reflected.
The $1 million+ reconstruction project got underway towards the end of August. The new church will be 75% larger, according to Vantage Builders Ltd.
The construction company writes:
In close collaboration with the Church’s Board, we have designed a new church that incorporates modern construction techniques while preserving the original aesthetic. This was important to the Board, as the church was originally built to replicate their Temple in Boian, Bucovina, drawing from the collective memories of its members.
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