1924-1929. The First Church

During 1918-1926, waves of anti-Bolshevik refugees came to America and Canada. Over 100 Russian families made their way to Vancouver, B.C. These people sought to preserve their Orthodox Christian faith, and were in need of a priest to serve their spiritual needs. Archimandrite Antonin (Pokrovsky) arrived in September 1924, and the first Divine Liturgy in Vancouver was celebrated on September 14. The worshipers present held a meeting and resolved to start a parish, to be named after the feast of the Restoration of the Holy Resurrection Church in Jerusalem.

A five-man organizing committee was formed. Mr. Misak Yeremeyevich Aivazoff, a prominent local merchant and former Russian subject, offered his assistance and was made honorary chairman. With his help, a house was purchased for the church and the priest’s residence at 1570 W. 7^th Avenue. The parishioners immediately started fund-raising efforts. The first public collection on Dec.13 raised $467.

Through concerts and collections, funds were raised for repairs and decorations. A fund-raising lottery was started. Most of the work was done by a group of dedicated ladies, who organized themselves in a Ladies’ Auxiliary. In 1925, the first fundraising party was held on Nov.20, the first bazaar on Dec.11; $1000 was raised through the efforts of Mrs. Aivazoff and the Ladies’ Committee under Mrs. N. Thodos. Parishioners donated many furnishings and icons.

Local Greeks were attending the Holy Resurrection Church, and the Greek-Russian Orthodox Brotherhood was formed on Nov. 15, for the purpose of “bringing about the establishment of Orthodox churches, spiritual enlightenment and general help to all people of the Orthodox Christian faith”. The Rector of Holy Resurrection Church chaired it. The Greek and Russian communities co-operated until the time when the Greeks got themselves a priest and formed their separate parish. Peter Bancroft (Greek) was the first churchwarden, G.A.Maltsev – the first choir-leader. During the first few years, the Rector and the choir-leader received no pay. The membership in 1926 was 59 persons, including 15 Greeks. More and more social events were held at the Church house, including the annual Christmas celebration for children (“Yolka”).

The Brotherhood proclaimed its loyalty to Metropolitan Platon in the face of the judicial onslaught by the so-called “Living Church” of the USSR. From the very beginning, the parish committee made efforts to lobby the Federal Government on behalf of Russian immigrants, who suffered from many restrictions at that time. Later, the Brotherhood enlisted the help of Grand Duke Nikolai Nikolayevich to interfere on behalf of the newly arrived Russian families from China. Mr. Aivazoff took on the duties of representative in talks with authorities.

The first archpastoral visit was by Bishop Theophile of Chicago on Nov.7-11, 1925. During 1925-28, the Pontifical Liturgy was celebrated several times by Bishop Theophile and Bishop Arseny (Chakhovtsev) of Winnipeg and Canada.

A new governing body, the Parish Council, was elected in January 1927, to which the Brotherhood handed over all funds. The $2,500 mortgage was paid off by the end of 1928, and the decision was made to build a new church. A building committee was formed, and construction of the first Orthodox Church building in Vancouver began on Nov. 25, after the design of architect W. M. Dodd. The $12,000 cost was financed with gifts from Mr. Aivazoff, a mortgage and a bank loan.

Work progressed swiftly. Many parishioners helped make the furnishings and decorations. On Aug. 4, 1929, the completed church was consecrated by His Eminence Platon, Metropolitan of North America, and dedicated to the Memory of the Restoration of the Holy Resurrection Church in Jerusalem. It was a notable event in the history of Vancouver that attracted much public attention. Over 80 families belonged to the parish by then.

In December, Fr. Antonin was made Bishop of Alaska and moved to Sitka. His subsequent archpastoral work brought him much renown and respect, and he was remembered fondly in Vancouver. Hegumen Gregory Prozoroff was appointed rector of Holy Resurrection Church.