Historical Roots of St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Calgary
It is the deep yearning of every immigrant who moves to a new country to preserve and practice their faith and traditions in their new homeland. Malankara Orthodox Christians began immigrating to Canada as early as the 1960s and 1970s, settling across various provinces. A significant number found a home in Alberta, particularly in Edmonton and Calgary. By the 1980s, the community in Edmonton successfully established a church named after the first canonized saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church: St. Gregorios of Parumala.
Early Days: A Commute of Faith
At the time, Calgary was home to only a handful of Malankara Orthodox families. Because there was no local parish, the norm was to drive roughly 300 kilometers to Edmonton over the weekend for Holy Qurbana, punctuated by occasional fellowship meetings at the homes of local families.
It was into this community that my family and I moved to Calgary in September 2000. With a young family, we quickly realized that these occasional arrangements were not enough to sustain us spiritually. We deeply desired a local Orthodox Christian Church where we could worship regularly. During our search, we were blessed initially to find a spiritual home and commune with an Eastern Orthodox parish, St. Peter the Aleut, under the Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
During this period, I discovered an Internet forum called the Indian Orthodox Internet Forum (IOIF). It became a vital digital space where Kerala immigrants shared thoughts and encouraged one another. Through IOIF, we learned firsthand about the monumental work of H.G. Mathews Mar Makarios, who was instrumental in establishing parishes under the Catholicate across North America. We also learned of his missionary expectations through the St. Gregorios Mission parishes in Spokane under Father Michael Hatcher and Father John Brian, as well as the 2001 arrival of Father Lazarus (brother to H.G. Mar Makarios) to serve as the vicar of St. Gregorios Parish in Edmonton.
The Impact of Father Lazarus
Through the forum, curiosity led me to discover the unique personality of Father Lazarus. He had been a driving force in establishing parishes in North India, served as one of the founding secretaries of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (OCSM) from 1964 to 1966, and was a revered educator at Bethany School, Kunnakulam. The real turning point for me was hearing from fellow IOIF moderator Oommen Kappil (from Philadelphia), who fondly recalled how students would skip classes just to hear Lazarus Achen’s zealous and passionate speeches.
I connected with Father Lazarus over the phone, and we would speak for hours—a tradition of deep conversation that continued until his repose on March 4, 2024.
Almost a year after I first connected with him, providence stepped in. I was contacted by Titus Samuel, who had just moved to Calgary from Fort McMurray. He took the initiative to coordinate with Father Lazarus to celebrate Holy Qurbana right here in Calgary. A new routine was born: we would receive Achen at the Greyhound bus station once every few months. He would spend the afternoon resting at our downtown apartment, after which more established families would pick him up for evening fellowship, followed by Holy Qurbana the next day.
Recognizing the growth and dedication of this small community—primarily led by Titus Samuel, Paul Ramanat, and a few others—Diocesan Bishop H.G. Mar Makarios officially directed Fr. Lazarus to serve as the vicar of a dedicated St. Mary’s Orthodox congregation in Calgary.
Elevation to a Full-Fledged Parish
On St. Thomas Day, December 21, 2002, the Calgary congregation was elevated to a full-fledged parish in the name of St. Mary by Diocesan Metropolitan H.G. Mar Makarios. The historic occasion was graced by the presence of clergy and laity from near and far like Father Philipose Philip Diocesan Secretary of Canada & UK Diocese from Toronto, Father Michael Hatcher from Spokane , lay members from our Edmonton parish as well as representatives from local Sister Orthodox Churches like Ethiopian parish as well as Eastern Orthodox OCA and Antiochene parishes in Calgary.
The parish continued to hold monthly Holy Qurbana led by Fr. Lazarus, who was later assisted by Fr. Philipose Philipose from Edmonton. In 2009, during the structural reorganization of the Malankara Orthodox Dioceses, the parish officially came under the Southwest Diocese of North America.
Growth, Transformation, and a New Horizon
What began as a small gathering of about 10 families has flourished into a vibrant parish of more than 100 families, driven by a steady influx of immigrants moving to Calgary over the last decade.
To nurture this rapid growth, the need for a resident priest became vital to the life of the parish. On August 15, 2010, Diocesan Bishop H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius appointed Fr. Binny M. Kuruvilla as the first full-time resident priest, which allowed for regular, frequent Holy Qurbana and pastoral services. Later, in October 2019, Southwest Diocesan Bishop H.G. Zacharias Mar Aprem appointed our current vicar, Fr. George Varughese (Shabu Achen), to guide the parish forward.
Today, under the leadership of the newly formed Canadian Diocese, the parish is moving toward its greatest milestone yet. God willing, on May 30, 2026, St. Mary's Orthodox Church will move into its very own permanent place of worship.
As we cross this threshold, it is only fitting to look back, remember our roots, and honor those who laid the foundation. May we continue to hold each other in prayer. May Christ’s mercy guide us as individuals, as a parish, and as a Church under the Catholicate—firmly rooted in Calgary as an Orthodox Christian community that is welcoming and accessible to all languages and all cultures, for whom Christ became Incarnate
In Christ,
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