General Information
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Parents must contact the church office to make arrangements with a priest. Godparents must be practicing Orthodox Christians. Baptising a child in the Orthodox Church presupposes that the child will be raised as an Orthodox Christian.
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Couples must contact the church office to arrange a personal meeting with the priest. If one of the parties is not of the Orthodox faith then certain conditions may apply. A special request can be made for our church choir to sing the wedding service.
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When you wish a Memorial Service to be served for the repose of departed family member or friend, please contact our parish priest, Fr. Taras Kinash (Tel: 613-295-5283, email: priestkinash@yahoo.com) a few weeks before the date you wish to have the service.
What should one bring for the Memorial Service?
The following provides a list of recommended items, remembering that our prayers are the primary purpose of the service.
Kolach (1, 2 or 3)
Koliva – a dish of honey-sweetened boiled wheat kernels with raisins and/or chopped nuts
Grapes and other fruits or sweets
Purchase candles – one for the kolach, the remaining for the family members in attendance
Red sweet wine, which will be used at a later date for Holy Communion
Typically, after the Memorial Service, the family hosts a small reception in the church hall inviting parishioners to join in remembering the departed.
When do we pray for the departed?
On specially designated days:
on Saturdays during Great Lent (before Easter)
Meatfare Saturday
Saturday before the Pentecost
Saturday before Feast Day of St. Demetrius (in November)
During Liturgy - Write their name(s) on the special form provided on the tall stand near the candle table at the entry to the church and pass along to Fr. Taras before the Liturgy or leave in the basket by the icon on the Tetrapod (the table at the front of the church)
On the anniversary of their passing
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Ukrainian greeting cards, Easter egg making supplies, CDs, Ukrainian embroidery patterned tablecloths, and much more. Open by appointment, email: pysanka.ottawa@gmail.com
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On request – To make arrangements, please contact the church office (613-728-0856).
Learn about preparing for a house blessing:
Blessing of the home with Holy Water is a yearly tradition that happens in the weeks following Theophany and ends before the start of Great Lent; however, blessing can be performed any time during the year.
To prepare for this blessing, ensure that the house is clean and tidy, with the lights on in every room. Select a location in the home that will be the centre of the blessing, typically the dining room or kitchen table. The priest starts the service by reading a prayer and commemorates the living and departed members of the family. He will then walk through the house, sprinkling the four corners of each room with the Holy Water and blessing the home with the grace of the Holy Spirit which also protects the family from evil spirits. Although ideal, all family members do not need to be present for the blessing of the home. The items needed for a home blessing are as follows:
Prepare a list of the first names of those family members for whom you wish to pray when the priest arrives, with the living and the deceased listed in separate columns.
On the dining room or kitchen table, place a lighted candle, an icon of Christ or a Theophany icon, and the prepared lists of names.
Turn on a light in each room so that the priest can see where he is going.
Turn off all TVs, computers and tablets, radios and music.
Do not use your cell phones (turn off or place on vibration mode).
Secure all pets to ensure that they do not get underfoot as the priest walks from room to room. You may ask the priest to bless your pets too.
When the priest arrives, everyone in the house should gather around the table and join in the singing of the litany responses and troparion.
The children may lead the priest around the house, from room to room, holding a lit candle, if parents permit.
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To inquire about becoming a member of our Cathedral and of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada please see the information about Membership in the Parish section down this page.
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If you are interested to join the choir, or for any other questions, please contact Oxana Genina (the Choir Committee Director) via the church administration at ukrorthodoxottawa@gmail.com.
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Our Question & Request Box is located at the entrance to our Church by the candle table. Please use this box to submit questions to the parish priest or parish council. Additionally, you may ask your questions through the Contact form or in the Telegram or WhatsApp groups.
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5:00 P.M. usually every Saturday of the month. Vespers are served predominantly in the Ukrainian language, and last approximately 50 minutes. Please see the Schedule of Church Services.
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Please see the Schedule of Church Services.
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Thirty minutes before Liturgy, fifteen minutes before Vespers.
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On Sunday morning 30 minutes before the start of the Liturgy.
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If you know of anyone in the hospital or at home who would like a pastoral visit, please contact our parish priest, Fr. Taras Kinash (Tel: 613-295-5283, email: priestkinash@yahoo.com)
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At any time you can request the priest to say prayers for the health of family members and friends and/or for the repose of the departed. Please write their first names on the specially provided lists found at the candle table in the church hall lobby and pass along the list(s) to one of the Altar Servers before the Liturgy or place the list(s) in the basket beside the icon on the Tetrapod (centre table) in front of the Altar.
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For information about renting the Ukrainian Orthodox Hall, please email: rentals1000byron@gmail.com or phone 613-722-1372.
The Hall Rental Office is open on Monday, Wednesday from 4pm to 7pm and on Saturday from 12pm to 3pm. To view the hall, please make an appointment with our office. Please note that every effort will be made to respond to emails and voice messages within 3-5 business days.
Information about the hall is available on our website at www.1000byron.org
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For information, please phone 613-410-2535
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Sunday morning, 12pm - 12:45pm, for children aged 5-15 years (divided into two age groups). For more information, please see the Activities for Youth page.
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For information, please contact Parish Cemetery Manager Ruslan Matthews and/or Sofiia Sadanenko, Parish Administrative Assistant at ukrorthodoxottawa@gmail.com
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To receive our E-Newsletter, please sign up at the footer of the website. Alternatively, email our Communications Director at uoc.ottawa@gmail.com. The E-newsletter contains information about church services, Ukrainian community events, and interesting topics.
Parish Council
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President
Leads the Parish Council and oversees parish operations.
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Past President
Provides guidance and continuity from previous leadership.
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Vice-President
Supports the President and assists with leadership responsibilities.
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Recording Secretary
Keeps minutes of meetings and maintains official parish records.
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Treasurer
Assists and trains in parish financial management.
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Financial Secretary
Oversees financial documentation and reporting.
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Assistant Financial Secretary
Supports the Financial Secretary in managing parish funds.
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Membership Director
Coordinates parish membership records and engagement.
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Communications Director
Manages parish communications, publications, and outreach.
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Property Management
Oversees maintenance and care of parish property.
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Cemetery Director
Directs parish cemetery administration and care.
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Benevolent Committee Director
Organizes activities and community support for elderly members of our parish.
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Choir Committee Director
Leads parish choir activities and music programming.
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Youth & Family Programming Director
Develops and coordinates programs for youth and families.
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Representative to the Ottawa branch of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress
Represents the parish in the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, Ottawa branch.
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Trustee (2nd year)
Provides oversight of parish assets and governance.
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Trustee (3rd year)
Provides oversight of parish assets and governance.
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Trustee (3rd year)
Provides oversight of parish assets and governance.
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Auditor
Audits parish financial records and reporting.
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Auditor
Audits parish financial records and reporting.
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Auditor
Audits parish financial records and reporting.
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Member at Large
Supports parish council activities.
All church members are welcome to attend parish council meetings to hear about issues affecting the parish. Meetings are held on every second Tuesday of the month. Please contact the church office (613-728-0856, ukrorthodoxottawa@gmail.com) to inquire about joining the parish council’s monthly meeting.
Membership
Why Become a Member of Our Parish?
Becoming a member of our parish means more than attending services — it means joining a spiritual family. As a member, you deepen your faith, belong to a caring community, and support the mission of the Church in Ottawa and beyond. Membership also gives you a voice in parish life, helps sustain our programs, and ensures a strong foundation for future generations.
📩 To learn more or to become a member, please contact us at ukrorthodoxottawa@gmail.com or use the Contact form on our website.
2026 Membership fees
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
We as parish council members would like to inform you that after 2 years of holding our parish membership fee at $200/member, it increased in 2026. In order to cover the levis from the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) approved at the UOCC Sobor held in July 2025 (not negotiable) our parish council considered the options and decided that increasing the membership to $220/member was required. Fees for 2026, covering the 12-month period from January 1 to December 31, are as follows:
Single - $220
Family - $440 (Family membership is equivalent to two adult members plus children aged 18 years and under)
The breakdown is as follows:
$186 - Consistory
$20 - Eastern Eparchy
$10 - St. Andrew's College
$4 - Our Parish.
A portion of these fees, from each membership, remains with our parish to help pay our operating expenses. The remainder of the fees supports the work of the Consistory of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) and St. Andrew’s College (the post-secondary academic institution that trains Ukrainian Orthodox priests), both located in Winnipeg, and the Eastern Eparchy located in Toronto.
We trust that you, our generous parishioners, will understand the need for this increase. We would also underline that the parish is funded not from these membership dues, but from the additional donations that our parishioners make. Thank you very much for your continuous support! God bless you all!
Donations
Donate to our Cathedral
Donations to church could be made in several ways:
Via e-transfer Treasurer.UOCCOttawa@gmail.com;
Via CanadaHelps, for Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Mary. Ottawa, credit cards are accepted;
Pay by cash or cheque to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Ottawa;
Use BCU Direct Deposit.
Direct Deposit program
Help our church by making donations using the Direct Deposit program
Just as most of us pay some or all of our bills by pre-authorized withdrawal, the church's Direct Deposit program allows you to donate to our church consistently and continuously throughout the year. You specify the amount to be withdrawn from your account at any financial institution, either monthly or bi-weekly,and that amount is directly transferred to the church's bank account at Buduchnist Credit Union.
What are the benefits?
When you cannot attend church service, this program allows you to maintain your financial support of the church. This allows us to ensure our parish's overall financial stability to cover our operating expenses.
Direct Deposit provides you with the convenience of not having to find the cash or write a chequeto put in the collection basket.
How to Sign Up for the Direct Deposit Program?
Complete and sign the pre-authorized debit agreement (in the link on the right) and provide a void cheque.
Mail the signed agreement together with your void cheque to our church office (1000 Byron Avenue, Ottawa, ON K2A 0J3) or directly to Buduchnist Credit Union (913 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1Y 4E3)
Once these documents are received by Buduchnist credit Union, then approximately 10 business days are needed to activate the arrangement.
You can also arrange for your annual church membership fees to be paid using the donations you make through the Direct Deposit program. An income tax receipt is issued for all donations made through the Direct Deposit program.
If you need assistance or further information, please contact Buduchnist Credit Union in Ottawa at 613-722-7075. We prayerfully ask you to support our church through this program.
Projects
Current
Past
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We kicked off our 75th Anniversary with an ambitious renovation donation campaign aimed at revitalizing our parish facilities. The call to action was met with overwhelming support from parishioners who understand the importance of maintaining a welcoming environment for worship, fellowship, and community service. To date, we have raised just over $160,000.00 with an additional $40,000 required to meet our goal.
This campaign has been more than just a fundraising effort; it was a chance to demonstrate our commitment to the church and to each other. Thanks to the generosity and dedication of our parish community, we have made significant progress toward our renovation goals.
Below are the projects completed to date, starting in 2023:
Painting of the church interior (2023) - this project was a much-needed refresh and repair of the interior of the Cathedral. There was extensive water damage from a leaking roof that was repaired in 2021. The ceilings and walls around the exterior windows were scraped, patched, and sanded prior to painting. The whole interior was painted and is now clean and fresh looking.
Cost of the project: $13,500.00 (paid in 2023 with parish funds)
Church deck roof repair - this roof area is the outside walkway which circles the church. The church is built on a concrete slab which was originally covered with a rubber membrane, gravel, and patio stones when it was built in 1975, with a life expectancy of 35-40 years. After 49 years, there were multiple places where leaks started to develop and had to be addressed. The first of these leaks were discovered in the hall entranceway, then the banquet hall near the kitchen and new leaks on the whole east side, with leaks in the office and the UWAC storage room.
The renovation committee chose to have the membrane replaced in sections, with the east side being the final area repaired in October 2024. This was a major project and one which needed to be undertaken before any serious interior renovations were to take place.
Cost of project: $90,000.00 (paid in 2024 from Phase 1 Renovation Fund)
Sound system - the church purchased and installed a new sound system. This has been mounted in a locked cabinet on the stage. The system has portable speakers with stands which are able to be moved to the upper hall if required and operate independently from the stage hardware. There were also two new wireless and two wired microphones purchased.
Cost of Project: $5,000.00 (paid in 2023 with parish funds)
Security cameras - given that the premises are used by outside groups on a fairly regular basis, security cameras have been installed in strategic areas for security and safety reasons.
Cost of project: $7,340.00 (paid in 2024 through Trillium Grant)
Front door system - the complete front door and side glass entry system to the hall was replaced in October 2024. This will provide much better heat retention as well as preventing rodents and insects from entering.
Cost of Project: $10,500.00 (paid with $7,500.00 Ontario Grant and balance from Phase 1 Renovation Fund)
We are now starting the following projects:
Women’s washroom - as many parishioners know, the washrooms at the church have needed to be renovated for a number of years. Through the fall of 2024, our committee researched and investigated potential plans. An inspection of the current drains and plumbing infrastructure was executed by a professional who found the plumbing and drain system in decent shape, so washroom renovations have been planned. The current plan is to start the women’s washroom first in January 2025, with completion expected by March . This will include the replacement of all toilets, stalls, sinks, counters, wall / floor tiles and ceilings, including lighting. It will also include moving the wall over into the men’s washroom sink area to create a larger women’s lounge and makeup area. This lounge can also be used as a bridal room when the hall is rented out for weddings. This is something our renters have been requesting for many years.
Cost of Project: $45,000.00 (to be paid in 2025 from Phase 1 Renovation Fund)
Projects planned for 2025:
Men’s washroom - the men’s washroom will be renovated after the women’s is completed and will have to be coordinated with hall rentals. This will be later in 2025.
Cost of Project: $45,000.00 (to be paid in 2025 from Phase 1 Renovation Fund)
Banquet hall lobby remodel - this is yet to be planned but a refresh of walls, ceilings and lighting are planned.
Cost of Project: $15-20,000.00 (to be paid in 2025 from Phase 1 Renovation Fund)
Repair of interior water damage – repairs are in progress in the hall, the office and the UWAC storage rooms. Some banquet hall ceiling repairs have already been completed.
Phase 2 Project:
Banquet hall remodel - this will be a major undertaking which has not been planned or budgeted for as of yet but is on the horizon. The hall will need a refresh of walls, ceilings, flooring and lighting. We will begin our planning in 2025, but this will not likely be started until 2026/27, provided the necessary funds are raised. This will be an additional fundraising effort to the one currently in progress.
The projects to date are underway and have largely been funded by your generosity. We will continue to work towards our goal of $ 200,000 to complete the Phase 1 renovations. The funds collected for Phase 1 of the renovation will cover the projects listed with the exception of the banquet hall remodel. The renovation committee thanks you for your generosity and asks for your continued financial support for the future projects for the betterment of our parish.
Respectfully,
The Renovation Committee
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Renovation Report October 5, 2025
There has been a large amount of renovation work done in 2023-2025. This last year started off with an aggressive renovation donation campaign and to date we have raised $193,000. The following projects that have been completed are as follows:
· Painting of the church interior (2023): This project was a much-needed refresh and repair of the interior of the Cathedral. Cost of the project: $13,500 (Paid by parish funds)
· Church deck roof repair: This area of the roof is the outside walkway which circles the church. The church is built on a concrete slab which was originally covered with a rubber membrane, when constructed in 1975. The area was never repaired or replaced and had a lifespan of 35-40 years. After 49 years, multiple leaks started to develop and had to be addressed. This was a major project and one which needed to be undertaken before any serious interior renovations were to take place.
Cost of project: $95,000
As a result of roof leakage, additional repairs are needed. The UWAC storage room was completely gutted to the brick, due to black mold. The room was completely re-drywalled, insulated and painted. Parts of the office walls also had a similar repair done. These were major repairs that were caused by the leaking roof. Cost: 15,000
· Women’s Washroom: As many parishioners know, the washrooms at the church have needed replacement for several years. The washroom was completed in early March 2025 and included the replacement of all toilets, stalls, sinks, counters, wall/ floor tiles and ceilings including lighting. We also moved the wall over into the men’s washroom sink area to create a larger women’s lounge area for greater space.
Cost of Project: $65,000 (Note some supplies were pre-purchased for Men’s washroom)
Church altar repair and renovation. Cost: $5000
Roof Hall Leak: In May 2025, a major leak developed between the lower and upper halls. There was a failure in the existing hall roof that was unrelated to the deck roof repair. Included in this roof repair was repair of the hall ceiling. This was a relatively easy repair but one that used up valuable budget dollars. Cost: $7500
· Additional Projects: Lobby vestibule removal of mold and new drywall and paint, new front door system, security cameras. (some funds attained from government grants while mold repair was from church renovation funds. Cost: $18,000
Future Projects
· Men’s washroom: The men’s washroom will be renovated starting January 2026 and will have to be coordinated with hall rentals.
Cost of Project: $45,000
· Banquet Hall Lobby Remodel: This is yet to be planned but a refresh of walls, ceilings and lighting are planned. Cost of Project: $15,000
ADDITIONAL FUNDS NEEDED TO COMPLETE PHASE 1: $40,000.00
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In 2012, the Parish Iconography Committee placed an advertisement in Visnyk (the official newspaper of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada) inviting iconographers to submit proposals for the design and painting of iconography for our church in Ottawa. They received proposals from several orthodox iconographers from across North America. The Parish Iconography Committee evaluated and selected the best three proposed designs which were presented at the March 2013 Parish Annual Meeting. The Committee recommended the highest ranked proposal prepared by iconographer Subdeacon Michael Kapeluck as the successful design. Following a discussion with the church membership, the Parish Council was given the approval to negotiate a contract for his services.
The iconography project design provided us with an opportunity to showcase the Ukrainian Orthodox heritage in Canada's capital city. His design unifies the internal and external design elements of our church, highlighting the Biblical theme of the Tree of Life. His artwork portrays the history of our Salvation through the Saints and events of the Old and New Testaments.
Our parish's ladies' organization, the Lesia Ukrainka Ottawa branch of the Ukrainian Women's Association of Canada, generously covered the cost of almost $81,000 for the creation and installation the iconography screens on the walls of the Altar. The iconography that adorns the walls of the Altar were installed in 2014 and 2015.
This project continues with the iconography for the side walls of the Altar and the front walls of the Nave to be installed in early 2019. We pray that Our Lord God will assist us in this project and we are counting on your generosity to complete the iconography — to become a truly unique display of our faith and spirituality in our nation's capital. Just like our ancestors and forefathers, who worked together to build the churches in Ukraine and in Canada, we will work together and find ways to financially support the completion of this project in order to pass our legacy to the next generations.
May God bless us in our work!
Understanding the Iconography
The iconography that adorns the walls in the Altar of our Cathedral consists of three distinct levels: the Platytera level, the Communion level and the Tablecloth level.
The Platytera Level
The upper level of the main front wall, which faces the viewer directly, contains the Icon of the Theotokos (Virgin Mary, the Platytera in the Greek language) with her hands raised in a prayer position (orans in the Greek language). The image of Jesus as a child is depicted within a small round icon in the area of her heart. She symbolizes the link between heaven and earth through the Incarnation of her Son.
In the upper section of the side walls, to the left and right of the Theotokos, are the twelve prophets – Zachary, Moses, Daniel, Jacob, Jeremiah, Solomon, David, Avakum, Gideon, Ezekiel, Isaiah and Aaron – who hold the objects and scrolls recalling their prophetic announcements of the Incarnation. Two ancient prophecies are depicted on the left wall – Moses before the burning bush and Jacob's vision of the ladder. The images of the twelve prophets are intertwined with floral elements. Iconography and scripture are rich with the images of vines and branches, with Christ being the vine and we, the faithful, being the branches. However, instead of the usual Byzantine style floral vines, the iconographer has used Ukrainian liturgical embroidery patterns. Additionally, Ukrainian, instead of Byzantine, patterns are painted on the long vertical edges of the back and side walls. The entire icon design is unique and fits comfortably within the icon tradition.
The Communion Level
On the Communion level of the main wall, below the icon of the Theotokos, is found the main icon of the Communion of the Apostles with Christ dispensing the Eucharist.
This icon does not represent the Last Supper, which was an earthly event, but rather depicts a heavenly event. Christ standing at the Altar as high priest is eternally distributing himself to his apostles and to all of us. On either side of this icon, on the side walls, we see the four Fathers of our Church – St. Gregory of Rome and St. John Chrysostom on the left, St. Basil the Great and St. James of Jerusalem on the right – looking at the event transpiring between them. Through their writings, teachings and even martyrdoms they bear witness to the Faith and to He who is their Saviour. Here they stand as they stand in heaven, eternally bowed in worship and praise.
The Tablecloth Level
On the lowest level on each of the three walls is an embroidered tablecloth, a decorative element. In actuality it is much more because it represents the Altar, our Father's table, at which we all sit.
In the early church the entire congregation sat at tables. It was at these tables that the first seven deacons served. Eventually the common meal was separated from the Eucharistic meal, and the tablecloth pattern depicted on the lowest part of the walls is a reminder of that time.
Colours Used in the Iconography
The colours were based on those traditionally used to depict the saints and images in the icons. The shade of the colours represents the unique palette of each iconographer.
Red and orange-red, which represent humanity and life on earth, are commonly used for the clothing of Christ as a child and are also used on Christ's clothes in icons such as the Dormition, the Descent into Hades and the Ascension. Gold symbolizes divinity. Blue, signifying the heavens and the everlasting kingdom of God not on this earth, is the most common colour used for wall murals, particularly deep blues. The iconographer provided our Iconography Project Committee with several choices for the blue colour and they selected a lighter blue shade which then in turn informed the rest of his palette. In the Altar area, the colours take on an extra brightness due to the natural light coming through the rear side windows which illuminates the iconography.
Much of the symbolism of the colours that are used in iconography has been lost over the centuries and the interpretation of colour has varied from century to century and culture to culture. For example, the colour red has been used differently over the course of history representing a variety of events and symbols, such as martyrdom, the fire of God or the Holy Spirit. In more ancient times, the colour red, not the now commonly used gold, was used in the background of the Icon of Christ (Pantocrator in the Greek language) typically located in the largest or highest dome in a church. The colour palette used in our cathedral's iconography, while based in tradition, explores new uses of colour to speak to a new generation and culture. This exploration of colour and form is happening in churches all across North America and throughout the Orthodox world.
About the Iconographer
Michael Kapeluck was selected by our Parish Iconography Committee to create the iconography for our cathedral. Born in 1963 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (PA), Michael showed artistic ability early in life, which led him to study art at Carnegie Mellon University, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts (with high honors).
After several years of showing his artwork in area art galleries, Michael decided to move his artistic skills away from the world of secular art and to devote his life to the study and creation of the sacred art of iconography. He has been blessed to create icons for churches and individuals for 25 years and continues to enjoy the challenge of pushing his skills to greater levels. He thanks the Lord for the tremendous blessing of being able to have a sustained career in this sacred art form.
He is a lifelong communicant of St. Peter & St. Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Carnegie, PA, where he works and enjoys life with his wife, Michele, and their two children, Zachary and Mikaela.
Parish Cemetery
The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery
Address: 1888 Marivale Road, Ottawa
Parish Cemetery Manager: Ruslan Matthews
Established: 1951
For information, please contact Ruslan Matthews or Sofiia Sadanenko, parish admin assistant at 613-728-0856 or ukrorthodoxottawa@gmail.com
Brief History of our Cemetery
In 1951, the parish cemetery, "The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Orthodox cemetery", was established in 1951 on land acquired from the neighbouring Holy Trinity Bukovinian Orthodox Cemetery, which is to its south.
Of note is a large granite Cross, donated by parishioners and dedicated in 1973. At this Cross, Memorial Services are offered.