Parish Organizations
When the liturgical services conclude, St. Philip's offers even more opportunities within our community to get to know one another and share our faith. Regardless of your age, the parish hosts various groups that encourage living a Christian life, fostering fellowship, and serving others. Some of these organizations include Teen SOYO (for ages 12-18), Church School (for elementary-aged children), Altar Servers, Young Professionals (for ages 18-30), Choir, The Women's Group (open to all women 18 and older), and the newly established Men's Group (open to all men 18 and older). Beyond our local community, the Archdiocese has many events throughout the year to invite all to discover and fellowship with one another. We look forward to getting to know you better outside of regular liturgical worship!
Parish Events
A number of events are scheduled throughout the year to help build community. In the spring, there is our annual parish picnic, during the summer months, we have Parish Wiener Roasts, and of course there is Camp St. Innocent. Once autumn starts to make itself known there is the Autumn Banquet as well as various events promoted by various groups in the parish. Once winter makes its appearance, the annual Christmas Banquet and Dance draws not only those in the parish but also from the wider Arabic community.
A History of the Church
Over 46 years ago, a small group of around 17 Antiochian Orthodox Christian families in Edmonton, Alberta, shared a dream. They envisioned establishing a church where they could practice their faith and build a strong spiritual foundation for their children and future generations. While there were other Orthodox churches in the city, none offered services in Arabic, the native language of these families. Many members were bilingual, but the older generation struggled with English, making it difficult for them to fully understand the sermons and prayers in English. This dream set them on a path to create a place of worship that catered to their unique needs.
In September 1978, after just a few years of dedicated fundraising, the group established a Mission under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. This was the first step towards realizing their dream of founding a church. With unwavering faith and hard work, they demonstrated their commitment by assigning a full-time pastor and setting clear goals for the future.
The community's tireless efforts, through bake sales, raffles, charity dinners, and member donations, quickly elevated the organization's status to that of a Church. Even before they had a permanent building, they rented halls and church basements to conduct the Divine Liturgy every Sunday and celebrate other Orthodox feasts. They also established vital organizations such as the Antiochian Women, Church Choir, Teen SOYO, and Church School, which strengthened the church's spiritual foundation. Members generously donated their time, skills, and connections to gather building materials and services, leading to the construction of their church building, which was completed in June 1981. On June 14th of that year, St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church was officially consecrated by the Most Reverent Metropolitan Philip, becoming the first church in the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese of North America to be established in Western Canada.
Today, the church, with a few renovations and improvements, still stands proudly at 15804 - 98 Avenue in Edmonton. St. Philip has grown to include approximately 100 families and over 200 individuals. The various church organizations continue to play a vital role in the community, providing a spiritual foundation and catering to both its bilingual population in English and Arabic, and the newer generations predominantly in English. The church also preserves many cherished ethnic traditions.
Through cooperation, hard work, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to God, St. Philip Church has turned a dream into a reality. As we celebrate 46 years, we look forward to many more years of growth and spiritual fulfillment, guided by these enduring values and the will of God.
In September 1978, after just a few years of dedicated fundraising, the group established a Mission under the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. This was the first step towards realizing their dream of founding a church. With unwavering faith and hard work, they demonstrated their commitment by assigning a full-time pastor and setting clear goals for the future.
The community's tireless efforts, through bake sales, raffles, charity dinners, and member donations, quickly elevated the organization's status to that of a Church. Even before they had a permanent building, they rented halls and church basements to conduct the Divine Liturgy every Sunday and celebrate other Orthodox feasts. They also established vital organizations such as the Antiochian Women, Church Choir, Teen SOYO, and Church School, which strengthened the church's spiritual foundation. Members generously donated their time, skills, and connections to gather building materials and services, leading to the construction of their church building, which was completed in June 1981. On June 14th of that year, St. Philip Antiochian Orthodox Church was officially consecrated by the Most Reverent Metropolitan Philip, becoming the first church in the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese of North America to be established in Western Canada.
Today, the church, with a few renovations and improvements, still stands proudly at 15804 - 98 Avenue in Edmonton. St. Philip has grown to include approximately 100 families and over 200 individuals. The various church organizations continue to play a vital role in the community, providing a spiritual foundation and catering to both its bilingual population in English and Arabic, and the newer generations predominantly in English. The church also preserves many cherished ethnic traditions.
Through cooperation, hard work, sacrifice, and a deep commitment to God, St. Philip Church has turned a dream into a reality. As we celebrate 46 years, we look forward to many more years of growth and spiritual fulfillment, guided by these enduring values and the will of God.