St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church
- a 1st century church for a 21st century people -
SATURDAY GREAT VESPERS 5:00 PM
SUNDAY DIVINE LITURGY 9:30 AM
* Click Here for livestream *
WHAT TO EXPECT
Our Sunday service is called the Divine Liturgy, during which we pray and worship together, and celebrate the joy of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. A Greeter will welcome you when you arrive, and give you a book with the text for our service. Don't worry about losing your way in the book; just ask the person next to you what page you're on. They'll be glad to help you.
After the Divine Liturgy we have coffee and a light lunch downstairs in the fellowship hall. There's no cost for this, and everyone is invited to join us. It's a great time to meet with the Priest, and ask him any questions you might have.
About halfway through the coffee hour we begin our Church School (Sunday School) classes. During this time our children ages 4-17 years are invited to go to one of four classes for a 30-minute time of teaching/activities about the Orthodox Faith. If your children feel comfortable enough to do so, they are welcome to join the other children for this teaching time. While the children are in Church School, the rest of the adults continue to enjoy some good conversation and excellent coffee.
For more information on how to prepare for your first visit, go to this page: https://www.sthermans.ca/your-first-visit
FAMILY PARISH
While all of our services are in English, we are a multi-ethnic parish, with people from all over the world joining together for worship. We also have a wide range of ages, from newborn babies to young adults to seniors. Your family is sure to feel at home here, and your children will make some new friends.
WHICH DENOMINATION ARE YOU A PART OF?
The Orthodox Christian Church is the original church established by Jesus Christ. It is evangelical, but not Protestant. It is orthodox, but not Jewish. It is catholic, but not Roman. It isn’t non-denominational, it’s pre-denominational. It has believed, taught, preserved, defended and died for the Faith of the Apostles since the Day of Pentecost nearly 2,000 years ago.
Please join us on Sunday mornings at 9:30 am for our Divine Liturgy (main weekly service) to see what this ancient Faith has to share with this modern world.
WHAT DO YOU ALL DO BESIDES PRAY?
St. Herman's is a parish that takes the teachings of the Gospel seriously. As such, we realize that we are here not just to pray and worship, but to also be involved in sharing Christ's love with other people.
In addition of the usual spiritual work of the Church, we are blessed to be involved in many social ministries and activities, both local and international. These projects include the Christian Care Center, Edmonton Food Bank, Jasper Place Breakfast Club, Sponsoring children in another country, Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross special appeals, supporting Ukrainian Orphanages, projects in Kenya, feeding street people, etc.
A MESSAGE FROM
FR. VINCENT
Just want to say thanks for visiting our site. I'd love to see you THIS SUNDAY at St. Herman's Church. Every Sunday at our parish you will experience the sounds of an ancient Christian service, the beauty of the iconography, and the smell of the incense wafting through the air. You will be challenged by the Scriptural teachings of the day, both through the readings of the Scriptures themselves, as well as through the words of the hymns you'll be singing. Listen closely!
The Orthodox Church is the Church of the Saints and the Martyrs -- men and women and children who have lived and died for this ancient Christian Faith for over 2000 years. Many of them are presented in the icons you'll see throughout the Church.
St. Augustine (a 4th century Saint) once said, "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until it finds rest in You." Our purpose is to help you on your journey of salvation, and to find that rest in God that your heart seeks.
I look forward to meeting you when you come to visit with us. We have a wonderful meal after our Sunday service, and there's no cost to you. Join us, and I'd love to sit down with you for a coffee and answer any questions you might have.
SUNDAY SERVICE 9:30 am
Our Leadership and Staff
Fr. Vincent Lehr
Priest
Fr. Vincent is a former evangelical Pastor who, along with his wife and three children, became Orthodox in 1999. He has been a part of St. Herman's since that time. To read the story of why Fr. Vincent became Orthodox, feel free to email him below, and he'll send you a copy.
Protodeacon Jesse Isaac
Protodeacon Jesse, at age four, came into the Orthodox Church with his family. As a young adult, he moved to Edmonton and began attending the St. Herman's parish. He and his wife were married in 2005 and have three children. Pdn. Jesse was ordained a deacon by Archbishop Irénée in December, 2011.
Deacon Micah Friesen
Deacon Micah was raised in Alberta and spent most of his growing up years in the Baptist church. He was received into the Orthodox Church at St. Herman’s in 2000, along with his parents. His wife grew up in Saskatoon attending Holy Resurrection Sobor; he and his wife were married in 2006. Deacon Micah served for many years as reader, choir director, and ecclesiarch (responsible for preparing liturgical materials) before being ordained to the Holy Diaconate in March 2022.
Deacon Donavald Aellen
Prior to his and wife Carolyn’s conversion, Don had served as an Anglican priest for over 35 years. They were received into the safe spiritual haven of the Orthodox Church in August 2020. While by far the most elderly of the parish’s Deacons, he is the most junior, having been ordained in September 2024. Dcn. Don assists Fr. Vincent in some of the parish’s ministry of pastoral care. He originally studied fisheries and wildlife technology. He and Carolyn met and married while Don was a park warden. But sometimes unexpected things happen when one prays…Your will be done.
Office Administrator
Lauren Truscott
Lauren returned to God in 2020 after many years of searching, and in 2023, she was invited to attend a Divine Liturgy at the Orthodox Church. Needless to say, it intrigued her, and after attending Orthodoxy 101 and discussing the faith with many at the Church, she was received into the Orthodox Church in April 2024. She worked at the Pregnancy Care Centre in Edmonton before becoming the Office Administrator at St. Herman’s, and greatly values honesty, sincerity, and the pursuit of truth and healing.
She is honoured and humbled to be serving a Church that lives out the beauty that the Church is a hospital - not a courtroom - with Christ as the Greatest Physician.
She also met her husband at the Church - a wonderful Providence of our Lord!
About
St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church is open to people of all ages and backgrounds who wish to learn what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
St. Herman's is a part of the Orthodox Church in America, under the spiritual leadership of His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and the Metropolitan of all America and Canada. We are a parish within the Archdiocese of Canada under His Eminence Irénée, Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada. St. Herman's Orthodox Church is located in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada,
Our parish was established in 1977 to bring the Gospel to the English-speaking people of Edmonton and area. Through the dedication of our leadership, staff members and volunteers, we are committed to the teachings and traditions of the Ancient Christian Church, founded by our Lord Jesus Christ 2000 years ago, and we are here to help people on their journey of salvation.
Contact us today to find out more about becoming part of the St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church community.