St. Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Waterloo, Ontario Canada


Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, the sinner
Hagia Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople
Hagia Sophia Cathedral of Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). It was converted to a mosque by the Turks and is now used as a museum.
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About St. Sophia Ukrainian Church in Waterloo, Ontario Canada

St. Sophia Church in Waterloo Sophia Wisdom of God

The name St. Sophia or Hagia Sophia comes from Greece and means "Holy Wisdom". The first church bearing this name was completed by Emperor Justinian in 537 and became the focus of religious life in Constantinople, Turkey. Processions filed in and out of its doors on frequent saints' days and most of the Byzantine emperors after Justinian were crowned in this church.

More than 10,000 people worked on the building of Hagia Sophia. When it was finished, Justinian is said to have exclaimed, "Solom, I have out done thee." The superficies of the interior are over 23,000 square feet. Passing through two vast porticoes there is a huge vault some 186 feet high and 100 feet wide. The huge central dome, 107 feet across and set on four sturdy piers over the square central area, is flanked by a number of smaller domes. This Byzantine style of church architecture was widely copied, especially in Italy and the Balkans. Hagia Sophia became a mosque after the fall of Constantinople. Sultan Mehmet 2 had a soldier flogged for trying to break up a mosaic in the Church of Holy Wisdom. St. Sophia is now a museum.

In 1037, Saint Sophia Cathedral was one of the first Christian temples built in East Slav lands. This majestic 13-domed church, famous for its frescoes and mosaics was named after the church in Constantinople. This second century church was built by Prince Yaroslav the Wise.The first library and school in Kievan-Rus were situated in this church. The Cathedral is a part of St. Sophia's Monastery and main metropolitan church of Kievan-Rus. Ceremonies to designate envoys, public meetings and the writing of chronicles took place here.

During a siege, as Turks stormed this church, some priests left the altar of Saint Sofia, taking with them the chalice and Blessed Sacrament, our Lord's Body and Blood. They are hidden this very day in the secret chambers of Saint Sofia.

Mongols, too, committed horrid massacres and conflagrations but spared this monument. In its day, Santa Sofia in old Kiev was a spectacle of golden domes, dominating all those other churches and was rumoured to be more grand than its namesake in Constantinople, being larger and packed with treasures.

Saint Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv | Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia Wisdom of GodOld Kiev, known as the mother of all cities of Rus, was the place where legend merged with reality. It was the time of prosperity for the Kievan-Rus state, a time when it established and maintained close trading and diplomatic contacts with the countries of the Orient and the West. Many European Kings considered it an honour to establish matrimonial ties with the families of the Grand Prince of Kiev. Rumours of Kiev's wealth and beauty as well as the high state of the arts reached many countries of the world. Today as one crosses the threshhold, the bustle of the present remains while centuries recede. It is important to note that our name - Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Saint Sophia Wisdom of God, should not be confused with St.Sophia, who together with her daughters, Faith, Hope and Love, were martyrs in early church history.

Every year in September as close as possible to September 21, the Patronal Feast Day is celebrated on a Sunday to mark the Nativity of the Virgin.

Mary, who became the mother of Jesus and who is such, is honoured for preparing the way for the Wisdom of God to become incarnate.

How Saint Sophia in Waterloo got started.

The first meeting of Ukrainian Orthodox parishioners took place on April 27, 1952. Eighteen people were present at this meeting. Their goal was to find a home where the soul could find joy, their own church.

St. Sophia Ukrainian Church in WaterlooBy the 25th of May they had rented space in an Evangelical church where Fr. D. Fotie conducted the service. Various priests came from London, Waterford and Grimsby. This first Ukrainian Orthodox congregation endured 17 years of being without a home. Services were held only once a month while the membership increased. Finally, in March of 1969, their patience was rewarded upon the purchase of the present building in Waterloo for $45,000. On the 31st day of August, 1969 after renovations were completed the first service was celebrated. Most of these early worshippers have passed on, but their hard work and enthusiasm remains in those left to continue the faith. Saint Sophia Church in Waterloo

Sunday School.

Each Sunday classes are held for the children of the church in the church hall. They begin at the same time as Divine Liturgy.

The churches Sunday school is lead by our sunday school Teacher and membership presidents Claudia Griebenow.

Pani Claudia instructs the students in basic church dogma, church practices, various special events of the church calendar, lessons from the teachings of the Bible as read in the liturgy and about the parts of the Divine Liturgy. All children are welcome to attend. Parents of the very young may sit in on the first lessons. The school year runs from September until June.
Trips to Orthodox Monasteries
Trips to Orthodox MonasteriesIn our world full of vanity everybody at a certain point needs a break. Parishioners of Saint Sophia Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Waterloo, ON...
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Ancient Faith Radio

Religious broadcasting from Ukraine
A Brief History of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada
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September 20, 2009
Archbishop Yurij headed the service during which two memorable events for our Parish took place...
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