About Us

Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor Regina is a parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, a jurisdiction under the omophorion of His All-Holiness, Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch.

Founded in 1924 by recently-arrived Ukrainian immigrants, their families and descendants, our parish strives to build on the roots these pioneers transplanted and nurtured on the Canadian prairie, worshiping God in Spirit and Truth. The parish’s current temple was proclaimed a Sobor (a Cathedral church) by His Beatitude ANDREW, Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada on June 4, 1978. The parish is entirely self-sustaining, relying on the generosity of worshipers, volunteers and donors — who may apply to become members and, in so doing, can participate in setting the priorities and future direction of the community.

Regular worship services include Saturday Vespers, Divine Liturgy on Sundays, Akathists (services combining hymnody and pious verses dedicated to the Saviour, the Most-holy Mother of God or to a Saint) and observances of Church Feast Days.

All are welcome!

His All-Holiness, BARTHOLOMEW I, Archbishop of Constantinople, New Rome, and Ecumenical Patriarch

Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Eparchy

His Eminence ILARION, Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Eparchy, Metropolitan of All Canada

His Grace ANDRIY, Bishop of Toronto and the Eastern Eparchy

His Eminence YURIJ, Metropolitan Emeritus of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

In accordance with the “Articles of Agreement with the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople”, officially accepted by a UOCC delegation on April 1, 1990 in Constantinople and subsequently approved by the clergy and delegates of the XVIII Sobor, the canonical head of this ecclesiastical entity is His All-Holiness, the Patriarch of Constantinople.

The Revised By-Laws of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (approved by the Extraordinary Sobor of August, 2008 and subsequently amended in July, 2010) frame the structure, authority and responsibilities of UOCC hierarchs, clergy and laity.

Parish Priest

Reverend Father Volodymyr Feskiv was born in the village of Sokoliv, the region of Buchach, Ternopil oblast, Ukraine, into the Orthodox family of Dmytro and Halyna Feskiv. His father, Dmytro Mykolaievych Feskiv, fell asleep in the Lord in 1996.

In 1998, having been recognized with an award of academic merit, he enrolled in the Cantor and Conductor College at the Ivano-Frankivsk Theological Academy.

In 2000, he entered the Ternopil Theological Seminary; completing his studies there in 2004. He and Natalia Stepanivna Pankevych were married that same year.

On February 17, 2004, he was ordained Deacon by the Archbishop of Ternopil and Kremenets’k in the Church of St. Volodymyr in Buchach.

On December 5, 2004, following Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in the village of Sokoliv, the same hierarch ordained him a Priest.

In 2005, Fr. Volodymyr and Mrs. Natalia Feskiv emigrated to Canada, to join his mother. Their daughter, Veronika was born.

From 2005 to 2008, he studied at St. Andrew’s College at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg.

On August 31, 2008, Fr. Volodymyr was assigned to serve as a priest by His Eminence, Archbishop JOHN (Stinka) of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada at the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in Toronto.

From September 31, 2011, the Reverend Father was assigned by His Eminence, Archbishop YURIJ (Kalistchuk), Archbishop of Winnipeg and Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada as Dean of the Church of St. Anne, in Scarborough, Ontario.

In early 2019, Father Volodymyr moved with his growing family, now including a young son, Ephrem — to accept responsibility for the spiritual life of Descent of the Holy Spirit Ukrainian Orthodox Sobor in Regina; with duties extending also to ministry in the Chapel at Selo Gardens Personal Care Home.