Located by Elk Lake in the Greater Victoria BC area, we are an English speaking parish in the
Archdiocese of Canada of the
Orthodox Church in America (OCA), which strives to transform lives, love our neighbours, and cultivate growth in Christ in the Orthodox tradition. Whether you are also looking for this growth, are exploring your faith, are visiting from out of town, or are simply curious, we invite to you to learn more and join us for worship.
Take Hwy 17 (Patricia Bay Hwy) north from downtown Victoria.
Exit to SCALE (Hamsterly Rd.; no street sign) immediately after Cordova Bay Rd.
We are directly ahead. Parking in front and back.
We are on BC Transit routes #70 and #72.
There is a lot to see and experience in an Orthodox Church and we want to hear from you, especially if you have questions or comments. Most of all, we invite you to come pray and worship with us.
In the meantime, we hope that this website will help get you oriented before your first visit and share a little bit about who we are and what life is like at All Saints. For those of you who are wondering "What is the Orthodox Church?," we hope this will help.
We are honoured that you are considering joining us for worship. Eastern Christians have a long and rich tradition of the experience of God we want to share with everyone who comes through our doors. Some things may be familiar to you and others not so much. This is perfectly normal and if you’re interested in learning more of what to expect, this is a good summary.
Orthodox Christians generally stand in reverence and love before God in worship but please sit whenever you need to. There is also the use of incense in our services and if it causes you any discomfort, please step outside at any time for fresh air.
We hold the reception of Holy Communion as something very sacred and so we reserve that for Orthodox Christians who have prepared themselves through prayer, fasting, and regular confession. All of our other friends in Christ we invite to have some of the blessed bread and wine which are set on the tray to one side. If you are visiting from another Orthodox parish and wish to receive Holy Communion, please introduce yourself to Fr. Kyle before approaching the Chalice.
In our age of constant distraction, our times in church are a chance to renew our souls and come face-to-face with the mysteries of God. So we ask that cell phones and other electronic devices be turned off during the service. We understand situations do arise, so if there is a need to use your phone, tablet, etc. please step outside before turning it on.
Coffee Hour:
Every Sunday following Liturgy we enjoy some coffee, tea, and refreshments together. This is a time to socialize, catch up with one another, and give us the chance to get to know you. Please join us if you are able!
Studies and talks:
Adult classes are held periodically throughout the year and will be announced as well as posted on the calendar online. Catechism for those wishing to join the Orthodox Church is held on an as-needed basis.
Church School for the children is held on Saturdays at 4:00pm in the classrooms downstairs.
Service in the Liturgy:
Choir: The choir leads the singing as we offer our collective “sacrifice of praise” to God (Heb. 13:15). Our choir practices on Saturdays at 3:45pm.
Readers: The Readers work closely with the clergy and choir and chant the responses and portions of the Liturgy not sung, especially the psalms.
Servers: Men and boys over the age of seven can volunteer to serve in the altar. This is a sacred responsibility and involves taking care of the various tasks necessary for the liturgical services.
If you would like to be involved in any of these ministries, please speak to Fr. Kyle.
Every weekend we begin to celebrate the Lord’s Day (Sunday) by singing Great Vespers on Saturday night. This prayer service begins at 5:00 PM and typically lasts around forty minutes. The Divine Liturgy begins Sunday morning at 10:00 AM and is about an hour and a half long.
Services for the Feasts and fasts of the liturgical year are as announced. Please check the online calendar for the most up-to-date information.
If you are interested in knowing more about All Saints parish or Orthodoxy in general please get in touch with Fr. Kyle. His contact info is below.
More specific information on the Orthodox Church, its teachings, history, beliefs, and practices can be found here.
We receive no financial support other than your gifts and offerings and are grateful for your generosity. Right now your contributions mainly go towards operational and administrative costs of the parish. But we are looking to the future and have big plans for outreach to the community, building up parish life, and eventually owning our own facilities so we can continue to be an Orthodox presence in Victoria in the coming years and decades.
Parishioners who wish to set up their tithe or visitors who wish to make a financial contribution to help us reach our goals, please click below. All donations are tax-deductible (as per CRA rules, receipts are issued to the cardholder).
Fr. Kyle is from Calgary, AB and was raised in the Anglican and evangelical denominations. After becoming Orthodox in university, he went on to earn the Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (Yonkers, NY). On October 20, 2013 Fr. Kyle was ordained to the Holy Diaconate by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Irénée and on May 25, 2014 to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Michael. In July of 2017, Fr. Kyle was assigned as rector of All-Saints of Alaska in Victoria, BC. Fr. Kyle has two daughters with his wife, Matushka Leanne.
