Although we celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2005, the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral parish has roots going back to the turn of the century. As early as 1904 Ottawa was home to many immigrants from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. By 1955 a group of exiled Russians of Baltic and aristocratic descent, loyal to the Metropolia (now the Orthodox Church in America), formed the St. Nicholas Mission, later purchasing an old protestant church building in an older area of Ottawa known as The Glebe.
In 1980 a number of parishioners from St. Nicholas left to form an English-speaking mission, Holy Transfiguration, ministering to the growing number of converts and second-generation Orthodox in the city.
By 1987 both parishes in Ottawa faced some difficult challenges for their futures, but found a way forward together in an amalgamation in 1988. The joining of the two parishes was a moving witness of reconciliation and faith, reuniting a mission to its mother church. The combined community was called Annunciation to the Theotokos/St. Nicholas Orthodox Church. In 1990 members of the Holy Epiphany Mission of the Antiochian Archdiocese also joined our community.
Also in 1990, His Grace Bishop SERAPHIM was consecrated Ruling Bishop of the Archdiocese and Ottawa was designated his see, making the tiny parish the national Cathedral for the largest geographical Orthodox diocese in the world.
In the years since the amalgamation, the Cathedral parish has grown to become the home of many second- and third-generation Orthodox, many converts, and many new immigrants wanting to bring up their families in the languages of their new country. Our community includes parishioners from a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Greek, Irish, Romanian, Russian, Scottish, Serbian, and Ukrainian. Our diverse backgrounds enable us to focus on our common Orthodox faith, rather than on our separate cultural traditions.
Our Cathedral is graced with a wonder-working icon of St. Nicholas, noted especially for assistance in healing alcoholism. We are also blessed with relics of St. Nicholas; the Apostle Andrew; St. Cuthbert of Lindisfarne; St. John of Suceava; St. Herman of Alaska; St. Seraphim of Sarov; St. Innocent of Alaska; St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre; and St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco.
In September 2005, the Annunciation to the Theotokos/ St. Nicholas
Cathedral was renamed Annunication Orthodox Cathedral, and moved to a new
location. The new building is very much larger and includes much-needed
office space and a large hall for social and community events.
In March 2007, His Beatitude Metropolitan HERMAN elevated His Grace Bishop
SERAPHIM to the rank of Archbishop. Our beloved Vladyka is worthy indeed!
In this and in all things, we thank Almighty God for His generosity to us,
and pray that He may continue to bless and guide us as we strive to grow in
faith and in love.
