Greek Orthodox Objects Donated to the Galt

The Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Holy Triniti at 643 13 Street North in Lethbridge.

In May 2019, members from Lethbridge’s Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, located at 643 13 Street North, approached the Galt about donating some materials that had been installed and used in their place of worship for several decades. These included small icons showing the four evangelists and the annunciation, as well as some candles.

The painted icons were ordered from Toronto by church members shortly after the church was constructed in the early 1950s. The icons were formerly installed within Holy Trinity’s interior “Royal Doors” which were replaced five years ago. The Royal Doors featured a wheat design that signified the Ukrainian nationality of the church’s founders in Lethbridge, according to Alex Sereda, a longtime church member.

Painted icons donated to the Galt Museum & Archives from the Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Holy Triniti.

Sereda recently recalled his involvement in the Church’s founding to Museum staff. He settled in Lethbridge as a farm labourer, working local beet fields as part of a two-year contract with the Canadian government. Said Sereda, “I came to Lethbridge, and I never left.” By the time the Orthodox church was being built, he had purchased a truck that he used to help build the church. He “hauled the first load of base, for the base foundation at the church, shovelling gravel at the river bottom into the truck, and unload by hand, as well, on top.”

The Galt Museum & Archives cares for an extensive collection of objects that help show how people experienced Lethbridge and southern Alberta in the past. These objects are important parts of our cultural heritage. You can explore the full collection of objects online at collections.galtmuseum.com.