3 minute read
Boian Days
Boian Days features History, Culture and Fundraising Efforts to Rebuild nearby Church
Michelle Pinon - News Advertiser
“The soul of family endures: We remain united.”
The powerful handwritten message appears on the front cover of a Christmas card. It is enclosed in a plastic bag to protect it from the elements, and is surrounded by a small branches and yellow flowers and both fastened to a piece of a wire fence surrounding the perimeter of where St. Mary’s Romanian Orthodox Church of Boian once stood.
The beloved place of worship had served generations of faithful since it opened 118 years ago until it succumbed to fire on June 6, 2023. The unimaginable loss is heartbreaking to many people, including David Bezovie and his family who farm a short distance away from the church.
David said he personally checked the church every day, and that particular day, he was driving home from Vegreville with his wife Debbie when he spotted smoke. He called the Hairy Hill Fire Department and was told no one had called anything in. He called a neighbour who wasn’t home but his wife said she’d go have a look. None of the other neighbours had seen anything either.
But by the time David had reached the intersection of Hwy 45/857, he began to fearing the worst, exclaiming, “God, I hope it’s not the church.” Unfortunately, his worst fears were realized and he began dialling 911 but there was no cell phone reception until he reached the top of the hill where the church is located.
At that point, the church was engulfed in flames. David told Debbie to call 911 as he was going to try and turn off the gas and power, but it was too dangerous to do so. Helplessly, they waited and watched for firefighters to arrive. Even though the church couldn’t be saved, David was glad it hadn’t spread to the neighbouring property, which is the site of the Romanian Pioneer Museum of Boian.
While the official cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, David said it is believed to have been caused from faulty electrical. The loss has been devastating. David and his wife Debbie were married in the church on June 10, 1978. Their children and grandchildren have been baptised in the church and there have been many other occasions and gatherings held there over the years in addition to Sunday services.
Viewing the charred wooden beams, bricks and what is left of the foundation is disheartening, but attached to the fence is a sign with an aerial photo of the church with the words: “We will rebuild.”
It’s a promise and a pledge; and is already taking form through the Canadian Romanian Society of Alberta which hosted Boian Days July 14-16 and helped to raise just over $14,480 during the event to put towards rebuilding of the historic church.
