Igumen Alexander (Pihach) - Rector

Igumen Alexander was born Dennis Alexander Pihach on June 27/1952 in Saskatoon, SK and raised in an Orthodox family with 2 brothers. He entered St. Andrews seminary in Winnipeg and graduated in 1973. He continued studies in Sociology and Slavic Studies graduating from the University of Saskatchewan. He was employed with Social Services in the corrections and psychiatric services. In 1986 he was ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Canada (OCA) and assigned to organize a mission in Yorkton, now St. Mark's Church while working in Youth Addictions Services.

He was elected Dean of Manitoba, Sask. for the Archdiocese and appointed Chancellor of the Archdiocese in 1996. In 1998 he became Rector of St. Herman of Alaska Sobor in Edmonton and remains so to the present.

On July 11, 2009 he was tonsured a monk and elevated to Igumen of St. Elias Skete in Dickie Bush, AB. On Sept 1st 2009 he was appointed Interim Dean of the Annunciation Orthodox Cathedral in Ottawa.

Archpriest Phillip Eriksson - Associate Priest

Fr. Phillip Eriksson was born in Saskatoon, SK on Feb. 24/1952 in his father’s last year of studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary. Along with one brother and sister, he grew up in Western Canada. From a young age, he was active in parish life, serving as church organist and as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent. He graduated from the University of Saskatchewan. While in studies, he was active in campus ministry, the organist for the Lutheran Seminary and a member of its chorus.

In1977 he embraced the Orthodox faith at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Saskatoon. That same year, he married Barbara (nee Kolibab), a parish music director since the tender age of 19. While supporting the family with secular insurance services, he studied theology by correspondence, seminars, personal study and various orthodox theological institutes. He was tonsured a reader in 1987, ordained to the diaconate in 1990 and to the priesthood in 2000. He has been part of the pastoral team at St. Herman of Alaska Sobor since the fall of 2003. He is a strong proponent of ongoing study for clergy and laity alike and for deepening in faith through active participation in the life and worship of the local community.

Fr. Phillip and Matushka Barbara have three children, Jordan Eriksson, Krista Francis (spouse Matthew and son Basil) and Annika Eriksson.

Priest Vincent Lehr - Assistant Priest

Fr. Vincent is a former evangelical Pastor who, along with his wife and three children, became Orthodox in 1999. After serving as a Deacon in the Orthodox Church for seven years, he was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on January 1, 2010. He currently serves as assistant Priest at St. Herman’s Orthodox Church in Edmonton, along with being Priest-in-Charge for All Saints Orthodox Church in Meadow Lake, SK.

Deacon Daniel Friesen

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Deacon Matthew Francis

Deacon Matthew has been a member of St. Herman of Alaska since 2003, and was ordained a deacon in 2010. Before coming to Edmonton he attended St. Peter the Aleut Church in Calgary and St. Aidan of Lindisfarne in Manchester, England. He studied History and Theology and currently works in the heritage conservation field as a public servant with Alberta Culture & Community Spirit. He is married to Krista, and their son Basil is the only true Albertan in the family!