The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Ukrainian Catholic Parish is a small parish in Surrey that was formed in 1967 and we subsequently became a part of the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of New Westminster.  We have about 60 families who attend Sunday services on a regular basis and even more who attend less frequently. We are a vibrant parish celebrating Christ in the Byzantine Rite which is part of the Eastern Catholic Church.  Byzantine Catholic churches accept the Roman Catholic Faith, keep the seven sacraments, and recognize the pope of Rome as the supreme earthly head of the church.  There are a few differences.  We have a Devine Liturgy, not a mass, our church is adorned with colourful icons and our priests can marry.

Most Reverend David Motiuk was born on January 13, 1962 in Vegreville, Alberta. After specializing in computer science and business applications at the University of Alberta, he began his seminary studies in 1984 at Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa, graduating from Saint Paul University with a Bachelor Degree in Theology (1987) and a Masters and Licentiate in Canon Law (1989). He was ordained to the priesthood on August 21, 1988.

On January 25, 2007, he was appointed Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton and was enthroned on March 24, 2007 at St. Basil Church in Edmonton.

Bishop David Motiuk is a member of the Society for the Law of the Eastern Churches, the Canadian Canon Law Society and the Canon Law Societies of America, Great Britain and Ireland, and Australia and New Zealand.

See full biography.

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Father Andriy was born in Poland into Ukrainian family which was exiled from their homeland in operation “Wisla”.  He emigrated in 1988 and came to Canada in 1989. He studied at the Sheptytsky Institute of Easter Christian Studies at St. Paul University. He graduated from Holy Spirit Seminary in Ottawa and was ordained into the priesthood by His Grace Kyr Isidore in Toronto on December 1996. Father Andriy came to the Eparchy of New Westminster on June, 1997. On April 2021 he became Parish Priest of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Parish – Surrey. 

The Byzantine Rite, also known as the Greek Rite or Constantinopolitan Rite, is the liturgical rite used by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Its origin can be traced to the ancient city of Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul), renamed Constantinople when the emperor Constantine relocated his capital city there from Rome in A.D. 330.

The Byzantine Rite retains distinctive features. Churches are beautifully adorned with icons, and the sanctuary is separated from the congregation by a screen covered with icons. Leavened bread is used for the consecration of the body of Christ in the liturgy (not called the “Mass” in Eastern Rites) which is our church, is the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Communion is administered by the priest from a spoon. Byzantine Catholics operate under a different code of canon law. They also celebrate a somewhat different liturgical year with some unique feasts and saints.