Fr. Sebastian Scratch was born in Quebec on Sept. 16, 1971 while his father Fr. John Scratch was an Anglican Missionary. Fr. Sebastian and his siblings moved throughout Eastern Canada where they finally moved to Ottawa, Ontario. In 1979 the whole family became Orthodox, and Fr. Sebastian’s father became a priest and opened Holy Transfiguration Mission in Ottawa. In 1987 Holy Transfiguration amalgamated with St. Nicholas Church to become Annunciation/St. Nicholas Cathedral where Fr. John served until he retired. Fr. Sebastian’s 5 siblings are all engaged with the Church and his brother Fr. Gregory is a priest in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Fr. Sebastian was married on Nov. 14, 1993 to Helen and they have three children Juliana, Alexandra, Sevastjan Scratch and one grandchild Luca. Fr. Sebastian completed the Late Vocational Deacon Program at St. Vladimir Seminary in 2009, and was ordained a deacon Oct. 1, 2010 and served at the Cathedral in Ottawa, until he moved to Edmonton, Alberta for work as a Social Worker and served at St. Herman’s Sobor in Edmonton and various parishes in the area. On September 24, 2017, Fr Sebastian was ordained to the holy priesthood by His Eminence, Archbishop Irénée, Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada. Fr. Sebastian first served the country parishes north of Edmonton, and was assigned as the second priest at Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church in Calgary on Feb. 1, 2018.

On September 22, 2024, Fr Sebastian was ordained to the Archpriest by His Eminence, Archbishop Irénée, Archbishop of Ottawa and Canada.

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