In 1991, Priest Philip Speranza was attached to the parish to serve until Deacon Peter was ordained to the holy priesthood, and to mentor the new priest. This ordination occurred in August 1992.

By this time, the community had moved into more stable rented quarters, a small, rundown building, which was transformed into a church by the participants in the mission. They began to assemble there for services. This space was later shared with a mission of the Antiochian Archdiocese, which purchased the building after some time. It then became necessary for St. Peter’s to find a new, stable place for worship.

In 1993, Priest Philip Speranza was transferred and assigned to serve a group of rural parishes approximately an hour’s drive northeast of Edmonton.

In 1995, Priest Peter Isaac was transferred to the USA to serve a parish there. The same year Priest Larry Reinheimer was transferred with his family from central Alberta to Calgary, and he began serving St. Peter’s as its rector.

In June 1997, Priest Philip Speranza returned to the parish. He served there as an attached cleric, until he was transferred to serve the Holy Trinity parish in Edmonton in 2003.

After meeting and worshipping in several different places, the parish community was able to purchase a building in August 1997.

This building was then transformed into an Orthodox temple. The situation in Calgary of this building proved to be convenient for many. It was on 33rd Avenue SW, in the area known as “Marda Loop.” Everything about this acquisition was received as a gift from God, and it served well.

Nevertheless, not long after this development, because of the steady growth, the parishioners began to plan for the possible construction of a new church, as God might bless.

The community of St. Peter’s continued to develop steadily. During this time, Fr. Larry, being competent at cabinetry, constructed the iconostasis for the altar, icon stands for the icons in the nave, the holy table in the altar and the proskomedia table. He encouraged other people gifted with various crafts, and they produced various beautiful items. Among these was the seven-branched candle-stand for the holy table.

In this parish family, there was a strong commitment to proclaiming the truth of Orthodox Christianity to the people of Calgary, and to making it possible for people who were hungry and thirsty for righteousness to be able to participate in the life of the Kingdom of God in the Church.

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