Wax decorations on Stephen,
19 tonnes

Three very big bells were ordered in 1985 by the Slovak Greek Catholic Foundation. In 1986, they were placed in the new Cathedral of Transfiguration in Markham, near Toronto (Ontario, Canada).

The patron of this project, Mister Roman, was a Slovakian immigrant who came to canada in 1936. In his twilight years, he wanted to satisfy the demand of the very important Slovakian community of his city of adoption.

He built a somptuous cathedral that he endowed with three monumental bells : Stephen, 19 tonnes, Anne, 10 tonnes and Daniel, 6 tonnes.

Mr Roman, while discovering Stephen

As from the initial order to the installation, it required a year and a half of work. Transported by lorry from Annecy, the bells were brought in a cargo to the Havre. After three weeks, they arrived in Halifax and were transported to Markham by lorry.

Bell casting event

It is the largest swinging peal in the World, which means the biggest set of swinging bells (as opposed to fixed bells).

The anecdote of the founder,
Pierre Paccard

"Originally, Mister Roman had chosen the weight of the bells as bellow :

· Stephen, 36000 pounds, because he had moved to USA in 1936 ;
· Anne, 22000 pounds, because he was born in 1922 ;
· Daniel, 13000 pounds...because he was superstitious !

Finally, the weight of the bells was modified because Mister Roman's choice would have given a dissonant peal (Do - Fa# - La), very unpleasant to hear. As a bell founder, I refused to put my name on a discordant set of bells, even the largest in the World... Mister Roman finally bowed to my arguments and the peal became Ré - Fa - La (D - F - A)."

Removal of Stephen from its mold...

STEPHEN
weight: 19 tonnes
note : Ré
diameter : 3 m
height: 2,40
Casted on 28.02.86.

ANNE
weight: 10 tonnes
note : Fa
diameter: 2.55 m
height: 1,94
casted on 27.09.85.

DANIEL
weight: 6 tonnes
note : La
diameter: 2 m
height: 1.60
Casted on 14.05.85.