A member of the clergy affiliated with an Orthodox church in Edmonton is facing allegations of sexually assaulting a woman over 20 years ago. The complainant claims she faced isolation from the church after reporting the incident. Jesse Isaac, aged 43, was charged by the Edmonton Police Service (EPS) in July for an alleged sexual assault in October 2004. These allegations have yet to be proven in court.
Isaac is identified as a protodeacon at St. Olga of Alaska Orthodox Church in south Edmonton, a part of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) network that spans across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. During the time of the alleged assault, Isaac was serving at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church, also under the OCA.
Despite the sexual assault charge, Isaac continues to be listed as an active clergy member on the OCA’s Archdiocese of Canada website. A protodeacon holds a senior rank and supports bishops or priests during services, leading congregations in prayer.
The woman who accuses Isaac of assault has been granted a publication ban but shared her story with CBC News, along with correspondence documenting her efforts to address the issue with the church. She reported the incident to the police in May 2025 seeking justice and closure, feeling compelled to act as church leaders did not address her allegations promptly.
In response to inquiries, the OCA’s lawyer stated that the church cooperated with law enforcement but refrained from commenting on ongoing legal proceedings. The church officials avoided discussing internal investigations or Isaac’s future within the congregations due to the active court case.
Isaac, ordained as a deacon in 2011 and elevated to protodeacon in 2015, served at St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church before being transferred to St. Olga’s Mission in 2025. While specific details of EPS’s investigation remain undisclosed, court records indicate Isaac’s arrest in July 2026, with subsequent release on bail.
The case will proceed through indictment, a process reserved for serious offenses, potentially leading to a prison sentence of up to 10 years upon conviction. The ongoing legal proceedings are set to continue in provincial court on September 2. The complainant shared emails and messages indicating a delay of over 17 months since she formally reported the assault to church officials.
The complainant, a young woman at the time of the incident, expressed distress over the handling of her allegations within the church community. Following her disclosure, she felt marginalized and eventually excluded from congregational activities. Despite her calls for further investigation and accountability, she was asked to leave the congregation.
The complainant highlighted the lack of support mechanisms for victims within church communities, impacting her ability to practice her faith without fear or stigma. The EPS emphasized that delayed reporting of historical sexual assault cases does not hinder thorough investigations, recognizing the complexities victims face in coming forward.