Halifax NS Saint Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church 2001
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Saint Basil of Ostrog Serbian Orthodox Church, 2001
Founding of the parish, 2001
On 26 December, 2001, the Serbian Orthodox missionary parish of Saint Basil of Ostrog was founded in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, through the blessing of Bishop Georgije (Ðjokić), the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Canada.
Serving the mission, 2003
The mission lacked sufficient numbers and resources in order to develop the community in such a way that it could soon achieve the ability either to have its own permanent quarters, or to support a full-time priest. However, there were sufficient Serbian Orthodox believers in the region to enable the provision of occasional services provided by clergy sent from central Canada by Bishop Georgije (Djokić). These services began in 2003.
2003
At first, these Divine Liturgy services were offered in Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church in Halifax. The first of these was served on 11 January, 2003, and it was served by the Priest Vasilije Tomić of Toronto, Ontario. The next 2 were served on 29 March and 11 May, 2003, by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto. On 4 October, the Divine Liturgy was served at the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church at 2455, Windsor Street, by the Priest Dejan Obradović of Niagara Falls, Ontario. On 27 December, 2003, the Divine Liturgy was again served in the Temple of Saint Antonios by the Priest Vasilije Tomić of Toronto, Ontario.
2004
On 20 March, 2004, Bishop Georgije (Djokić) of Canada made a pastoral visit to the Halifax mission, and he served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church. On this occasion, Mr. Vladimir Pavlov, from the Embassy of Serbia and Montenegro in Ottawa, spoke to the community as well. Mr. Pavlov was the third secretary and the head of the consular section for relations with the Serbian diaspora.
The next service was offered at the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church. The Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario, served the Divine Liturgy on 15 May, 2004, for the the Feast-day of Saint Basil of Ostrog, the Altar Feast-day of the community. On the next occasion, 3 July, 2004, the Divine Liturgy was served at the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario.
The next 2 services were offered at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church. On 2 October, 2004, the Priest Zlatibor Djurasević of Kitchener, Ontario, served the Divine Liturgy ; and on 22 December, 2004, the Priest Vasa Pejović of Kitchener, Ontario, served the Divine Liturgy for the community.
2005
On 26 March, 2005, the Priest Radmilo Gardović of Kitchener, Ontario, served the Divine Liturgy for the community at Saint George’s Greek Orthodox Church, and afterwards he presided at the annual parish assembly.
On 21 May, 2005, in the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church, the Archpriest Mihailo Doder of Toronto, Ontario, served the Divine Liturgy for the Feast-day of Saint Basil of Ostrog, the Altar-feast of the community.
The next 2 Divine Liturgies were again served for the Serbian community, on 3 September, and 29 October, at the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church by the Priest Aleksandar Gujanicić of Ottawa, Ontario.
From this time, almost all the services were offered at the Antiochian Temple of Saint Antonios.
2006 : 5 years
During 2006, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 4 February by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario ; on 8 April by the Priest Milutin Veljko of Oshawa, Ontario ; on 13 May, for the Altar Feast-day of Saint Basil of Ostrog ; on 30 September by the Priest Dušan Gnjatić of London, Ontario, for the patronal Feast-day of the Circle of Serbian Sisters of this community ; on 2 December by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario.
2007
During 2007, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 24 February by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto ; on 12 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the community by the Priest Dušan Gnjatić of London, Ontario ; on 18 August by the Priest Djuro Samac of Hamilton, Ontario ; and on 1 December by (the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario.
2008
During 2008, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 15 March by the Priest Milutin Veljko of Oshawa, Ontario, after which was convened the annual parish assembly ; on 10 May by the Priest Djordje Cimesa of Trois Rivières, Québec ; on 26 July by the Priest Dušan Gnjatić of London, Ontario ; and on 27 September by the Priest Djordje Cimesa of Trois Rivières, Québec, for the Patronal Feast-day of the Circle of Serbian Sisters.
2009
During 2009, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 3 January and 14 March by the Priest Djordje Cimesa of Trois Rivières, Québec ; on 9 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario ; on 24 and 26 December by the Priest Milovan Sredojević of Kitchener, Ontario.
2010
During 2010, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 20 March by the Priest Milan Jovanović of Kitchener, Ontario, after which was convened the annual parish assembly ; on 15 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario ; on 14 August, 13 November and 27 December by the Priest Vasilije Tomić of Toronto, Ontario.
2011 : 10 years
During 2011, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 29 January (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 9 April by the Priest Miloš Purić of Toronto, Ontario ; on 14 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Milojko Dimitrić of London, Ontario ; on 5 September by the Priest Milan Jovanović of Kitchener, Ontario ; and on 26 December by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario.
2012
During 2012, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 16 March by the Priest Aleksandar Crnogorac of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Milton, Ontario, after which was convened the annual parish assembly ; on 12 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Aleksandar Crnogorac of the monastery in Milton, Ontario ; on 14 July by the Priest Vasilije Tomić of Toronto, Ontario ; and on 29 December by the Priest Aleksandar Crnogorac of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Milton, Ontario.
2013
During 2013, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 30 March (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 29 December by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić Toronto, Ontario), and on 11 May for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Jovica Cetković of Windsor, Ontario.
2014
During 2014, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 29 March (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 29 November by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić Toronto, Ontario ; and on 10 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish by the Priest Drago Knezević of Windsor, Ontario.
2015
During 2015, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 28 March (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 16 May by the Priest Miloš Purić of Toronto, Ontario ; and on 26 December by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario.
2016 : 15 years
During 2016, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 26 March (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 12 November by the Priest Miloš Purić of Toronto, Ontario. The service on 26 March was the last service to be offered in the old Temple of the Antiochian parish on Windsor Street. The Divine Liturgy was served next on 14 May by the Priest Ljubomir Rajić of Toronto, Ontario. This was the first service in the new Temple of the Antiochian parish on Chebucto Road. The subsequent services offered for this community were most often within this new Temple.
2017
During 2017, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish on 7 January, the Feast of the Nativity of Christ by the Protopresbyter Mihajlo Doder of Toronto, Ontario ; on 18 March (after which was convened the annual parish assembly) and on 23 September by the Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario. On 20 May, for the Altar Feast-day of the parish the Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario, concelebrated together with the Archpriest Maximos Saikali, the Priest Panagiotis Maropoulos, both of Halifax.
On 21 October, 2017, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish by Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić), the Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Canada. The Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario, served together with him.
2018
During 2018, the Divine Liturgy was served for the Serbian parish in the King’s College Chapel on Coburg Road by the Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario on 6 January (the Eve of the Nativity of Christ) ; on 17 March by the Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario, after which was convened the annual parish assembly ; on 12 May by the Priest Vladimir Vranić of Toronto, Ontario, before which there was convened a special assembly of the parish.
On 29 December, 2018, the Divine Liturgy was served in the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church. Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić), the Bishop of Canada, presided at the Divine Liturgy, and he was assisted by the Priest Milorad Delić of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
2019
On 23 March, 2019, the Divine Liturgy was served in Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church by Priest Milorad Delić of Niagara Falls, Ontario. Following the Divine Liturgy, the Annual Parish Assembly was convened.
On 11 May, 2019, the Divine Liturgy was served in the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church on the Altar Feast-day of the parish of Saint Basil of Ostrog. The Divine Liturgy was served by the Priest Milorad Delić of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
In early 2020, the Covid-19 virus made its appearance in Canada, and it quickly became a world-wide pandemic. Because of the rules governing gatherings that were laid down by the provincial and city governments, the parish stopped any further services after 8 March, 2020. Including the rules regarding social distancing, the decreasing numbers permitted for any gathering, and the considerations regarding the health of all concerned, this and other parishes were required to close for a time.
As elsewhere, there was some controversy about the legal requirements.
Further parish activities
2022 : 21 years
On 13 August, 2022, at 9:00 a.m., the Divine Liturgy was served in the Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church. The Divine Liturgy was served by the Priest Milorad Delić of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Priest Milorad Delić serving at Saint Antonios Church in Halifax
After 21 years, there had not yet appeared enough Serbian Orthodox Christians in Halifax to make it possible to establish a permanent place of worship.
Particular parish information
Services in this mission community are offered 3 or 4 times per year. Please contact the community by e-mail or telephone.
This parish is a part of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The bishop is Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić).
This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.
The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint Basil of Ostrog, 29 April.
In 2022, the administrator of the mission parish is the Priest Milorad Delić of Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Place of worship :
Saint Antonios Antiochian Orthodox Church
6141, Chebucto Road
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3L 1K6
Directions :
By car :
From the north :
From Amherst in the north of Nova Scotia, drive southwards on Highway #102. Continue straight on towards the city when Highway #103 merges with this highway. It becomes Highway #102, Bayers Road. Turn right onto Connaught Avenue. At Chebucto Road, turn left. Drive on Chebucto Road, keeping to the right, until the junction with Windsor Street. The Temple is on the corner at the left.
From the south :
From Yarmouth in the southwest of Nova Scotia, drive northwards on Highway #103. Continue straight on at the junction with Highway #102. It becomes Highway #102, Bayers Road. Turn right onto Connaught Avenue. Drive on Chebucto Road, keeping to the right, until the junction with Windsor Street. The Temple is on the corner at the left.
From Dartmouth :
From Dartmouth (across the "Northwest Arm"), drive southwards across the Angus L MacDonald Bridge, and continue along North Street to Windsor Street. Turn left on Windsor Street and drive eastwards along Windsor Street until the junction with Chebucto Road. The Temple is on the right.
By bus :
Consult Halifax Transit. There are many bus routes which pass along both Windsor Street and Chebucto Road.
Mailing address :
Serbian Orthodox Parish Saint Basil of Ostrog
7071, Bayers Road
P O Box #22005
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3L 4T7
Web-site : http://crkva.ca/halifax/index-en.html
E-mail : uprava@halifas.serbian-church.net
Telephone : 902-477-8404
Priest Milorad Delić, Administrator
Telephone :
References
“Schematism of the Canadian Serbian Diocese 1983-1993" (Etobicoke, Ontario : Istochnik Press, 1993). (Serbian with English)
Additional information :
Merick, Priest Rade, “The Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States of America and Canada : 25 Years of Maturing”
Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.
Tomović, Vladislav A, “Canadian Serbs : A History of Their Social and Cultural Traditions (1856-2002)” (Fonthill, ON : Batlik Publishing, 2002). ISBN 10 : 0920642403 ISBN 13 : 978-0920642405.
(Vuković), Sava (Bishop of Šumadija), “History of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North America and Canada, 1891-1941”, translated by Karin Pieck-Radovanovic (Kalenić, Serbia, 1998).
Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada web-site
Wikipedia article about the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada
Serbian Orthodox Church in North, Central, and South America web-site
Orthodoxwiki article about the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America
Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Serbia
Patriarch Pavle II (Stojcevic)
Wikipdedia article about Saint Basil of Ostrog
Wikipedia article about Serbian Canadians
Wikipedia article about Eastern Orthodoxy in Serbia
Orthodoxwiki article about the Orthodox Church
Christmas Message of the Bishop of Canada, Bishop Mitrophan (Kodic) (2020-2021) (in Serbian)