Ukrainian-Canadian Orthodox Metropolitan Speaks at Ukrainian Catholic Synod

It is being reported that Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg, first hierarch of the Ecumenical Patriarchate's Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, has, in the course of his recent attendance of a session of the synod of the worldwide Ukrainian Catholic episcopate, offered to facilitate a meeting of the primate of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, Archbishop Major Svyatoslav (Shevchuk), with Patriarch Bartholomew (Arhondonis) of Constantinople. During remarks made to the synod, at which he was a speaker, Metropolitan Yurij also pointed to the collaboration in North America between the Eastern and Roman Catholic Churches on the one hand and the Orthodox Churches present on the continent on the other as an example to Orthodoxy and Catholicism in Ukraine on how to work through the animosity that has historically divided the two communions. More on Metropolitan Yurij's  here.

UOCC Priest Charged in Alberta Work Scam

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada has removed Fr. John Lipinski from his duties at two parishes northeast of Edmonton, Alberta, after his charging by Canadian police for his involvement in a scam that lured foreign workers to Alberta with false promises of work and fake student visas. The scam netted its organizers more than $1 million in profits. More here.

Ukrainian Orthodox Church Endorses Ottawa Shevchenko Monument

The Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada has issued an appeal to its clergy and faithful to financially support the erection of a monument to renowned Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko in the Canadian capital. The Shevchenko Monument is to be unveiled this summer in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Ukraine's independence from the USSR, the 120th anniversary of the establishment of the Ukrainian Diaspora in Canada, and the 150th anniversary of Shevchenko's death.

Construction of the Shevchenko Monument, which is to be situated on the grounds of Ottawa's Ukrainian Catholic shrine Church of St. John the Baptist (pictured with what with Monument), is already underway and should be completed by June. More here. The official website for the project as a whoel can be found here.

Jobs: Winnipeg Cathedral Seeking Choir Director

Holy Protection Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, is seeking a new choir director with a knowledge of both Ukrainian Orthodox and Ukrainian folk music. More here.

Metropolitan Yurij Meets with Ecumenical Patriarch, Enthroned as First Hierarch of the UOCC

Immediately prior to his enthronement in Winnipeg this past weekend Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg, First Hierarch of the autonomous Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC), visited Constantinople to meet with Patriarch Bartholomew and the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church, of which the UOCC is a part. During his time in Turkey Metropolitan Yurij was formally recognized as Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada by the Holy Synod. More on this trip here.

Metropolitan Yurij's enthronement in Winnipeg was celebrated by the Greek Orthodox Archbishop Sotirios (Athanassoulas) of Toronto, who serves as the Ecumenical Patriarchate's exarch in Canada despite the larger size and longer history of the UOCC in the country. During the celebrations following the enthronement services the president of the Ukrainian-Canadian Congress called on Metropolitan Yurij and the leaders of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in Canada present to lead a push to unite the Ukrainian Orthodox and Catholic Churches in both the Ukraine and the Ukrainian Diaspora into "one Ukrainian Apostolic Church." More on that here.

Enthronement of Metropolitan Yurij of Winnipeg

By way of a last last post before I finally leave for the weekend ;-), many years to Metropolitan Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg tomorrow as his enthronement as First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) is celebrated! God grant him to guide the UOCC on the path of Orthodoxy and catholicity...

Upcoming Commemoration of the Holodomor

The hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox Churches of the USA (UOCUSA) and Canada (UOCC) of the Constantinopolitan Orthodox Church have issued a statement together with the Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs in North America concerning the commemoration of the seventy-seventh anniversary of the Holodomor, the artificial famine engineered by the Soviets that killed roughly four million people in the Ukraine and three million in southern Russia. Commemorative services and events for the Holodomor, which took place in 1932 and 1933, are usually held around the time of American Thanksgiving. The hierarchs' joint statement can be read here.

Metropolitan-Elect Yurij of Winnipeg

I'm not entirely sure how I missed this (church geek that I am), but yesterday Archbishop Yurij of Toronto and Eastern Canada (pictured) was elected Metropolitan of Winnipeg and All Canada and First Hierarch of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)! The current first hierarch, Metropolitan John, has been having health issues for some time and in light of this the election of a new first hierarch was planned for the ongoing UOCC council in Winnipeg. (The UOCC's official website seems to be devoted to the council for the time being.) Regardless, God grant Metropolitan-elect Yurij many years!