Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg

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Metropolitan Yurij (secular name: George Kalistchuk) is Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. He was born in Lachine, Quebec, on 26 May 26 1951.

Youth

Although he was born in Lachine, Quebec (just outside Montreal), in 1963 the Kalistchuk family moved to Hamilton, Ontario, where the family became members of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. The young George attended Ukrainian School, was involved in Ukrainian Dance, the Cathedral Choir (of which he later became conductor in 1981-1982), and the Ukrainian Youth Organization (CYMK).

University

In 1970 he entered St. Andrew's College (the UOCC's Seminary), and during his 3 year stay at the college he obtained many awards for his academic, musical, and athletic activities at the University of Manitoba. From 1971-1973 he as assistant conductor under Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) and later Pavlo Macenko for the Theology Student Choir. In 1973, George recieved his Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.) (which was later replaced by a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)). Starting in 1975, George studied music at McMaster University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Music in History and Theory.

In 1984 he completed a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Toronto and recieved an Ontario's Teacher's Certificate. During 1983-1984 he was Dean of Men at St. Vladimir's Institute in Toronto.

Priesthood and Episcopacy

In Hamilton, Ontario, on July 17, 1988 he was ordained a priest, and was assigned a priest at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg. At the Special Sobor (church council) in 1989 he was elected bishop and later ordained on October 22, 1989 in Winnipeg by Metropolitan Wasyly and Bishop John (Stinka). In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on December 17, 1989 he was installed as auxiliary Bishop of Saskatoon. In 1995 he was elected Bishop of Toronto and Eastern Canada and in 2001 he was elevated to the rank of archbishop.

On 18 July 2010 the 20th Sobor of the UOCC nominated Archbishop Yurij to be the sixth Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada. In August the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Archbishop Yurij to the vacant Winnipeg cathedra, following which he was enthroned on 21 November 2010 with Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto representing the Ecumenical Patriarch. After his election Metropolitan Yurij became locum tenens of the Eparchy of Eastern Canada, while Bishop Andriy of Krateia serves as acting bishop of the Eastern Eparchy.

On 10 July 2021 Metropolitan Yurij retired as first hierarch of the UOCC, with Bishop Hilarion (Rudnyk) of Edmonton and Western Canada becoming locum tenens of the Winnipeg Metropolia pending the election of a new Metropolitan of Winnipeg.

Sources


Succession box:
Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Winnipeg
Preceded by:
John (Stinka)
Bishop of Saskatoon (UOCC)
1989-1995
Succeeded by:
Preceded by:
Wasyly (Fedak)
Bishop of Toronto (UOCC)
1995-present
Succeeded by:
Preceded by:
John (Stinka)
Archbishop of Winnipeg and the Central Diocese, Metropolitan and Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC)
2010-
Succeeded by:
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