George (Đokić) of Canada
His Grace Bishop George or Georgije (Đokić) is the ruling hierarch of the Diocese of Canada of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America. His installation was in 1984. His jurisdiction includes all of Canada
Life
Bishop George was born into the pious family of father Hadzi-Krsta and mother Krunija in 1949 in the town of Gorne Crnjelovo near Bijeljina, Yugoslavia, now Republika Srpska, an entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina formed after the breakup of Yugoslavia in the last decade of the twentieth century. Of his siblings one brother, Constantine, is bishop of Central Europe, another, Ljubomir, is a priest in Vrsanima near Bijeljina. His sister Nadežda is a nun at the Tavna Monastery.
In 1962, Georgije joined the Tavna Monastery followed by his serving God at the monasteries at Ozren, Kosijerevo, Transfiguration (Ovcar Banja), Savina, and Studenica before he completed his education at the monastic school at Ostrog Monastery. Georgije was tonsured a monk at Ozren Monastery on February 11, 1971.
On February 12, 1971, he was ordained on deacon, following on February 15, with his ordination as hieromonk. Bishop Longin, then, appointed him as spiritual father of the Tavna Monastery. While at Tavna Monastery Fr. George completed his studies at the Seminary of St. Arsenius in Sremski Karlovci and then entered the Theological Faculty in Belgrade. He continued his postgraduate studies at Loughborough University in England.
On May 16, 1984, Fr. George was elected bishop by the synod of the Church of Serbia. He was consecrated on July 8, 1984 at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael the Archangel in Belgrade by Patriarch German, Bishop Miltun of Timok, and Bishop Basil of Zvornik-Tuzla.
Following his consecration in 1984, Bp. George was assigned to the newly formed Diocese of Canada. During his tenure in office Bp. George has added structure to the diocesan organization, taken part in the establishment for the diocese of many parishes and of the first its first monastery. Additionally, he founded the Federation of the Circle of Serbian Sisters and the diocesan magazine "Istočnik".
| George (Đokić) of Canada | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: — |
Bishop of Canada 1984-Present |
Succeeded by: — |
