Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral
Script error: No such module "Draft topics". Script error: No such module "AfC topic".
| Nativity of the Virgin Mary | |
|---|---|
  Nativity of the Virgin Mary | |
| 42°36′34″N 83°04′20″W / 42.609473318954294°N 83.07235761903068°WCoordinates: 42°36′34″N 83°04′20″W / 42.609473318954294°N 83.07235761903068°W ⧼validator-fatal-error⧽ | |
| Location | 43123 Ryan Rd. Sterling Heights, MI 48314 |
| Country | United States |
| Website | stmarysterlingheights |
| History | |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | American-Canadian |
| Clergy | |
| Priest(s) | Archpriest Sinisa Ristovski Very Reverend Dragan Jordanov |
The "Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary" (Macedonian: Македонска Православна Kатедрала Успение на Пресвета Богородица), also known as "St. Mary" (Macedonian: Пресвета Богородица), is a Macedonian Orthodox Church located in Sterling Heights, Michigan (Detroit area). It is one of the oldest Macedonian Orthodox communities in the United States and in the American-Canadian Diocese.
Church Founding[1][edit]
In Sterling Heights & the entire Metropolitan Detroit area, there was a large population of Macedonian emigrants who began arriving from Macedonia in mass numbers in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s for a better life for themselves and their children. The Macedonian community is one of the largest in North America & the largest in the United States, with unofficial numbers stating that there are some 30,000 Macedonians in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Because there was no Macedonian Orthodox Church in Detroit, the Macedonians attended the Greek, Bulgarian, & Serbian Orthodox Churches in this area for their religious and spiritual needs.[1]
The initiative for the formation of their own Macedonian Orthodox Church existed well before this time, but the influence, pressure, and the Macedonians being relatively new to their new homeland and struggling to integrate and find their path to existence here in the US are the main reasons why a church was not founded earlier. On December 14, 1974 the first church initiative board was formed. The Founders & Initiative church board of the church were Vlado Pasharikovski – First President (deceased) , Andreja Mitrovich (deceased), Slave Nivicki, Vangel Koleski, Veselin Kirovski, John B. Christoff (deceased) & Dusan Sinadinoski.[1]
On January 14, 1975, the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in Skopje, Macedonia granted a blessing and approval for the beginning and founding of their church. The church was received under the wing of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, an undivided part under canon and spiritual jurisdiction.[1]
The church under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit was named: “Nativity of the Virgin Mary”- the mother and protector of the entire Christian World. On February 3, 1975, the church was registered as a perpetual religious organization in the state capital of Lansing, Michigan.[1]
On May 4, 1975 the first Divine Liturgy was officiated in the Macedonian Language in Metro Detroit from the Reverend Savco Petrov, in the presence of a delegate from the Holy Synod of the Macedonian Orthodox Church. Afterwards the church was consecrated from at that time the Administrating Bishop, Metropolitan of the American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese, Kiril. On August 9 1975, the first Archiearchal Divine Liturgy was lead by the Diocese Bishop, his Eminence Metropolitan of the American Canadian & Australian Diocese Kiril (Cyril).[1]
In 1975, property was purchased on 14 Mile Rd just west of Mound Rd in Sterling Heights. There, the garage of the house that was on the property was converted into a mini church for Liturgies, Wedding Ceremonies, & Baptisms. The act of evangelizing and dedicating of the old church on Ryan Rd between 8 and 9 Mile Roads in Warren was done on July 20, 1980 in the presence of the entire clergy from the diocese, and a large number of parishioners from Detroit.[1]
Current Church Building[edit]
On September 17, 1992, a new church and fellowship hall property was purchased on the Northwest corner of 19 Mile & Ryan Rd in Sterling Heights. The initiative was lead by the parish priest Very Rev Dragi Trpeski and the church board. The property consists of 10 acres near the intersection of 19 Mile & Ryan Rd in the heart of Sterling Heights, which is a sister city with Tetovo, Macedonia. Later two additional acres are purchased, totaling 12 acres that consists of our church property.[1]
On September 21, 1995 on the church patron holiday – Nativity of the Holy Mother of God, they invited their Archbishop of the Macedonian Orthodox Church at that time from Macedonia, the now deceased Mihail (Michael) to bless and dedicate our church grounds. On our grounds there was a temporary tent installed that was able to accommodate up to 1000 people, and on this day the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on our new church grounds.[1]
On November 5, 2000, the Macedonian community said goodbye to their old church of 22 years with the final Divine Liturgy performed after and moved into our newly built church hall. On March 17 2002, the first Divine Liturgy was observed in the new church. On September 21 2002, His Beatitude Stefan (Stephen) Archbisop of Ohrid and Macedonia together with Metropolitan of the Polog- Kumanovo Diocese, Kiril did the final act for consecration and the crowning of the new church along with all parish priests in the American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese.[1]
The Church is the seat for the American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese and His Eminence, Metropolitan Metodij, and the current parish priests who serve the church are Very Rev. Arch Priest Sinisa Ristovski & Rev Dragan Jordanov.
Wonderworking Hawaiian Icon Visit[edit]
On July 30, 2023 was the first time that the icon had traveled with its guardian Fr. Nektarios Yangston to a parish of the Macedonian Orthodox Church-Ohrid Archbishopric since it was reunited to the Orthodox Church last year.
The Nativity of the Virgin Church wrote: “What a great honor and blessing to have been given the opportunity to host The Miraculous Iveron Icon from Hawaii. It is difficult to express the joy and excitement we felt for this momentous occasion.”[2]
See also[edit]
Footnotes[edit]
External links[edit]
- Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral on Facebook
- Official website
- Official Website of the American-Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese
- Official Website of the Macedonian Orthodox Church
Template:Macedonian Churches in North America
This article "Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Nativity of the Virgin Mary Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
