Saint Simeon Mirotocivi Serbian Orthodox Church (Calgary)

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St. Simeon Mirotoćivi Serbian Orthodox Church in Calgary, Alberta is under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Canada, headed by Bishop Mitrofan (Kodić).. Milica Opačić is the Honorary Consul of Serbia in Calgary

History

The first Serbian family to be recorded that arrived in Calgary from Banat, then part of Hungary, was the Putnik family in 1915 mentioned in Chedomilj Mijatovich's memoir ("The Memoirs of a Balkan Diplomatist") when he came to visit the United States of America and the Dominion of Canada during the first year of the Great War. Mijatovich was accompanied by the most famous English suffragette, Emmeline Pankhurst, who championed the causes of Britain's small allies (Belgium and Serbia) during World War I while America was neutral a the time.

The next wave was not immigrants but émigrés that came from Serbian lands when the Yugoslav Partisans took power in 1945. The members of the original Royal Yugoslav Army who fought both the Nazis and Josip Broz Tito's communists looked towards the West in order to distance themselves from the clutches of Soviet Imperialism. After 40 years of dictatorships, and the collapse of the communist system in Yugoslavia and its consequent breakup another wave of immigrants came to Canada, many settling in Calgary. A familiaar déjà vu scenario.

In the summer of 1972 when Bishop Sava (Vuković)toured Canada, and perticularly went to visit Canadian Serbian settlements in the Canadian Prairies on 27 July 1972. In Calgary, he found a large Serbian colony and suggested that they organize a Church School Congregation and Parish. The Serbs heeded Bishop Sava's recommendation and soon afterward elected the first Church Council: Srboljub Gregović, president; Nenad Badrić, first vice-president; Jovan Anđelić, second vice-president; Mirjana Dubraja, secretary; Miodrag Petrović, treasurer; members Branko Dumbas; Milan Subotć; and Ljubiša Radojević. The first Auditing Board consisted of Miodrag Jovanović, president, members Vojo Miljević and Seka Ivancević.

In his official documents, Bishop Sava stated that the Church School Congregation and Parish were organized under the name of St. Simeon Mirotoćivi. The first priest was Rev. Bogdan Zjalić (from mid-1970 to January 1975). Church services were held in the Anglican church and then in the Greek church. Later the Serbian community purchased a building at 2001 31st Avenue S.W. in Calgary. The building was then adapted for a chapel and an apartment for the priest. The services were conducted in the chapel until the new church was built in 1986.

The Saint Sava Circle of Serbian Sisters was organized before the Church-School Congregation and Parish were founded. The "Kolo srpskih sestara" or Saint Sava Circle of Serbian Sisters made a great contributions towards the establishment of the parish and development of organized church life. When the parish was organized, the Kolo took the same name as the parish, but later, in 1986 was renamed Mala Gospojina (Nativity of the Holy Mother) and took the same holiday for their Slava.

Folklore and sports were organized in the Church School Congregation to preserve and promote Serbian Culture and Tradition. The following priests served in the parish: Rev. Bogdan Zjalić, 1970-1975; from 1975 to 1980 the parish was vacant. The priests from Vancouver, Rev. Michael Doder, Rev. Miroslav Dejanov, and Edmonton, Rev. Vukić Atanacković, provided services.

From 1980, when resident priests served the parish of St. Simeon Mirotoćivi, the parish was engaged in more active Church life. In April 1983 the congregation purchased a new house and a lot for the sum of $75,000. At a meeting held in 1985, the decision was made to build a new Church and Church hall. The Church was completed and consecrated on 28 September 1986. Bishop Georgije Djokić performed the rite of consecration. Hieromonk Pavle Kalanj made 18 icons for iconostasis. The work of the church Hall and other facilities continued through 1987 and 1988. In 1990, a bell was bought, blessed by Bishop Georgije, and installed. When Rev. Živorad Subotić assumed pastoral duties, the Church School and Choir under the direction of Andrija Puzić were organized.

The dedicated parishioners continued to serve the Church and in time created the newly-built Serbian Orthodox Church of "St. Simeon Mirotoćivi," consecrated on 27 April 2014.

Sources

• "Diaspora Serbs: A Cultural Analysis", edited by Earle Waugh and Milan V. Dimić, published by M. V. Dimić Research Institute, University of Alberta (2004), pages 153-155
• Rev. Živorad Subotić, "The Church School Congregation of St. Simeon Mirotoćivi", Souvenir Book: 1983-1993, pp. 121-127.
• Rev. Živorad Subotić, "Schematism Serbian Canadian Diocese", 1983-1993, pp. 126-127.
• Chedomilj Mijatovich: "The Memoirs of a Balkan Diplomatist" (London, New York, Toronto and Melbourne: Cassel and Co., 1917).

References

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