The following list presents
Eastern Orthodox churches in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of January 2010, there are 28 Orthodox churches within Toronto, 9 Mission stations, 4 Chapels, and 1 monastery, for a total of 42 canonical Orthodox
sanctuaries.
The first Orthodox community established in the city of Toronto was the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George, founded in 1909, presently located on Bond Street in the heart of downtown Toronto.[1][note 1] This was followed by Sts. Cyril and Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Church, founded one year later in 1910, presently located on Dundas and Sackville Streets, and the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour in 1915, of the
Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
1987-1992 The church interior is unique in being the only one outside of Greece to have been painted in its entirety by the Pachomaioi monks, Theophilos and Chrysostomos, master icono painters from
Mount Athos, Greece.[9][note 5]
1962 Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and the attached Polymenakion Cultural Centre built.
The Cultural centre provides: head offices for GCT; an office for the priest and the church administrators; classrooms for Sunday school students; and multipurpose workshops for extra-curricular, cultural and religious activities.
1975 Painting of the church was completed by Mr. G. Papastamatiou.
Living Orthodoxy. (Adult Religious Education ministry of St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church).
1896-1928 Clinton Street Methodist Church.[note 10]
Pre-1972 The church building on Clinton St. belonged to a
Greek Old Calendarist jurisdiction. An Athonite Hieromonk, Fr. Paisios, was its priest there when the parish was transferred to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto in 1972.
1972 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Community is founded. The first priest was Fr. Constantine Zachos.[22]
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Community
1975 The first service was conducted on June 1, under the spiritual direction of Fr. Dorotheos and Fr. Chris Chronopoulos, priests remembered for encouraging children of Greek migrants to maintain their Greek culture, heritage and identity.[23]
1986 St. Irene became the final church (of 4 churches) to join the Greek Community of Toronto.[23]
2003 Construction began to create a domed roof along with traditional Orthodox architecture, under the tutelage of Fr. Pavlos Koumarianos.[23]
1952 The Iconostasis of the cathedral was installed, designed by the architect G. Kodak; the icons were painted by three artists — W. Balas, M. Dmytrenko, and I. Kubarsky, assisted by Petro Sydorenko, in the ‘
Cossack Baroque’ style, which is traditional and typical of the interiors in many Ukrainian churches.
1950 The first Liturgy and prayers were held at the first location, on 23 March. Fr. Mikhail Mihai celebrated the Liturgy, a Greek Orthodox priest of Belarusian origin.
1952 In October the parish was officially recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch's Exarch for North America.
1953 The parish, supported by the Belarusian National Association in Canada (BNA), bought a five-room house at 11 Cunningham Avenue. On 28 June the first Liturgy was celebrated there.
1957 First Liturgy in the new church at 1008 Dovercourt Rd (bought in 1956) is celebrated on 4 August 1957, under Very Rev. V. Sahaidakivskyi.
1966 Church was renovated and a church hall was built. Fr. V. Sahaidakivskyi supervised the acquisition of nearly twenty icons from the Iablochynski Belarusian Greek Orthodox Monastery in the western
Belastok Region.
1970 Parish celebrated 20th anniversary on 31 May, with Greek Orthodox Bishop Theodosius celebrating with Archimandrite I. Strok, the parish priest and four other Greek Orthodox priests.
1975 Parish celebrated 25th anniversary on 12 October, with Greek Orthodox Bishop Sotirios in attendance with the Very Rev. P. Veliki, parish priest.
2008 Church is transferred from Greek-Orthodox Diocese of Toronto to the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese.
In 1986, St. John the Compassionate Mission was erected as mission-parish of the Ukrainian Catholic church by Bishop
Isidore Borecky, to serve any one in the city in need of spiritual or material help.
In 2001, under Bishop
Cornelius Pasichny, it was released and received by Metropolitan
Nicholas (Smisko) as an
Apostolate of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It serves all ages and all people in need regardless of background. Youth Summer camps are operated by the mission in co-operation with St Mary of Egypt Refuge. All liturgical services at the mission are offered in English. Its doors are open six day a week.[33]
English / Multicultural Parish with over 9 languages spoken [34]
Operates liturgical worship, hospitality program to those in need in the local community, educational programs, child education (Montessori based Cateishm of the Good Shephard), youth and family programs.[34]
Colocated and partnered with St. John the Compassionate Mission until 2018.
Since 2018, it is located on the lower level of St. Cyril & Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral.[34]
Along with Scarborough Good Neighbours Drop In, it seeks to live out in the everyday the beauty of the gospel. We are centered on the liturgy as the presence of Christ among the people of Scarborough. All services are mostly in English.[35]
Ministry of St John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia
1973-1981 Father Vassil Mihailoff was the parish priest of Holy Trinity until his death in 1981.[38]
1976 The church structure at 201 Monarch Park Ave, which was previously the Anglican Church of the Nativity, was purchased from the Anglican Church in Canada.[38]
1988 An Ontario Supreme Court judge ruled that the church had been "wrongfully operated" for more than six years by the Synod of the
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in Sofia, when it should properly have been under the jurisdiction of the "
Church in Exile."[39]
1996 Large reproductions of frescoes with scenes from Bulgarian religious history were commissioned.[38]
2007-2013 Major renovations of the church hall and facilities were undertaken.[38]
1915 Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox church is founded by the first Russian immigrants in Toronto, with the blessing of the North American Metropolia Abp.
Evdokim (Meschersky).[43]
March 9, 1941 - Fr. John Diachina, one of the most remarkable priests in North America, was appointed a rector.[43]
1952 Christ the Saviour Church is raised to the rank of a Cathedral by the new bishop of Toronto and Canada Bp.
Nikon De Greve.
June 1, 1966 - the parish of Christ the Saviour acquired the building on Manning Avenue, and on October 30, a
solemn blessing sanctification of the temple was held by Metr. Irenaeus and the newly appointed Abp. of Canada
Sylvester, con-celebrating with a multitude of clergy.
Count
George Ignatieff, representative of Canada in the United Nations (1966-1969), and father of
Michael Ignatieff, a former Leader of the Liberal party of Canada, was a parishioner of Christ the Saviour Cathedral.[43]
2002-2011 Rector of the temple was Archpriest Oleg Kirillow, who had served for over 10 years in Moscow; Fr Oleg put a lot of effort into renovating the church and growing the parish and church school.[43]
1922 The structure at 23 Henry Street was founded as Beth Jacob Synagogue[49] on August 20, 1922; the architect was
Benjamin Brown (Brow), of Toronto.[50][note 19]
1951 The parish has had about 50 families in 1951. By the end of 1952, there were about 70 parish families.[48]
June 1966 - the parish bought the large synagogue at 23 Henry St and began a complete renovation of the structure, completed in the Spring of 1967.[48]
November 16, 1969 -
consecration of the temple by Abp.
Vitaly of Montreal and Canada (later Metropolitan and First Hierarch of ROCOR).[48]
September 4–8, 2013 - ceremonies were held dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the
House of Romanovs, headed by Metropolitan
Hilarion (Kapral) of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the ROCOR.[55]
November 24, 2019 - Holy Trinity Cathedral celebrated its 70th anniversary.[56]
1953 The structure at 461 Richmond Street E. was founded in 1953 as the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (
ROCOR), which later moved to 23 Henry St.
2014 The
Holy Synod in Resistance, of which this parish was a part (under the Archdiocese of Etna (California)), united itself to the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece and formally ceased to exist.[61]
True Orthodox Church of Greece ("Makarian (Lamian) Synod")
2014 The
Holy Synod in Resistance, of which this parish was a part from 2010 to 2014 (under the Archdiocese of Etna (California)), united itself to the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece and formally ceased to exist.[61][65]
2014 The parish celebrated its 50th anniversary (1964-2014)
^The first immigrant of Greek origin is reportedly Dr. Peter Constantinides[2] who came to Toronto in 1864 to attend the Medical School at the University of Toronto. On May 21st 1909 a meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A. attended by about 200 Greeks living in Toronto. They constituted themselves into a corporate body identified as the "St. George Greek Orthodox Community of Ontario".[3][4]
^Members of the Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops.
^"An important part can be played by the Christian church in helping to bring about a peaceful settlement of the world's problems, according to Most Rev.
R. Athenagoras, of New York, head of the Greek Orthodox church in North and South America. Archbishop Athenagoras is in Toronto to officiate at the dedication tomorrow of the new Greek church on Bond St. In spite of various modernistic ideas, religion never changes, the archbishop declared. He was met at
Union station by 150 representative Greeks of Toronto and vicinity. A vesper service will be held at the Bond street church tonight and the dedication service will start tomorrow at 10 a.m."[7]
"...Top centre shows a part of the procession when Most Rev. R. Athenagoras of Long Island, New York, dedicated the old
Holy Blossom Synagogue, Bond Street, in the rites and to the services of the Greek Orthodox Church..."[8]
^George Martell Miller (1854/5-1933) was born in
Port Hope and educated at the
School of Practical Science, University of Toronto, working for Charles Walton in 1883-5. In practice on his own by 1886, he designed a number of important buildings and was also the supervising architect for the construction of
Massey Hall. Many of Miller's drawings are held in the
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto.[12]
^The exquisite Byzantine Icons in the Altar were painted by the master icon painter Father Theodore Koufos, while the Baroque wooden iconostasis, Altar Table, Cantor’s Stand and Bishop’s Throne were hand-carved by Master Wood Sculptor Stylianos Kavroulakis of Crete. The Cathedral holds over 850 seated worshippers, and has parking facilities for 50 cars.
The Church, with a seating capacity of 450, and room to accommodate an additional 400 people on major feast days.
^ United Church, located at 40 Donlands Avenue in Toronto, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist. It began a portable mission at Langford and Danforth Avenues in 1914. The church relocated to corner of Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Blvd. in 1923. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. In 1984 it amalgamated with Eastminster United Church in the Eastminster building.[28]
^At a meeting, held at the Ukrainian Peoples’ Home on October 31, 1926, the decision was made to lay the foundation for the parish.[29]
^In 1935, the congregation bought the site at 400 Bathurst St. on which to erect a church. But for their immediate needs, the Congregation acquired a large building at 404 Bathurst.[29]
^The new church was officially opened and named St. Vladimir’s Church.[29]
^"In 1972 the Sveta Troica (Holy Trinity) Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church was established in Toronto, mostly for political reasons. Many members belonged to the Bulgarian National Front (BNF) and the Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO) and firmly believe that Slavic Macedonians are part of the Bulgarian nationality. The parish was initially within the Bulgarian diocese of the Orthodox Church in America, during the late 1970s within the
Russian Church Abroad, and since 1982 under the
Holy Synod in Bulgaria. It has about 150 members and is strongly committed to promoting Bulgarian identity and language."[37]
^On November 2, 1949, Archbishop
Joasaph of Edmonton, representing the synod of bishops of the
Russian Orthodox church outside of Russia, appointed Father Mathew Andrushenko as rector of the new parish. Reminiscent of the early days of Christianity, the small community gathered in a rented loft above a laundry on Parliament Street near Queen. Here they brought beautiful icons and began holding services. The very first took place on December 15, 1949 with Father Mathew. Eleven people were present at that service.[40]
^A small church was built by the hands of the first parishioners on Richmond Street just west of Berkeley, in
Cabbagetown. It was begun in the autumn of 1952 and was consecrated on September 6, 1953, by
Archbishop Vitaly.[40]
^The
Beth Jacob Synagogue was the first synagogue to be built by a Jewish architect in the city.[51] One of the founders of the synagogue was Samuel Tepperman (d. March 1, 1960).[52]
^Bishop
Hilarion Alfeyev later became the Archbishop of Volokolamsk, and chairman of the Department of External Church Relations (DECR) of the
Russian Orthodox Church).
^The
Old Calendar schism occurred in 1935, when three bishops (Germanos of Demetrias, the former Metropolitan of Florina, Chrysostom (Kavouridis), and Chrysostomos (Demetriou) of Zakynthos) declared their separation from the official
Church of Greece stating that the calendar change that had been implemented in 1924 was a
schismatic act. Greek Old Calendarist groups maintain that they have not separated over a mere calendar, rather that the calendar is a symptom of what has been called "the pan-heresy of
ecumenism."
^In 1995, a resistance faction of six bishops formed within the Old Calendar Florinte Synod of Archbishop
Chrysostom (Kiousis) (
Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece) and separated itself over what they claimed to be a series of canonical infractions, headed by Metropolitan Kallinikos (Hatzis) of Lamia. By early 1997, the movement had fragmented into three groups, one of which reconciled with Archbishop Chrysostom (Kiousis). A second group, led by Paisios Loulourgas (Met. of America) and Vikentios Malamatenios (titular Bp. of Avlona), submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (in 1998).[62] Later in 1997, Kallinikos of Lamia and Euthymios of Thessaloniki proceeded to ordain five titular bishops in an attempt to create a new synod; in 2003, they finally decided to elect a primate, and elected Makarios (Kavakides) of Athens.
^The first Primate of Athens selected by the Matthewites was Agathangelos of Athens in 1958, who reposed in 1967. His successor was Archbishop Andreas of Athens who was elected to the primacy in 1972, retiring in 2003 (+2005). In 2003 Archbishop Nicholas of Athens was elected, considered by many to have a progressive vision for the Matthewite church.
^Built in 1889, as a 19th century Anglican church, it has been the Serbian community's downtown-Toronto local church since the 1960s.[63]
^This was a recent architectural project (2002-2005), to partially demolish, totally renovate, and add to, an existing 500 sm, circa 1890, church, in order to create a 1,700 sm/18,000 sf, universally-accessible, barrier-free, 4-storey, single-aisled, basilica and community centre. Stylistically, the building synthesizes
Serbianlate-Byzantine architectural-styles and icon styles. It has many copper domes, cupolas, and trim; and great lighting & wood panels.[64]
^As a result of an internal conflict ca.late 2009/early 2010, this parish was transferred out of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, and placed under the Archdiocese of Etna (California). The first Liturgy under the new jurisdiction was on Sunday April 11, 2010.
^Transfers to the Metropolis of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church (GOC) of America.
References
^
abDr. Peter Jeffreys. Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church: An Architectural and Iconographic Guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. p.1.
^William Nellis. Heritage Fair to Recall Ethnic Past: Toronto's Peoples, Their Contributions.The Globe and Mail. Saturday September 24, 1983. Page S8.
^George D. Vlassis. The Greeks in Canada. 2nd Edition. Ottawa: G.D. Vlassis, (Hull, Que.: Leclerc Printers), 1953. p.186.
^St. George's Greek Orthodox Community of Toronto. 100 Years: 1909-2009, 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book. 2009.
^Toronto Daily Star. Opening New Church for Toronto Greeks: Former Holy Blossom Synagogue, Bond St., Beautifully Transformed. Friday November 26, 1937. Page 36.
^Toronto Daily Star. Greek Church Takes Over Synagogue. Monday June 20, 1938. Page 6.
^Toronto Daily Star. "Here to Dedicate New Greek Church. N.Y. Archbishop Says Christianity is Hope of World." Saturday June 18, 1938. p.2.
^The Globe and Mail. "Sunday Round-Up of Picture Events." Monday June 20, 1938. p.16.
^Angus Skene, Special to the Star. "Byzantium, five minutes from the mall; St. George's church a stroll from Eaton Centre; Greek monks painted heavenly dome inside."Toronto Star. Sunday June 13, 2004: B04.
^Dr. Peter Jeffreys. Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church: An Architectural and Iconographic Guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. p.49.
^Toronto Daily Star. "Sentiment Ruled Deal: Million Dollar Church for $160,000." Saturday July 8, 1961. p.52.
^Eric Ross Arthur, Stephen A. Otto. Toronto, No Mean City. 3rd Ed. University of Toronto Press, 1986. Page 255.
^The ROC
severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the
primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020.
^
abcdefghAutocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.
^UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022.
^
abSemi-autonomous part of the
Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.
The following list presents
Eastern Orthodox churches in
Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As of January 2010, there are 28 Orthodox churches within Toronto, 9 Mission stations, 4 Chapels, and 1 monastery, for a total of 42 canonical Orthodox
sanctuaries.
The first Orthodox community established in the city of Toronto was the Greek Orthodox Community of St. George, founded in 1909, presently located on Bond Street in the heart of downtown Toronto.[1][note 1] This was followed by Sts. Cyril and Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Church, founded one year later in 1910, presently located on Dundas and Sackville Streets, and the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour in 1915, of the
Orthodox Church in America (OCA).
1987-1992 The church interior is unique in being the only one outside of Greece to have been painted in its entirety by the Pachomaioi monks, Theophilos and Chrysostomos, master icono painters from
Mount Athos, Greece.[9][note 5]
1962 Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church and the attached Polymenakion Cultural Centre built.
The Cultural centre provides: head offices for GCT; an office for the priest and the church administrators; classrooms for Sunday school students; and multipurpose workshops for extra-curricular, cultural and religious activities.
1975 Painting of the church was completed by Mr. G. Papastamatiou.
Living Orthodoxy. (Adult Religious Education ministry of St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church).
1896-1928 Clinton Street Methodist Church.[note 10]
Pre-1972 The church building on Clinton St. belonged to a
Greek Old Calendarist jurisdiction. An Athonite Hieromonk, Fr. Paisios, was its priest there when the parish was transferred to the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto in 1972.
1972 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Community is founded. The first priest was Fr. Constantine Zachos.[22]
Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Community
1975 The first service was conducted on June 1, under the spiritual direction of Fr. Dorotheos and Fr. Chris Chronopoulos, priests remembered for encouraging children of Greek migrants to maintain their Greek culture, heritage and identity.[23]
1986 St. Irene became the final church (of 4 churches) to join the Greek Community of Toronto.[23]
2003 Construction began to create a domed roof along with traditional Orthodox architecture, under the tutelage of Fr. Pavlos Koumarianos.[23]
1952 The Iconostasis of the cathedral was installed, designed by the architect G. Kodak; the icons were painted by three artists — W. Balas, M. Dmytrenko, and I. Kubarsky, assisted by Petro Sydorenko, in the ‘
Cossack Baroque’ style, which is traditional and typical of the interiors in many Ukrainian churches.
1950 The first Liturgy and prayers were held at the first location, on 23 March. Fr. Mikhail Mihai celebrated the Liturgy, a Greek Orthodox priest of Belarusian origin.
1952 In October the parish was officially recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarch's Exarch for North America.
1953 The parish, supported by the Belarusian National Association in Canada (BNA), bought a five-room house at 11 Cunningham Avenue. On 28 June the first Liturgy was celebrated there.
1957 First Liturgy in the new church at 1008 Dovercourt Rd (bought in 1956) is celebrated on 4 August 1957, under Very Rev. V. Sahaidakivskyi.
1966 Church was renovated and a church hall was built. Fr. V. Sahaidakivskyi supervised the acquisition of nearly twenty icons from the Iablochynski Belarusian Greek Orthodox Monastery in the western
Belastok Region.
1970 Parish celebrated 20th anniversary on 31 May, with Greek Orthodox Bishop Theodosius celebrating with Archimandrite I. Strok, the parish priest and four other Greek Orthodox priests.
1975 Parish celebrated 25th anniversary on 12 October, with Greek Orthodox Bishop Sotirios in attendance with the Very Rev. P. Veliki, parish priest.
2008 Church is transferred from Greek-Orthodox Diocese of Toronto to the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese.
In 1986, St. John the Compassionate Mission was erected as mission-parish of the Ukrainian Catholic church by Bishop
Isidore Borecky, to serve any one in the city in need of spiritual or material help.
In 2001, under Bishop
Cornelius Pasichny, it was released and received by Metropolitan
Nicholas (Smisko) as an
Apostolate of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
It serves all ages and all people in need regardless of background. Youth Summer camps are operated by the mission in co-operation with St Mary of Egypt Refuge. All liturgical services at the mission are offered in English. Its doors are open six day a week.[33]
English / Multicultural Parish with over 9 languages spoken [34]
Operates liturgical worship, hospitality program to those in need in the local community, educational programs, child education (Montessori based Cateishm of the Good Shephard), youth and family programs.[34]
Colocated and partnered with St. John the Compassionate Mission until 2018.
Since 2018, it is located on the lower level of St. Cyril & Methody Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Cathedral.[34]
Along with Scarborough Good Neighbours Drop In, it seeks to live out in the everyday the beauty of the gospel. We are centered on the liturgy as the presence of Christ among the people of Scarborough. All services are mostly in English.[35]
Ministry of St John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Diocese of the USA, Canada, and Australia
1973-1981 Father Vassil Mihailoff was the parish priest of Holy Trinity until his death in 1981.[38]
1976 The church structure at 201 Monarch Park Ave, which was previously the Anglican Church of the Nativity, was purchased from the Anglican Church in Canada.[38]
1988 An Ontario Supreme Court judge ruled that the church had been "wrongfully operated" for more than six years by the Synod of the
Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church in Sofia, when it should properly have been under the jurisdiction of the "
Church in Exile."[39]
1996 Large reproductions of frescoes with scenes from Bulgarian religious history were commissioned.[38]
2007-2013 Major renovations of the church hall and facilities were undertaken.[38]
1915 Christ the Saviour Russian Orthodox church is founded by the first Russian immigrants in Toronto, with the blessing of the North American Metropolia Abp.
Evdokim (Meschersky).[43]
March 9, 1941 - Fr. John Diachina, one of the most remarkable priests in North America, was appointed a rector.[43]
1952 Christ the Saviour Church is raised to the rank of a Cathedral by the new bishop of Toronto and Canada Bp.
Nikon De Greve.
June 1, 1966 - the parish of Christ the Saviour acquired the building on Manning Avenue, and on October 30, a
solemn blessing sanctification of the temple was held by Metr. Irenaeus and the newly appointed Abp. of Canada
Sylvester, con-celebrating with a multitude of clergy.
Count
George Ignatieff, representative of Canada in the United Nations (1966-1969), and father of
Michael Ignatieff, a former Leader of the Liberal party of Canada, was a parishioner of Christ the Saviour Cathedral.[43]
2002-2011 Rector of the temple was Archpriest Oleg Kirillow, who had served for over 10 years in Moscow; Fr Oleg put a lot of effort into renovating the church and growing the parish and church school.[43]
1922 The structure at 23 Henry Street was founded as Beth Jacob Synagogue[49] on August 20, 1922; the architect was
Benjamin Brown (Brow), of Toronto.[50][note 19]
1951 The parish has had about 50 families in 1951. By the end of 1952, there were about 70 parish families.[48]
June 1966 - the parish bought the large synagogue at 23 Henry St and began a complete renovation of the structure, completed in the Spring of 1967.[48]
November 16, 1969 -
consecration of the temple by Abp.
Vitaly of Montreal and Canada (later Metropolitan and First Hierarch of ROCOR).[48]
September 4–8, 2013 - ceremonies were held dedicated to the 400th anniversary of the
House of Romanovs, headed by Metropolitan
Hilarion (Kapral) of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of the ROCOR.[55]
November 24, 2019 - Holy Trinity Cathedral celebrated its 70th anniversary.[56]
1953 The structure at 461 Richmond Street E. was founded in 1953 as the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church (
ROCOR), which later moved to 23 Henry St.
2014 The
Holy Synod in Resistance, of which this parish was a part (under the Archdiocese of Etna (California)), united itself to the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece and formally ceased to exist.[61]
True Orthodox Church of Greece ("Makarian (Lamian) Synod")
2014 The
Holy Synod in Resistance, of which this parish was a part from 2010 to 2014 (under the Archdiocese of Etna (California)), united itself to the Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece and formally ceased to exist.[61][65]
2014 The parish celebrated its 50th anniversary (1964-2014)
^The first immigrant of Greek origin is reportedly Dr. Peter Constantinides[2] who came to Toronto in 1864 to attend the Medical School at the University of Toronto. On May 21st 1909 a meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A. attended by about 200 Greeks living in Toronto. They constituted themselves into a corporate body identified as the "St. George Greek Orthodox Community of Ontario".[3][4]
^Members of the Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops.
^"An important part can be played by the Christian church in helping to bring about a peaceful settlement of the world's problems, according to Most Rev.
R. Athenagoras, of New York, head of the Greek Orthodox church in North and South America. Archbishop Athenagoras is in Toronto to officiate at the dedication tomorrow of the new Greek church on Bond St. In spite of various modernistic ideas, religion never changes, the archbishop declared. He was met at
Union station by 150 representative Greeks of Toronto and vicinity. A vesper service will be held at the Bond street church tonight and the dedication service will start tomorrow at 10 a.m."[7]
"...Top centre shows a part of the procession when Most Rev. R. Athenagoras of Long Island, New York, dedicated the old
Holy Blossom Synagogue, Bond Street, in the rites and to the services of the Greek Orthodox Church..."[8]
^George Martell Miller (1854/5-1933) was born in
Port Hope and educated at the
School of Practical Science, University of Toronto, working for Charles Walton in 1883-5. In practice on his own by 1886, he designed a number of important buildings and was also the supervising architect for the construction of
Massey Hall. Many of Miller's drawings are held in the
Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library, University of Toronto.[12]
^The exquisite Byzantine Icons in the Altar were painted by the master icon painter Father Theodore Koufos, while the Baroque wooden iconostasis, Altar Table, Cantor’s Stand and Bishop’s Throne were hand-carved by Master Wood Sculptor Stylianos Kavroulakis of Crete. The Cathedral holds over 850 seated worshippers, and has parking facilities for 50 cars.
The Church, with a seating capacity of 450, and room to accommodate an additional 400 people on major feast days.
^ United Church, located at 40 Donlands Avenue in Toronto, was established in 1925, formerly Methodist. It began a portable mission at Langford and Danforth Avenues in 1914. The church relocated to corner of Donlands Avenue and Strathmore Blvd. in 1923. It joined the United Church of Canada in 1925. In 1984 it amalgamated with Eastminster United Church in the Eastminster building.[28]
^At a meeting, held at the Ukrainian Peoples’ Home on October 31, 1926, the decision was made to lay the foundation for the parish.[29]
^In 1935, the congregation bought the site at 400 Bathurst St. on which to erect a church. But for their immediate needs, the Congregation acquired a large building at 404 Bathurst.[29]
^The new church was officially opened and named St. Vladimir’s Church.[29]
^"In 1972 the Sveta Troica (Holy Trinity) Macedono-Bulgarian Eastern Orthodox Church was established in Toronto, mostly for political reasons. Many members belonged to the Bulgarian National Front (BNF) and the Macedonian Patriotic Organization (MPO) and firmly believe that Slavic Macedonians are part of the Bulgarian nationality. The parish was initially within the Bulgarian diocese of the Orthodox Church in America, during the late 1970s within the
Russian Church Abroad, and since 1982 under the
Holy Synod in Bulgaria. It has about 150 members and is strongly committed to promoting Bulgarian identity and language."[37]
^On November 2, 1949, Archbishop
Joasaph of Edmonton, representing the synod of bishops of the
Russian Orthodox church outside of Russia, appointed Father Mathew Andrushenko as rector of the new parish. Reminiscent of the early days of Christianity, the small community gathered in a rented loft above a laundry on Parliament Street near Queen. Here they brought beautiful icons and began holding services. The very first took place on December 15, 1949 with Father Mathew. Eleven people were present at that service.[40]
^A small church was built by the hands of the first parishioners on Richmond Street just west of Berkeley, in
Cabbagetown. It was begun in the autumn of 1952 and was consecrated on September 6, 1953, by
Archbishop Vitaly.[40]
^The
Beth Jacob Synagogue was the first synagogue to be built by a Jewish architect in the city.[51] One of the founders of the synagogue was Samuel Tepperman (d. March 1, 1960).[52]
^Bishop
Hilarion Alfeyev later became the Archbishop of Volokolamsk, and chairman of the Department of External Church Relations (DECR) of the
Russian Orthodox Church).
^The
Old Calendar schism occurred in 1935, when three bishops (Germanos of Demetrias, the former Metropolitan of Florina, Chrysostom (Kavouridis), and Chrysostomos (Demetriou) of Zakynthos) declared their separation from the official
Church of Greece stating that the calendar change that had been implemented in 1924 was a
schismatic act. Greek Old Calendarist groups maintain that they have not separated over a mere calendar, rather that the calendar is a symptom of what has been called "the pan-heresy of
ecumenism."
^In 1995, a resistance faction of six bishops formed within the Old Calendar Florinte Synod of Archbishop
Chrysostom (Kiousis) (
Church of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece) and separated itself over what they claimed to be a series of canonical infractions, headed by Metropolitan Kallinikos (Hatzis) of Lamia. By early 1997, the movement had fragmented into three groups, one of which reconciled with Archbishop Chrysostom (Kiousis). A second group, led by Paisios Loulourgas (Met. of America) and Vikentios Malamatenios (titular Bp. of Avlona), submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (in 1998).[62] Later in 1997, Kallinikos of Lamia and Euthymios of Thessaloniki proceeded to ordain five titular bishops in an attempt to create a new synod; in 2003, they finally decided to elect a primate, and elected Makarios (Kavakides) of Athens.
^The first Primate of Athens selected by the Matthewites was Agathangelos of Athens in 1958, who reposed in 1967. His successor was Archbishop Andreas of Athens who was elected to the primacy in 1972, retiring in 2003 (+2005). In 2003 Archbishop Nicholas of Athens was elected, considered by many to have a progressive vision for the Matthewite church.
^Built in 1889, as a 19th century Anglican church, it has been the Serbian community's downtown-Toronto local church since the 1960s.[63]
^This was a recent architectural project (2002-2005), to partially demolish, totally renovate, and add to, an existing 500 sm, circa 1890, church, in order to create a 1,700 sm/18,000 sf, universally-accessible, barrier-free, 4-storey, single-aisled, basilica and community centre. Stylistically, the building synthesizes
Serbianlate-Byzantine architectural-styles and icon styles. It has many copper domes, cupolas, and trim; and great lighting & wood panels.[64]
^As a result of an internal conflict ca.late 2009/early 2010, this parish was transferred out of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, and placed under the Archdiocese of Etna (California). The first Liturgy under the new jurisdiction was on Sunday April 11, 2010.
^Transfers to the Metropolis of the Genuine Greek Orthodox Church (GOC) of America.
References
^
abDr. Peter Jeffreys. Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church: An Architectural and Iconographic Guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. p.1.
^William Nellis. Heritage Fair to Recall Ethnic Past: Toronto's Peoples, Their Contributions.The Globe and Mail. Saturday September 24, 1983. Page S8.
^George D. Vlassis. The Greeks in Canada. 2nd Edition. Ottawa: G.D. Vlassis, (Hull, Que.: Leclerc Printers), 1953. p.186.
^St. George's Greek Orthodox Community of Toronto. 100 Years: 1909-2009, 100th Anniversary Commemorative Book. 2009.
^Toronto Daily Star. Opening New Church for Toronto Greeks: Former Holy Blossom Synagogue, Bond St., Beautifully Transformed. Friday November 26, 1937. Page 36.
^Toronto Daily Star. Greek Church Takes Over Synagogue. Monday June 20, 1938. Page 6.
^Toronto Daily Star. "Here to Dedicate New Greek Church. N.Y. Archbishop Says Christianity is Hope of World." Saturday June 18, 1938. p.2.
^The Globe and Mail. "Sunday Round-Up of Picture Events." Monday June 20, 1938. p.16.
^Angus Skene, Special to the Star. "Byzantium, five minutes from the mall; St. George's church a stroll from Eaton Centre; Greek monks painted heavenly dome inside."Toronto Star. Sunday June 13, 2004: B04.
^Dr. Peter Jeffreys. Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church: An Architectural and Iconographic Guide. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000. p.49.
^Toronto Daily Star. "Sentiment Ruled Deal: Million Dollar Church for $160,000." Saturday July 8, 1961. p.52.
^Eric Ross Arthur, Stephen A. Otto. Toronto, No Mean City. 3rd Ed. University of Toronto Press, 1986. Page 255.
^The ROC
severed full communion with the Ecumenical Patriarchate in 2018, and later severed full communion with the
primates of the Church of Greece, the Patriarchate of Alexandria, and the Church of Cyprus in 2020.
^
abcdefghAutocephaly or autonomy is not universally recognized.
^UOC-MP was moved to formally cut ties with the ROC as of May 27th 2022.
^
abSemi-autonomous part of the
Russian Orthodox Church whose autonomy is not universally recognized.