Saint George Church, Waterloo

Church address: 665 King St. N, Waterloo ON, N2J 4G8

Phone number: 519 884 0311

Church website: www.facebook.com/srpskacrkva.svtidjordje

Hall website: www.stgeorgehall.com

Priest: Fr. Dusan Gnjatic

Email: gnjaticd@yahoo.com

Phone: 519 504 7144

Fr. Dusan Gnjatic was born on April 27, 1966, to parents Mihajlo and Jefa (nee Stojic) in Zijamet, near Bugojno, where he completed elementary school. He graduated from the Holy Three Hierarchs Theological Seminary at the Krka Monastery in 1986, and then enrolled at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade. With the blessing of Bishop Georgije of Canada, he was admitted to the clergy of the Diocese of Canada in 1993. He was ordained to the rank of deacon on Theodore's Saturday, March 19, 1994, at the Mileseva Monastery. Upon his arrival in Canada, he was ordained to the rank of presbyter on July 19, 1994. He was appointed parish priest of Winnipeg on July 30, 1994. During his service at the parish in Winnipeg, a new church, hall and parish house were purchased. In May 1999, he was transferred to serve at the Church of St. Sava in London. He was awarded the rank of protonamesnik on September 5, 1999. He and his wife Radovinka (née Petrovic) have three children.

History

In 1970, the faithful of Waterloo received permission from Bishop Dionisije to establish their own Church and School Congregation. Thus, on March 22, 1970, a founding assembly was held in the Ukrainian Hall in Kitchener, at which the Saint George the Great Martyr Church and School Congregation was founded, which was at the time under the jurisdiction of the Diocese for the United States and Canada of the Free Serbian Orthodox Church. In the then-small Serbian population of Kitchener-Waterloo, there were 25 founding members of the Church and School Congregation, among whom the most active were Milan Kurtes, Nikola Dubajic, Ljubo Djuretic, Lazar Drapic, Nedjo Krajisnik, Radivoje Scepanovic, Gvozden Bajic, Zivojin Mitic, Rade Petkovic, Ignjat Srdic, Stevo Bogdanovic, Ljuban Tesla and others. The Church and School Congregation was served by Fr. Djuro Vukelic from Hamilton, at the time the Episcopal Dean for Canada.

In 1984, the Church and School Congregation purchased a property in the north of Waterloo, on the site of an old village school. That same year, part of the school was converted into a chapel, and part into a hall where church and national events were held. At that time, the number of members of the Church and School Congregation was still about 30, but they were determined to have the bells of the Serbian church ring in Kitchener-Waterloo. And indeed, in 1986, construction began on a new church, which was completed on October 16, 1986, when it was consecrated by the Metropolitan of New Gracanica Irinej. The godfather of the church was Nedjo Krajisnik. In addition to the aforementioned founders, several members also stood out in the construction of the church, including Dusan and Marko Martic, Gojko and Mirko Savic, Simo Vukovic, Andjelko Krajisnik, etc. The hall was expanded and added to in 1989. The godfather of the hall was Milan Kurtes. In the 1990s, a large number of Serbian families moved in, which created opportunities for the construction of a new church hall. The large hall, located in the gate of the church, was completed in 2005. The consecration was performed by Bishop Longin.

The church was under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of New Gracanica until May 21, 2009, when, by decision of the Holy Council of Bishops of the Serbian Orthodox Church, all parishes in Canada were transferred under the omophorion of the Diocese of Canada. His Holiness Serbian Patriarch Irinej visited the Church and School Congregation in Waterloo on June 22, 2015.

Organizations that are separate bodies within the Church and School Congregation

• The Pokrov Presvete Bogorodice Circle of Serbian Sisters brings together Orthodox Serbian women who volunteer to prepare all church and national events and provide assistance to all parishioners in need. The sisters also participate in actions for the spiritual upliftment of children and adults, as well as for strengthening the Christian family.
• The Gavrilo Princip folklore group brings together elementary and secondary school students and preschool children to improve their knowledge of Serbian folklore, thereby preserving and nurturing Serbian folklore treasures.
• The Jelek Serbian Cultural and Artistic Society brings together adult Serbian folklore dancers with the aim of presenting the richness and beauty of Serbian folklore to audiences in Canada and the USA.
• The Saint John of Damascus church choir sings at liturgies and preserves the wealth of Orthodox spiritual music.
• The Saint Sava Regional School of the Serbian Language was founded in 1996.
• The Kosovo Vow youth organization was founded in 2010.