Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Hamilton

Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Hamilton

Address: 149 Nash Rd. South, Hamilton ON, L8K 4J9

Website: snsn.ca

Fr. Dragomir Ninkovic (dean)
Parish: West Hamilton Parish
Phone: (519) 503-9639
Email: protadragomir@outlook.com

Fr. Dragomir Ninkovic was born on September 12, 1966 in Sarajevo, to father Branko and mother Mitra (née Vasiljevic). During his primary schooling, he attended religious education at the Old Church under Fr. Perisa Vranic. He graduated from the St. Sava Theological Seminary in Belgrade in 1986. After completing his military service, he enrolled in studies at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade. He was ordained to the rank of deacon on August 1, 1992, and on the feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah, August 2 of the same year, he was ordained to the rank of presbyter in the Banja Monastery near Priboj on the Lim River, by Metropolitan Nikolaj of Dabar-Bosnia. He served in Nova Varos from August 7, 1992 to October 29, 1995 in the newly restored Diocese of Mileseva. By decision of Bishop Vasilije (Veinovic), he was transferred to Prijepolje, where he remained until his transfer to the Diocese of Canada in September 2010. During his service in the Diocese of Mileseva, he taught religious education in elementary and secondary schools and participated in church radio broadcasts on several radio stations. He participated in and initiated the construction of several churches, including the Church of Saint Nicholas of Serbia on Kolovrat near Prijepolje. He was awarded the right to wear a red sash by the late Serbian Patriarch Pavle in November 1998. He was awarded the rank of protopresbyter on the Epiphany in 2000, and the dignity of protopresbyter-stavrophor on the day of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, at the consecration of the Deserted Church in Seljasnica near Prijepolje, in 2006. He is married to Ljiljana (née Krstovic) and is the father of three sons: Damjan, Djordje, and Vukasin.

Fr. Djuro Samac
Parish: East Hamilton Parish
Phone: (905) 979-5806
Email: samacd@hotmail.ca

Fr. Djuro Samac was born in Sisak on February 18, 1966, to father Janko and mother Marija. He completed his primary and secondary education in his hometown and, after completing his military service, enrolled in the Faculty of Law at the University of Zagreb. He graduated from the Department of Constitutional Law in 1989 with a thesis on the System of Parliamentary Government in Great Britain. With the blessing of the Bishop of Gornji Karlovac Nikanor, he enrolled in the Theological Institute at the Faculty of Theology in Belgrade in 1994 and graduated in 1998. With the blessing of the Bishop of Canada, Georgije, he enrolled in Toronto at the Orthodox Academy of St. John the Theologian at the University of Sherbrooke. He graduated in 2005. Bishop Georgije of Canada ordained him to the rank of deacon in 2000 at the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas in Hamilton and appointed him a diocesan deacon. That same year, on Diocesan Day on June 26, Bishop Georgije ordained him to the rank of presbyter, and in 2009 he conferred upon him the rank of protonamesnik. Since 2005, he has served at the Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas in Hamilton as the parish priest of East Hamilton. He and his wife, Nena, have four children: Marija, Luka, Damjan and Ana.

Church history

Our Serbian Orthodox Church is a true martyr, suffering, persecuted and long-suffering. An incalculable multitude of martyrs and sufferers for the faith have built their lives into its foundations. The suffering and persecution of the Serbian Orthodox Church throughout the centuries was present even in those times that could be called peaceful. With due respect, we remember our brothers and sisters who came to the Hamilton area at the beginning of the last century and encountered the challenges that coming to a new environment brings. Ignorance of the language, culture, rules and regulations were certainly an additional torment for the new settlers. But even in such conditions, there was an awareness that only an organized Church community would manage to preserve the Orthodox faith, Serbian culture, traditions, customs and prevent the disappearance and assimilation of the small Serbian community in Hamilton. Through the efforts, labor, and sacrifice of a small group of Serbs, the first Serbian Orthodox Church in eastern Canada was established in 1913, dedicated to Holy Father Nicholas. Although few in number, they managed to raise enough money to purchase land on the corner of Beach and Northcote Streets in Hamilton and to build a small church dedicated to Holy Father Nicholas. The descendants of those first settlers, as well as other Serbs who accepted Hamilton and Canada as a new home, decided in December 1963 to build a new magnificent church to the Glory of God, dedicated to Holy Father Nicholas, and for it to be in full canonical and administrative unity with the Serbian Patriarchate in Belgrade, under whose jurisdiction it falls. Words turned to deeds. Already in June 1964, the land on which the Cathedral and church hall are located today was consecrated. Digging of the foundation began on October 5, 1964, and the consecration of the foundation was carried out on November 8, 1964. And this wonderful temple, a symbol of the sacrifice and sacrifice of the Orthodox Serbs of Hamilton, was consecrated on June 20, 1965. With the great efforts of faithful Serbs, numerous problems in the life and work of the church community were solved. The mortgage was paid off, the parish house was built, the Holy Temple was painted, etc. And during the difficult trials of the last war in the homeland, we came to the aid of the long-suffering Serbian people, sending our help, accepting and helping those who came from war-torn areas. The desire for progress has led to the launch of another major project. The expansion of the church property. Land bordering the church property has been purchased, and when the conditions are right, a nursing home with all the accompanying facilities and infrastructure should be built on that land. A new copper roof has been installed on the Holy Temple, the classrooms of the Serbian school have been renovated, the floor coverings in the church hall have been changed, etc. All of the above testifies to the faith and love of the faithful Serbian people. With faith in God and determination to succeed, and with the dedication and effort of each individual, this community achieves great and notable results. The dear faces of the faithful people are the most beautiful decoration of our sanctuary. Every service is attended by believers and they offer prayers to the all-merciful God. This is the basic mission and purpose of the church, and it is necessary to emphasize its spiritual progress in addition to this visible material one. Through prayers and worship, holy sacraments, advice and conversations with priests, believers find strength and comfort in the multitude of temptations they are exposed to in everyday life challenges. We pray to the Lord God and Holy Father Nicholas to strengthen and make us wise so that we may work and progress even better. To grant us harmony and strength, courage and peace, faith, hope and love, so that we may bear even better witness to our holy Orthodox faith.