Saint Petka Church, Saskatoon
Saint Petka Church, Saskatoon
Address: Rural Municipality of Dundurn No. 314, SK, S7T 0K1
Phone number: 306 250 4584
Priest: Fr. Radovan Maric
Phone number: 306 545 0456
Fr. Radovan Maric was born on September 3, 1973 in Krusevo Brdo, Kotor Varos Municipality, to father Vasilije and mother Nedeljka Maric. He completed primary school in his hometown. After completing primary school, he enrolled in the Theological Seminary of the Holy Three Hierarchs in the Krka Monastery, which he completed with excellent success. After completing the seminary, he went to serve his military service. After completing his military service, by decision of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church, he was sent to study at the Moscow Theological Academy at the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius in Sergiyev Posad, Moscow. After successfully completing the academy, with the blessing of Bishop of Canada Georgije, he married Olga Mizinin and was admitted to the clergy of the Diocese of Canada. He came to Canada on the Dormition of the Virgin Mary in 1998. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Georgije on the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in 1998 at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery. In the spring, on March 14, 1999, he was ordained to the priesthood at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery by Bishop Georgije. He was appointed to the parish of the Assembly of Serbian Saints in Winnipeg on May 1, 1999, and served in the same capacity until August 15, 2004. During Father Radovan's ministry in Winnipeg, the debt for the new church was paid off, which was largely renovated. Father Radovan was appointed pastor of the missionary parish of the Holy Prophet Elijah in Kelowna, British Columbia on September 1, 2004. For his meritorious work in this parish, he was awarded the right to wear a red sash on Saint Elijah Day in 2006. He remained in the same parish until January 30, 2008, when he was transferred to the parish of the Holy Trinity in Regina. In Regina, Father Radovan worked diligently to organize the spiritual life of Serbs in this parish and to purchase houses in the place of which the parish plans to build a nursing home in the future. For his active work in the parish, Father Radovan was awarded the title of protonamesnik in 2009. From Regina, Father Radovan founded a parish in Saskatoon. The establishment of this parish was approved by Bishop Georgije on the Day of the Holy Trinity, on May 23, 2010. He was ordained to the rank of protopresbyter on October 24, 2010. At the Church of the Holy Trinity, Father Radovan founded a church choir, a folklore group "Zora", and a school of religious education and the Serbian language. For his merits in the formation and successful start of the parish in Saskatoon, Father Radovan was awarded the right to wear the pectoral cross in 2014. God has blessed Father Radovan with two daughters, Aleksandra and Sofija.
History
The Founding Assembly of the Parish of St. Petka was held on May 23, 2010, in the presence of the highest church authority of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Canada, His Grace Bishop Georgije. The assembly was also attended by Fr. Radovan Maric, a priest from Regina. Previously, in accordance with the church statute, a petition for the establishment of a parish in Saskatoon was sent to the bishop, signed by 81 persons of the Serbian Orthodox faith from Saskatoon. Based on this petition, higher church authorities adopted a resolution to establish a Serbian Orthodox parish under the name of St. Petka in Saskatoon, which, in the form of a charter, was presented to those present at the Founding Assembly by Bishop Georgije. That same evening, 29 adults joined the membership of the Parish of St. Petka, and the members voted to elect the Parish Board and Supervisory Board. Fr. Radovan Maric was appointed as the parish administrator.
The following month, on June 27, an outing was organized in Meewasin Park in Saskatoon, with the goal of gathering as many Serbs from Saskatoon in one place as possible, in order to get to know each other better, socialize, and discuss the further development of the parish. The goal was also to work on further expanding the membership of the parish. About 80 Serbs from Saskatoon came to this outing, and the number of members increased to 40 during and after the outing. The parish also generated its first income, mainly from voluntary contributions, in the amount of $290 CAD. An outing to Craik Regional Park, halfway between Saskatoon and Regina, was organized on August 1. The turnout was very satisfactory, from both cities. A friendly soccer game was also played, and most importantly, brothers and sisters from Regina and Saskatoon got to know one another. In August, the parish was registered with the Canadian authorities, and in September, a charity dinner and party called the Serbian Evening was organized, with the hope that this event will become a tradition in Saskatoon. About 150 guests attended this party, not only from Saskatoon, but also from Regina, Yorkton and North Battleford. Guests of other faiths and nations were also present.
The faithful of Saskatoon were able to quickly purchase a church that would serve their needs and intentions to create the conditions for having a permanent priest. The church property, measuring 2.5 acres, was purchased in March 2013 from the local Lutheran Evangelical Church. The church property also includes an old cemetery. The church building was built in 1905, so it was necessary to make certain adaptations to adapt it to Orthodox worship. On Sunday July 20, 2014, the newest Serbian church in Canada was consecrated – a church dedicated to Saint Petka in Saskatoon, in the very centre of Canada. The church was consecrated by His Grace Bishop of Canada Georgije, during the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy, which he served in a packed church, with the concelebration of numerous clergy of the Diocese of Canada. The godfather at the consecration was Bosko Salamic from Regina, who donated $15,000 to the church.
The Saint Sava Serbian Cultural Club also operates at the church.
