Saint Petka Church, Saskatoon

Address: Rural Municipality of Dundurn No. 314, SK, S7T 0K1

Phone number: 306 250 4584

Website: www.svetapetka.ca

Priest: Archpriest-Staurophorus Radovan Marić

Phone number: 306 545 0456

Prota Radovan Marić was born on September 3, 1973 in Kruševo Brdo, Kotor Varoš Municipality, to father Vasilije and mother Nedeljka Marić. 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 in the Army of the Republika Srpska. 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 - Trinity Sergius Lavra, Russia. After successfully completing the academy, with the blessing of the Canadian Bishop Mr. Georgije, he married Olga Mizinina and was admitted to the clergy of the Canadian Diocese. He came to Canada on the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in 1998. He was ordained a deacon by Bishop Georgij on the Feast of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos in 1998 at the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord. In the spring, on March 14, 1999, he received the priesthood at the Monastery of the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord from Bishop Georgij. 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 God-Seer Prophet Elijah in Kelowna, British Columbia on September 1, 2004. For his meritorious work in this parish, he was awarded the Order of Saint Elijah the Prophet in 2006 with the right to wear a red sash. He remained in the same parish until January 30, 2008, when he was transferred to the parish of the Holy Trinity in Ridžajna. In Ridžajna, Father Radovan worked diligently to organize the spiritual life of Serbs in this parish and to purchase houses in the place of which this parish plans to build a nursing home in the future. For his active work in the parish, Father Radovan was awarded the title of proto-vicar in 2009. From Ridžajna, Father Radovan founded a parish in Saskatoon. The establishment of this parish was approved by the Canadian Bishop George on the Holy Trinity, on May 23, 2010. He was ordained to the rank of archpriest 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 parish cross in 2014. Dear God, Father Radovan has blessed him with two daughters, Aleksandra and Sofia.

Church history

On Sunday, July 20, 2014, the newest Serbian church in Canada was consecrated – the church dedicated to Saint Petka in Saskatoon, in the very heart of Canada. The church was consecrated by His Eminence, Bishop of Canada, Mr. Georgije, during the Holy Hierarchical Liturgy, which he celebrated in a packed church, with the concelebration of numerous clergy of the Diocese of Canada. The godfather at the consecration was Boško Salamić from Regina, who donated $15,000 to the church. The parish of Saint Petka was formed in 2010, and its believers quickly managed to purchase a church that would serve their needs and create the conditions for having a priest. The church property, measuring 2.5 acres, was purchased in March 2013 from the local Lutheran Evangelical Church. The church building is 108 years old and it was necessary to make certain adaptations to accommodate Orthodox worship.