HIS GRACE
BISHOP GEORGE OF SASKATOON

ASSISTANT FOR THE UKRANIAN ORTHODOX PARISHES IN CANADA

BIOGRAPHY :

His Grace Bishop George of Saskatoon, (in the world Yuri Kalistchuk), the second of three sons, was born in Lachine, Quebec on May 26, 1951, to Petro and Anastazia Kalistchuk. He received his primary schooling in Lachine and Hamilton. He completed his secondary education in 1970 in Hamilton. In 1963 the Kalistchuk family moved to Hamilton, Ontario, where the family became members of St. Vladimir's Sobor. The young George attended Ukrainian School, was involved in Ukrainian Dance (Ensemble Zirka), the Cathedral Choir (which he later became choir conductor of in 1981-1982), and the Ukrainian Youth Organization (CYMK).

In 1970 he entered St. Andrew's College (the UOCC's Seminary in Winnipeg), and during his 3 years of study he obtained many awards for his academic, musical, and athletic activities. From 1971-1973 he was assistant choir conductor of the Theology Student Choir under the guidance of Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) and later Dr. Pavlo Macenko. In 1973, George received his Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.). Starting in 1975, George studied music at McMaster University, graduating in 1980 with an Honours Bachelor of Music in History and Theory (Magna Cum Laude). In 1984 he completed a Bachelor of Education (Magna Cum Laude) degree at the University of Toronto. During 1983-1984 he was Dean of Men at St. Vladimir's Institute in Toronto. In 1985 he received his Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) from St. Andrew’s College.

During 1983-87 George was Project Director of the Bortniansky Project and for part of this time President of the Ukraine Millennium Foundation which recorded the 35 Sacred Choral Concertos of Dmytro Bortniansky, Conductor – Maestro Volodymyr Kolesnyk.

On July 16th, 1988 he was ordained to the diaconate at St. Vladimir Sobor in Hamilton, Ontario by Metropolitan Wasyly. On the 17th of July, 1988 at St. Vladimir Sobor in Hamilton Metropolitan Wasyly ordained Deacon George Kalistchuk to the priesthood. Father George Kalistchuk's first pastorate was at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Winnipeg, MB as Assistant Pastor, from September 1, 1988 to October of 1989.From September 1988 to December 1991 he was also the professor for Church Music at St. Andrew’s College.

On September 10, 1989, Fr. George received his monastic tonsure through the hands of Metropolitan Wasyly. On October 15th, 1989 at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Hiermonk George was elevated to Archimandrite by Metropolitan Wasyly. At the Extraordinary Sobor of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada, on October 22, 1989, at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Winnipeg, Manitoba, he was elected bishop with the title ‘Bishop of Saskatoon and Vicar of the Central Diocese’. In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on December 17th, 1989 he was enthronized at Holy Trinity Cathedral. In 1990, he represented Metropolitan Wasyly in Constantinople for the consummation of the Act of Eucharistic Unity. From May of 1996 in addition to his Episcopal duties he was chosen as General Secretary of the Church Council of CKY (Ukrainian Congress of Ukrainians). In 1997 he was a member of the delegation from the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the Borders of Ukraine, at the Second World Forum of Ukrainians in Kyiv.  During 2002-2003 Archbishop Yurij served as one of the Vice-Presidents of the Canadian Council of Churches where he has been representing the UOCC since 1991.

Address:
3281 Cindy Cres.
Mississauga ON L4Y 3J7
Canada
Tel. +1 905 2069372
Fax +1 905 2069373
E-mail: orthodox@idirect.com

Nameday: April 23 (old calendar)

Date of ordination: October 22, 1989