Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk)

Archbishop Yurij ("secular name: George Kalistchuk" born in Lachine, Quebec on May 26, 1951) is Archbishop of Toronto in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada.

Youth

Although he was born in Lachine, Quebec (just outside Montreal), in 1963 the Kalistchuk family moved to Hamilton, Ontario, where the family became members of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. The young George attended Ukrainian School, was involved in Ukrainian Dance, the Cathedral Choir (where he became choir conductor in 1981-1982), and the Ukrainian Youth Organization (CYMK).

Family

Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) had two brothers, Albin (died at a young age) and William. His other brother William currently lives in Mississauga, Ontario with his wife Janice and children David, Michael, Peter and Emilie Kalistchuk. Archbishop Yurij's father Peter Kalistchuk, died in 2001, and his mother, Anastasia Kalistchuk, continues to live a healthy life in Hamilton Ontario.

University

In 1970 he entered St. Andrew's College (the UOCC's Seminary), and during his 3 year stay at the college he obtained many awards for his academic, musical and athletic activities at the University of Manitoba. From 1971-1973 he as assistant conductor under Archbishop Boris (Yakovkevych) and later Pavlo Macenko for the Theology Student Choir. In 1973, George received his Licentiate in Theology (L.Th.) (which was replaced by a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) in 1985). Starting in 1975, George studied music at McMaster University, graduating in 1980 with a Bachelor of Music in History and Theory.

In 1984 he completed a Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Toronto and received an Ontario's Teacher's Certificate. During 1983-1984 he was Dean of Men at St. Vladimir's Institute in Toronto.

Priesthood

In Hamilton, Ontario, on July 17, 1988 he was ordained a priest, and was assigned a priest at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Winnipeg. At the Special SOBOR (church council) in 1989 he was elected bishop, and later ordained on October 22, 1989 in Winnipeg by Metropolitan Wasyly and Bishop John (Stinka). In Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on December 17, 1989 he was installed as bishop of Saskatoon. In 1995 he officially became the bishop of Toronto, and in 2001 he was elevated to Archbishop.

ource

*Consecration and Installation Book of Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk)
* [http://www.uocc.ca/en-ca/about/episcopate/archbishopyurij.asp Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) @ UOCC.CA]