Serbian Patriarch Irinej serves in Hamilton

Continuing his canonical visit to the Diocese of Canada, His Holiness Irinej served the Holy Hierarchal Liturgy on Saturday, April 21, 2012 in the church of St. Nicholas in Hamilton, at Barton str., along with his host, Bishop Georgije of Canada, Bishop Dositej of Britain and Scandinavia, 11 priests and two deacons of the Diocese of Canada. During the Liturgy the choir of the church of St. Nicholas chanted, and about 200 believers attended the service in Hamilton.

The Hamilton Church School Community of St. Nikolaj is one of the oldest in Canada, it was formed in 1913. Since the schism in 1963, two church communities have been formed with the same name. This at Barton str. separated from the Patriarchate, while the church at Nash str. remained faithful to the Mother Church. The hundreth anniversary of the existence of the both church communities will mark united under the Bishop of Canada.

Serbian Patriarch Irinej commended the work of the parishioner, whom he gave the Order of St. Sava of the Third Degree - sister Milanka Zaric, the honorary president of the local Circle of Serbian Sisters, who was awarded upon the competent bishop, His Grace Bishop Georgije, for the half a century of her sacrifice and love for the St. Sava's Church.

The Canonical visit of the Patriarch will continue on Sunday in Missiusaga.

Source: Diocese of Canada