Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Toronto

Archbishop Yurij (secular name: George Kalistchuk) is Archbishop of Toronto in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. He was born in Lachine, Quebec on May 26, 1951.
==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 (of which he later became conductor in 1981-1982), and the Ukrainian Youth Organization (CYMK).
==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 later replaced by a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)). 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 the rank of Archbishop.
==Sources==
*Consecration and Installation Book of Bishop Yurij (Kalistchuk)
*Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) @ UOCC.CA
Category:Bishops