Metropolitan John (Stinka)

Metropolitan John (Stinka), full title: His Eminence, Metropolitan John, Archbishop of Winnipeg, and of the Central Diocese, Metropolitan of Canada, (born January 14, 1935) is the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada. He was enthroned as Metropolitan of Canada on July 23, 2006.
==Early life==
John Stinka was born in Buchanan, Saskatchewan, and was the youngest of 12 children. His primary schooling was obtained at Dobranovetz School in Drobot, Sk., and he obtained his secondary education at the Yorkton Collegiate High School in Yorkton, Sk. After receiving his teaching certificate, he taught at the Hryhoriw Elementary School (near Preeceville, Sk.), and worked for 10 years in Saskatoon. He was active in the Ukrainian Orthodox community in Saskatoon, we he attended Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, as a member of the Cathedral Choir, and as a member of CYMK (Ukrainian Orthodox Youth).
==Priesthood==
In the fall of 1969, John Stinka enrolled in theological studies at St. Andrew's College in Winnipeg, which he successfully completed in 1972 with a Licentiate in Theology. He continued his studies at the University of Manitoba following his Licentiate in Theology.
On August 18, 1973 he was ordained into the Holy Diaconate at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Saskatoon by Archbishop Boris, and on August 25, 1974 in Holy Tranfiguration Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Yorkton, Deacon John was ordained to the Priesthood, again ordained by Archbishop Boris. Fr. John's first assignement was to Moose Jaw, Sk., and during that time convocated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts Degree. In August 1978, Fr. John was transferred to Kamsack, Sk.
Throughout his pastorship, Fr. John was active in the Ukrainian Community, and the Orthodox Community. He was awarded his Nabedrenyk in 1977, and his Skufia in 1980.
==Episcopacy==
At the Extraordinary Sobor of the UOCC in 1983, Fr. John was elected Bishop, and was ordained to the Episcopacy on November 27, 1983 at Holy Trinity Metropolitan Cathedral, and installed as bishop of Saskatoon by Metropolitan Andrew (Metiuk), Archbishop Boris, and Bishop Wasyly (Fedak).
At the 17th Sobor, in 1985 in Winnipeg, Bishop John was appointed as Bishop of Edmonton and the Western Diocese, following the reposes of Archbishop Boris, and Metropolitan Andrew. In 1990 he was elevated to Archbishop.
Following the repose of Metropolitan Wasyly in 2005, Archbishop John became the acting Primate, and at the 21st Sobor in Winnipeg in 2006 was elected Primate, and Metropolitan (and was approved by Constantinople on November 20, 2005).
He was enthroned on Sunday, July 23, 2006, at the Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. Co-presiding at the Divine Liturgy were Archbishop Yurij (Kalistchuk) of Toronto, Archbishop Antony (Sherba) of New York & Washington (UOC-USA), and Bishop Georgie of the Serbian Diocese of Canada. Metropolitan Sotirios of the Greek Metropolis of Toronto presided with the enthronment, and later presented Metropolitan John a Panagia from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, a blue Mantiya, an episcopal staff, and a Metropolitan's white Klobuk.
==External links==
*Metropolitan John of Winnipeg
==Sources==
*"Tribute and Farewell to His Eminence Metropolitan John" (Western Diocese; UOCC)
Stinka, John
Stinka
Stinka
Category:Living people
Category:1935 births
uk:Митрополит Іван (Стінка)