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==Origin==
Most of the ethnic Ukrainians moving to Canada in the late 19th and early 20th centuries were from Western Ukraine (predominantly from two provinces: Halychyna (aka Galicia) & Bukovyna). The settlers from Halychyna were predominatly predominately [[Eastern Rite Catholic|Greek Catholic]]s, and were tended early on by the local [[Roman Catholic]] [[hierarch]]y due to the fact that the Vatican wanted to assimilate the Greek Catholics into the mainstream. As the Halychany were coming to Canada, a smaller group of settlers were arriving from Bukovyna who were predominatly predominately Orthodox. These Orthodox were initially served by the [[Orthodox Church in America|Russian Orthodox Mission]] (who were part of the [[Church of Russia]]). The Russian Orthodox Mission was by then established in the northwest of North America through Alaska, and it served all the needs of the Orthodox in that area. It is also noteworthy that many native Ukrainian priests served in the Mission.
Both groups of Ukrainians desired to have a church that was truly "Ukrainian Orthodox," and a church that met their spiritual and cultural needs. This led to the creation of the ''Ukrainian Greek Orthodox Church of Canada (UGOCC)'' in July 1918, in the city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. This convention established not only the church, but a brotherhood to protect the church. The brotherhood (which had former Greek Catholics) condemned the [[Union of Brest-Litovsk]], which had created the Greek Catholics in Ukraine.
The UOCC had strong ties to the [[Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church]] after 1921, when that body was established in Ukraine. In 1951, St. Mary the Protectress Cathedral (which was not in the UOCC at that time) had invited [[Ilarion (Ohienko) of Winnipeg|Metropolitan Ilarion (Ohienko)]] to Canada to become their church's bishop, while the Consistory of the UOCC had already invited [[Archbishop]] [[Michael (Khoroshy) of Toronto|Michael (Khoroshy)]] and [[Bishop]] Platon (who reposed shortly after arriving in Canada) to come to Canada to be the Church's Metropolitan and Bishop respectively. Once the Consistory had learned of Metropolitan Ilarion's coming to Canada, they sought him out, and invited him to become Metropolitan of the UOCC. He accepted only if St. Mary the Protectress was to be accepted back into the UOCC. The Consistory agreed, and the Central and Eastern Dioceses were created with Abp. Michael heading the Eastern Diocese with its headquarters in Toronto, and Metr. Ilarion heading the Central Diocese in Winnipeg as Metropolitan.
==The UOCC Todaytoday==
In 1990, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada became a [[canonical]] church by being accepted into the [[Church of Constantinople]]. A few years later its sister church, the [[Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA]] joined her.
On [[July 23]], 2006, Metropolitan John was enthroned in Holy Trinity Cathedral by His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios of Toronto, the Exarch of Canada of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Also present were their Eminences Archbishops Yurij of Toronto and Antony of New York of the UOCUSA and His Grace Bishop Georgije of Hamilton of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Also present was the Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America's Canadian Archdiocese, the Metropolitan and Metropolitan-Emeritus of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of Canada (Lawrence and Michael, respectively), and representatives of the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and United Churches of Canada.
During a Church Council in August 2008, members came from all across the country came together to elect two new bishops, vote on a change of bylaws, and celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Church. Bishop [[Ilarion (Rudnyk) of Edmonton|Ilarion (Rudnyk)]], vicar bishop in Portugal (under the jurisdiction of the Ecumenical Patriarchate), was elected to the Edmonton cathedra, and Bishop [[Andriy (Peshko) of Krateia|Andrij (Peshko)]], of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, was elected to be the auxiliary of the Central Eparchy [http://www.uocc.ca/pdf/sobor/Sobor%20Communique%20Day%2023-08-08.pdf] . With the election of these two young bishops, the UOCC again restored its Local Synod and a full slate of bishops for the Church. The Council was also attended by Bishop [[Christophoros (Rakintzakis) of Andida]] ([[auxiliary bishop ]] of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto), who represented the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and by Archbishop Antony of New York and Bishop Daniel of Chicago, both of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA.
In October of that year, his Grace Ilarion's election was ratified by the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople and he was enthroned in St. John the Baptist's Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, on Sunday, [[October 26]], 2008 by his Eminence Metropolitan John [[http://www.uocc.ca/en-ca/photos/viewgalleryitem.asp?gn=207]].
On [[July 18 July ]], 2010 a sobor of the UOCC nominated Archbishop Yurij of Toronto to be the sixth Metropolitan of Winnipeg and Canada due to the ongoing health issues of Metropolitan John. In August the Holy Synod of the Church of Constantinople elected Archbishop Yurij to the vacant Winnipeg cathedra, following which he was [[enthronement|enthroned ]] on [[November 21 November ]], 2010 by a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
==Hierarchy and Structurestructure==
According to the custom of the Orthodox Church in the Ukraine the [[primate]] of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada (UOCC) has the rank of [[metropolitan]], with his brother hierarchs holding the rank of [[bishop]] or [[archbishop]] depending on their years of service in the Church.
*Bishop [[Andriy (Peshko) of Krateia|Andriy (Peshko) of Saskatoon, Auxiliary]] (Central Canadian Eparchy) - (2008-present)
==See Alsoalso==
*[[Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the USA|Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA]]
==External Linkslinks==
* [http://www.uocc.ca/ Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada]
* [http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/articles/church_history/oleh_krawchenko_yesterday.htm History of UOCC: "Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow"] by Rt. Rev. Dr. Oleh Krawchenko from the Orthodox Research Institute