Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Toronto)

Church in Toronto, Ontario

Saint Sava Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church

Saint Sava Church, pictured in 2010

Location| 203 River Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5A 3P9
Denomination| Serbian Orthodox
Website| svetisavatoronto.org
History
Consecrated| May 22, 1955
Architecture
Architect(s)| Petar "Pera" Popović[1]
Architectural type| Serbo-Byzantine Revival
Years built| 1953–1955
Groundbreaking| June 10, 1953 (1953-06-10)
Administration
Diocese| Diocese of Canada
Clergy
Pastor(s)| V. Rev. Drago Knežević
Rev. Jovica Ćetković

Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church (Serbian: Српска православна црква Светог Саве) is a Serbian Orthodox church located in the Cabbagetown neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

It is dedicated to Saint Sava, the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church. It is the first Serbian Orthodox church built in Toronto and is commonly referred to as the mother church of the local Serbian Canadian community.[2]

## History

[edit]

The church is located on the same site (the northeast corner of River Street and Gerrard Street East) as the Gerrard Street United Church which was built in 1880 and demolished in 1939 when the parish was merged with Saint Enoch United Church.[3]

The construction of the Saint Sava church and church hall began on June 10, 1953, and the cornerstone was consecrated by Bishop Dionisije Milivojević on August 22, 1953. The architect of the church and church hall was Petar "Pera" Popović, and the building contractor was Velimir "Velja" Relja. The single-nave church was built in the Romanesque style and adapted into a Serbo-Byzantine Revival style. It has a small semicircular altar-apse in the east while in the west is the main entrance to the church with a small vestibule. A small round dome also rises above the roof on the west side of the church. The church has three crosses. The church hall is attached directly to the north side of the church, through which one can also enter the church.

The first service was held in the church hall on Easter 1954,[4] and the foundation of the church was consecrated on September 5, 1954 by Bishop (now Saint) Nikolaj Velimirović.[5]

The church was completed and consecrated on May 22, 1955, by Bishop Dionisije Milivojević. Princess Olga (sister of Russian Emperor Nicholas II) attended the celebration and banquet, donating an icon of Saint Alexander Nevski made by her own hand.[5] The iconostasis of the church, the work of Sima Temovski, was consecrated in 1956.

In October 2005, the church was registered as a heritage building by the Ontario Heritage Trust[6] as part of the Cabbagetown South Heritage Conservation District.[7][8]

The church has been visited by a Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church on three occasions: by Patriarch Irinej in June 2015[9] and February 2016[10] and by Patriarch Porfirije in October 2024.[11]

## See also

[edit]

* Saint Michael the Archangel Serbian Orthodox Church (Toronto)
* All Serbian Saints Serbian Orthodox Church (Mississauga)

## References

[edit]

1. ^ ACO Toronto (2022-01-31). "St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church". Retrieved 2023-05-22.
2. ^ Novine Toronto (2013-12-06). "Šezdeset godina Crkve Svetog Save na Riveru (7)" (in Serbian). Retrieved 2019-08-28.
3. ^ "TPL photo". digitalarchive.tpl.ca.
4. ^ "Историјат Цркве "Свети Сава"". svetisavatoronto.org.
5. ^ a b Saint Sava Church (26 August 2005). "Srpska kolonija u Torontu, Ontario" (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 30 December 2006. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
6. ^ "Ontario Heritage Act Register | Details". Ontario Heritage Trust.
7. ^ "203 River Street". Cabbagetown Heritage Conservation District Committee.
8. ^ "City of Toronto's Heritage Property Search Detail". secure.toronto.ca.
9. ^ Istočnik (2015-06-10). "Патријарх Иринеј у Торонту" (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
10. ^ "Патријарх Иринеј на Сретење служио у Торонту" (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). spc.rs. 2016-02-17. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-18.
11. ^ "Патријарх Порфирије богослужио у цркви Светог Саве у Торонту" (in Serbian (Cyrillic script)). spc.rs. 6 October 2024. Retrieved 7 October 2024.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website

43°39′50.3″N 79°21′32.7″W﻿ / ﻿43.663972°N 79.359083°W﻿ / 43.663972; -79.359083

* v
* t
* e

Serbian Orthodox church buildings

Serbia|

| Belgrade|

* Church of Saint Sava
* St. Michael's Cathedral
* St. George, Banovo Brdo
* Ružica
* St. Mark's Church
* St. Basil of Ostrog
* Church of the Ascension
* Rakovica Monastery
* Chapel of Saint Petka
* Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
* St. Alexander Nevsky
* Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (Batajnica)
* St. Nicholas (Dobanovci)
* Holy Virgin (Zemun)

|

Vojvodina|

* St. Nicholas (Bačinci)
* St. John the Baptist (Bačka Palanka)
* St. George (Banoštor)
* St. George (Bečej)
* St. Peter and Paul (Berkasovo)
* Holy Archangel Gabriel (Bočar)
* Saint Sava (Čerević)
* St. Nicholas (Ečka)
* St. Nicholas (Erdevik)
* St. Elijah (Ilinci)
* Presentation of the Theotokos (Inđija)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Irig)
* St. Nicholas (Irig)
* St. Theodore Tiron (Irig)
* Holy Apostle Luke (Kupinovo)
* St. George Cathedral (Novi Sad)
* Assumption of the Theotokos (Pančevo)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Pančevo)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Ruma)
* St. Nicholas (Sibač)
* St. Nicholas (Sivac)
* St. George (Sombor)
* Epiphany of the Lord (Srbobran)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Sremska Kamenica)
* Sremski Karlovci Orthodox Cathedral (Sremski Karlovci)
* St. Demetrius (Sremska Mitrovica)
* St. Archdeacon Stephen (Sremska Mitrovica)
* Holy Archangel Gabriel (Susek)
* Presentation of the Theotokos (Sviloš)
* St. Nicholas (Šid)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Titel)
* St. George (Tovariševo)
* Transfer of the relics of the Holy Father Nicholas (Turija)
* Assumption of the Theotokos (Vršac)
* St. Nicholas (Vršac)
* Assumption (Zrenjanin)

Central Serbia|

* St. Achillius (Arilje)
* St. Nicholas (Baljevac na Ibru)
* Nativity of the Virgin (Bogatić)
* St. Nicholas (Brezova)
* Kađenica (Dljin)
* Saints Peter and Paul (Dobrić)
* Saints Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena (Ivanjica)
* White Church (Karan)
* St. Nicholas (Kosovica)
* Holy Trinity (Kraljevo)
* Apostles Peter and Paul (Kriva Reka)
* Transfiguration (Krivaja)
* Holy Ascension (Krupanj)
* St. George (Kruševac)
* Lazarica (Kruševac)
* Holy Mother of God (Kuršumlija)
* Memorial Church (Lazarevac)
* Holy Trinity (Leskovac)
* Odžaklija (Leskovac)
* Cave Church (Lukovo)
* St. George (Lukovo)
* Štava Church (Lukovska Banja)
* Holy Trinity (Negotin)
* Holy Trinity Cathedral (Niš)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Novaci)
* Nativity of Christ (Pirot)
* Cave Church (Rsovci)
* St. Petka (Staničenje)
* Apostles Peter and Paul (Stari Ras)
* St. John the Baptist (Stevanac)
* Oplenac (Topola)
* St. Mark (Užice)

Kosovo* (status)|

* Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Belo Polje)
* St. Stephen (Donje Nerodimlje)
* St. Paraskeva (Drsnik)
* St. Nicholas (Đurakovac)
* Holy Archangels (Gornje Nerodimlje)
* Virgin Hodegetria (Mušutište)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Obilić)
* Christ the Saviour (Pristina)
* Holy Saviour (Prizren)
* Our Lady of Ljeviš (Prizren)
* St. Elijah (Podujevo)
* Saint George (Prizren)
* St. Nicholas (Prizren)
* St John the Baptist (Samodreža)
* St. Nicholas (Slovinje)
* St. Nicholas (Štrpce)
* St. Uroš (Uroševac)
* Saint Elijah (Vučitrn)

Montenegro|

* St. Jovan Vladimir (Bar)
* Cetinje Monastery (Cetinje)
* Court Church (Cetinje)
* Vlah Church (Cetinje)
* Holy Savior (Grahovac)
* Holy Savior (Herceg Novi)
* St. Luke (Kotor)
* St. Nicholas (Kotor)
* Podgorica Cathedral (Podgorica)
* Morača
* Ostrog Monastery
* Savina Monastery
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Zabrđe)
* Njegoš's Testament Church

Bosnia and
Herzegovina|

| Republika Srpska|

* Banja Luka Cathedral (Banja Luka)
* St. Nikola (Dobrelji)
* St. Nicholas (Dobrljin)
* St. Nicholas (Javorani)
* St. Nicholas (Rijeka)
* St. Nicholas (Romanovci)
* St. George (Sopotnica)
* St. Nicholas (Srđevići)
* St. Archangel Michael (Veličani)

|

Federation B&H|

* Holy Trinity (Mostar)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Mostar)
* Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel (Sarajevo)
* Holy Transfiguration (Sarajevo)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Sarajevo)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Tuzla)

Croatia|

* Holy Venerable Mother Parascheva (Banovci)
* Transfer of the relics of the Holy Father Nicholas (Bijelo Brdo)
* St. George (Bobota)
* St. Peter and Paul (Bolman)
* St. Stephen (Borovo)
* Ascension of the Lord (Cetina)
* Presentation of Mary (Čakovci)
* Dalj Cathedral (Dalj)
* Saint Archangel Michael (Darda)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Drežnica)
* Holy Annunciation (Dubrovnik)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Gaboš)
* St. George (Grubišno Polje)
* St. Michael the Archangel (Ilok)
* St. Nicholas (Jagodnjak)
* St. Stefan Štiljanović (Karanac)
* St. Nicholas (Karlovac)
* St. George (Kneževo)
* Intercession of the Holy Virgin (Knin)
* Pentecost (Markušica)
* St. Nicholas (Mikluševci)
* St. Nicholas (Mirkovci)
* St. Panteleimon (Mirkovci)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Mohovo)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Negoslavci)
* St. Elijah (Novi Jankovci)
* St. George (Opatovac)
* St. Peter and Paul (Orolik)
* Dormition of the Mother of God (Osijek)
* Nativity of Saint John the Baptist (Ostrovo)
* St. Nicholas (Pačetin)
* St. Spyridon (Peroj)
* Presentation of Mary (Popovac)
* St. Nicholas (Rijeka)
* Saint Parascheva (Slabinja)
* Nativity of the Theotokos (Srijemske Laze)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Šarengrad)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Šibenik)
* Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (Štikada)
* St. Peter and Paul (Tepljuh)
* St. George (Tovarnik)
* Transfiguration of the Lord (Trpinja)
* St. George (Varaždin)
* Pentecost (Vinkovci)
* St. Nicholas (Vrlika)
* St. Nicholas (Vukovar)
* Serbian Orthodox Cathedral (Zagreb)

Hungary|

* Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Father Nicholas (Baja)
* St. George (Budapest)
* Transfer of the Relics of the Holy Father Nicholas (Dunaújváros)
* St. Nicholas (Eger)
* St. George (Magyarcsanád)
* St. Petka (Majs)
* St. George (Pomáz)
* St. George (Somberek)
* John the Baptist (Székesfehérvár)
* Annunciation Church (Szentendre)
* Dormition of the Theotokos (Szentendre)
* Požarevac Church (Szentendre)
* St. Nicholas (Szeged)
* Transfiguration Church (Szentendre)

Romania|

* St. Peter and St. Paul (Arad)
* Ascension Cathedral (Timișoara)
* St. Nicholas (Timișoara)
* St. George (Timișoara)

United Kingdom|

* Holy Prince Lazar (Birmingham)
* Serbian Orthodox Church (Halifax)
* St. Nicholas (West Wycombe)

United States|

* Sts. Constantine and Helen Serbian Orthodox Church, Galveston
* Trinity Chapel Complex, Manhattan
* Saint Sava Church, Jackson, California
* Saint Sava Church, Merrillville, Indiana
* Saint Sava Cathedral, Milwaukee

Canada|

* Holy Trinity Church, Regina
* Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Hamilton
* All Serbian Saints Church, Mississauga
* Saint Sava Church, Toronto
* Saint Arsenije Sremac Church, Whitby
* Saint Stefan Church, Ottawa
* Holy Trinity Church, Montreal
* Saint Sava Church, Winnipeg
* Saint Michael the Archangel Church, Toronto

Other
countries|

* Church of St. Sava, Gaborone, Botswana
* Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church, Slovenia
* St. Sava Church, Paris, France
* Saint Spyridon Church, Trieste, Italy
* Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Church, Stockholm, Sweden
* Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Komárno, Slovakia (in care of OCLS)

Notes|

* indicate churches in Kosovo, which is the subject of a territorial dispute between Serbia and Kosovo.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template