Parish History
In May 2002, Father Viorel Tencaliuc, with the blessing of Deputy Archbishop of the Orthodox Church in America and Canada Iosif and with a small group of Romanian Orthodox Christians, establishes a new mission in Toronto, Ontario by the name of “St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church”.
The first celebration of Saint Dumitru the Myrrh-Streamer, the Patron Saint of the Church, takes place on October 26, 2002 in the presence of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae Condrea.
In December 2003, due to misunderstandings that arose, Father Viorel Tencaliuc, together with the Mission Council and some of the faithful, establishes a second mission by the name of “Sts. Three Hierarchs in Toronto Romanian Orthodox Church” with a new location at 2 Wembley Road, Toronto, Ontario, M6C 2E9.
In September 2005, His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae Condrea approves and blesses the merging of the two missions into one, named “St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church”, under the patronage of Saint Dumitru the Myrrh-Streamer and Saints Three Hierachs.
The new mission rents the space required to perform religious services from Advent Lutheran Church located at 2800 Don Mills Road, Toronto, Ontario, M2J 4H1, where the Parish continues to this day to perform the Holy Liturgy every Sunday.
In July 2009, St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church purchases property, located at 526 Carrville Road, Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4C 6E6, where with the help of God and the faithful the mission will build its church.
On May 8 and 9, 2012, St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church hosts the Deanery General Assembly of Eastern Canada (meeting of the priests), under the leadership of His Eminence Archbishop Nicolae Condrea, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Vicina and the Archpriest George Chisca, which is attended by the majority of the parish priests belonging to the Deanery.
In June 2012, at the Archdiocese Congress held in Montreal, Quebec, St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church is officially elevated from a mission to a parish.
In September 2014, St. Dumitru Romanian Orthodox Church completes the surface necessary to build the church through the purchase of the adjacent property, located at 482 Carrville Rd., Richmond Hill, Ontario, L4C 6E6.
In January 2018, the theologian Emanuel Ionuț Tencaliuc is ordained as deacon by H.G. Ioan Casian.
In June 2018, Father Viorel Tencaliuc is elevated to the rank of Dean for the newly established Deanery for the Center of Canada within the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada.
On September 15, 2018, the deacon Emanuel Ionuț Tencaliuc is ordained to priesthood.
On May 3, 2019, the small consecration of the new chapel with the dedication Life-giving-Spring feast, in close proximity to the place where the new church will be erected, was performed.
Our future plans, to build a Romanian style church, are full of hope in the providence of God. If we remain united in faith and divine ideals, our efforts will not remain unrewarded.
May God help us!
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