About the parish

Who we are

Saint Basil of Ostrog is a missionary parish of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the Diocese of Canada, serving Halifax and the wider region of Atlantic Canada.

Our community gathers for the Divine Liturgy, feast-day celebrations and pastoral care under the omophorion of the Bishop of Canada. We honour Saint Basil of Ostrog, a beloved Serbian saint and wonderworker, as our heavenly patron and protector.

The parish brings together people of Serbian heritage and many others from different backgrounds who have come to love the Orthodox faith. Services are celebrated using both Church Slavonic/Serbian and English, so that all may understand and participate.

In addition to liturgical life, we share meals, support one another in practical needs, and seek to be a witness to Christ in Halifax through hospitality and quiet service.


Our story

From a small colony to a parish

The story of Saint Basil of Ostrog Parish is closely tied to the journey of Serbian Orthodox faithful who settled in Halifax and longed for a spiritual home rooted in their tradition.

Founding

The missionary parish of Saint Basil (Vasilije) of Ostrog in Halifax, the easternmost parish of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, was founded on December 26, 2001. On that day the Bishop of Canada, His Grace Georgije, together with the first administrator, Fr Ljubomir Rajic from Toronto, visited the small Serbian community on the Atlantic coast and formally established the parish.

The first Divine Liturgy and assembly were held in the premises of the local Greek Orthodox church, where Serbian faithful in Halifax had already been gathering for services. At that founding meeting the first parish council was elected and the work of organizing parish life began.

Circle of Serbian Sisters

Not long after the parish was founded, the Circle of Serbian Sisters “Holy Martyrs Vera, Ljubav and Nada and their Mother Sophia” was formed in Halifax. The sisters assist in preparing the church, organizing meals and events, and supporting charitable work, continuing a long-standing tradition within Serbian Orthodox communities.

Today

Today, Saint Basil of Ostrog remains a missionary parish: a relatively small but active community that gathers people from Serbian and many other backgrounds. While the parish is rooted in the Serbian liturgical and cultural heritage, it serves all Orthodox Christians and anyone who seeks to encounter the life of the Church.

Under the care of the Diocese of Canada, the parish continues to grow slowly, celebrating the Divine Liturgy, feast days and sacraments, and providing a spiritual home for Orthodox faithful in Halifax and throughout Atlantic Canada.

🇷🇸 Serbian