Known throughout America and Canada, the Circle of Serbian Sisters are a living and integral part of their holy Orthodox Church and, serving their faith, family, and kin, they bear witness to the tradition of the evangelical Myrrhbearers.
In Canada, founded in the early 1920s and 1930s, most of them have grown into exemplary organizations, known for their endowment work and for their cultural and national activities. By helping and beautifying the temples of the Lord and enriching the church life of each parish, the Circle of Serbian Sisters has become firmly established in the life of the Church and the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada. With their self-sacrificing work, serving their holy Church, the Circle of Serbian Sisters has made an irreplaceable contribution to the creation, strengthening and development of the Diocese of Canada. Many of the circles have published memorials of their work and life on the occasion of the anniversaries of their foundation.
With the establishment of the independent Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, the sister duties and obligations were elevated to the level of a diocese. Thus, the need arose to establish a Diocesan Circle, which was primarily supposed to take care of the residence of the bishop, the ceremonies of the diocese and, according to its capabilities, contribute to the maintenance of the newly established Diocese of Canada. Its special duties are to connect and unite the work of the church circles, to cooperate closely with the local church circles and to coordinate the activities of everyone on the religious and cultural-educational plans of the Diocese of Canada.
At the founding assembly of the Diocesan Circle of Serbian Sisters at the Serbian Centre in Mississauga on February 2, 1985, the board of directors – headed by the first president Milka Milunovic – voted on the DCSS bylaws in accordance with the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Constitution of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the United States and Canada. That same year, fifteen local church circles united in the DCSS, which became an organization with over 610 members. The number of members has fluctuated over the years but has always remained at an enviable level. The Diocesan Circle is still very active and has received numerous new members, especially after a new wave of Serbian immigrants came to Canada after the outbreak of war in Yugoslavia. This younger generation of sisters, whose membership in individual circles is increasing, worthily continues the tradition of their grandmothers and their mothers, and they are committed to the further progress of our diocese.
We prayerfully remember all deceased sister members every year on the feast of the DCSS on All Saints Sunday – the patron of the DCSS. We pray for the repose of their souls and cherish the memories of all of them among us. We remember our older sisters, our honorary members – who, with their families, served their Church with long years of work.
