Saints Peter and Paul Church, Sudbury

Address : 515 Antwerp Street, Sudbury ON, P3C 4M9

Phone : 705 674 2578

Website : www.facebook.com/StsPeterandPaulSOC

Priest: Fr. Brian Payne (Administrator)

Phone number: 647 909 6170

Email address: ivanfromthenorth@gmail.com

Father Brian Payne was born on April 12, 1968, in Windsor, Ontario, to father Stephen and mother Nancy (née Matijašević). He was baptized shortly thereafter at Gračanica Church in Windsor, with Sam and Donna Lazić of Niagara as godparents. Growing up in Windsor, he graduated from Vincent Massey Secondary School and the Faculty of Political Science at the University of Windsor. While a student at the university, he met Jelena Backo (father Milorad and mother Grozdana) of Windsor. They were married on August 31, 1991, at Gračanica Church, with the officiating priests being Fr. Božo Bakajlić and Fr. Dragoljub Malić. God blessed them with a son, Logan. He was ordained a reader by Bishop Dr. Mitrofan of Canada on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 2019. Immediately thereafter, he enrolled in the Orthodox Theological Faculty of the Russian Church Abroad, graduating in June 2023 after successfully defending his thesis entitled “Using the Influence of Orthodox Pastoral Teachings in Shaping National Leadership Decisions Regarding Social Protection.” Metropolitan Mitrofan of Canada ordained him to the rank of deacon on June 30, 2024, and to the rank of presbyter on September 14, 2024, at the Holy Transfiguration Monastery in Milton.

Church history

The church and school district, with a beautiful church dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul, encompasses the city of Sudbury as well as the surrounding smaller towns. In addition to the church, the church and school district also includes the Serbian Center. The first Serb settlers in Sudbury were Đuro Topo and his wife, who settled on May 6, 1924. As early as 1926, Serbs began to settle in the city in larger groups. The church and school district of Saints Peter and Paul was founded in 1937. The same year, the Circle of Serbian Sisters "Queen Maria" was founded, and Julka Sandor was elected as the first president. After World War II, about 500 Serbian families lived in Sudbury, many of whom worked in the Sudbury mines. Construction of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul began in 1963. The temple was completed and consecrated by Bishop Dionysius on June 27, 1964. The temple cost $150,000 to build. The temple's godfather was Tihomir Mladenović. The temple's major benefactors were B. Tepurić, N. Nišić, L. Ćeračić, Petar Šehovac, K. Tanić, R. Vukić, M. Garić, Rade Nišić, Č. Zubac, J. Martinović, J. Kovačević, Branko Rebić, S. Milošević, P. Vuković, Đuran Radusin, Antonije Janković and Dr. Borislav Janićijević. In recent decades, the number of Serbs in Sudbury has been drastically decreasing as many of them leave the city in search of work. The Church and School District of Saints Peter and Paul was under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Novo Gračanica until May 21, 2009, when, by the decision of the Holy Council of Bishops on the arrondissement of dioceses and parishes in North America, all parishes in Canada passed under the omophorion of the Diocese of Canada.

The priests who served in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul are Fr. Milan Radojević, Fr. Gvozden Petrović, Fr. Jovan Lapadić, Fr. Đuro Majerle, Fr. Arsenije Vujaklija, Fr. Dragan Mitrović, Fr. Miloš Savić, Fr. Milan Popović, Fr. Milan Jovanović, Fr. Jovan Marjanac, Fr. Đurađ Kojić and Fr. Brian Payne.