The Cathedral of St. George was completed in 1943 to replace an earlier structure that had been purchased from St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Parish in 1917. This small wooden structure had served as the first St. Paul’s Church on Spadina. In 1918, it was placed on a substantial property in Pleasant Hill, which had been obtained from the Separate Schools. The martyr, Blessed Bishop Nicetas Budka, blessed the church that year.

The community soon outgrew the first church, and dreams of a more substantial and beautiful church were realized under the pastorate of Fr. Michael Pelech, who enlisted Fr. Philip Ruh, O.M.I., of Winnipeg, to design a fitting Ukrainian Church for the growing city of Saskatoon. The present church was begun in 1939 and blessed by Metropolitan Maxim Hermaniuk of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg and the first bishop of the newly established Eparchy of Saskatoon, Andrew Roborecki, in 1957.

The present church seats approximately 500 people and was lavishly decorated by Theodore Baran in phases beginning in 1950. This work was completed in 1968 and includes important scenes from the life of Christ, images of the Mother of God, and the angels and saints executed in gold and vibrant colours.

The Church of St. George was designated the Cathedral of the new Exarchate of Saskatchewan in 1951 and continued in this role when the Exarchate was elevated to the status of an Eparchy.

The Cathedral of St. George has been visited by many prominent and saintly figures over the years. In 1972, the martyr, Blessed Bishop Vasyl Velychkowsky, celebrated a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy here. It was visited a number of times by Metropolitan Josyf Slipyj, Confessor of the Faith and by every Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church since, including several visits by Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk.

The Cathedral of St. George stands proudly today as a testament to the faith of its community and of its founders.

The information provided here is taken in part from the work of Anna Maria Kowcz-Baran, Ukrainian Catholic Churches of Saskatchewan, published in 1977. This monumental historical survey can be found for sale at the Musée Ukraina Museumfor only $20.00.