OUR HISTORY
The Ladies Auxiliary was established under the umbrella of St. Clement of Ohrid in the early 1960s, shortly after St. Clement was registered as the first Macedonian Orthodox Church in Canada. The Ladies Auxiliary, along with the religious, cultural and educational groups under our church, holds a special place in our community.
The Ladies Auxiliary was idealized and formed by Luba Neshevich, who worked alongside with of the other female founders of our church to grow the Ladies Auxiliary.
The founding members were Luba Neshevich, Mary Kondoff, Zorka Basil, Lefi Neshevic and many other like-minded women who wanted to create a community of volunteers that would support our church, congregation and community. They put so much energy, enthusiasm and love in their volunteering, that every Macedonian should be inspired to be like them. All of the members are grandmothers, mothers, daughters and sisters. There is not a concert, banquet, religious holiday or event that these ladies would hesitate to roll up their sleeves to help with their desire for success.
Mary Kondoff became the first elected President of the Ladies Auxiliary in 1963. The Ladies Auxiliary organized various fundraising events such as bake sales, bazaars, and celebrations of the religious holidays with luncheons. At Easter, the most celebrated of Macedonian Orthodox holidays, they would create floral wreaths to decorate the church and colour eggs to give out to members of the congregation after the church service.
Since 1966, the Ladies Auxiliary has been hosting a Mitrovski Bazaar, held on the Sunday closest to Mitrovden on November 8th. At the Bazaar, the Ladies Auxiliary guide and preserve our traditional cuisine with the presentation of our Macedonian baked goods such as our famous leak, spinach, and cheese pitas, kifli, cookies and other baked goods.
Everything was made with loving hands by the wonderful members of the Ladies Auxiliary.
Over the years, additional events were added that fulfilled not only a fundraising function but also created a sense of community. These included Monday night Bingo, garage sales, Christmas parties, and fashion shows. It also included trips to visit Macedonian Ladies Auxiliaries in other Macedonian Orthodox communities in Canada and the United States. These trips fostered cultural as well as personal bonds between our ladies and equally-minded Macedonian women in other areas.
In the 1980’s and 1990’s, Toronto celebrated its international and multi-cultural diversity through a one-week celebration called “Caravan”. With the hard work by members of the Ladies Auxiliary and the Administrative Council, our Macedonian culture, along with many other ethnic communities in Toronto, was showcased through traditional clothing, food, music and dance.
Over time, the St Clement of Ohrid Ladies Auxiliary has evolved but it’s main foundational premise and dedication to preserving and celebrating our culture and serving our community has remained unchanged.
Ladies Auxiliary Past Presidents:
1963 Mary Kondoff
1964 Nora Thomas
1965 Ratka Shappas
1966 Pat George
1967 Lena Stanwyck
1968 Elka Georgievski
1969 Trajanka Talevska
1970 Cena Givens
1971 Blaga Mangova
1972 Lefi Neshevich
1973 Ratka Shappas
1974 Ratka Shappas
1975 Patsy Sider
1976 Gordana Ristevski
1977 Ratka Shappas
1978 Vera Chumandra
1979 Gordana Ristevski
1980 Nada Stojchevski
1981 Dragica Ristovski
1982 Dragica Ristovski
1983 Aleksandra Stojkovski
1984 Dana Globocki
1985 Dragica Ristovski
1986 Vera Petrevski
1987 Slobodanka Xristova
1988 Rada Dimovski
1989 Fana Pleterska
1990 Lena Taskas
1991 Donka Trifunovska
1992 Vera Jankulovska
1993 Lila Petrevski
1994 Rosie Stergiou
1995 Vera Belchevska
1996 Rada Vidinovska
1997 Menka Krinchevska
1998 Trajanka Bakalovska
1999 Trajanka Bakalovska
2000 Nada Stojchevski
2001 Marina Atanasovska
2002 Marina Atanasovska
2003 Jadranka Stojanovska
2004 Jadranka Stojanovska
2005 Blaga Glavota
2006 Menka Krinchevska
2007 Menka Krinchevska
2008 Slobodanka Stojanovski
2009 Vesna Amicone
2010 Marina Atanasovska
2011 Gorica Poposka
2012 Vesna Amicone
2013 Rada Vidinovska
2014 Lidija Brasnarski
2015 Lidija Brasnarski
2016 Danica Kristov
2017 Marina Atanasovska
2018 Lidija Brasnarski
2019 Marina Atanasovska
2021 Irena Shopov Karaoulis
2022 Irena Shopov Karaoulis
2023 Irena Shopov Karaoulis
Events
Events hosted by the St Clement of Ohrid Ladies Auxiliary include:
January 5 – Koleda (day before Christmas eve):
- The Ladies Auxiliary maintains this age, old tradition by preparing roasted chestnuts and other treats for the children of our Sunday School and congregation as well as something for the adults
January 7 – Christmas (Bozik):
- Our Macedonian Orthodox Christmas is celebrated by having a Christmas Party for the children, including a visit from Santa. Each child is presented with a little
- Mini bake sale
January 14 – Old New Years (Stara Nova Godina):
- The Ladies make pita (vialnitsi) for sale with a gold coin hidden within the layers of one of the pitas. The person who finds the gold coin is said to have good luck for the rest of the year.
- Held on the closest Sunday to January 14th
January 19 – Saint John the Baptist (Vodici):
- Mini bake sale held after the cross ceremony
March 8 – International Women’s Day:
- Celebrated at a luncheon with music and dancing
- Held on the closest Sunday to March 8th
March or April: Easter (Veligden):
- The week prior to Easter the Ladies are busy with the preparation and decorating of the church including colouring of eggs and baking of Easter bread loaves, Kozinjak, for our bake sale
- Attending Good Friday services and organizing flowers and other donated items
- The Ladies Auxiliary visits the residents of Canadian Macedonian Place with baked goods, music and dancing
April (week before Easter) – Palm Sunday (Tsvetnitsi):
- This is our big bake sale with baked goods provided by our wonderful community (domakinki) who generously donate of their time and effort to help make this the successful fundraising event that it is
- Usually includes a buffet lunch
Summer months: June, July and August are generally inactive
Spring or Fall: Short but fun filled out-of-town bus trips are organized annually, allowing for camaraderie through the sharing of nostalgic stories of the past and creating new shared experiences with current and new members
Summer: a garage sale is hosted with items donated by our community
Labour day weekend in September:
- The annual convention of the American Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Diocese is held at one of the Macedonian Orthodox Churches in Canada or the United States
October – our busiest month!
- We host our annual Fashion Show and luncheon requiring
- We have many baking days making buns (kifli) and pita (maznik)
- Preparation for Nov 8th
Nov 8 – Saint Dimitri (Mitrovden) Bazaar and Bake Sale:
- Our bazaar features a big bake sale showcasing Macedonian baked goods and sweets, including towels, linens, housewares and other items graciously donated by members of the congregation
- Held on the Sunday closest to November 8th
December is also a busy month preparing and decorating the church and banquet halls for the upcoming holidays
December 8 – St Clement of Ohrid Patron Day:
– Banquet held on the Saturday closest to December 8th
– Bake sale held on the Sunday after the banquet
December – Ladies Auxiliary Annual Christmas Party:
– Luncheon with music and dancing
– Held on the second or third Sunday of December