News

PARISH FEAST OF THE KAZAN CHURCH IN ROWDON (QUEBEC)

23 July 2010

Last Sunday the parishioners of the church dedicated to the “Kazan” icon of the Mother of God (Rowdon, Quebec) once again gathered for the festivities in honour of the approaching parish feast.

Kazan icon of the Mother of God is one of the most venerated icons of the Most Holy Theotokos in Russia. The wondrous appearance of this icon to the citizens of Kazan took place on July 8 (July 21 new style) 1579, a quarter of a century after the conquest of the Kazan khanate by Ivan the Terrible (1552) and the soon after establishment of the archbishop’s cathedra in Kazan (1555). For the Russian Orthodox Christians this icon still embodies the idea of the prayerful protection and intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos for our Fatherland.

The parish feast celebration that gathers many visitors in Rowdon, one of the most beautiful places in Quebec, is already a tradition for the Canadian diocese. It was begun in 1982, after the building of the current church in place of the original wooden one, that was damaged by fire.

His Grace, Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, along with Protopriest George Lagodich (sacristan of the St. Nicholas’ cathedral), protodeacon Vasili Milonow (Protection memorial church, Ottawa, Ontario), and deacon Boris Sidorenko (St. Nicholas’ cathedral) served the Divine Liturgy attended by many of the faithful. The choir sounded beautifully and evenly, directed this time by subdeacon Peter Pavlovich Paganuzzi.

The Consul General of the Russian Federation in Montreal, Alexei Victorovich Isakov with wife Ludmila Vasilievna, was present at the service among the faithful.

After the dismissal there was a cross procession. Before it, standing in the doors of the church, His Grace, Bishop Gabriel read and then bestowed Diocesan gramotas to two oldest Rowdon parishioners: Olga Matfeevna Zhihareva and Ekaterina Afanasievna Potemkina, both of whom worked a lot for the good of the church.

Then, having prayed, everyone enjoyed the traditional festive meal, wonderfully prepared, as usual, by the local sisterhood headed by Tatiana Konstantinovna Nesterova-Boye.

In his address during the meal, His Grace congratulated all the parishioners with the coming parish feast, thanking them for their fervour and participation in the life of the Church. Vladyka also thanked the Rowdon sisters for the meal.

The Consul General of Russian Federation also greeted everyone. He expressed his joy that he was able for the first time see the beauty of this place and thanked the organizers for the zealous preservation of the true Russian Orthodox spirit of such feasts that unite all Russian people, who came to live in Canada in different times.

We offer you a number of photos from the event.
Homily on the day of the Preeminent Apostles Peter & Paul – St. John of Kronstadt

11 July 2010

We magnify you, o holy preeminent apostles Peter and Paul,
who have enlightened the whole world with your teachings
and brought all the ends of it to Christ

The Lord worthily exalted the names of the holy Apostles throughout the universe: for they were the disciples and fellow labourers with Christ God, the ones who enlightened the entire world with their teachings, the world that was in darkness and in the shadow of death, they brought countless souls from the worship of idols to the knowledge of true God and from dishonour to righteous life, they lived on earth in a heavenly manner, like bodiless angels, having disdained all earthly things as corruptible and temporary, vain and sinful; they worked innumerable miracles, undertook unbelievably great labours, and finally gave their souls for the faith in their Lord. These, in general terms, are the merits of the holy Apostles, and especially of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul.

Unto us, the unworthy ministers, the Lord has bestowed the calling and the ministry of the apostles; therefore our work, even as theirs was, is to teach and enlighten the people, committed to our direction, that they may live in a manner worthy of the Christian calling, that they may work out their salvation with fear and trembling, that they may correct their hearts and characters, that they shy away from the passions that war against the soul, that they live piously, honourably and in a holy manner, waiting for the Lord to come from the heavens to judge the whole world. All the people in the world chase after gain, some out of need, others out of habit, on account of passion; our work is not to chase after gain, not to collect perishing riches; our work, our gain is the salvation of human souls, redeemed by the blood of the Son of God, and our own salvation. And woe, woe unto us, if we chase after gain as did Judas the Iscariot. Then we will destroy both ourselves and the souls committed to our care by God: for how can the priest, will he want to save souls if his heart is occupied by gain? He knows only the value of money; he doesn’t know, with his heart he doesn’t know, he doesn’t feel how precious is the salvation of the soul; salvation for him is an empty word. The one that doesn’t care for his own salvation, will he care for the salvation of others? No, he will not. That is why the apostles of Christ considered all earthly things to be dust, while the salvation of souls they considered to be their main task. Oh, how they loved people, and how they loved people’s souls redeemed from the eternal curse by such a great price, by the blood of the Son of God! They loved them with the love of Christ, teaching every person with tears day and night. Read the letters or the epistles of the apostles where they preached the word of God to the residents of the various cities or to specific individuals; you will see what hot, burning, divine love permeated and inflamed their hearts! In truth, what can be more precious than the salvation of the human soul, which is the image and likeness of the immortal God! The entire world is worth less than one soul. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Matthew 16:26

Thus, my brethren, most of all take care for the salvation of your souls that are perishing in their sins. The time of the earthly life is short, while eternity has no end; at the same time the end of our life is unknown. Make haste to entreat God with repentance, contrition of heart, and correction of life. You, o holy preeminent Apostles Peter and Paul, do we entreat, pray for us to our God, that the Lord direct our hearts and thoughts toward salvation, that He may soften and confirm, that He may have mercy and save all of us. Amen.
Ruskoka camp hosted 2010 Leadership Workshop

5 July 2010

The annual Leadership Workshop was held in the diocesan camp Ruskoka from June 18th, through the 21st. Over 20 counselors and 16 volunteers gathered in the beautiful area in Muskoka. As usual, the workshop was organized and attended by staff and counselors from two orthodox camps: Ruskoka (Canadian Diocese) and ORPR (Chicago Diocese).

The participants were offered a diverse program: sports, swimming, Russian folk dances, spiritual discussion, and also a question and answer session with the priest. All-night vigil was served on Saturday and Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. The choir was directed by Olga Feodorovna Pechnikova, while the services, discussion and question and answer session were conducted by priest Viatcheslav Davidenko.

Alik Sakuta, director of the Ruskoka camp expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the participants and volunteers for their labours.