News

• His Grace Bishop Gabriel visited Calgary (Alberta)

  29 October 2010

  On Saturday, October 22, 2010, His Grace, Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, accompanied by deacon Alexander Morin, arrived in Calgary (Alberta) from Vancouver (British Columbia). The church of All Saints, here, celebrated its 80th anniversary. According to the parish records, the first time the mystery of baptism was performed on October 12th, 1930. Initially, the services were held in a Protestant church, but in 1932, after the ever-memorable Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodoumov) arrived in Canada from Yogoslavia, the parish began the building of its own church. The building project was completed in 1934 and the church was consecrated by Vladyka Joasaph (to note, the 80th anniversary of the consecration of Vladyka, who became known as the enlightener of Canada, to the episcopate was recently solemnly celebrated in Montreal, with the Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, attending.

  The feast for the parishioners of the church of All Saints was augmented due to the fact that the 25th anniversary of the ordination of its rector – Protopriest George Primak, who was given a Diocesan gramota to mark the occasion, fell on the same date. Next day, Sunday, October 23rd, with a large number of the faithful attending, His Grace, Bishop Gabriel, served the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy.

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  Fall gathering of the clergy of the Canadian Diocese

  29 October 2010

  This year, for the first time in the last decade, traditional fall gathering of the clergy of the Canadian Diocese, headed by His Grace, Gabriel, Bishop of Montreal and Canada, took place within the Western deanery, from the 18th through the 20th of October, 2010, at the Holy Trinity church in Vancouver, British Columbia.

  The first working day of the gathering, Tuesday, October 19th, was set aside for reports and discussions. As usual, at this meeting, in a course of brotherly discussions, in an informal and free setting, the daily circumstance of the life of the Diocese, as well as the questions regarding the divine services and taking care of our flock in the current secular setting, were discussed. This subject was given precedence and that was reflected in the adopted resolution:

  The clergy of the Canadian Diocese, having gathered for the annual fall meeting under the presidency of our ruling Hierarch, His Grace, Vladyka Gabriel, considered in fine detail the circumstances, under which the Mystery of Baptism is performed for infants in our days. It was noted that the parents, as well as the godparents, of the one being baptized, are not always aware of the great responsibility being placed upon them in relation to the child, who through Baptism is brought into the Church’s fold. If the family of the newly-baptized, his godfather and godmother, themselves, do not attend the churches of God, do not partake of the Holy Gifts, and do not take the necessary care for the child – brought by them to church and given to the clergy form the immersion into the Holy Font – to be brought up in the Orthodox faith of Christ, they commit no small sin. This sin is twofold because not only do they deprive themselves of the way to salvation, but their child as well they leave defenceless in the face of temptations, which could be negatively reflected in the child’s future life and even in the life eternal.

  Upon further discussion, with the blessing of His Grace, Bishop Gabriel, it was decided to create Diocesan Missionary Committee, which is to be headed by Igumen Raphael (Vereshchak), rector of the Resurrection church in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was also decided that the parents of the newly-baptized, as well as the godparents, upon the conclusion of the Mystery, were to be given a copy of the book The Law of God, written in a simple and easily understandable language. The same book is to be given to all those entering marriage.

  The state of the finances of the Diocese was also discussed. It was determined that, together with the necessity for parishes to make timely payments of the annual dues into the Diocesan treasury, as well as the mandatory purchasing of all candles for parishes from the Diocesan warehouse, proper attention should be paid to the collection of funds for the various missionary and charitable goals, which would be considered beneficial and would be approved by the Diocesan Administration, acting in full observance of the order set in the current REGULATIONS of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. During the review of such questions, the final word, in any case, belongs exclusively to the Ruling Hierarch, for, according to the Holy Canons, specifically the Bishop “has the care of all Church things” (Apostles, 38).

  After the conclusion of reports and discussions, vespers and matins were served, and on Wednesday, October 20th, on the day of the martyrs Sergius and Bacchus (name day and 20th anniversary of ordination of the rector of the Holy Trinity church, Protopriest Sergei Overt, who at the time was in Los Angeles, by the bedside of his ailing mother, the servant of God Maria) – with a large number of the faithful attending – the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was served. During the reading of the hours, His Grace, Bishop Gabriel, made George Zharikov (for the Holy Trinity parish) and Philosoph Uhlman (for the church of St. Sophia on Victoria island, B.C.) subdeacons. After the consecration of the Holy Gifts, Andrei Myer, whose ministry will be at the St. Nicholas’ parish (also in Vancouver), was ordained to the deaconate.

  After the dismissal, many years was intoned, and then, in the parish hall, there was a festive meal, prepared with love and care by the church sisterhood, which was especially thanked by His Grace and others present.

  The gathering continued with a bus excursion to the beautiful places in Vancouver and the nearby area. This pleasant surprise was prepared by the parishioners and rector of the St. Nicholas’ parish, Fr. Evstafiy Hripounov, whose parish was visited by the participants of the gathering toward evening. A prayer service to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was done in the church.

  Please, take a look at the photos (Day 1, Day 2) from the event.

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  Celebrations in honour of Archbishop Joasaph in Quebec

  28 October 2010

  October 15th through 17th, 2010, in the parishes of the Canadian Diocese that are situated in the province of Quebec, and first of all in St. Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal, celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the consecration to the episcopate of Archbishop Joasaph (Skorodoumov), who is justly called the enlightener of Canada, took place. The ministry of the Very Most Reverend Vladyka Joasaph continued for two decades, from 1930 to 1950. During this time he founded forty parishes and two monastic sketes. In part, these parishes exist to this day. In any case, the ever-memorable Archbishop Joasaph, by the mercy of God, was the founder of the Canadian Diocese of the Church Abroad.

  The Very Most Reverend Metropolitan Hilarion, First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, along with many guests from various places in Canada and USA, attended the solemnities.

  On the first day of his visit to Quebec, on Friday, October 15th, Vladyka Metropolitan visited the church in honour of the “Kazan” icon of the Mother of God in Rawdon. In the afternoon, he visited Ss. Peter & Paul cathedral of the Orthodox Church in America and then, paid a visit to Montreal’s mayor’s office, where he left his signature in the Book of the honourable guests of the city. From the mayor’s office, the First Hierarch of ROCA went to the reception, held in his honour by the General Consul of the Russian Federation in Montreal His Excellency A.V. Isakov.

  Next morning, on Saturday, Vladyka Metropolitan was greeted in the church of St. John of Sochava in Lachine, the parish that will celebrate its centennial anniversary next year. After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Metropolitan visited with the parishioners, and from Lachine he went to the meeting with the representatives of the Montreal Cossack Stanitsa named after ataman A.M. Kaledin.

  In time for the all-night vigil, the wonderworking copy of the Pochaev icon of the Mother of God was brought to Montreal from the Holy Trinity monastery in Jordanville, NY, the copy that has been preserved by the brotherhood of the monastery for over half a century.

  On Sunday, October 17th, at the St. Nicholas cathedral, at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy and a litia for the departed, a festive meal, prepared by the church Sisterhood, was offered to all present in the parish hall. After the meal, a lecture about the life and ministry of the ever-memorable Archbishop Joasaph was read. The celebration was concluded with a concert, in which a quartet from the Holy Trinity Seminary and the students of the cathedral’s A.S. Pushkin school shared their talents.

  Please, look at the photos from the events in Quebec.

  Additionally, three more albums are available for viewing on our site in the photo albumssection.

  More information about the concert of the Holy Trinity Seminary choir may be read here.

• Celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad

  28 October 2010

  ENCYCLICAL

  To all rectors, clergy, and the flock of the Canadian Diocese.

  ANNOUNCEMENT

  In accordance with the decision of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad regarding the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, this significant date in Russian History will be celebrated in our divinely protected Diocese.

  The celebration of the 90th anniversary of the existence of our Russian Church Abroad will take place on November 7/20 and 8/21, 2010, at the Holy Trinity church, located at 23 Henry St, Toronto, Ontario. It was specifically in these days, on board a ship “Great Prince Alexander Mikhailovitch” by the shores of Constantinople, and then in the city itself, that the first sessions of the Temporary Highest Church Administration in the South of Russia, under the presidency of the Most Blessed Metropolitan Anthony (Khrapovitskiy), which served as the beginning of the Russian Church Abroad, took place.

  Schedule of Festivities:

  November 7/20, Saturday, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM – meeting with the youth of the Diocese. 7:00 PM – All-night vigil.
  November 8/21, Sunday, 10:00 AM – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy (meeting of the Bishop – 9:30 AM). 2:00 PM – festive reception at the banquet hall located at 2110 Dundas St. East, Unit 4 (You may order tickets and get additional details from the sisterhood treasurer, Kaleria Antonovna Poroshina, at: (905) 884-0804).

  During the banquet there will be festive greetings, a lecture on the history of the Church Abroad, and a concert by the Holy Trinity choir.

  During the days of the celebration of the 90th anniversary of the Russian Church Abroad, the holy Relics of the Baptizer of Russia – Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir – will be brought from the Fatherland to the Holy Trinity cathedral. We hope that all, who shall have such an opportunity, will take part in the spiritual solemnity of the veneration of the Holy Relics.

  I ask the rectors to distribute this announcement in their respective parishes.

  Gabriel

  Bishop of Montreal and Canada

  October 14/27, 2010

• 25th anniversary of the repose of ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesenskiy)

  28 October 2010

  ENCYCLICAL

  Notice

  To all rectors and clergy of the Canadian Diocese.

  This is to inform that on November 8/21 it will be a 25th anniversary of the repose of the ever-memorable Metropolitan Philaret (Voznesenskiy), who was the 3rd in the line of the First Hierarchs of our Russian Church Abroad, the 90th anniversary of which we celebrate this year, notably, on the very same day.

  In order to honour the memory of the Very Most Reverend Vladyka Metropolitan Philaret, I request that a panikhida, or litia, would be served in all the parishes of the Canadian Diocese on this day, after the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy.

  Gabriel

  Bishop of Montreal and Canada

  October 14/27, 2010

• 

  Parish Feastday at the Protection of the Mother of God Memorial Church in Ottawa

  13 October 2010

  This year the Protection of the Mother of God Parish in Ottawa celebrated its parish feast on the 9th and 10th of October. His Grace, Bishop Gabriel presided over the services, assisted by the rector of the parish, Fr. Stelian Liabotis, the second priest Fr. Alexis Pjawka, and the parish Protodeacon Fr. Vasily Milonow. In addition, the parish welcomed visiting clergy representing every diocese of the Russian Church Abroad in North America: Fr. Peter Perekrestov (San Francisco, CA), Fr. Paul Bassett (Cincinnati, OH), Fr. Protodeacon Victor Lochmatow (Jordanville, NY) and Fr. Deacon Mark Luimes (Niagara Falls, ON). The choir sang under the direction of the Reader Elias Dubelsten.

  During the small entrance, Fr. Alexis was awarded the right to wear the nabedrennik (shield). A moleben and procession took place after the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy. In his congratulatory remarks, Vladyka Gabriel greeted the rector, clergy and parishioners with the feastday and also mentioned that this year Matushka Elena Liabotis retired as the choir conductor. On behalf of the congregation, Vladyka thanked Matushka for her many years of service to the parish.

  After the service, everyone was invited to the parish hall for a festive lunch prepared by the sisterhood.

  You are invited to view photos from the event, taken by Vladimir Damjanovic, parishioner of the Protection church in Ottawa.