News
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Jubilee Celebration of the 40th anniversary of church service of mitred archpriest o.Vladimir Malchenko.
21 December 2013
In December 2013 Holy Trinity parish in Toronto celebrated with great joy the special date of its history: the 40th anniversary of the Priesthood of its perpetual Prior – Mitred Archpriest Father Vladimir Malchenko. Father Vladimir was ordained into Deaconate on December the 2d, 1973, in Saint Nicholas Cathedral of Montreal by the Ruling Bishop of Canadian Diocese at that time, of blessed memory, His Grace Vladyka Vitaly (Ustinov), the future Metropolitan and Hierarch of Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. Only a few months later Father Vladimir was honored by the Priesthood and from that very time never left the Holy Trinity parish, having received it from another and also prominent representative of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad – memorable Father Archpriest Mathew Andrewszhenko.
His Eminence Vladika Gabriel, The Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, who arrived to Toronto especially for this parish’s celebration, in his greeting Word mentioned the above stated stages of the career of Father Vladimir. We also would like to remind here that throughout the years, when Father Vladimir has been the prior, Holy Trinity parish became the biggest of all that belong to the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad. About half thousand people gather in this church for every Divine Liturgy, not speaking about the Feast Days and Easter time… This is, truly, “Russian”, almost “Moscow”, scale, that is common now for the revived Orthodox Church in our Motherland… Let us add that till the resent time Father Vladimir had been the only Priest of the grand Holy Trinity Cathedral, but the Liturgies and Vesper Services in this Cathedral took place almost every day. Holy Trinity parish is also famous for its church school for children with its more than 200 students.
On the 14th of December a splendid Episcopal Vesper Service took place in the Cathedral, at the end of which all clergy and the guests were invited for the dinner.
The next morning, on Sunday the 15th, the Episcopal Divine Liturgy, conducted by His Eminence Archbishop of Montreal and Canada Gabriel, together with the arrived for this celebration His Grace Bishop George, the head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Canada, was served. The Mitred Archpriest Vladimir Malchenko and the second Priest of the Holy Trinity Cathedral Fr. Vyacheslav Davidenko, as well as Archdeacon Fr. Vassiliy Milonow ( The Protection of The Mother of God Church in Ottawa), Fr. Stephan ( Serbian Orthodox Church), Fr. Alexandre Morin and Fr. Boris Bakhvalov ( Holy Trinity Cathedral, Toronto) were co-serving to our church’s hierarchs.
The Church choir, conducted by the Reader George Anatolyevich Skok, whose brilliant regent’s skills are renown well beyond the border of Canadian Diocese, as usually, was singing very touchingly and inspiringly.
After The Divine Liturgy had been served, His Eminence Vladika Gabriel spoke to all who were present in the Cathedral. He heartily greeted his confrere , His Grace Bishop George, and underlined that such service was held for the first time in the Canadian Diocese, but, with the help of God, Our Lord, won’t be the only one, for Orthodox Serbian and Russian peoples are tied together by the special spiritual bonds, which have always been and will always be sacrosanct. Then His Eminence Vladyka Gabriel announced that, according to the resolution of the Bishops’ Council of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, to commemorate 40 years of serving in the rank of a Priest and for the outstanding diligence, dedication and hard-working for the well-being of our Mother Church, Mitred Archpriest Vladimir Malchenko was to be rewarded by the Church Order “The Sign”, of the Third Degree, with presenting to him all the insignia of the Order ,as well as the appropriate certificate.
At the ceremonial dinner, that followed, over 200 guests were present. In His greeting Word His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel, as it was already noted, touched several life circumstances of Father Vladimir, and also mentioned multiple years of work of his faithful companion – Matushka Elisaveta Stepanovna. According to the words of Vladika Gabriel, “Matushki might be imperceptible, but the more invisible for the surrounding people their everyday role in the life of a parish is, the more powerful and beneficial is their influence into this life…” Then Serbian Bishop of Canada Vladika George addressed Fr. Vladimir and the present guests. Having expressed what an exquisite joy the possibility of such a joint Service together with His Eminence Vladyka Gabriel is, Bishop George also touched the topic of the spiritual unity of the Serbian and Russian peoples.
In this connection, let us point out at the fact that in the coming 2014 year another anniversary- 30 years of serving of His Grace Bishop George in Canada – will take place. For this time the number of the Serbian Orthodox parishes in this country has grown from 8 to 30.
With the touching words of gratitude the central figure of the feast – Father Vladimir himself- addressed everybody, who was sitting in the banquet hall. In his Word Archpriest Vladimir reminded, in particular, about that excessive brotherly help ,which was offered by the Serbian Patriarchate and the King’s House of Serbia to the suffering Russian Church in the years of the Second Russian Turmoil. It was Serbian Kingdom that sheltered Russian Bishops, headed at that time by the blessed Metropolitan Antony, and Serbian Patriarchs bequeathed to Russian Orthodox Church practical autonomy and the right of spiritual guidance of the Russian immigrants who had come to live in Serbia.
On behalf of the Holy Trinity parish, the second Priest Father Vyacheslav, presented Father Vladimir with a memorable gift: a golden pectoral Cross with incrustations.
The concert started when the dessert course was over. First the Cathedral choir, conducted by the Reader G. A. Skok, sang, among the rest, the favorite song of Father Vladimir: “Russia, You are all covered with snow!” Later another two choir groups of younger singers also performed very successfully under the guidance of Matushka Maria Valerievna Bakhvalova.
At the end of the feast the overall gratitude was expressed towards the Sisterhood of the Cathedral of Holy Trinity for traditionally perfect banquet, for which this parish has been famous for a long time.
Glory to God, Our Lord, for everything!
The participant of the Feast -
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The visit of His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel to Calgary for Celebration of the Patronal Feast of the Saint John Chrysostom church
2 December 2013
Form the 22d to the 24th of November His Eminence Archbishop of Montreal and Canada Gabriel visited Calgary, honouring with His presence the celebration of the Patronal Feast of the new parish, that was organized in Alberta 4 years ago due to the efforts of its priest – Father Svyatoslav Doubanenko. By the Grace of God, this parish had grown so suddenly, and started to attract people (the majority of which are the recent immigrants from Russia and the countries that belonged to Russia in the past) so quickly, that soon after its organization came forth the possibility to talk about acquiring its own church building… Then the local God-Loving Catholics donated to our new Orthodox parish the building of their old Church, but not right away… This building for a long time stayed chattered and empty, periodically attracting only homeless, while its surroundings seemed more like a scrapyard than the ground belonging to a Christian parish… Our parishioners noticed that the 100-year old church, by many of its architectural features, rather reminds an Orthodox, than a Catholic temple… The parish of Father Svyatoslav asked a permission to restore this historical building for conducting Christian Orthodox Services there temporarily. When the representatives of the Catholic community in Calgary saw how well Russians restored the God’s temple, they were deeply touched and decided to present it to Father Svyuatoslav’s parish as a gift. They officially “sold” the building for a symbolical sum of a couple of dollars…
Miracles do happen in this world – and not somewhere far away, but right in front of our eyes… Undoubtedly, the wonder of acquiring a proper building by a new parish happened because of the Celestial Providence and according to God’s Sacred Will, but also as a Divine answer to the Holy prayers of those, who were asking God for this church and this congregation… It is important to note that this is the only parish of the world-wide Russian Orthodox Church Abroad that has as its Divine Patron and a Protector Saint John Chrysostom, the Archbishop of Constantinople. This name was given to the new parish by His Eminence the Archbishop of Montreal and Canada Vladika Gabriel, and since that time for already 4 years Saint John Chrysostom, the Church Hierarch and a famous religious writer, who is also known as one of the Holy Fathers of Orthodoxy, and whose memory we celebrated on the 24 of November, has been blessing and protecting the city of Calgary…
His Eminence Vladika Gabriel headed both Vesper Service on Saturday, November the 23d, and the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, November the 24th. The celebration of the Patron of the Parish Feast started a little earlier this year ( transferred from the 26th of the same month) in order to let as many people as possible to participate in it… Providentially, it coincided with another great Feast – the Celebration of the Day of The Montreal Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God- the main sacred object in our Montreal and Canadian Diocese ( Celebrated on November the 24th). That is why at the end of the Liturgy the second icon was placed beside the main church icon of Saint John Chrysostom in the very middle of the temple. It was the copy of the Myrrh-Streaming Icon of the Mother of God, belonging to the prior of another Calgary church – of All Saint, archpriest Peter Shashkov, who, as a good neighbor, brought it to the Saint John Chrysostom’s church’s celebration. After the Divine Liturgy special short prayers –moleben-was offered to Our Lady and the Mother of God in front of this icon.
The new church was shining with cleanliness and beauty, all decorated with flowers , and – as somebody noted – reminded a small painted wooden box, for inside it is all paneled with wood… It was a special delight to see many icons, some of which were made by Father Svyatoslav’s parishioners themselves. For its short 4-year old history the parish had already raised their own icon-painter- the servant of God- Alla Kireeva, who now, having received the blessing of His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel, organizes in Calgary an icon-painting shop and a school of icon–painting… The choir, conducted by its organizer and a constant regent Matushka Natalia Savitskaya, was singing splendidly in a wonderful, old-Russian manner…
Three priests- Father Peter Shashkov, Father Svyatoslav Doubanenko and Father Victor Kramarenko were co-celebrating to His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel. Father Victor is a new priest of our Diocese, who, according to the Blessing of His Eminence Vladika Gabriel, just recently moved to Canada from Ukraine. For many years he belonged to the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchy, serving there as a deacon, but on the 4th of November of this year in Edmonton he was ordained into priesthood by His Grace Vladika Iov ,The Bishop of Kashira and the administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada. Archpriest George Primak, who now is retired, also was present among the clergy on that Service. Father George for many years had been the prior of the Church of All Saints and the only priest in our city. He became a spiritual guide and a spiritual father for many and many of the parishioners of the Russian Church of All Saints… It might be rightly stated that 5 – 10 years ago all spiritual life of the city was concentrated around this old and faithful servant of God.
Protodeacon Vassiliy Milonov ( Pokrov’s Church- memorial in Ottawa, Ontario), deacon Dmitry Grigoryev and deacon George Miscu ( The church of All Saints, Calgary, Alberta) and deacon Alexander Savitsky (The church of Saint John Chrysostom)also took place in the Divine Liturgy. During reading The Hours, Vladika Gabriel ordained with a hypo-deacon status the former reader of the Church of Saint John Chrysostom, Father Eugene Prokhin. On the same Liturgy on Sunday the 24th, His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel awarded the prior of Saint John Chrysostom’s church, Father Svyatoslav, with a golden Cross for all efforts and hard work performed by him for the formation of a new parish and restoration of the old church building. Vladika also conferred the right of wearing a coif to the newly ordained priest Victor Kramarenko for his long-term service to the Russian Orthodox Church as a deacon.
The Church that was celebrating its Names Day is small, but the worshippers on those Services were numerous: beside its own parishioners, the other two churches (the Church of All Saints in Calgary and a recently formed parish of Saint George in Red Deer) came to share the joy of their neighbor.
I was looking at the people and saw brightened faces that reflected both spiritual joy and, at the same time, the solemnity of the moment. Everybody became especially attentive when Vladika Gabriel started to preach. He reminded, first of all, of what a great enlightener was Saint John, the Archbishop of Constantinople, who is also known as “Chrysostom” ( or “ Gold-Speaking ”) and to whom we are obliged for having the text of the Divine Liturgy, which is served in our Orthodox Church most often during the year. Vladika mentioned that he was really glad to see more and more new parishioners that are now filling our churches, and not only coming to God themselves, but also bringing to Christ their own children. His Eminence underlined that only the Church and belonging to the Church can save our children from the influence of the godless world that is lying in sins and evilness… In his sermon Vladika summoned to start conducting catechistical and educational missionary work by telling other people about Orthodox Faith and bringing those who had not yet come to the Church themselves, to Faith, but first and foremost of all, to continue fighting for the souls of our own children.
With this purpose Vladika Gabriel blessed the program of various catechistic and cultural- educational events and projects. Among them is the regular organization of Christmas and Easter concerts and staged performances for our youth ( similar to those that have been for many years organized by the parishioners of the Church of All Saints), organization of the parish school with The Law of God, taught as the main subject ( similar to the school that was organized in this year on the basis of the previously existing Sunday school, by the efforts of Father Peter and Matushka Nina Shashkov and with the help of the parishioners-volunteers of the Church of All Saints). The Parish of Father Svyatoslav stepped forward with another- and truly grandiose initiative: to build a Christian Orthodox cultural Center, where they are planning to open a kindergarten for Russian kids, the rotary house for the Russian retied immigrants, an icon-painting shop and the refectory for the Church of Saint John Chrysostom – just to name a few…
In his preaching His Eminence Vladika Gabriel reminded also about the history of The Montreal Myrrh-streaming Iveron Icon of the Mother of God and its perpetual Keeper – memorable brother Jose Munoz Cortez (+1997). The majority of our old parishioners and the priests of the Canadian Diocese knew Brother Jose very well, and many times witnessed the Miracle of Myrrh-Streaming … Let us remember that everything is possible for God, Our Lord, and, therefore, let us hope that once in Calgary, as well as in other places in Canada, new Orthodox Churches and temples will grow – the churches that will gather under their protection more and more Russian people, as well as people of any other nations, for Orthodoxy since its origin has always been multi-cultured. The same process of returning people to the Church now is going on with a tremendous speed in Russia!
The Patron Day Feast in the Church of Saint John Chrysostom in Calgary ended by a wonderful winter picnic with shish –kebob, Russian famously know soup “rossolnik” and many baking goods, with which hard-working parishioners entertained our Ruling Hierarch and multiple clergy, as well as other dear guests, who came to share the joy of the Patron Day’s celebration.Participant of the Feast.
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