News

• Special plate collection for the needs of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, in Jordanville.

  28 January 2016

  Гаврiилъ
  Aрxieпископъ Монреальскiй и Канадскiй
  The Most Reverend Archbishop Gabriel
  of Montreal and Canada

  MEMORANDUM

  To the Reverend Rectors, Clergy & Parishioners
  Of the Diocese of Canada

  You are hereby reminded that, in accordance with the decision reached and confirmed by the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, on one of the Sundays closest to the feast day of the Synaxis of the Three Holy Hierarchs, which falls on 30 January/12 February 2016, a special plate collection is to be taken up in all the churches of our Diocese for the needs of our Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, in Jordanville.
  It is our sacred duty to prepare educated pastors in our Seminary, and—what is especially important today—without encumbrances. Each of us should, to the utmost of his abilities, take up this task with diligence.
  As you have been reminded more than once, the reverend rectors should watch their young parishioners, since it is possible that some of them may show a readiness to study in our Seminary, so as later to take up the obedience of priests.
  I order the reverend rectors to make the aforementioned collection on Sunday, January 25/ February 7, preceding it with an edifying sermon appropriate to the occasion, addressed to the parishioners, reminding them of the glorious history of our Seminary and the very important role it plays in our most difficult times.

  Gabriel,
  Archbishop of Montréal & Canada

  15/28 January 2016
  01/01/2016-CA

• Christmas Tree at St.Nicholas Church, Montreal

  28 January 2016

  Photo Album

• Nativity epistle of His Eminence, Archbishop Gabriel. 2016

  6 January 2016

  Гаврiилъ
  Aрxieпископъ Монреальскiй и Канадскiй
  The Most Reverend Archbishop Gabriel
  of Montreal and Canada

  The Nativity Epistle of Archbishop Gabriel

  To the clergy and all the faithful flock of the Canadian diocese
  Beloved in Christ brothers and sisters!

  The Holy Orthodox Church in the liturgical hymns for the feast of the Nativity in the flesh of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ, often repeats the word ‘rejoice’. At the beginning of the Nativity eve vespers service we hear the words: “Come, let us greatly rejoice in the Lord…” (Stichira on “Lord I have cried” for 25th of December). And later on we hear: “Let heaven and earth today make glad prophetically” (Stichira at the Litia). Our Lord came to us from the Ever-Virgin Mary and “shew Himself upon earth, and conversed with man” (Baruch 3: 38) as the prophet Baruch foretold five centuries before the events of the Nativity, which we are now remembering. These events that we are celebrating happened more than twenty centuries ago, but since then annually at this time of year in our hearts, as much as the Lord grants to us, we feel that special joy, which was felt by the participants and witnesses of the Nativity: the most-holy Mother of God, humble Joseph, the shepherds who were watching their flocks in the night, the wise men, and the countless heavenly angels. God’s will was done. Every word that the Lord spoke through the mouths of His prophets foretelling the appearance in the flesh of Christ the Saviour, took place and no one throughout the world could in any way stop this or in the least change the will of God in any way.

  The mighty king Herod cleverly found out from the wise men the possible age of the infant Jesus – the King of the Jews (Mat. 2:16). Before this he called a council of scribes, who once again confirmed that, according to the words spoken through the prophet Micah, Christ was to be born in Bethlehem of Judea (Mat. 2: 5-6). A company of soldiers was sent to Bethlehem with orders to slay all of the children not only in the town, but “in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under” (Mat. 2: 16). Despite these efforts Herod’s goal was not achieved. In those awful hours, when the streets of the ancient city of David were filled with “lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning” (Mat. 2: 18), the Child, His mother and Joseph, warned by an angel who appeared in a dream to Joseph (Mat. 2: 13), made their way unnoticed first to the temple in Jerusalem, where they offered the appropriate sacrifices (Luke 2: 22-23), and then, according to God’s command, left for Egypt (Mat. 2: 13, 19-20).

  In these difficult times, when the world has been engulfed by anxiety and the future of the world and our personal future is unknown to us, let us not forget God’s unfailing promise to us. We must continuously pray so that the Lord will show us the path that we should walk. Let us pray to the newly born Christ-Child that he grant us to calmly, not falling into any temptations which constantly assail us, fulfill the will of God.

  Christ is born, glorify Him! Christ is born, meet Him!

  Gabriel
  Archbishop of Montreal and Canada
  Nativity, 2015/2016

• 

  Pilgrimage announcement 2016

  4 January 2016

  PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

  A pilgrimage to the Holy Land has always been, is and will be the greatest dream for every Orthodox Christian. To be able to venerate sites blessed by the presence of the Saviour, Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, His Most Pure Mother, and the Holy Spirit Which descended on Sinai on Pentecost, is an honour and a gift from God.

  The forth pilgrimage to the Holy Land for parishioners of the Canadian Diocese will take place from

  MAY 23-JUNE 11, 2016

  The Canadian Pilgrimage will be led by our own Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada.
  At this time our pilgrimage will includes the holy places of the Constantinople (Istanbul) from 24th to 27th of May. The group will fly non-stop Toronto to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines (We will return to Toronto from Tel Aviv). Connecting flights from New York, Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and other cities are being arranged. The group’s itinerary for the Holy Land is being planned by the nuns of the Gethsemane Convent, who have been organizing such visits for North American pilgrims for many years. Participants will stay at the Mount of Olives Hotel, which is near the Convents of the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane.

  THE COST OF THE TRIP IS US $3,975 AND INCLUDES:

  Airfare from Toronto to Istanbul, from Istanbul to Tel Aviv and from Tel Aviv to Toronto
  Ground transportation throughout the Holy Land and Constantinople
  All scheduled visits to holy sites and services, accommodation and meals

  Parishioners interested in joining the pilgrimage are asked to contact
  Peter Antonoff (410–2855 Bloor St. W., Toronto Ontario, M8X 3A1)
  Mobile – 416-407-1102 E-mail: pantonoff@rogers.com
  Please mail your deposit cheques for US $500 payable to the Montreal and Canadian Diocese to Peter Antonoff’s address (410–2855 Bloor St. W., Toronto Ontario, M8X 3A1)