News
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Resolution of the Pastoral Retreat & Assembly Of the Priests & Clergy of the Diocese of Montréal & Canada March, 2015
02:34 PM
Resolution of the Clergy of the Montreal and Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church of the Outside of Russia
Ottawa, Ontario
March 9-11, 2015
We, the clergy of the Diocese of Montreal and Canada of the Russian Orthodox Church, gathered together in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, at the parish of the Protection of the Virgin Mary, under the chairmanship of his grace Archbishop Gabriel. It is meaningful that in 2015, when the Church is celebrating the 1000-year anniversary of the repose of St. Vladimir, the baptizer of Russia, we held our annual clergy retreat in the Ottawa parish whose church was built as a memorial to the baptism of Russia.
The Church beautifully sums up how we should spend our time during this Lenten season in the following hymn: “Come, ye faithful, … let us cast away every unjust accusation against our neighbour, … Let us lay aside the pleasures of the flesh, and increase the spiritual gifts of our soul. Let us give bread to those in need, and let us draw near unto Christ, crying in penitence: O our God, have mercy on us” (Stichiron at “Lord I have cried” on Friday of the first week of Great Lent). We thank God that during our gathering we were able to put some of these words into practice by cleansing our souls through the sacrament of confession and growing spiritually through prayer at the divine services and Communion of Christ’s Body and Blood at the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. We call upon our flock to remember the central importance of the Divine Mysteries in our spiritual lives and to prepare for Communion accordingly, through fasting, prayer both at home and at church and heartfelt confession.
With sorrow we observe that the conflict in eastern Ukraine has not completely subsided and that Orthodox Christians as well as other peoples continue to suffer both physical and spiritual hardships. We fervently pray that our Lord grant not only peace to Ukraine, but also that He strengthen the canonical Church in that land.
The recent decision of the Supreme Court of Canada to strike down the ban on assisted suicide brings pain to our hearts. At the church services of Great Lent, we are constantly reminded of the physical and spiritual struggles that the martyrs endured for Christ. We call upon all God-fearing people to cherish life, the most precious gift given to us from God, and to emulate the holy martyrs by enduring until the end any suffering that the Lord may send us. Only in this way will we show our spiritual courage and defeat the devil.
Despite these sad, events the Church, including our diocese, continues to be like that candle on a candlestick that gives light to the whole house (Matthew 5:15). With joy we see that our St. Tikhon Patriarch of Moscow Russian Orthodox parish in Waterloo, Ontario has acquired a new and permanent church building. It is fitting that this has happened in the year when we celebrate the 90th anniversary of St. Tikhon’s blessed repose. We are optimistic that, with God’s help, our new communities in Red Deer, Alberta and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan will continue to grow and with time will flourish, just like the parish of St. Tikhon in Waterloo. We also give thanks to our Saviour and His most pure Mother that this year our parish in Ottawa, Ontario is celebrating 50 years of existence, while the parish of All Saints in Calgary, Alberta is marking its 85th anniversary. We also note that the annual music conference of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia will be held in Calgary this year.
Finally, we ask that all faithful members of the Russian Orthodox Church join us in praying for the health of our beloved first-hierarch Metropolitan Hilarion.
May the Lord God bless all of you and give you the strength to complete this lenten season in a spiritually profitable way and joyfully meet the bright feast of Pascha.
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The Parish of St.Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow in Waterloo, Ontario purchase new church building.
11:10 AM
The parish of St. Tikhon and New Martyrs of Russia in Waterloo, Ontario, is celebrating a very important event in their parish life – through God’s grace, they have acquired a new building for the church, located at 100 Pollock Ave, Cambridge, Ontario. The first Divine Liturgy was held in the new church building on March 1st, 2015, the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. The new church was full with parishioners and guests.
The parish had just one month to prepare the new building for moving the church and parish school. All work was done by the hands of the parishioners, which united everyone as one family.
The rector of the parish Fr. Evgeniy Shchukin, the church council, parish school, sisterhood and the entire parish are thankful to God for sending them the means and people to help realize their long-awaited wish of having their own building for the church. There was a huge fundraising success in helping to gather funds for the downpayment, as well as many individuals who responded to the call for help in the moving efforts. Work is still ongoing in the new church building.
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Decree of plate collection for the needs of Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary in Jordanville.
12:58 PM
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 (February 2/15. 2015, Meeting of our Lord), 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, 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
January 30/ February 12, 2015. 02/02/2015-CA -
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Notice of the Pastoral Retreat & Assembly Of the Priests & Clergy of the Diocese of Montréal & Canada March, 2015
09:19 AM
Notice
You are hereby informed that, between 24 February/9 March and 26 February/11 March (Monday-Wednesday) 2015, at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church, (99 Stonehurst Ave., Ottawa, Ont. K1Y 4R6), the Yearly Clergy Conference and Annual Pastoral Lenten Retreat will be held under my presidency, in conjunction with the annual Lenten Retreat of the Clergy of the Diocese of Canada.The annual meeting of the Brotherhood of St. Job of Pochaev will take place later in Montréal (Quebec).
Participation in both the Conference and the Clergy Retreat are obligatory for all clergymen of the Diocese. If, for some important reason, it prove impossible to travel to Ottawa on the designated days, we ask that you inform us well in advance, in writing, at the address of the Diocesan Administration, detailing such reasons.
All the questions regarding arrival may be discussed with Diocesan Council Secretary Fr. Alexis Pjawka, tel. 613-316-98; e-mail: fr.alexis@memorialchurch.ca, or with the administrator of the Diocesan Chancellery and my personal secretary, subdeacon Yuri G. Miloslavsky at the above address, phone number, and e-mail address of the chancellery of the Diocesan Administration in Montreal.
We remind our clergy that they should bring with them vestments of a lenten color (black or, if black is unavailable, purple).Below find a tentative agenda for our meeting in Ottawa
Monday, 24 February/9 March
4:00 PM Gathering of the participants at the Protection of the Holy Virgin Memorial Church
4:30 Coffee/Tea
5:00 Prayer & Convocation of the Conference
7:00 Supper
7:30 Great ComplineTuesday, 25 February/10 March
8:00 AM Morning Prayers
8:30 Breakfast/Coffee/Tea
9:00 Continuation of the Conference’s Deliberations
1:00 PM Luncheon & Break
3:00 Resumption of the Conference’s Work
5:00 Coffee/Tea
5:15 Resumption of the Conference’s Work
7:00 Supper
7:30 Matins & ConfessionWednesday, 26 February/11 March
8:00 AM Greeting of the Bishop; Hours; Hierarchal Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts
12:00 Luncheon
1:00 PM Prayer & DepartureParticipants will be informed in greater detail of the sequence of sessions.
+Gabriel, Archbishop of Montréal & Canada
18/31 January 2015 -
St. Herman Youth Conference 2014-Update
08:22 AM
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)
Truly our Lord blessed the last St. Herman of Alaska youth conference held from the 23rd through the 26th of December 2014 at the Holy Trinity cathedral in Toronto (Canada). Four days of non-stop inspired fellowship of brothers and sisters in Christ went by as one moment. The conference brought together young people from the western (California & Alberta) to the eastern (Halifax & Florida) shores of North America. For some this was a first experience with orthodox conferences, while for others it was an annual event, awaited with much anticipation from the year before.
The conference participants stayed at the comfortable Marriott Downtown Eaton Centre Hotel, where in the warm atmosphere of friendly fellowship the first meeting of young people took place. Formally, the conference began on 24 December with morning prayers and tasty breakfast. Then, the youth participated in workshops, where important orthodox subjects were discussed with members of the clergy. In the evening, His Eminence, Gabriel, archbishop of Montreal and Canada, led the faithful in the celebration of the vigil, to which the wonderworking icon of the Kursk-Root Mother of God “of the Sign” was brought by bishop Nicholas of Manhattan. Next day, both hierarchs served the Divine Liturgy in honor of St. Herman of Alaska. Talented Youth choir members made the service quite beautiful with their mellifluous singing.
Archimandrite Luke, abbot of the Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY, delivered the main presentation of the conference about the reburial of the remains of bishop Constantine (Essensky). The final day ended with a beautiful banquet arranged and served by the Holy Trinity parish sisterhood, followed by the traditional talent show.
Bidding their farewells, the participants exchanged their contact information so that via social networks they can stay in touch until the next conference, which — God willing — will be held in 2015 in Lakewood, NJ.
Tatiana Masterova -
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