Bishop’s Report to the Annual General Assembly of the St. Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 18.02.2018

Iov Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

Honorable Fr. Sergei, deacons Andrei and Stephan, Matoushka’s, esteemed Mr. President Roman, beloved in the Lord brothers and sisters! Glory to Jesus Christ!

I sincerely congratulate you with the annual parish meeting and the celebration in Alberta of «Family Day»! In relation to this celebration, I would like to honour the founders and members of this Cathedral whom have laboured over the past one hundred years or more, in order to create the spiritual family we have today! Memory Eternal to all of them whom have deceased in the past year! May the All-Merciful Lord give rest to their souls, where the righteous repose!

I call upon God’s blessing upon today’s assembly, upon your efforts to the glory of Christ’s Holy Church and our spiritual family from St. Barbara’s Cathedral headed by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!

In February and November of 2017 I visited Moscow, where I participated in the celebration of the 8th anniversary of the intronization of His Holiness Patriarch Kyrill and the ‘Assembly of Bishops’. His Holiness has blessed me to pass on to you his blessing, his prayerful well wishes, and gratitude for your efforts to our Holy Orthodox Church.

Last year the most important event in the life our cathedral and other Patriarchal Parishes in Canada was the visit, from Moscow, of Bishop Anthony (now Archbishop) for the celebration of the 120th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada. Archbishop Anthony highly values our ‘church life’ in comparison to other Russian Church Parishes outside of Russia; he sends his gratitude to the Rector, President, Clergy and all members of our Cathedral. I as well wish to thank Fr. Sergey Kipriyanovich for his teaching and efforts, Fr. Mircha for his sermons, deacon Andrei for his service; our choir directed by Alexander; a special word of gratitude to our President Roman Lopushinsky, the Church Board for the upkeep of the building; the Brotherhood and Sisterhood for wonderful meals and clergy vestments. May our Lord reward with His Blessings all those who care about the beauty of our church, who help in the altar, who clean the church, parents for making an effort in bringing their children, and young people for their love of God. For those, who are new arrivals to our Cathedral, I wish for them to become active members in the life of the parish, to love Christ and our Church with their whole heart. I thank all parishioners for participating in the services, for praying, for donations to the upkeep of our Cathedral and other good deeds!

Last December I ordained subdeacon Charles Negy to the ‘Holy Diaconate’ only as a reward, as he lacks the necessary talents for serving as a full valued deacon. I rewarded him for his help to me and his efforts in the altar, at which time he took on a new name of Stephan, in memory of st. archdeacon Stephan, the first martyr. Deacon Stephan is 80 years old and everytime tries to come as early as possible to the cathedral in order to help our clergy. May our God, grant deacon Stephan good health for many years!

From middle of December to the end of January we had a visiting guest priest from Moldavia, Fr. Vitaly Manoly, who was trying to attract local Moldavians to church (The Moldavian Church is part of the Moscow Patriarchate). God willing, Fr. Vitaly will return to Edmonton in the near future to continue his effort.

On Febuary 6th my ‘religious visa’ expired, it had given me permission to serve in Canada as Ruling Bishop of Patriarchal Parishes. At the end of 2017 my request for continued status was denied. With the help of Fr. Igor Kisil, a lawyer, the president of our cathedral Roman, and James Shemchuck (treasurer of Patriarchal Parishes), on Febuary 5th my documents with a request for a three year visa were re-submitted to the authorities.The immigration department acknowledged the receipt of my documenmts and will respond within 102 days.

Due to the old age and health issues of Archpriest Dimitrii Sever i must help serve in our parish in Ottawa and will be absent from March 1st till mid May. I am hopeful that Moscow will appoint a priest for that parish so that I may return to Edmonton earlier.

God bless you all!

Iov Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.