On December 7, 2023, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh arrived in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, located on the river of the same name in the southeast of Ontario, near Montreal and the border with the United States.

As part of the archpastoral visit, hierarchical services, ordinations to the priesthood, meetings with the clergy and representatives of the local Orthodox community are planned in a number of Patriarchal parishes in Canada.

On the trip, His Grace Bishop Matthew is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

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On December 8, 2023, as part of an archpastoral visit to Canada, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, visited the capital’s Pinecrest Cemetery, where he performed a funeral prayer at the grave of Archpriest Dimitry Sever, Rector of the Kazan Icon parish in Ottawa, who died in 2019. The Archpastor also prayed for the departed parishioners buried in the Orthodox section of the cemetery.

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On December 8, 2023, as part of his archpastoral visit to Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, held a working meeting with Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, and Vice-Chancellor Priest Mark Rashkov who arrived in the capital of Canada, Ottawa.

On the eve of the final annual meeting of the Episcopal Council, which is scheduled for December 9, His Grace discussed with employees of the Administration of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA the agenda of the meeting, reviewed current documents and petitions to the Administrator.

N.V. Trubnikov, personal secretary of Bishop Matthew, also took part in the meeting.

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On December 9, 2023, on the day of remembrance of St. Innocent, Bishop of Irkutsk (1731), Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Intercession of the Montreal and Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Ottawa.

His Grace was assisted by Priest Alexei Pjawka (ROCOR), Rector of the church, and clergy of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA: Archpriest Alexander Androsov, acting Chancellor Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), and Vice-Chancellor Priest Mark Rashkov.

The diaconal rank was headed by the head of the bishop’s protocol service of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, Deacon Alexy Golubov.

During the Liturgy, His Grace performed the presbyteral consecration of the cleric of the Church of St. Innocent  (Radford, Michigan, USA) Hierodeacon Seraphim (Balagtas) and diaconal ordination of Subdeacon Rodion Zaam of St.Peter and St.Paul Church  (Manchester, New Hampshire, USA).

At the end of the Liturgy, the Archpastor warmly greeted the Rector, clergy and choir of the Intercession Church and expressed fraternal gratitude to Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada (ROCOR) for the opportunity to celebrate divine services in the Intercession Church.

Bishop Matthew also addressed parting words to the newly ordained Hieromonk Seraphim and Deacon Rodion, wishing them God’s help in their further diligent service for the benefit of the Russian Orthodox Church.

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On December 9, 2023, while on an archpastoral visit to Canada, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh headed the work of the Episcopal Council of Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.

The meeting took place remotely using remote communication tools.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Grace announced new personnel appointments and introduced the to the members of the Episcopal Council acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov) and Secretary of the Episcopal Council, Archpriest John Vass.  Bishop Matthew wished the newly appointed clergy God’s help in their administrative work and expressed gratitude to Archpriest Georgy Konev and Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov for their earlier efforts in the position of chancellor;  Archpriest Emil Minkovich was noted for his great personal contribution and exemplary performance of duties in the position of Secretary of the Episcopal Council, which Father Emil has held for the last 40 years.

The participants of the meeting honoured the memory of those who have reposed in the Lord since the last meeting of the clergy council of the Patriarchal parishes in the United States – Rector of the Church of the Exaltation of the Cross in Hackett-Stown, Archpriest John Kassatkin, and Rector of the Church in honour of All Saints of the Russian Land of the Patriarchal Estate in Pine Bush, Archpriest Nicholas  Babiychuk.

Vice-Chancellor Rev. Mark Rashkov made a report on the work of the office and on significant events in diocesan life over the past two years.  The financial report was presented by Treasurer Billis Panagiotis.  Assistant to the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA for legal issues, priest Gregory Vinsky, reported on the resolution of current legal issues in the Patriarchal parishes.

Following the discussion of the presented reports, Bishop Matthew gave several instructions to the council members, who will present the results of their work at the next meeting.

Concluding the meeting, the Archpastor expressed gratitude to the participants and to all the clergy, presidents and members of parish committees, volunteers and parishioners of churches of the Moscow Patriarchate in the USA for their hard work, maintaining the unity and fidelity of the Russian Orthodox Church in difficult times.

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On the evening of December 9, 2023, on the eve of the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated an all-night vigil in the Church of the Intercession of the Montreal and Canadian Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Ottawa.

His Grace was assisted by Rector of the church, Priest Alexei Pjawka (ROCOR), clergy of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA: acting Chancellor Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), Vice-Chancellor Priest Mark Rashkov, and Hieromonk Saraphim (Balagtas).

The diaconal rank was headed by the Head of the bishop’s protocol service of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, Deacon Alexy Golubov.

At Matins, after reading the Gospel, Vladyka Matthew anointed the clergy and parishioners with consecrated oil.

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On December 10, 2023, on the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, feast of the icon of the Mother of God, called “The Sign,” His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, with the blessing of Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada (ROCOR), celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Intercession Church  in Ottawa.

His Grace was assisted by Rector of the church, Archpriest Alexei Pjawka (ROCOR), clergy of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, acting Chancellor Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), Vice-Chancellor Priest Mark Rashkov, Hieromonk Saraphim (Balagtas).

The diaconal rank was headed by the head of the bishop’s protocol service of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA, Deacon Alexy Golubov.

At the service, parishioners of the Intercession-Kazan icon parish of the Moscow Patriarchate in Ottawa prayed together with the parishioners and guests of the Church of the Intercession.

At the end of the Liturgy, Rector of the church, Archpriest Alexy, addressed Bishop Matthew with a word of greeting, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to  celebrate the hierarchical service on the day of the celebration of the appearance of the miraculous image of the Most Holy Mother of God “The Sign,” which is called the Hodegetria of the Russian Diaspora.

In his sermon, Bishop Matthew spoke about the significance of this miraculous icon in the life of the Russian Orthodox diaspora abroad and wished everyone present in the church the gracious help of the Most Holy Mother of God in going through the Nativity Fast and a worthy celebration of the Feast of the Nativity of Christ.

In memory of celebrating the divine service and in gratitude for the hospitality shown, Bishop Matthew honoured Archpriest Alexei Pjawka and the parish activists of the Intercession Church with a bishop’s certificate and presented a pectoral cross to Fr.  Alexei.  The clergyman of the Intercession-Kazan icon Patriarchal Parish in Ottawa, Protodeacon Alexander Zakharov, and active parishioner N.A. Koryakina were also awarded blessed bishop’s certificates.

All participants in the divine service were presented with icons of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God.

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