On December 12, 2019, during his official visit to Canada, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, arrived to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada, Rector of the Cathedral, Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodoxy IX Parish District, and churchwarden Roman Lopushinsky, met Vladyka at the St. Barbara Cathedral.

The Right Reverend Vladyka prayed in front of the icon and part of the relics of Holy Great Martyr Barbara, and had a meeting with the clergy and members of the Cathedral parish council.

The main shrine of the Cathedral is a particle of relics (left foot) of Holy Martyr Barbara, taken out of Kiev in 1943 and brought to the Cathedral by Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) of Edmonton and Canada , which, according to the Mount Athos tradition, is placed on the Holy Table at the altar.

On December 13, 2019, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, took part in the celebration of the patronal feast of the Cathedral in honour of St. German of Alaska, American Orthodox Church, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The Divine service was led by the Archbishop Irenee (Rochon) of Ottawa and Canada, Administrator of the Canadian Archdiocese of the OCA.

Clergy from the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and from the Orthodox Church of America coserved with the Archpastors.
After the Gospel reading, His Grace Bishop Matthew addressed those present with words of sermon in English.
After the Divine Liturgy, Archpastors, clergy and parishioners continued their communication at a festive meal arranged by the parishioners.

On December 14, 2019, on the day of remembrance of the God’s Prophet Nahum, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the church of the Holy Apostle James, brother of the Lord, near the city of Mundare, Alberta, Canada.

His Grace was assisted by Priest Alexey Surayev, Rector of the “Orthodox V” Parish District, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of “Orthodox IX” Parish District, and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

At the end of the service, the Archpastor addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of preaching and spiritual edification.

During the meal, issues of parish life were discussed.

On December 14, 2019, after the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, visited the Church of St. John the Baptist in the city of Vegreville, Alberta, Canada.

The first church was built in 1922-1923 by emigrants from Galicia and Bukovina.

The church was consecrated on July 7, 1927, on the feast of St. John the Baptist.

In 1974, the church hosted the celebrations, led by Bishop Makary (Svistun), Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada.

The new church building is thirty years old, the church was completely rebuilt after the fire.

On July 24, 2001, celebration of the 104th anniversary of Orthodoxy in Canada, headed by Archbishop Mark (Petrovtsiy), Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, took place in the church.

In 2012, the church celebrated its 95th anniversary. The celebrations were headed by Bishop Job of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.

Today, the flock of the church is large. Divine services are celebrated several times a year. The Moldovan Orthodox community in the city of Edmonton also celebrates their divine services several times a year.

On December 14, 2019, on the eve of 26th Sunday after Pentecost, all-night vigil was jointly served at St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The service was headed by Archbishop Irenee of Ottawa and Canada (Orthodox Church of America) and Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the United States and Canada.

The Right Reverend Archpastors were assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Dean of the parish district “Orthodox IX”, Archpriest Vitaly Manoly, Protodeacon Jesse Isaac (OCA) and deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

After the service, Vladyka Matthew warmly welcomed Vladyka Irenee, thanked him for the opportunity to pray together, and presented to him a Holy Panagia as a gift in memory of the joint service.

On December 15, 2019, on the 26th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Edmonton’s St. Barbara Cathedral, Alberta, Canada.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the Cathedral, Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada, Archpriest Vitaly Manoli, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox IX”, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox V”, Priest Alexy Surayev, Deacon Andrei Boldyrev and Deacon John Grigaitis.

After the prayer before the ambon, Vladyka and fellow clergy sung glorification in front of the icon and
relics (right hand) of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara.

Vladyka Matthew addressed those present in the Cathedral with words of sermon and taught everyone his archpastoral blessing.

On December 16, 2019, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served panikhida for the newly-departed Ivan Margitich, long-serving Choirmaster of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

After the panikhida, Vladyka addressed those present with a word, noting I.V. Margitich’ services to the church, his sincere faith and good attitude towards the people around him.

Memory eternal to the newly departed servant of God John!

On December 16, 2019, on the eve of the memory day of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, served all-night vigil at St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton, Archpriest Vitaly Manoli and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

During the Matins of the all-night vigil, after reading the Holy Gospel, Vladyka anointed the clergy and parishioners with consecrated oil.

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