The second Archpastoral visit of temporary Administrator of Patriachal Parishes in Canada Right Reverend Matthew of Sourozh took place from the 14th to 17th of December. His Grace made his way from his cathedral city of London to lead the services at the patronal feast of the main cathedral in Canada – St. Barbara Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Edmonton, and to support the other churches and their priests and faithful.

On December the 13th, during his official stay to Canada and United States of America, the Right Reverend bishop of Sourozh visited Church/Podvoriye in the Name of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, in Toronto, Canada.

The Right Reverend Vladyka (Master) was met by the rector of the church archpriest Sergei Rasskazovskiy who acquainted Vladyka with the organization of the temple, the history of the parish and the church foundation and everyday life of the Russian Orthodox Church community in Toronto.

The same day Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the suburb of Toronto Cooksville, where in the house No. 2130 on Camilla Road, the Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova, the sister of the last Russian Tsar-Passion-Bearer Nicholas II, spent her last years, and then performed a funeral litany at the York Cemetery in Toronto, where the Grand Duchess, her husband – colonel Nikolai Kulikovskiy and her son were buried.

December, the 14 the Right Reverend Vladyka arrived to the city of Edmonton, Canadian province of Alberta.

At the airport the Most Reverend Archpriest was met by the dean of Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral archpriest Igor Kisil and the President of St. Barbara Cathedral Mr. Roman Lopushinsky.

Right from the airport Vladyka Matthew made his way to the Cathedral, where he performed the moleben service in front of the icon and the holy relics of st. great martyr Barbara.

The main shrine of the cathedral is a part of st. Barbara’s holy relics – the left foot, that had been brought from Kiev in 1943 and imparted to the cathedral by the Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk), and that is kept in the altar on the holy table according to the mount Athos tradition.

December, the 15th 2018, within the framework of the archpastoral visit to Canada and the United States, the Most Reverend Matthew, Bishop of Sourozh performed the Divine Liturgy in the church of Nativity of the Mother of God in Nisku, Edmonton region, Canada.

His Grace was co-served with the dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral archpriest Igor Kisil, the rector of “Orthodox IX” parishes archpriest Evheniy Protsenko, archpriest Vitaliy Manoli, protodeacon Andrei Boldireff and deacon of the St. Mary’s church John Grigaritis, with the President of the “Orthodox IX” parishes and St. Mary’s church Mr. David Borys present.

At the end of the Liturgy the Right Reverend Archpastor addressed the clergy and parishioners with the words of a sermon and spiritual edification and taught the bishop’s blessing.

After the service Bishop Matthew discussed the current state of affairs in the parish and there was a festive lunch in St. Mary’s Hall provided by the Parish Council and the Women’s Aid.

December, the 15th 2018, on the eve of the week 29th after the Pentecostal the Most Reverend bishop Matthew of Sourozh headed the great vespers and matins at the Cathedral of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara in Edmonton, Canada.

His Grace was co-served with the dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral archpriest Igor Kisil, the rector of “Orthodox IX” parishes archpriest Evheniy Protsenko, archpriest Vitaliy Manoli, the rector of “Orthodox V” parishes priest Alexios Surayev, deacon Andrei Boldireff, deacon Stephan Nagi, with the President of St. Barbara Cathedral Mr. Roman Lopushinski present.

On December 16, 2018, on the 29th Week after Pentecost, on the eve of the St. Barbara cathedral’s patronal feast day, His Grace, Bishop of Sourozh Matthew, performed the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral of the Holy and Great Martyr Barbara in Edmonton, Canada.

In the vestibule of the church, the Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt by the President of the Cathedral Roman Lopushinsky.

His Grace was co-served with the dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada and the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral archpriest Igor Kisil, the rector of “Orthodox IX” parishes archpriest Evheniy Protsenko, the rector of moldavian orthodox Christian community archpriest Vitaliy Manoli, the rector of “Orthodox V” parishes priest Alexios Surayev, deacon Andrei Boldireff and deacon Stephan Nagi.

At the end of the Liturgy, the main shrine of the cathedral was taken out of the altar for worship – the venerable foot of the holy Great Martyr Barbara. The Most Reverend Archpastor and the serving clergy committed prayerful glorification, at the end of which, according to the tradition established in the parish, Vladyka Matthew anointed all those present with a consecrated oil.

After the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, the Most Reverend Archpastor congratulated everyone with the day of Sunday and the coming feast day, and then addressed the believers with the word of edification. Vladyka wished the parishioners to spend the remaining days of the Advent in abstinence and sincere prayer in order to bring worthy gifts to the Savior born in Bethlehem – the sincere repentance and pure heart.

On December 16-17, 2018, in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, celebrations were held on the occasion of the feast day of the holy Great Martyr Barbara and the cathedral patronal feast. The All-Night Vigil on the eve of the feast and Divine Liturgy at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in the city of Edmonton was performed by the temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh.

His Grace was co-served with the dean of Patriarchal parishes and the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton Ver. Rev. Igor Kisil; the rector of “Orthodox IX” Parishes Ver. Rev. Evheniy Protsenko; Ver. Rev. Vitaliy Manoli, the rector of moldavian orthodox comunity; Rev. Alexios Surayev, rector of “Orthodox V” Parishes; Hieromonk Sergii Gusakov, ROCOR, rector of Ioann Shanhaiskiy church, Calgary; Rev. Viktor Kramarenko rector of St. George the Victorian, ROCOR, from Red Deer, Alberta; archimandrite Gerasim (Power), OCA (Orthodox Church of America), the dean of Alberta and the rector of Smoky Lake region parishes; Ver. Rev. Vincent Lehr rector of St. Herman Cathedral in Edmonton (OCA); protodeacon Jesse Isaac of St. Herman Cathedral; deacon Andrei Boldireff; deacon John Grigaitis; ; deacon Stephan Nagi; with the President of St. Barbara Cathedral Mr. Roman Lopushinky present.

The festive divine service was performed in Church Slavonic and English.
After the behind the ambon prayer, the archpastor, the clergy and the parishioners performed a prayer service before the main shrine of the cathedral, the venerated foot of the Great Martyr Barbara.

At the end of the service, Vladyka Matthew addressed the co-serving clergy and the parishioners gathered for the solemn ceremony with the words of preaching and spiritual edification, wishing everyone to draw moral lessons from the life of the holy Great Martyr Barbara, and her example to sincerely, earnestly and firmly keep faith to the Lord and Savior Jesus.

There was a festive meal at the cathedral hall in the basement of the cathedral after the service. The meal was arranged by the zeal of the Parish Council, the rector and his family, the Brotherhood and Women’s Aid of the cathedral. During the festive dinner many kind word words of gratitude were mutually uttered and a lot of “Many years!” sung to the Patriarch, the Bishop, the clergy, the cathedral choir, to the Brotherhood and Sisterhood of the cathedral and to all to all who contributed to the patronal feast.
At the end of the festive lunch the Right Reverend Vladyka wished everyone to have a spiritually joyful coming soon Greatest Feast of the Lords Nativity and also a blessed and peaceful New Year.

“Русская Православная Церковь. Патриаршие приходы в Канаде.”
(Russian Orthodox Church. Patriachal Parishes in Canada)
– https://www.facebook.com/patriarchialparishesincanada/
Николай Трубников для “Русская Православная Церковь Великобритании
и Ирландии” – https://www.facebook.com/groups/skopineparh/
V. Rev. Evgeniy Protsenko
Photo: Nilolai Trubnikov, Natasha Borys, Olga Protsenko