His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh started his Archpastoral visit to Canada and the USA

On September 19, 2019, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, arrived in Canada.

The archpastoral visit began with a visit to the Patriarchal metochion of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia in the city of Toronto, Ontario.

At the entrance to the church, Vladyka was met by the Rector, Archpriest Sergei Rasskazovsky. Vladyka Matthew examined the temple and venerated the holy icons and relics, after which a conversation took place with the rector of the metochion, at which various issues of church and parish life were discussed. The Archpastor is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

On the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served an all-night vigil in St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton, Canada

On September 20, 2019, as part of the archpastoral visit to the North American continent, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, arrived in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

The Right Reverend Vladyka was met at the airport of Edmonton by the Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil, and churchwarden Roman Lopushinsky.

Upon arrival, Vladyka went to the Cathedral of St.Barbara, where he served a moleben in front of the icon of the holy Great Martyr Barbara and part of her holy relics, venetated the shrines of the cathedral and had a tour of the Cathedral.

On the evening of the same day, on the eve of the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Vladyka Matthew served an all-night vigil in St. Barbara Cathedral. Vladyka was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the church, Archpriest Vitaly Manoli, Archpriest Evgeni Protsenko, Head of the Information Department of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, and deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

On the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, and Archbishop Irenaeus of Ottawa and Canada (OCA), celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of Mother of God church in Nisku, Canada

On September 21, 2019, on the feast of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, visited the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God in the village of Nisku, located in Leduc County, Alberta, Canada.

By invitation of Vladyka Matthew, Archbishop Irenaeus of Ottawa and Canada (OCA) arrived to co-celebrate the feast. During the Liturgy, the Archpastors were assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskechewan, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Head of the Information Department of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, Dean of the Church, Deacon Andrei Boldyrev and Deacon John Grigaitis.

Upon the final prayer of the Liturgy, the Archpastors exchanged welcoming words. In gratitude for the joint service on the feast day, Vladyka Matthew presented the distinguished guest with a memorable gift.

After the Liturgy, Vladyka Matthew served a panikhida for the late Archbishop Panteleimon of Edmonton and Canada (+1968), the first ROC hierarch in Canada, as well as for the clergy and laity whose graves are in the parish church cemetery.

On the eve of the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served an all-night vigil in St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton, Canada

On September 21, 2019, on the eve of the14th Sunday after Pentecost, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served an all-night vigil in St. Barbara Cathedral of Edmonton, province of Alberta, Canada.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of patriarchal parishes in the province of Alberta and Saskechevan, Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral, Archpriest Vitaly Manoli, Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, Head of the Information Department of Patriarchal parishes in Canada, and Deacon Andrey Boldyrev.

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

After the service, Archpriest Igor Kisil addressed Vladyka Matthew with welcome speech.

On the14th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh headed the festivities on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Holy Trinity Church near Thorsby, Canada

On September 22, 2019, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, headed the Divine Liturgy and took part in festive events on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Holy Trinity Church (Whitsuntide) near Torsby, Alberta, Canada.

His Right Reverend Vladyka was assisted by Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox 9,” and deacon Andrei Boldyrev.
At the entrance to the church, Vladyka was greeted by the president of the parish community, Philip Paklik.

The church brought together many parishioners, guests and friends of the parish, the descendants of the organizers and benefactors of the church.
Liturgical chants were sung by the joint choir of parishioners of the district churches under the direction of Alena Frankish.

At the small entrance, the Right Reverend Vladyka honored the right to wear the orarion to the church altarnik Kirill Frankish, as a recognition of his hard work to the benefits of the church.

At the end of the service, glorification was sung to the Most Holy Mother of God, to Her Nativity and to her Holy Parents.

In his sermon, Bishop Matthew congratulated the parishioners of the jubilant church with the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Mother of God and compared the organizers of the church with her holy parents, who, through their patience and dedication, secured a wonderful gift for their descendants — the Holy Temple.
Vladyka thanked everyone who supports the church and cares for the services in it, and presented a carved wooden decorated cross to the parish in memory of his service on the centennial day. He has also awarded the parish council with the Patriarchal Letter of Distinction.

In his welcome reply, the Rector of the church, Archpriest Evgeni Protsenko, on behalf of the parishioners and guests of the church, thanked Vladyka for the words of edification and spiritual comfort, as well as «for his long journey to exacerbate the grace and solemnity of the parish anniversary.»

At the end of the service, a commemorative photo was taken on the church ambon and on the steps of the entrance to the church, after which the parish council invited all those present to a festive meal in the city of Torsby.

During the meal, the president of the parish community, Phillip Paklik, made a report on the history of the church and of the community, completing his report with his personal account, including a photo presentation showing church services and events over the past fifty years.

Then the floor was given to the Most Reverend Vladyka, to the clergy and the presidents of the parish councild.

Vladyka Matthew warmly thanked the organizers of the festivities for their reverent attitude to their church history, for prayers and kind words, refreshments, and called the blessings of the Lord upon all those present.

The Rector of the church emphasized the importance of the church in the region, which, for six generations of parishioners during the past 100 years, has become a true home, school and common refectory, a place of spiritual birth and formation for many people.

Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskechewan, Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, former Rector of the now jubilant Holy Trinity Church, warmly remembered all the names of the parishioners who worked in the church and those who now rest in this holy place.

Deacon Andrei Boldyrev urged those present not to leave their main heritage and to find spiritual comfort in the services in their own church.
Presidents of the Orthodox 9 parish district and of the Cathedral of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara donated memorial plaques with information about the celebration to the community of the Holy Trinity Church and warmly greeted the audience.

After the thanksgiving prayer, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh continued talks and discussions with parishioners and guests.

His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Church of the Ascension of the Lord near Kalmar, Alberta province, Canada

On September 22, 2019, after the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporarily Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, paid a visit to the Ascension Church near Kalmar, Alberta, Canada.

Vladyka was accompanied by the President of the Ascension Church community, Robert Dobko, and churchwarden of St. Barbara Cathedral Roman Lopushinsky.

He Right Reverend Vladyka made a tour of the church and the adjacent territory, and noted with satisfaction the work of the church Rector Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, the church council and parishioners of the community in maintaining the church building in proper order.

His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh completed his stay in Alberta, Canada

On September 23, 2019, after a number of divine services and visits to parishes, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administration of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, completed his stay in Alberta, Canada.

At the airport in Edmonton, Vladyka was seen off by deacon Andrei Boldyrev and Roman Lopushinsky, churchwarden of St.Barbara Cathedral.
The archpastor is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh served a panikhida at the grave of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova in Toronto, Canada

On September 24, 2019, completing his archpastoral visit to Canada, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporarily Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, served a panikhida at the resting place of Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova and her husband, Colonel Nikolai Kulikovsky, at the York Cemetery in Toronto.

Grand Duchess Olga Alexandrovna Romanova (June 1 (13), 1882 — November 24, 1960) — Grand Duchess of the Russian Imperial House, the youngest daughter of Emperor Alexander III Alexandrovich and Empress Maria Fedorovna, sister of the last Russian Tsar-passion bearer Nicholas II. She was a painter. At the time of her passing away, she was the last of the Great Princess of the House of Romanovs.

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Photo: Nikolai Trubnikov, Natasha Borys