Archpastoral Greeting on the Occasion of the 110th Anniversary of the Consecration of St. James Russo Greek Orthodox Church on Mundare.
Dear, in the Lord, Reverend Fathers, beloved Brothers and Sisters, dear Mr. President and the members of the Church Board, dear Parishioners and Guests!

Gramota (Certificate of Merit) St. Tikhon (Bellavin), by Bishop of Aleut and North America, the future Patriarch of All Russia, to Kodrat Sheremeta, the founder of St. James Russo Greek Orthodox Church, Mundare. August 6, 1904.

With all my heart I congratulate you on the occasion of the Feast of this church and with the 110th anniversary of its foundation and consecration! This bright candle was lit on the spiritual sky of Canada, due to the works of the first Orthodox priest and a missionary in Canada, Reverend Father Jacob Korchinsky and St. Tikhon (Bellavin), Bishop of Aleut and North America, the future Patriarch of All Russia. But in order to bring this church into being, beside the efforts of Russian clergy, there were the efforts of other people as well… The living faith and will of your ancestors, who were truly longing to have a real Orthodox temple here was the cause why this church came into existence: your ancestors did not want to be lost spiritually in this huge, boundless, ocean-like Canadian prairies… Perhaps, this temple reminded them that ship, on which they once sailed from Eastern Europe to distant Canada. But the ultimate goal of the path of your grandfathers and great grandfathers was not only to reach Canada. They firmly believed in God and believed in all His words: therefore, they were striving in their lives – first and foremost – to get into the Кingdom of God. But the Heavenly Kingdom is to be reached only through the help of the Orthodox Church. In this regard, the church might be even compared to a space shuttle. And there is no doubt that this church, as a rocket, lifted up all of its founders and builders, as well as those, who once were praying in it, streit to the Spiritual Heaven. Today they all, together with Patriarch Tikhon, who consecrated this temple Himself, are looking down at you from the Heaven – not just witnessing our Worship Service, but invisibly participating in it. I think that they rejoice now and thank you all for the fact that this ancient temple is still living and acting, is full of life and filled with God’s grace! Let our church always be beautiful and young, filled with the Holy Spirit and believers in God! Let the Blessing of God, and prayers of Holy Apostle James and St. Tikhon help us keep this temple and our holy Orthodox faith for ever and ever! Amen.
Iov, Bishop of Kashira,
Administrator of the Parishes in Canada
November 2nd, 2014.