A visit to St. Peter and Paul church in Regina, SK

On December 12, 2021, after completing a mandatory quarantine required by the Government of Canada as part of measures to combat coronavirus infection, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, arrived to Regina, the administrative center of the province of Saskatchewan.

The archpastoral visit to the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada began with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy in the Church of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul. The Right Reverend Vladyka was assisted by the Rector of the church, archpriest Radovan Maric, and the Rector of the “Orthodox IX” parish district, archpriest Yevgeniy Protsenko.

At the end of the Liturgy, Vladyka Matthew addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of a sermon and spiritual edification.

He expanded on the Gospel reading lesson applying it to the relevant situation with the epidemics; and expressed his joy that despite the restrictions God granted the opportunity to finally meet and serve together. His Grace reminded the interpretation of the Gospel by St. John of Kronshtadt, his appeal to go upright spiritually – through raising our eyes to Heaven, especially during the fasting period.

For the parishioners’ hard work for the glory of the Holy Orthodox Church, especially hardworking parishioners and benefactors of the church were presented with Bishops’ distinction letters.

His Grace Bishop Matthew presented Archpastoral Gramotas (Certificate of Merit) to the parishioners of the church Alexandr Nikonchuk, Oleg Slinko, Eduard Etingen, Elena Vorotyagina, Maxim Fedin, the choir director Olga Mizinina (Maric), and a special Certificate to Anatoly Davidian – for his assistance in building a new beautiful and durable metal roofing.

Vladika noted a lot of improvements and renovations in the church building and welcomed the parishioners’ and f. Radovan’s plans for the fulfillment of the church betterment.

The archpriest of the church, Radovan Maric, and the president of the parish council, Dr. Maxim Kondrashov, addressed the Archpastor with a welcoming speech.

The Parish President and father Radovan on behalf of the Council and all the parishioners invited Vladika Matthew to lead the celebration of the 10^th anniversary of the Great consecration of the church in 2022.

After the service everyone was invited to the beautiful and spacious church hall in the basement of the church.

During his visit, the Right Reverend Archpastor is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

The Church of the Holy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul is the youngest church of the Patriarchal parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada.

The parish, founded in 1911 in the farm area of Insinger-Gudima by immigrants from Bukovinian Rus, opened a new page in its history in its centenary year, on October 1, 2011. The parish was joined by the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church – emigrants from the CIS countries, united by a common spiritual tradition, who were previously cared for in the Serbian and Ukrainian Orthodox churches of the city of Regina.

The community was formed thanks to the spiritual ministry of Bishop Job (Smakose) and the Rector of the local Serbian Holy Trinity Church, archpriest Radovan Maric, a graduate of the Moscow Theological Academy.

At the beginning of October 2012, by the efforts of the parishioners, a building for the church was purchased and renovated, and on November 24 of the same year, the Great consecration of the church took place.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, arrived in Edmonton

On December 12, 2021, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, arrived in Edmonton, Alberta.

From Edmonton Airport, the Right Reverend Archpastor went to St. Barbara’s Cathedral.  In the Cathedral, Vladyka Matthew was greeted by the Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Albert and Saskechewan, Rector of the Cathedral, archpriest Igor Kisil, and churchwarden Roman Lopushinsky.

Vladyka Matthew offered prayers in front of the ikon of the holy Great Martyr Barbara and part of her holy relics, venerated the holy objects of the Cathedral and made a tour of the church.

On his visit, the Right Reverend Archpastor is accompanied by his personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of St. John the Baptist in Chipman.

On December 3, 2021, on the day of remembrance of the Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Liturgy at the Church of the Nativity of the Holy Prophet John, Forerunner and Baptist of the Lord, in Chipman, Alberta province.

At the entrance to the church, His Eminence Vladyka was greeted with bread and salt and a bouquet of flowers by Reader Joachim Lopushinsky, President of the Orthodox V organization of Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, and Laura Antonyuk, member of the church parish council.

During the Liturgy, the Archpastor was assisted by priest Alexy Suraev, Rector of the Orthodox V Parish District, archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, priest Viktor Kramarenko (ROCOR), Rector of the Church of St George the Victorious in Red-Deer, and deacon Andrei Boldyrev, cleric of the Cathedral of Great Martyr Barbara in Edmonton.

At the end of the divine service, His Grace Vladyka congratulated clergy and parishioners with the feast and addressed them with words of a sermon and spiritual edification.  Father Alexy, in turn, warmly thanked Vladyka Matthew for the archpastoral visit and the opportunity to co-celebrate the Divine Liturgy.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh held a working meeting at the residence of the Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

On December 14, 2021, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, visited the house church in honor of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God, located in the Bishop’s residence in Edmonton, Alberta province.

The Archpastor offered up prayers at the altar, venerated the shrines and examined the house church.

Then Vladyka Matthew held meetings with the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, at which various issues of parish life were discussed.

After the meetings with the clergy, His Grace Vladyka continued to work with documents and considered a number of current administrative and economic matters.

sourozh.org