Archpastoral Greeting on the Occasion of the Blessing of the Holy Trinity Russo Greek Orthodox Church on Wostok after the Renovation.

The road to the temple of the Holy Trinity. October 25, 2015. Wostok. Alberta.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ!
Today, after the renovation (repainting of the walls and the dome), we have blessed the temple, consecrated in the name of the Holy Trinity, and we have already served the Divine Liturgy in it! In truth, this church – which is being the successor of the first Orthodox Church in Canada – have now become even more similar to the Spiritual Heaven… It’s walls have become light and alive, and it’s dome have stretched up towards God.

Taking care of Your church is the continuation of the work that Your forefathers once started: by building this church they had blessed the extended spaces of their new home – Canada. When they now see this church properly adorned, decorated and open for those who want to come and attend the Services, Your ancestors spiritually rejoice on Heavens and thank You from above!

A beautiful church is also a sermon of our Orthodox faith to non-believers and to people from all different confessions, who will look at it. The church, that is taken care of, tells a lot about its parishioners: that they need it and find in it something very important for their souls, which is impossible to buy for any money in any of those huge supermarkets.

If a person loves the House of God – it means that he or she loves God! And God does not forget about those His children – and always helps them by His attention and His perfect love. Apostle Paul teaches that the most important thing is not how much we are giving to the Church, but in which state our heart is when we wish to give: “Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2nd Epistle to the Corinthians, 9, 7).

The participants of the Divine Liturgy at the end of the Service pray to God for all those, who take care about His church here, on earth, and who “love the beauty of His House!” The real benefactor of the parish church becomes the alive temple of God him/ herself! He (she) is always full of joy and happy – because God always stays inside such a person and sanctifies him (her).

This is a unique and happy opportunity for us to participate in renovation and decoration of the temple of God – and to be able through transformation of the church and through Holy Services, served here, to transform our own souls.

I cordially thank all of You: Your priest – Father Alexei, the Church Board and all parishioners for Your sacrifice and Your hard work! For a long memory about this event let me award You all together by the Episcopal Certificate of Merit (“Archiereiskaya Gramota”) and wish You all many and good years!

Job, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchial Parishes in Canada
October 25, 2015