His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, visited Patriarchal Parishes in Edmonton area to head the celebration of St. Barbara’s cathedra Patronal Feast and the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia

 

On December 15, 2023, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, arrived in Edmonton, Alberta.

From Edmonton airport, His Grace went to St. Barbara’s Cathedral. In the church, Vladyka Matthew was met by the Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox IX”, Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, and the churchwarden Roman Lopushinsky.

Bishop Matthew offered prayers in front of the icon of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara and the main shrine of the church – a piece of the relics (left foot) of the Great Martyr Barbara, inspected the church, after which he held a working meeting with the clergy, at which current issues of church and parish life were discussed.

On December 16, 2023, 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 Nisku, Alberta, Canada.

On the trip, His Grace was accompanied by the Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox IX”, Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, and personal secretary N.V.  Trubnikov.

Upon arrival at the Cathedral, His Grace venerated the shrines and said a short prayer.

After discussing current parish issues with the clergy, Vladyka Matthew served a panikhida in the parish cemetery, where the blessed Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk), Archpriest John Margitich, and other clergy, who served in the parishes of the province of Alberta, are buried. Bishop Mattew also prayed at the grave of Victor Lopushinsky, who for 42 years was the churchwarden of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton and for the repose of many other parishioners buried over the years.

At the end of the panikhida, Vladyka examined the graves damaged by the recent act of vandalism. Currently, preparations are being made for the restoration and renovation of the burials.

On December 16, 2023, on the eve of the day of remembrance of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated an all-night vigil at the St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton.

At the invitation of Bishop Matthew, the Primate of the Archdiocese of Canada of the Orthodox Church in America, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa and Canada, and the clergy of the diocese arrived for concelebration.

Before the beginning of the all-night vigil, part of the relics (left foot) of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara was brought from the altar for veneration.

Concelebrating with the Archpastors were Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada, Rector of St. Barbara Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Chancellor of the Canadian Archdiocese, Rector of the Church of the Holy Martyr Peter Aleutian in Calgary, Archpriest Phillip Eriksson (OCA), Rector of St. Herman of Alaska cathedral in Edmonton Archpriest Vincent Lehr (OCA), Dean of the parish district “Orthodox IX” Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, cleric of the Dnipropetrovsk diocese of the UOC Archpriest Yaroslav Nikonenko, Archpriest Vitaly Manoli (OCA), Dean of the parish district “Orthodox V” Priest Alexy Surayev, Protodeacon Jesse  Isaac (OCA) and Deacon Andrey Boldyrev.

During the divine service, His Grace Bishop Matthew honoured Sergiy Chesnokov, the altar server of the Church of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ in Toronto, who arrived for ordination to the diaconate, with the right to wear the stikharion.

At the matins of the all-night vigil, the Holy Gospel was read in two languages: Archbishop Irénée read it in English, and Bishop Matthew read it in Church Slavonic.  After reading the Gospel, the Archpastors anointed the clergy and parishioners with consecrated oil.

At the end of the divine service, Vladika Matthew warmly greeted Archbishop Irénée and the clergy of the Orthodox Church in America, who had come to share the joy of the patronal celebration in the Edmonton Cathedral, and, in memory of the joint service, he presented Vladika Irénée with the holy panagia.

Bishop Matthew congratulated Rector, clergy and parishioners of St. Barbara Cathedral on the upcoming patronal feast day and thanked those gathered for the opportunity to worship and pray together.

At the end, the church warden of the Cathedral, Roman Lopushinsky, invited everyone to a festive meal in the lower hall of the church, arranged by the cathedral sisterhood.

On December 17, 2023, on the 28th Sunday after Pentecost, the day of remembrance of the Great Martyr Barbara, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, led the patronal celebrations at St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

At the entrance to the Cathedral, the Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by the church warden Roman Lopushinsky and his wife Diana Lopushinskaya.

During the Divine Liturgy, his Grace was assisted by the Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the Cathedral Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Parish District “Orthodox IX” Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, clergy of the Dnipropetrovsk diocese of the UOC Archpriest Yaroslav Nikonenko, Dean of the parish “Orthodox V” Priest Alexy Surayev, Deacon Andrey Boldyrev and Deacon Stefan Nagy.

The divine service was celebrated in Church Slavonic and English.

Liturgical chants were performed by the Cathedral Choir under the direction of Irina Trutneva.

After reading the Gospel, the Archpastor delivered a sermon.

During the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew ordained the altar servant of the Church of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’ in Toronto, Sergiy Chesnokov to the rank of deacon.

Following the prayer behind the ambo, Vladyka Matthew and the concelebrating clergy performed prayerful glorification in front of the icon and part of the holy relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara.

In conclusion, His Grace addressed those present with a word of spiritual edification and congratulations on the patronal feast day.

In response, Rector of the Cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil, warmly thanked Vladyka Matthew for the archpastoral visit and the joy of prayerful communication on the day of the patronal celebration.

All parishioners were given the hierarchical blessing and presented with memorial icons.

After the divine service, a festive meal was organized through the efforts of the cathedral sisterhood.

On the evening of December 17, 2023, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the residence of the Administrators of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, located in Edmonton.

His Grace venerated the shrines of the house church in honour of the Pochaev Icon of the Most Holy Mother of God and said a short prayer.

Next, the Archpastor held a working meeting with clergy of the Patriarchal parishes in Canada, at which current diocesan affairs were discussed.

After the meeting, Vladyka Matthew continued to work with documents and considered a number of administrative and economic issues.

On December 18, 2023, on the eve of the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated an all-night vigil at St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton.

Concelebrating with His Eminence were Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the Cathedral Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Parish District “Orthodox IX” Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, and Deacon Andrey Boldyrev.

At Matins, after reading the Gospel, the Archpastor anointed the clergy and parishioners with consecrated oil.

At the end of the divine service, Rector of the church, Archpriest Igor Kisil, addressed Vladyka Matthew with words of greeting and gratitude for the opportunity to pray together.

On December 19, 2023, on the day of remembrance of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra of Lycia, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Ascension of the Lord in Skaro, located approximately 70 km N.E. of Edmonton.

At the entrance to the church, the Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by the president of the district “Orthodox V” and the treasurer of the church, reader Joachim Lopushinsky, and a member of the parish sisterhood Varvara Lopushinskaya.

During the Divine Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Priest Alexy Surayev, Dean of the parish district “Orthodox V”, Rector of the church, and the clergyman of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, Deacon Andrey Boldyrev.

At the end of the Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Matthew addressed the clergy and parishioners with a word of spiritual edification and a sermon on the theme of the feast.

In response, Rector of the church, Priest Alexy Surayev, warmly welcomed Vladyka Matthew and expressed gratitude for the visit and the joy of prayerful communication with his Archpastor.

The Archpastoral visit of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh to the Patriarchal parishes in Canada took place From December 7 to 19, 2023.

Concluding his visit to Canada, Bishop Matthew visited St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, where he celebrated a short moleben and venerated part of the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara. Left foot of St. Barbara was transferred from Kiev to Canada by Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk) of Edmonton and Canada and donated by him to St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton on the day of its consecration in 1960.

His Grace was seen off by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the Cathedral, and Archpriest Evgeniy Protsenko, Rector of the parish district “Orthodox IX”.

On the same day, Bishop Matthew and his personal secretary, N.V.Trubnikov, who accompanied him on the trip, left for London.

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