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- Created on Thursday, 17 August 2017 02:15
On July 14/27, 2017 His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius, accompanied
by Hierodeacon Sergius, arrived in Edmonton, Canada for a one week
pastoral visit. They were met at the Airport in the late afternoon by
Reverend Father Andrew Kencis, his Matushka, and
Monk Seraphim.
That evening the All-night Vigil, with Metropolitan Demetrius
presiding, was served at the Cathedral Parish of St. Vladimir’s, which
was founded by Archbishop Ioasaph of Blessed Memory. The following
morning a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy and was followed by
a festive trapeza where there was an extended question and answer talk
given by the Metropolitan. The major themes discussed by the
Metropolitan was the urge to cultivate the spiritual life, to remember
always that we must both confess the Holy Orthodox faith,
but never forget to so in a loving manner. The metropolitan, continuing
the theme from the Clergy Conference in July, warned against the
temptations of “the right” which according to the Holy Fathers can be
much more subtle and dangerous than obvious coarse
sins and passions.
The Metropolitan and Hierodeacon Sergius then were taken to the
historic Holy Protection Convent in the company of Abbess Ambrossia and
one of the lay-sisters of the convent which is 1 ½ hours outside
Edmonton. The metropolitan was received with the ringing
of bells and chanting. There was outdoor meal served in the long summer
evening of the North. In the morning after matins there was breakfast
with a short reading and the remaining time was spent answering written
questions from the sisterhood on the spiritual
life and monasticism. A pannahida was served in the very historic
cemetery where Bishop Savvas is buried along with many Hieromonks,
priests, and faithful. The original chapel and holy gates built by
Archbishop Ioasaph still stand and are functional. After
another open air trapeza in the mid-afternoon the All-night Sunday vigil
served for the Sunday of the Holy Fathers in the convent house chapel
dedicated to St. John Maximovitch. After the vigil the Metropolitan
returned to Edmonton to St. Vladimir’s to prepare
for another Hierarchal Liturgy Sunday morning. After the Liturgy there
was a parish trapeza and a talk was given, followed by the Metropolitan
speaking privately to whomever needed to see him.
On Sunday afternoon Fr. Andrew and Matushka took the Metropolitan to
their home which is at the historic Skete of the Dormition which is also
1 1//2 hours outside Edmonton. This skete was founded by Metropolitan
Vitaly and three bishops of the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside Russia came out of the brotherhood, Metropolitan Vitaly,
Archbishop Anthony of San Francisco, and Archbishop Paul of Australia.
The original brotherhood church, alas, has fallen into ruin, but a
parish church was moved to the property which
was built in 1941.
Vigils were served for both St. Seraphim of Sarov and Prophet Elias.
The Metropolitan served the Divine Liturgy as a priest on St. Seraphim’s
Feast and a Hierarchal Liturgy was served on the feast of Prophet
Elias. Several families took Holy Communion for
the first time in the GOC after speaking with the Metropolitan and
ascertaining that they could do so in good conscience with no compromise
of their Orthodoxy. There were informal talks at breakfast after the
two liturgies with a small number of faithful present
and also in the evening during the evening meal and later around a
pleasant bonfire in the splendid Northern Landscape.
The Metropolitan also visited the local cemeteries where many faithful are buried and served pannahidas.
The landscape is very similar to Russia and Ukraine and one can see
why immigrants settled in Alberta by the tens of thousands from those
places. There were at one time an estimated 800 Orthodox Churches
serving Russian and Ukrainian immigrants in those
parts. Alas, most of the churches are empty now becaue the congregations
have died off and the children moved away, either being maintained as
state monuments or are falling apart due the ravages of the harsh
northern climate.
Early Thursday morning the Metropolitan left for New York City to be
present for the celebration of Great Vespers for the Feast of St.
Markella.
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