Pastoral Retreat and Diocesan Conference in Canada

The participants of the meeting held on 1-2 April in Ottawa, were greeted with an unexpected joy: the Miracle-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian diaspora, was brought by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus to the Protection of the Mother of God Memorial Church of the 1000 Years of Russian Orthodoxy. In the words of His Eminence, the aim of the meeting, held during Mid-Lent, must be to “rid ourselves of spiritual rubbish.” The Administrator of the Eastern part of the Canadian Diocese, His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Mahattan noted that for Protection Church, which is undergoing difficult times, this meeting of clergy under the presidency of the First Hierarch is an important event, once more testifying to the obvious recuperation of spiritual life and the easing of worries in the Canadian Diocese.

After the Pastoral Retreat, which was held at the hall of St. Vladimir Russian Home (across the street from the church), and a cup of tea, matins commenced in the church, following the Rules for Holy Communion and an akathist to the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. Many worshipers attended the service in order to venerate the Icon.

The second day began with the liturgy of the pre-sanctified Gifts, performed in the hierarchal rite. A composite choir sang under the direction of George Anatolievich Skok. The pre-sanctified liturgy itself, infused with both humble sorrow and severe magnificence, always illumines and strengthens the soul of the worshiper. But the pre-sanctified liturgy on 2 April in the gold-domed Protection Church, with the humble regality of the hierarchal service, along with a host of priests and deacons in magnificent vestments, with the quiet, prayerful singing of the choir, virtually shook up and softened the hearts of all who were fortunate enough to attend (Photo: Entrance during pre-sanctified liturgy).

After the luncheon prepared by Sisterhoods of Protection Church and St. Xenia, a working session of the Diocesan Council began, presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus. The meeting was run by the President of the Diocesan Council, Bishop Gabriel.

From the reports of the parish rectors, wardens and secretaries of parish councils it became apparent that parish life in the Canadian Diocese over the last year experienced positive changes. New parishes have been formed (in Kitchener and Newfoundland), those who were troubled by recent events in the Diocese returned to their old churches, which had been for years infused with their own prayer, and a steady influx of new parishioners is occurring, from recent arrivals in Canada. Striking changes have occurred at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal, whose parish is preparing to celebrate its 75th anniversary. Attendance at services of St. Nicholas Cathedral has almost doubled in the last year (as compared with attendance during the winter of 2001-2). The newly-elected parish council prepared a realistic plan for financial restructuring which would allow the completion of the church’s renovation, for which an enormous amount of money has already been spent, not always fruitfully. Montreal, the cathedral city of the Diocese, is preparing for both the St. Herman’s Youth Conference and a Church Music Conference.

All this, of course, does not mean that diocesan life in Canada, which, by the will of God, endured a great deal over recent years, has entirely recovered. Long and tireless work lies ahead. But Bishop Gabriel expressed the common hope that the Diocese will gradually, step by step, return to its path of better times with its glorious past ,a part of the history of our Church as a whole.