CANADIAN DIOCESE: 11 October 2023
Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America and New York makes a primatial visit to the Canadian Diocese

In the last days of the 30th Church Musicians' Conference in Ottawa, Canada, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia, presided at all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy on the day of remembrance of St Sergius in the Church of St Ksenia of Petersburg in Kanata, ON. In addition to the large choir of participants of the conference, also participating were His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Canada, Archpriest Vladimir Morin, Archpriest Oleg Mironov, Archpriest Mikhail Metni, Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky, Deacon Andrey Anishchenko and Deacon Seth Davidenko. In his speech to the church musicians and parishioners, Vladyka Nicholas especially noted the importance of the church singing ministry in our difficult times and the exceptional role that the love to Divine Service has in our spiritual life. After the service, the parish sisterhood offered a meal to all conference participants, parishioners and guests of the parish. A photo report of the last days of the conference can be seen here.

On Monday, 9 October, on the feast day of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, the First-Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia visited Memorial Church of the Protection of the Holy Virgin in Ottawa.

The His Eminence presided at Divine Liturgy. The following clergy co-served with the First Hierarch: Archpriest Valery Chemsky (cleric of St Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal), Archpriest Oleg Mironov (rector of St Xenia parish in Kanata), Archpriest Michael Metni (cleric of St Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal), Archpriest Alexis Pjawka (acting rector of the Protection of the Holy Virgin parish in Ottawa), Priest Maxim Abroskin (rector of the Smolensk Icon of the Virgin Mary in Jackson’s Point), Priest Nicholas Melnyk (cleric of the Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa of the Orthodox Church in America), Priest Valentin Losev (cleric of the Smolensk Icon of the Virgin Mary in Jackson’s Point), Protodeacon Boris Sidorenko (cleric of St Nicholas Cathedral in Montreal), Deacon Andrey Anishchenko (cleric of the Protection of the Holy Virgin parish in Ottawa).

The parish choir, augmented by guests from neighboring churches, sang prayerfully under the direction of Julia Krukouskaya. On Monday Canadians marked the Thanksgiving holiday, and therefore many parishioners as well as guests from other parishes were able to attend the service. At the conclusion of the Liturgy, metropolitan Nicholas addressed the faithful in a sermon and called upon them to follow the example of the Apostle John the Theologian in always remaining with Christ our Savior. He also congratulated the parishioners with their upcoming parish feastday and exhorted them to always thank the Most-Holy Theotokos for her constant protection of each and every one of them.

After Divine Liturgy, a lunch in honor of Metropolitan Nicholas was prepared by the sisterhood for the clergy, parishioners, and guests. Before departing, His Eminence toured the church building as well as the sixty-three unit St Vladimir’s Seniors Residence located beside the church.

A feeling of special grace, prayerfulness, and spiritual joy permeated Divine Liturgy as well as the festive meal. The parishioners, sisterhood, choir members, and altar servers diligently prepared for the first visit of the new First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia to Ottawa. Warm memories of the visit of the Metropolitan will remain in the hearts of all those who participated in the festivities.

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