On May 5, 2026.Bishop Matthew of Surozh, temporary Administrator of patriarchal parishes in the United States and Canada arrived in Edmonton, Alberta.

In St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, the Archpastor was met by the Dean of the Patriarchal parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskechevn, Rector of the cathedral, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the parish County “Orthodox IX” Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, deacon Alexy Toporchan and churchwarden Roman Lopushinsky.

The Archpastor server a brief moleben in front of the main shrine of the cathedral – the foot of the Holy Great martyr Barbara and talked with the clergy.

On May 6, 2026, on the day of Mid-Pentecost, the feast day of the Great Martyr George the Victorious (303), the feast of the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God (the second discovery of the icon’s copy, 2012), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan and Cathedral Rector; Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Priest Alexei Suraev, Rector of the Orthodox V Parish District; cathedral clergy Deacon Andrei Boldyrev, Deacon Stefan Nagy, and Deacon Alexander Toporchan.

Following the Liturgy, the Archpastor performed the Lesser Blessing of Water. Vladyka Matthew congratulated the clergy and parishioners of the cathedral on the feast day and addressed those present with words of spiritual edification. In his response, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the church, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share the joy of fellowship with his Archpastor and thanked His Grace for his visit.

In recognition of his diligent church work, Bishop Matthew awarded the right to wear the cassock to the cathedral’s altar server, Nazar Tarkani.

After the divine service, Bishop Matthew spoke with the cathedral’s clergy and parishioners.

On May 8, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, arrived in Regina, the capital of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan.

During his archpastoral visit, a hierarchical service was planned at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Regina, and a meeting with the clergy and faithful of the Orthodox IX Parish District.

On May 9, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Regina, Saskatchewan.

At the entrance to the church, His Grace was greeted with bread and salt by parish activist Maxim Kondrashov.

At the Liturgy, His Grace was assisted by Archpriest Mykola Kavderko, a retired cleric of the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (MP), temporarily residing in Canada.

The parish choir under the direction of choirmaster Elena Vorotyagina performed the liturgical hymns.

At the Litany for the departed, petitions were offered “for the repose of the souls of the ever-memorable leaders and soldiers who laid down their lives for the faith and our Fatherland on the battlefield, those who died from wounds and hunger, those who were innocently tortured and killed in captivity and bitter labor, those who died during the Siege, and those who labored for the sake of Victory, whose names You Yourself, Lord, know.”

Following the Liturgy, a memorial litany and a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord God for granting victory in the Great Patriotic War were celebrated.

Then the Archpastor addressed those present with words of sermon and spiritual edification.

In recognition of his diligent church work in the parish, Bishop Matthew awarded Oleg Slinko a blessed Episcopal Diploma.

On May 10, 2026, on the 5th Sunday after Easter, on the Samaritan Woman, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

At the entrance to the church, the Right Reverend Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by church warden Roman Lopushinsky and young parishioners of the Cathedral.

His Grace was assisted at the Liturgy by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan and Cathedral Rector; Deacon Andrei Boldyrev; Deacon Stefan Nagy; and Deacon Alexander Toropchan.

At the Small Entrance, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh awarded the clergy of St. Barbara’s Cathedral Patriarchal and Episcopal Liturgical-Hierarchical Awards for their zealous deacon service on Holy Pascha: deacon Stefan Nagy received the right to wear the kamilavka; deacon Alexander Torporchan received the right to wear the double orarion.

Following the Liturgy, Archpriest Igor Kisil, the Rector, on behalf of the clergy and parishioners, addressed Bishop Matthew with words of gratitude for the joy of co-serving the Divine Liturgy and the opportunity to communicate with their Archpastor. Father Igor warmly congratulated the hierarch on his upcoming 55th birthday and presented Bishop Matthew with a commemorative cross and panagia.

In turn, as a memento of his visit, Bishop Matthew presented the cathedral with a jewelry ladle and an embroidered towel.

Then His Grace delivered a sermon and bestowed his archpastoral blessing on all present.

Finally, the clergy and parishioners shared a festive meal.

On May 10, 2026, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, chaired a meeting of the parish councils of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton and the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Nisku.

The meeting took place in the administrative office of St. Barbara’s Cathedral.

The event was attended by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Roman Lopushinsky, church warden of St. Barbara’s Cathedral and Secretary of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada; Darcy Doblanko, Vice-President of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Nisku; members of the parish council of that same church, Kevin Wasiluk (treasurer) and Natasha Borys; and former parish council member Anna Wasiluk.

Opening the meeting, Bishop Matthew addressed the participants with a welcoming speech and Easter greetings. The meeting included presentations by clergy and parish representatives, and a discussion of current issues of daily church and parish life, as outlined in the agenda.

 

On May 12, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, visited the Church of the Nativity of the Most Holy Theotokos in Nisku, Alberta.

Accompanying the Archpastor were Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; and his personal secretary, N.V. Trubnikov.

Upon arrival, Bishop Matthew toured the church and visited the parish cemetery, where he served a panikhida at the graves of the deceased hierarchs and clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada: Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk), Archimandrite Germogen (Cherkashin), Archimandrite Dimitry (Shchur), Hieromonk Methodius (Osadchuk), Schema-Hierodeacon Theophanes (Mashchuk), Archpriest John Margitich, and his wife Helen Margitich.

On May 12, 2026, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, held a working meeting with the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.

The meeting took place at the bishop’s residence in Edmonton.

Before the meeting, a short moleben was served in the house church dedicated to the Pochayev Icon of the Mother of God.

Participating in the meeting were Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Deacon Andrei Boldyrev and Deacon Alexander Toporchan, clergy of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton.

Vladyka heard reports from the clergy and answered questions. After discussing current administrative and economic matters, Bishop Matthew continued working with documents.

On May 13, 2026, the day of the leave-taking of the feast of Mid-Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, headed patronal celebration and celebrated Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Apostle James, near Mandera, Alberta.

At the entrance to the church, Bishop Matthew was greeted with bread, salt, and flowers by the church warden, Michael Koroluk.

Before the Liturgy, His Grace tonsured Leon Unland a reader and ordained Mark LeBlanc a subdeacon.

His Grace was assisted at the Divine Liturgy by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Priest Alexei Suraev, Rector of the church and Orthodox V Parish District; Deacon Andrei Boldyrev; Deacon Stefan Nagy; and Deacon Alexander Toporchan.

The parish choir, directed by Andrea Zacharuk, performed the liturgical hymns.

Following the divine service, the Archpastor addressed the clergy and parishioners with a sermon and spiritual edification.

Then all present shared a communal meal, during which they had the opportunity to socialise and discuss matters of church and parish life.

On May 13 His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh completed his archpastoral visit to the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada which continued from May 5, 2026.

Concluding his stay in Canada, Bishop Matthew visited St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, where he served a short moleben before the cathedral’s main relic—the left foot of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara (+306).

The Archpastor was seen off at the church by the cathedral’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan; Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; and Deacon Alexander Toporchan.