On January 28, 2012, the 47th Convocation of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada was held after the Divine Liturgy in St. James Church in Mundare lead by the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton Father Sergey Kipriyanovich, minister of Orthodox IX Parishes Father Igor Kisil and minister of Orthodox V Parishes Father Anton Filchak.
According to the tradition the meeting began with the communal prayer and the blessing of Father Sergey Kipriyanovich. Then the acting chairman (Bill Karpo) and the recording secretaries of the meeting were elected and the agenda was approved.
After reading and approval of the minutes of the previous 46th meeting the reports were held of the administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes  and the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes and also annual reports of the presidents of the Cathedral of St. Barbara, “Orthodox IX” and “Orthodox V” parishes. Then the financial report was held by the treasurer of the Patriarchal Parishes and the budget for 2012 was assessed.
Finally, plans of measures and new projects for the current year were considered: the development of web-site of the Patriarchal Parishes, fixing the day of service in the church of the Ukrainian village-museum (May 21, 2013, 10:00 AM), fixing the place and date of the next annual meeting (Nisku, January 12, 2013: service – 9:00, meeting – 10:30).

Nativity of Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ

Christ is Born! Let us glorify Him!

Христос Раждается! Славим Его! Христос рождається — славімо Його! 

I cordially greet you dear fathers, brothers and sisters in the Lord with the Holy Day of the Nativity of Our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ and the New 2012 Year!

The Nativity of Christ – is that silent and holy night, in which our hearts beat a bit stronger. Our hearts are excited for they feel that Someone is knocking in them, the Someone Who is very important and desired, and Who wants to enter and abide in our hearts. At the same time, at first glance, everything in nature is silent, our lands are immersed in a winter sleep. Only the evergreen tree continues to display its beauty in its green garb. It reminds us that even those things that have died, we and all of God’s creation, continue to live!

The Christmas Tree, shining with its tender snowflakes and bright light, is the victorious symbol which shows us the way to existence in an eternal and beautiful life in God! But in reality, like us, nature does not sleep on this night but quietly greets its Creator and Ruler. It rejoices because God, for unity with man, was reincarnated into man’s form.

“In the icon of the Nativity the land is not smooth and flat, no, it is full of movement” wrote the Russian monk, icon painter Gregory (Krug) of France, in his famous book “Thoughts about the Icon”. “And this hilly, rugged face of the earth does not only represent the local landscape around Bethlehem… The land recognized the day of the visit and responded to Christ and became alive as does dough – it began to rise because it began to feel in itself the leaven of eternal life. And those waves and projections of the land surrounding the manger are not barren but full of excited and joyful movement”.

We will arise in the New Year as a new creation of God – a new people in the image of Our Creator! The Church calls us to a renewed life through repentence in the clear language of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul: “Shed the old way of life as old used clothing, put on new clothes; shed your sins and put on the new garb of righteousness and holiness, which the Lord can give you”. (Ephesians 4, 22-24)

Like the Earth, which brought the manger as a gift to the “Unapproachable One” (from the Kontakion of the Holy Day), we will give the Newborn Christ our cleansed and shiny heart! May our hearts and minds, lips and eyes, hands and feet, our families and homes, farms and fields, everything which lives on Earth, even the rocks and water, on hearing the good news: “Christ is born!” joyfully and anew gratefully respond: “We always glorify Him!”

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Cordial greetings and prayers for all of you,

Unworthy +Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes of the Russian Orthodox Church in Canada

The Nativity of Christ *Dec 25, 2011/Jan 7, 2012

01 Sunday – Tone 4- Chipman – 10:00 AM

06 Friday – Christmas Eve – Chipman – 9:00 PM

07 Saturday – Christmas Day- Chipman – 10:00 AM

08 Sunday – Tone5 - Skaro – 10:00 AM

15 Sunday – Tone6 - Old Wostok – 10:00 AM

19 Thursday – Epiphany, Great Blessing of Water – Mundare – 10:00 AM

22 Sunday – Tone 7 – St. John the Baptist, Feast Day – Farusi – 10:00 AM

28 Saturday – Patriarchal parishes Meeting – Mundare – Service 9:00AM

29 Sunday – Tone 8 – Sunday of Zacchaeus – Shiskovtzi – 10:00 AM

31 Tuesday – Lodge (9:30 AM), Auxillary (10:15 AM)

FEBRUARY

05 Sunday – Tone 1- Sunday of Publican and Pharisee-Chipman -10:00 AM Orthodox V Annual Meeting

12 Sunday – Tone 2 – Sunday of the Prodigal Son – Skaro – 10:00 AM

15 Wednesday – Meeting of the Lord – Shiskovtzi – 10:00 AM

19 Sunday – Tone 3 – Meatfare Sunday – Mundare – 10:00 AM

25 Saturday – St. Anton Day – Chipman – 10:00 AM

26 Sunday – Tone 4- Cheezefare Sunda – Confession – Serediaki-10:00 AM

27 Monday – Great Lent begins

• 27, 28, 29, March 1 – Grand Compline – Chipman – 7:00 PM

MARCH

04 Sunday – Tone 5 – 1^st Sunday of Lent – Orthodoxy Sunday- Confession – Chipman – 10:00 AM

11 Sunday -Tone 6- 2nd Sunday of Lent- Confession – – Skaro – 10:00 AM

16 Friday- Service for the Sick – Old Wostok – 7:00 PM

18 Sunday – Tone 7 – 3^rd Sunday of Lent – - Sunday of the Holy Cross – Old Wostok – 10:00 AM

25 Sunday – Tone8 -4^th Sunday of Lent – - Shiskovtzi – 10:00 AM

27 Tuesday – Lodge (9:30 AM), Auxillary (10:15 AM)

31 Saturday – North Star – Confession – 10:00 AM

APRIL

01 Sunday – Tone 1 – Confession – Spirit River / Mundare- Confession – [Bishop] – 10:00 AM

04 Wednesday – Annual Orthodox V Easter Bake Sale

07 Saturday – Annunciation of the Virgin Mary- Lazarus Sat.- Farusi – Confession – 10:00 AM

08 Sunday – Tone 2 – Palm Sunday – Confession – Chahor – 10:00 AM

12 Holy Thursday – Reading of Twelve Gospels – Chipman – 6 pm

13 Holy Friday – See Schedule

14 Holy Saturday – See Schedule

15 Sunday – Resurrection of Jesus Christ- Skaro – 8:00 AM

22 Sunday – Tone1 - Farusi – 10:00 AM / Old Wostok – 3:00 PM

29 Sunday – Tone2 - Mundare – 10:00 AM/ Serediaki – 3:00 PM

MAY

06 Sunday – Tone3 – Shiskovtzi -10:00AM / Chipman – 3:00 PM

13 Sunday – Tone4 - Red Water – 10:00 AM/ Skaro 3:00 PM

20 Sunday – Tone5 – Boyle -10:00 AM / Chahor 3:00 PM

21 Monday- Ukrainian Village – St Nicholas Church – 10:00 AM

22 Tuesday – Lodge (9:30 AM), Auxillary (10:15 AM)

24 Thursday – Ascension Day – Skaro – 10:00 AM

27 Sunday – Tone 6 – Sunday of Holy Fathers – Peno – 10:00 AM

JUNE

02 Saturday – North Star – Graveyard Service – 10:00 AM

03 Sunday – Tone 7 – Holy Trinity Day – Spirit River – Feast Day – Graveyard Service – 10:00 AM / Woking – Graveyard Service

Wostok – [Bishop] – 10:00 AM

10 Sunday – Tone 8 – Sunday of All Saints – Skaro – 10:00 AM

Schedule Meeting for next 6 months

11 Monday – ST Peter/Paul Fast

17 Sunday – Tone1 – Mundare – 10:00 AM

24 Sunday – Tone2 – Serediaki – 10:00 AM

SPECIAL SERVICES

Holy Friday (Holy Shroud Services) Holy Saturday (Blessing of Paschas)

ORTHODOX V CONTACTS

Mailing address:

Orthodox V Parishes

PO Box 483

Lamont, Alberta

T0B 2R0

Phone: Priest Rev. Anton Filchak: (780) 895-2149

Website:

www.orthodox-canada.com

E-mail:

filchak.anton@gmail.com

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO ORTHODOX V CHURCHES

Bishop of Kashira Iov, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, conducted the festal Divine service assisted by the rector of St. Barbara’s Cathedral archpriest Sergey Kipriyanovich, archpriest Mircha Panchuk, who gave the sermon in English after the Gospel, as well as archpriest Igor Kisil, priest Anton Filchak and deacon Joseph Winnick. After the service and moleben bishop Iov congratulated everybody with the feast. He mentioned that death of saints is the triumph of faith and victory of those, who refer to them for their help. After the liturgy the parishioners and guests shared the joy of the feast during the communal lunch.

On December 12, His Beatitude Jonah, archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of the whole America and Canada with the guests, visited St. Barbara’s Cathedral to worship the relics of St. Great Martyr Barbara. After glorifying the saint the guests had a fellowship and lunch organized by the Cathedral’s sisterhood.

On December 17, on the very commemoration day of St. Barbara, His Grace Bishop of Kashira Iov and His Grace Bishop Irenee of Quebec City, Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, headed the festal Divine Liturgy. The rector of St. Barbara’s Cathedral archpriest Sergey Kipriyanovich, clergy of the Patriarchal parishes, as well as clergy of American, Antiochian, Ukrainian Orthodox Churches concelebrated with the archpastors.

While greeting numerous worshipers, Bishop Iov told about great love of St. Barbara to Christ. “The Church compares her love to Christ with marital union. She is a wise bride of Christ and Christ is her Heavenly Groom. During her life she manifested the evangelic image of a wise virgin maid, who was ready to meet her Groom every time“. Vladyka also pointed out that Great Martyr Barbara teaches us how we should become and remain true Christians in our time.

After the Liturgy the prayer to St. Barbara was pronounced. The Rector of St. Barbara’s Cathedral archpriest Sergey Kipriyanovich thanked Vladyka, the clergy, the quire and all the present for participation in the feast. He said about special patronage of St. Barbara in her church of worship through her relics.  Many years were proclaimed to Patriarch Kirill and all orthodox Christians. After veneration of Holy Barbara relics, as well as St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco relics and his belt, Bishop Irenee anointed all present parishioners.

December 4th 2011/ Toronto (Canada). The Meeting between clergymen of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental churches in Canada and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

Through the organizational leadership of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto (Canada) a productive meeting was held December 4^th 2011 between clergymen of the Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Churches in Canada and the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

The discussions centred around the issue of religious freedom both in Canada and around the globe. Examples given consideration included Egypt’s Coptic Christians, the situation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the issue of confiscated Armenian Churches in Turkey, the problems facing Christians in Kosovo, the illegal occupation of Cyprus and others.

More than 80 clergy including four hierarchs participated in conference. Delegates from the Orthodox Church (Greek, Serbian, Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian, Bulgarian and Canadian) were in attendance, as were representatives from the Oriental church (Coptic, Armenian, Syriac, Malankara (Syrian) and Ethiopian). The Russian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was represented by the rector of the Partiarchal parish in Toronto, Archpriest Sergei Rassakozovsky.

Minister Kenney spoke on religious freedom-related issues and participated in a roundtable question and answer session where he reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to foundational values such as freedom, democracy and human rights.

“The establishment by the federal government of the Office of Religious Freedom is a welcomed and positive step to protect religious minorities under threat throughout the world,” said Metropolitan Sotirios. “It is by way of open and honest dialogue that we can continue to strengthen and promote tolerance and oppose religious hatred wherever it may occur.”

Today’s meeting allowed participants to share information with the Minister and receive feedback on federal initiatives to build on the strong relationship between the Churches and the federal government as they work together to help persecuted religious communities and individuals.

An ensemble of professional Ukrainian dancers from Edmonton was invited, who presented 4 impressive dances in different colorful national costumes. Many guests especially liked the dynamic and masterful dance “Gopak”. According to the tradition, a silent auction was held to raise money for Orthodox V. We thank all volunteers and donors for devoting time and help in organizing the event.

In his greeting speech after the joint liturgy bishop Iov said that this church unites our parishioners and contributes to strengthening their faith. The parishioners thanked the bishop for communal prayers. Communication with the archpastor continued during the traditional common lunch.

From August 14 till 20, 2011, near a picturesque Pigeon Lake the annual Bible Camp “Barvinok” was held, in which children from Orthodox parishes in Alberta took part. Alongside with playing in the fresh air, physical training, the main goal of the Bible Camp is orthodox studies and spiritual guidance of its participants. For this purpose, this year the camp members studied an important topic of Church Sacraments. The following Church Sacraments were discussed together with the invited clergy: Baptism and Chrismation, Penitence and Holy Communion, Ordination and Church Wedding.
The importance of the sacraments in our life was discussed with the invited lecturers – the best preachers in Edmonton. The Rector of the St. Barbara’s Cathedral Very Reverend Sergey Kipriyanovich told the children about the sacraments of Baptism and Chrismation. The Rector of the Holy Trinity Church Philipp Speranza in plain but very good English explained in the church the terms and conditions for true penitence and spoke about the necessity to come to the Holy Communion as often as possible during the Divine Liturgies. Father Cornell Zubritsky held a lecture on the origin of priesthood and importance of the ministry.  Father Anton Filchak and matushka Yelena explained the meaning of the Sacrament of Church Wedding and spoke about the rite of Church Wedding showing the related video abstract from “The Elements of Orthodoxy”.
Each morning the kids gathered in the camp church for prayers and finished the day with thanksgiving to God. On the feast of Transfiguration of the Lord, Very Reverend Sergey Kipriyanovich headed the service. On the last day of the camp the Divine Liturgy was led by His Grace Iov, Bishop of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes.  The choir consisting of the camp members conducted by the camp manager Kimberly was singing during the service. All 26 children, free from their duties volunteers and caregivers received the Sacraments of Confession and the Holy Communion. After the liturgy, Bishop Iov greeted everybody with successful finishing of the camp and compared it with the Mount Tabor, where with the help of prayers, work and studying the laws of God alongside with the rest in the fresh air, the souls of the children transfigured and they received physical and spiritual strength. Bishop Iov thanked the administration, the spiritual guide and the volunteers for their great and diligent work, who like angels protected the kids and created an earthly paradise for them.  Bishop Iov also encouraged the parents to contribute to constant and closer communication of the children with God at home and in the church.
While departing, many children had tears in their eyes as they were sorry to part from their new friends and leave this wonderful place, kind guides and senior friends. The kids expressed their great satisfaction and wished the camp could last longer.