On December 13, 2025, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, concluded his visit to the western United States and departed Minneapolis, Minnesota, for Canada.

In Minneapolis, Saint Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, opened the North American Theological Seminary (later St. Platon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary) in 1905. This seminary played a key role in the preparation of clergy for Russian Orthodox parishes in the United States and Canada in the early 20th century.

The Divine Liturgy at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Regina, Canada

On December 14, 2025, the 27th Sunday after Pentecost, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Upon entering the church, His Grace the Archpastor was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by the church warden, Mikhail Kisheyev, and young parishioners.

His Grace was assisted at the Divine Liturgy by the church’s Rector, Archpriest Yevgeny Protsenko, and Archpriest Nikolai Kavderko, a retired cleric of the Odessa Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate who is temporarily in Canada.

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

Following the dismissal of the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew awarded the church warden, Mikhail Kisheyev, and choirmaster Elena Vorotyagina, blessed episcopal certificates in recognition of their diligent church service. The Archpastor then addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of a sermon and spiritual edification.

Finally, Bishop Matthew visited the church’s parish school and spoke with members of the parish council.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh arrived in Edmonton, Alberta

On the evening of December 14, 2025, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

At the cathedral, His Grace was greeted by Archpriest Igor Kisil, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in Alberta and Saskatchewan, the cathedral’s Rector, and Roman Lopushinsky, the churchwarden.

The Archpastor venerated the cathedral’s relics, toured the cathedral, and spoke with the parish council. Bishop Matthew is accompanied on his visit by his personal secretary, N.V. Trubnikov.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh visited the Church of the Nativity of the Theotokos in Nisku, Alberta

On December 15, 2025, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Interim 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 Yevgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Roman Lopushinsky, churchwarden of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton; and N.V. Trubnikov, personal secretary.

Upon arrival, Bishop Matthew celebrated a short moleben and toured the church. Next, Vladyka visited the parish cemetery, where a panikhida was served 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.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh held a working meeting with the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

On the evening of November 15, 2025, 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 at the bishop’s residence in Edmonton.

Before the meeting, a short moleben was served in the house chapel dedicated to the Pochayiv 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; and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev, cleric of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton.

Vladyka listened to the clergy’s reports and answered their questions.

After discussing current diocesan administrative and economic matters, Bishop Matthew continued working with documents.

On the eve of the patronal feast of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh celebrated the all-night vigil

On the evening of December 16, 2025, on the eve of the feast day of the Great Martyr Barbara (306), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, celebrated the all-night vigil 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 Rector of the Cathedral; Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District; Priest Alexei Suraev, Rector of the Orthodox V Parish District; Protodeacon Jesse Isaac (OCA); and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

During Vespers, His Grace the Archpastor celebrated the litiya with the blessing of the five loaves of bread, wine, and oil. During the polyeleos, the reliquary containing the cathedral’s main relic—a part of the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara—was brought from the altar to the centre of the church.

At Matins, after the reading of the Gospel, Bishop Matthew anointed the clergy and worshippers with blessed oil.

At the conclusion of the divine service, Bishop Matthew was warmly greeted, on behalf of the clergy and parishioners, by the church’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Kisil.

Bishop Matthew of Sourozh led the patronal celebrations at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton

On December 17, 2025, the feast day of the Great Martyr Barbara (306), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, led the patronal celebrations at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

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

His Grace was assisted at the Divine Liturgy 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; Priest Viktor Kramarenko (ROCOR), Rector of the Church of the Great Martyr George the Victorious in Red Deer; Deacon Andrei Boldyrev; and Deacon Stefan Nagy.

During the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew performed the deacon’s ordination of altar server Alexei Toropchan.

At the after-communion verse, in recognition of his zealous church labours, Bishop Matthew granted Paul-Émile Lambotte the right to wear a cassock.

Following the prayer after the communion, His Grace the Archpastor and the clergy performed a veneration rite before the icon and holy relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara, whose left foot is the church’s main relic.

Vladyka Matthew congratulated the cathedral’s clergy and parishioners on the patronal feast and addressed those present with words of spiritual edification.

In his response, the church’s Rector, Archpriest Igor Kisil, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to prayerfully share the joy of the patronal feast with his archpastor and thanked His Grace for his visit.

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

On the same day, Vladyka left for the airport to travel to New York and lead the patronal celebrations at the local St. Nicholas Cathedral.

News and photos by N.V. Trubnikov