On June 12, 2025, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, arrived, accompanied by his secretary N.V. Trubnikov, on an archpastoral visit to the North American continent.

Bishop Matthew began his visit to Canada in Vancouver, the largest city in the province of British Columbia, located on the west coast of Canada. According to historical records, Vancouver was the first city in Canada to be visited in 1901 by Bishop Tikhon of North America and Alaska, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus, a hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church, during his long journey by rail from San Francisco (USA) to Edmonton, Alberta.

On June 13, 2025, as part of an archpastoral visit to the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh arrived in Edmonton. Straight from the airport, His Grace went to St. Barbara Cathedral, where he was met by Rector of the Cathedral, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the Orthodox IX parish district, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, and church warden Roman Lopushinsky.

The Archpastor served a short moleben at the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara (the left foot of the great martyr is kept in the church) and inspected the church.

On the evening of June 13, 2025, a working meeting between Bishop Matthew of Sourozh and the clergy of St. Barbara’s Cathedral was held in Edmonton, at the bishop’s residence of administrators of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada.

The Archpastor heard reports from Archpriest Igor Kisil, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

The participants in the meeting discussed current diocesan affairs and considered a number of administrative and economic issues.

On June 14, 2025, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Acting Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the United States and Canada, visited the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Nisku, Alberta. The church, located 25 kilometers southwest of Edmonton, was founded in 1900, and in 1904, Saint Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow and All Rus’, served the first episcopal Liturgy there.

Upon arrival, His Grace venerated the holy relics kept in the church and served a short moleben.

Then, at the parish cemetery, Bishop Matthew served a panikhida for Archbishop Panteleimon (Rudyk), Archimandrite Hermogen (Cherkashin), Archimandrite Dimitry (Shchur), Hieromonk Methodius (Osadchuk), Hierodeacon Theophan (Svyatogorets), Archpriest John and Mother Elena Margitich, and all the parishioners of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton and the Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God in Nisku who have found there their final resting place.

During the visit, the Archpastor was accompanied by Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the Orthodox IX Parish District, Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, and personal secretary N.V. Trubnikov.

On the evening of June 14, 2025, on the eve of All Saints’ Sunday, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the all-night vigil at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

His Grace was assisted by Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the Cathedral Archpriest Igor Kisil, Rector of the Parish District “Orthodox IX” Archpriest Evgeny Protsenko, Rector of the Parish District “Orthodox V” Priest Alexei Suraev and Deacon Andrei Boldyrev.

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

After the completion of the service,  Rector of the Church Archpriest Igor Kisil warmly greeted the Right Reverend Archpastor on behalf of the clergy and parishioners.

On June 15, 2025, on All Saints Sunday, His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

In the narthex of the church, the Right Reverend Vladyka was greeted with bread and salt and flowers by church warden Roman Lopushinsky, activists of the parish, and young parishioners of the cathedral.

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

During the after communion verse, in recognition of his diligent church labours, the altar servant of the Cathedral Nykodym Demianchuk was awarded by Bishop Matthew the right to wear a cassock.

After the prayer after the communion, His Grace Vladyka and the concelebrating clergy performed a glorification of the feast.

Bishop Matthew congratulated the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral on the day of remembrance of All Saints and addressed those present with words of spiritual edification.  In his response, Rector of the church, Archpriest Igor Kisil, expressed words of gratitude for the opportunity to share the joy of fellowship and joint prayer with the Archpastor and thanked Vladyka for his visit.

In consideration of his zealous pastoral labours for the good of the Holy Church and in connection with the 60th anniversary of his birth, Dean of the Patriarchal Parishes in the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Rector of the St. Barbara Cathedral in Edmonton, Archpriest Igor Kisil, on the recommendation of Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, was awarded a high award of the Russian Orthodox Church – the Order of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 3rd degree.

After the divine service, Bishop Matthew had a conversation with the clergy and parishioners of the Cathedral.

June 17, 2025, the visitation of His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada of the Holy Trinity Church at Thorsby and the Holy Ascension Church at Calmar, Alberta, Canada took place. With moleben services and meetings with the Parish Presidents and some Parish council members.

The history of the Thorsby church dates back to the years 1917 to 1918 when the residents of the area gathered at homes to worship in the orthodox faith of their forefathers.

As the area settled, a church was built with the efforts of the people of the area both orthodox and other faiths. The building was shared for the purpose of worship.

In the fall of 1919, the first Thanksgiving service was held, with the church not quite finished.

The church, known as a little church on a hill, stands on the 5th meridian, and is the only one to have the old English name – Whitsuntide – for the Holy Trinity celebration period (‘tide’) of the ‘white sun’.

In 2015 there was a sign of God’s mercy for the church, when the lightning struck the church very strongly, hit the dome through and after aiming the memorial table with an old article about the church and photos – it never went any further leaving only the mark of burning on that table.

In 2019 His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal parishes in the USA and Canada, visited Patriarchal Parishes in Edmonton and also presided over the church’s 100 Years Anniversary celebration, which is still dearly remembered and cherished by the parishioners.

The current state of affairs was discussed in a friendly discussion. The life of the parishioners and their input into the community; the safety challenges that the area and its churches used to face during the last several years.

Especially, the President of the parish was glad to share with Vladyka his efforts in renovating the Church Hall, a very old building that he cleaned, repaired, painted, furnished, and decorated with the icons painted by the local artists, and a multitude of the historical Gramotas (Certificates of Merit) and Gratitude Letters.

According to the righteous Christian tradition, there is a cemetery at the same plot with the church, with the oldest grave that was shown by the President Phillip Pawlik, dated by 1921 (just a year after the church was built). A lot of prominent people of the Holy Trinity Parish have found their rest here, and many of them were mentioned to Vladyka by Phillip. A memorial litia was sung for them by His Grace and the priesthood.

Nowadays we celebrate the major Christian feasts and parish dates, with the President Phillip Pawlik with the Parish Council keeping the church and the cemetery functional and tidy for the younger generations, and archpriest Yevheniy Protsenko serving here as a parish priest for almost seven years.

The brotherly Holy Ascension church is situated to the North-East of there, and it takes about half an hour to get there.

As well as the Thorsby church, it stands right in the fields, where the farmers used to live around it and have their spiritual life guided by the parishes and priests assigned by the Moscow Patriarchate.

The history of the Holy Ascension church says: “The first Church meeting was held on January 10, 1927. Anton Mankow donated two acres of land to be used for the purpose of building a Russian Orthodox Church. A part of this parcel of land was to be used as a church cemetery. At a parish meeting held on February 15, 1927, the following were elected to the church board: Kost Dobko, chairman; Fred Popowich, secretary-treasurer; and trustees Mike Workun and Mike Chimera. A constitution was drawn up and approved by members of the board.”

So, it is very soon that we are going to celebrate 100 Anniversary of the shrine!

There His Grace and the priesthood were warmly greeted by the President Doyle Fedor and the Secretary Treasurer Robert Dobko, and also served a moleben at the church, and then discussed the state of things. This church suffered more from the intrusion of the thieves, and for some time it felt like almost all the shrines (the holy cup and plate, the candle holders, old crosses, etc.) were lost forever. But due to the sense of communion with the other churches and people, they were blessed to get the majority of the stolen holy things back, and then replenished the rest of them.

This is why both churches do not keep most of the shrines inside and bring them every time for the services, which though not very much numerous, but again cover the most Holy Feasts and Parish events, and still bring people of all ages to the church.

There is also a cemetery at the church, and also it is (as well as the vast territory around it and the church) kept in very tidy manner with grass cut in summer and snow removed in winter.

There we went and His Grace Bishop Matthew served a memorial litia for the grandparents, parents, brothers and sister, and children who lie there asleep in the Lord.

After the visitation the Parish Council of the Calmar church were so kind as to invite us to lunch at the café in Calmar which they call their “parish hall”, as it always hosts the parishioners after every significant event.

There His Grace and the priesthood continued discussing the vital parish affairs and future events.

On June 18, 2025, on the day of remembrance of the Right-believing Great Prince Igor of Kiev and Chernigov (1150), His Grace Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St. Barbara’s Cathedral in Edmonton, Alberta.

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

After the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew addressed the clergy and parishioners with words of sermon and spiritual edification. The Archpastor warmly congratulated Rector of the Cathedral Archpriest Igor Kisil on his name day and presented Fr. Igor with a memorable gift. In his response, Father Igor thanked Vladyka for the opportunity to share the joy of joint prayer on a memorable day for him.

On the same day, His Grace departed for Alaska to take part in the official glorification — the canonization as a saint — of Righteous Olga (O’Michael) of Kwethluk (of Alaska) (+1979), whose relics were obtained on November 16, 2024, in the city of Kwethluk (State of Alaska, USA) – https://www.youtube.com/live/iUpL1KWTgxc

The following services will be broadcast live:

Primatial All-Night Vigil for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska

Thursday 19 June, 8pm EDT

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/iUpL1KWTgxc?feature=share

Primatial Divine Liturgy for the Glorification of Saint Olga – Kwethluk, Alaska

Friday 20 June, 1pm EDT

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/S53n8pgekLI?feature=share

Primatial All-Night Vigil in Honor of Saint Olga – Anchorage, Alaska

Saturday 21 June, 9pm EDT

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/x-H-PXE7zv4?feature=share

Primatial Divine Liturgy in Honor of Saint Olga – Anchorage, Alaska

Sunday 22 June, 1pm EDT

Livestream: https://youtube.com/live/gH7pQyw7I5Y?feature=share

 

Troparion for St Olga – Tone 4

God has chosen a humble mother from Alaska to be an example for all the servants of God; he has given us Saint Olga as a helper in afflictions and as a guide to leading a life of sacrificial love. Therefore we entreat thee, O holy mother Olga: pray that we, thy sinful children, may be saved and rejoice with thee in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Kontakion for St Olga – Tone 8

Guided by the heavenly light and touched by Christ’s rich mercy, thy loving hands heal the wounds of those hurt in the past. Thy soft voice encourages all to remain faithful to God, for the eternal Lord will give the steadfast a crown of life. O holy mother Olga, visit us with love and reassure us, that we may accept whatever cross we must bear as chosen by the merciful God and that, through thy prayers, we do the will of God for the salvation of our souls.

 

 

sourozh.org

press service of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada

oca.org/fs/canonization-matushka-olga-alaska

mailchi.mp/cefad807b3bc/weekly-newsletter-5835592?e=8ab0999f0e