2023 and Earlier Announcements

Beloved Faithful, As the great Feast of Our Saviour’s holy Nativity approaches, I began to recall the many great blessings and wonderful Feastdays that we have celebrated together over the past months at Saint Nicholas Cathedral. We were blessed to have a beautiful Concelebration of Hierarchs at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday June 2nd where Metropolitan Gregory of Boston, Metropolitan Ihnat of Seattle, Bishop Chrysostom of Lanham, Archimandrite Isaac, Father Bohdan, Father Andrew, Father Rodion, Father Sergey, and Father Deacons George and James participated, and our beloved Bishop Andrew was raised to be Metropolitan of Toronto. In July, our Vigil and Liturgy for Saints Peter and Paul were made extra special with a Parish luncheon where we recalled the great works of these two Chiefs of the Apostles. Many other joyous events followed: five of our parishioners travelled on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in October, our dear brother Michael was baptized and received into our Holy Orthodox Church on November 2nd, and then with joy our Father Deacon George was elevated to ProtoDeacon on the Feast of Saint Nicholas with our Metropolitan Andrew presiding, and Metropolitan Gregory and Archimandrite Isaac in attendance. Axios Father Deacon George! Our Parish and Clergy truly appreciate your care and diligence in the sacred Services, your commitment to the Church, and we pray that Our Saviour bless you and your family for your labours. On the Saturday and Sunday following the Feast of Saint Nicholas, through God’s mercy and grace, I received holy ordination to the Deaconate and then to the Priesthood. My dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, it was indeed overwhelming, and yet made so joyous by your prayers, encouragement and support, and I know everyone was so happy that our dear Father Bohdan and Presbytera Donna, together with Father George and Metropolitan Gregory had travelled to attend my ordination. Having been guided by many kind and pious people during my thirty-one years as a Reader, I ask again for your forgiveness and for your prayers, that Our Saviour may bless our work together for many years ahead. May God bless everyone who contributed, prepared meals, participated in the Services and helped in the celebrations. With so many blessings, beloved Faithful, let us join together in thanksgiving to Our Saviour; let us ask for his continued mercy, for the forgiveness of our sins, and praise Him for his benefactions toward us. Let us also remember and pray in these days approaching Nativity for all pious Orthodox Christians and Clergy, remembering especially Father Bohdan and flock at Saints Peter and Paul Mission, Father Demjan and flock at Saint Andrew’s in Saskatoon, the parishioners of the Holy Mother of God of the Portal Church in Calgary, Father Sergey and Matushka Vera, and Father Deacon George and Deaconissa Tatiana and their family, and all those who pray for us at the Monastery and Convent in Boston. In our Church Service there is a hymn for the Forefeast of Our Saviour’s Nativity that I would like to share. “Behold, the time of our salvation is at hand. Prepare, O cave; the Virgin draweth nigh to give birth. Rejoice and be glad, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, for from thee our Lord is risen up as the sun. Hearken, ye mountains and ye hills, and ye lands round about Judea; for Christ cometh, that He might save man whom He fashioned, since He is the Friend of man. Indeed, our salvation is at hand, as the celebration of the birth of Christ approaches. Let us all therefore rejoice, and ask that through the prayers of His holy Mother, He will enlighten us all.” In closing, I want to share that our Metropolitan Andrew has arrived at the Mother of God Church in Calgary where he will celebrate Nativity Services with the faithful there. He extends his fatherly blessing to all of us, and prayers that we may all share in the joy of our Saviour’s holy Nativity. In Christ, Father Anthony Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, Toronto The Schedule for Nativity is as follows: Monday January 6 (Dec. 24 O.S.) –Royal Hours with St. Basil Vesperal Liturgy – 7:30am –Compline, Entreaty, Matins – 6:30pm Tuesday January 7 (Dec. 25 O.S.) –Divine Liturgy – 9am Followed by Nativity Treats and Caroling in the Church Hall

Beloved Faithful, How joyous was our celebration of the holy Nativity of Our Saviour! How great the grace we received at the sacred Baptism of Our Saviour and through the blessing of the Waters! I think back on the Vigil procession in the snow, our meal together on Nativity morning, and the amazing singing of Carols together.  Let us all thank God for His love towards us through the whole Festive Nativity Season and for all the days ahead. Now, in just over a week, we shall enter together into the Fast of Great Lent.  And so I thought it would be good for us to take a moment to gather our thoughts on Lent ahead of its arrival. Let us start out on the Lenten path together and remember that we do so with innumerable past generations of Orthodox Christians who went before us.  We move forward into Lent with the prayerful support of two thousand years of holy Saints, and as a Parish, in supporting each other, we witness with them the Truth of our holy Faith, and the salvific works of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. And so, let us begin the course of the Fast well.  As our Metropolitan Andrew said, “Let us learn the humility of the Publican. And think about how the next action you take will advance you before God”.  Let us “fight the good fight”, as the holy Apostle Paul instructs us and begin with eagerness!  Our Holy Orthodox Church established this Fast as a time of prayer, a time of repentance, a time for almsgiving, as a time of mutual forgiveness and love, and as a time of quiet reflection leading to the great victory of Pascha. The Triodion is the Church Service book for Great Lent, and as we have already started to chant from it, I went forward to the first days of the Fast and here is what the initial Services tell us: “With joy let us enter upon the beginning of the Fast”, “Let us joyfully begin the all-hallowed season of abstinence, And let us shine with the bright radiance of the holy commandments”, And we shall also soon hear the incredibly compunctionate prayer of Saint Ephraim: “O Lord and Master of my life, a spirit of idleness, curiosity, ambition, and idle talk, give me not. But a spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love, bestow upon me, Thy servant. Yea, O Lord King, grant me to see mine own failings and not to condemn my brother; for blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. “ May Our Saviour bless our endeavours, grant us a beneficial Season of the Fast, and bring us all together to celebrate with joy the Resurrection of Our Saviour. Father Anthony

The Lord bless!

Dearest Faithful Christians,

We gathered at Saint Nicholas this Friday night and chanted to our most holy Mother of God the Akathist Hymn.  And while we gathered and prayed, I also remembered each of you in our Parish that were unable to attend due to distance, or because you’re staying home after traveling, or aren’t feeling well.  I absolutely appreciate those that were able to attend and those that decided to stay home because you aren’t feeling well, or maybe have a simple cold, or need some rest, or are just staying close to your family.

The Akathist Hymn is an ancient service in the Church which celebrates the many great victories and miracles enacted by the Mother of God many centuries ago, and which continue  up to this present day. 

Tonight we chanted, ‘Let us estrange ourselves from the world by transporting our minds to Heaven.’  And so I would ask you dear brothers and sisters to gather with your loved ones at home some time on Saturday, and pause from the things of this world, and transport your minds to Heaven.  Gather together at home around your Icon of the Mother of God, and chant ‘To Thee the Champion Leader“, together.  You can find the hymn on page 216 of our Prayer Book, where you will also find the entire Akathist Hymn to read.  As encouragement for everyone you will find attached two chanting files of our choir:  “To Thee the Champion Leader”, as well as a short segment of the Akathist we chanted tonight.

Father Protodeacon George reminded me after Service how the Apostles Peter and Paul, though they were ‘far apart in body, yet in spirit were bound as one.’  And so it is with us, brothers and sisters, we are all one in Christ, whether we are able to be in Church these days, or at home, we are all in spirit bound as one.  And so be comforted that our Services continue and for those at home, please know we are praying for you, and I ask, that you also pray for us, for our dear Metropolitan Andrew, and for all those who are in need.

Most holy Mother of God, save us.  Amen.

Father Anthony

Dear faithful Christians,

I pray that each of you are keeping well, and I thank God for the blessings we all receive today on the Sunday of the Life-giving Cross. The Cross of Christ is the sign of Christ’s Victory over Death. As the Church hymns tell us, “The Cross is the Guardian of the whole world”. For it was through Our Saviour’s Passion upon the Cross, His death, descent into Hades, and glorious Resurrection from the dead that he opened for us the path to Salvation.

As an encouragement to the Faithful of our Church we have included a photograph and recordings of two Hymns from today’s Services. Please listen to them on your own, or with your family tonight and through the coming week. It would be wonderful for everyone to commit them to memory as well, if you don’t know them already, as they are chanted on each Feast of the Cross throughout the year.

As the hymn begins, make the sign of the Cross yourself, through which you spiritually place the holy Cross upon yourself, and then chant the Hymn (page 149 of our Prayer Book):

Save, O Lord, Thy people, and bless Thine Inheritance; grant Thou unto the faithful, victory over adversaries. And by the power of Thy Cross do Thou preserve Thy Commonwealth.”

Listen to this Hymn as Chanted at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral

and

Thy Cross do we worship, O Master, and Thy holy Resurrection, do we glorify.”

Listen to this Hymn as Chanted at St. Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral

May we all have consolation and receive strength as we venerate the sacred Cross of Our Saviour and chant these hymns today and in the week ahead, as we continue along the path of Great Lent to the great day of Pascha.

With love in Christ,
Father Anthony

Beloved Orthodox Faithful, We have celebrated the glorious Resurrection of Our Saviour at Pascha and the festive weeks through to the Ascension, and shared many joys and blessings together as a Parish family. And though the current time is certainly difficult for all of us, with dramatic changes in our communities, the closure of schools, remaining often in our homes, and being unable to all attend Church Services together, yet I must tell you I am so grateful for the many mercies that we have received and shared. First and foremost, it is incredible that Our Saviour enabled us to celebrate all the Services of Holy Week and the entire Paschal Season! Father Sergey has been able to stream many Services and continue his ministry amongst the faithful. At the Cathedral we have live-streamed all of our Services and joined together, bringing the prayers and hymns of the Church into our homes. I heard from many of our Parishioners, as well as our Orthodox brothers and sisters across the country who have also found consolation and spiritual joy through these Services. I can’t tell you how very encouraged I have been to receive pictures of the home Icon Corners of many of our faithful, as well as letters, calls, and emails of appreciation. For me the most uplifting part was to know that so many faithful joined the Services praying together, holding the beautiful palms, and with the lighted Pascha candles that we had distributed from Saint Nicholas, experiencing the hymns, readings, and the blessing of Christ together. May Our Saviour bless all those whose efforts and labour has made all of this possible for the faithful of our Church. We also shared in the happiness of two new Orthodox Christians with John, a Police Officer in our area receiving holy Baptism on Bright Saturday, and my dear father James, a retired Police Officer, on Bright Thursday. And also on Bright Saturday we received the joyous news of the birth of a baby girl, Anastasia, to our parishioners Simeon and Stacey. We are so very happy for you! Now, as we prepare to celebrate the Great Feast of Pentecost and the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Holy Apostles. For on this day, the Holy Spirit descended and rested upon the heads of the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. And they were filled with the Spirit, and began speaking in other tongues and dialects, as the Holy Spirit instructed them. The day of Pentecost is the inauguration and commencement of the preaching of the Apostles to the nations, and on that one day alone, about three thousand souls were baptized into the Faith. Dear Faithful, in these days approaching Pentecost I ask you to remember and pray for all the clergy and faithful of our Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto: our beloved Metropolitan Andrew, Father Bohdan and flock at Saints’ Peter and Paul, Father Demjan and flock at Saint Andrew’s, the faithful at the Keeper of the Portal Church in Calgary, Father Sergey, Protodeacon George and myself and the faithful at Saint Nicholas, that the Holy Spirit enlighten and strengthen us all. In Christ, Father Anthony

 

July10/June 27. 2020 St. Sampson the Hospitable

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ Bless! I greet you with the feast of the Chiefs and Princes of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul. One denied the Saviour thrice and the other was a great persecutor and yet by repentance they attained the Kingdom of H

eaven and are renowned throughout the world.

St. Peter was the leader of the Apostle. He was the first to confess the Saviour to be the Messiah and was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the power to bind and to loose. Now what was given to Peter was later given to all, as Augustine says, since he represents the whole company of the Apostles, throughout the Gospels. Having been so graced by God, he yet fell in to cowardice and denial. He who had seen such miracles was found wanting at the moment of trial. And what was he asked in reparation for so grave a sin? For his three denials he was asked for three affirmations of love. O what love and mercy from God towards sinful man.

St. Paul was a fierce persecutor of the Christians until he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus and was changed from a persecutor to a zealous preacher of salvation. He traversed the known world preaching and strengthening the faithful and suffering greatly for love of Him Whom he had persecuted. Complicit in the death of St. Stephen, he now rejoices with him in the glory of Heaven.

By repentance and struggle these two weak and sinful men became vessels of election and the joy to all Christians everywhere. May their prayers cover us and make us zealous for the Orthodox Faith and piety; that on the great and final day we may be found in their company, praising God unto the ages.

In Christ

+Met. Andrew

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Beloved Orthodox Faithful, Today we celebrated with great joy the Feast of Saint Nectarius of Aegina, the Wonderworker on the 100th Year Anniversary of his blessed repose. A great intercessor for us, a Saint renowned for miraculous healings, a great writer of Christian instruction and theology, and a man of great humility filled with the Holy Spirit! Saint Nectarius instructs us in his writings: “Prayer is truly a heavenly armour, and it alone can keep safe those who have dedicated themselves to God. Prayer is the common medicine for purifying ourselves from the passions, for hindering sins, and curing our faults. Prayer is an inexhaustible treasure, an unruffled harbour, the foundation of serenity, the root and mother of myriads of blessings.” –(“St. Nectarius of Aegina”, 1981, by Constantine Cavarnos) Let us follow his instruction and ask Saint Nectarius to intercede with Our merciful Saviour, that in this time of difficulty, Our Saviour shelter and protect us and keep us in His divine grace. And recalling the magnificent hymn “O Pure Virgin”, that he wrote, let us also say to the Mother of God: “O thou my hope deliver me, from harm and all adversity. Rejoice, O unwedded Bride! And by thy prayers show me to be, an heir of immortality. Rejoice, O unwedded Bride!” In Christ, Father Anthony

The Lord bless! Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, As we begin the holy Nativity Fast, I thank Our Saviour that we have had the opportunity to worship together in the Divine Services over the last months both in Saint Nicholas Cathedral, as well as through our streamed Services from the Cathedral and Father Sergey’s home ministry. Yet it is with some sadness, as I said last Sunday, that we must again significantly reduce attendance to meet the recommendations of the Provincial Health Authorities.  We will, therefore, return to the practices we followed back in March.  Only Father Protodeacon George, and I, together with a few chanters and server will attend Church in-person.  This is not at all what any of us hoped for, but with God’s help, we have worked through these constraints in the past and will support each other at this time as well. I ask and encourage everyone to participate, to worship, and pray together with us as we continue to stream all of our Services from the Cathedral or with Father Sergey through Facetime.  For each family and individual parishioner to come in front of your icon corner, light a candle, and burn some incense during the Service.  Remember that we should dress as we would if attending Church in-person, to stand and to cross ourselves, to attend to the hymns and readings, and to pray for one another, and for all in need. We have each made our homes into ‘Islands of Holiness.’  As Metropolitan Gregory instructs us to emulate those Orthodox Christians who were nourished by the Faith in their homes in times of persecution in the past, and ‘to convert your living room into a Church, and let your family be the congregation.  If you do, have no doubt, Christ will be there with you.’  And to not be discouraged if you live alone, but be comforted by how many Saints prayed individually to God in the wilderness, yet together with their Guardian Angel, ‘for no Christian is ever without their Guardian Angel.’ Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, knowing that Our Saviour is the bestower of every good thing, and that we are compassed about with the great company of Saints, let us with faith begin our journey together through the fast, and follow the road with patience to arrive at Bethlehem.  And so let us spend this time with prayer, fasting, and repentance, remembering those in sickness, and those in need, and be assured that arriving in Bethlehem we shall behold that ‘great and marvelous mystery’ as Our Saviour comes to be born. In Christ, Father Anthony

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, Christ is born! Glorify Him! Together, let us all rejoice with great rejoicing as we celebrate the Birth of Our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ! Let us read together now the announcement of the Angel to the shepherds as recorded in the second chapter of the divine Gospel of Saint Luke: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” And we also say with them, ‘Glory to God in the highest!’ for Our Saviour was incarnate, and lived among us, through His sacrifice making possible the forgiveness of our sins, the reconciliation of God with men, and He showed us the most excellent way, that we also walk in peace and virtue to the great day of Salvation. Our father among the Saints, John Chrysostom expounded to us in a sermon that he gave on December 20, 386 AD, that we pull down the wall that may still keep us from Our Saviour saying, “Farewell to the law courts! Farewell to the council chambers, and to daily business with its contracts and transactions! I want to save my soul!”.  He gives us a word which I think is very helpful for our current situation. This year we are not able to all celebrate in the Vigil and Liturgy as we have in the past, we will not all be together to celebrate the feast with Nativity treats and singing of Carols. Yet we all remain united in Christ. Our community united in Christ through prayer, participation in the Services at home, through love and joined through Divine Communion. As we celebrate in our homes, listen to these beautiful words again of Saint John Chrysostom, “The Magi came from Persia, you must come away from daily business and travel towards Jesus. The distance isn’t great, if we’re willing.” The point is, you don’t have to cross the sea, or traverse the mountain peaks, but if you sit at home exhibiting piety and much compunction… you can cut the distance of the journey. For “I am a God close at hand, and not a God far off,” (Jer 23:23) and “The Lord is near to all who call upon Him in truth” (Ps 145:18). In the few days until Nativity, I would encourage everyone to read at home from the Gospels, Luke chapter 2, and Matthew Chapter 3. If you are with your family and children, gather them and read it together. And also each day to read or learn to chant these two sacred Kontakia hymns of the Forefeast and the Nativity written by Saint Romanus the Melodist. You can hear them chanted by the choir of Saint Nicholas through links below, and you can follow the words noted below, as well. Kontakion of the FOREFEAST of Nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ Kontakion of the FEAST of the Nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ Our beloved Metropolitan Andrew sends his fatherly blessing to all of us, together with his encouragement that we pray for one another, and rejoice in the great mercy and love of God Our Saviour. Christ is born! Glorify Him! Father Anthony Kontakion for the Forefeast of Nativity of our Saviour Third Tone.  On this day the Virgin. On this day the virgin cometh to the cave to give birth to * God the Word ineffably, * Who was before all the ages. * Dance for joy, O earth, on hearing * the gladsome tidings; * with the Angels and the shepherds now glorify Him * Who is willing to be gazed on * as a young Child Who * before the ages is God. Kontakion of the Feast of the Nativity of our Saviour Third Tone. The Original Melody. On this day the Virgin beareth the Transcendent in essence; * to the Unapproachable, * the earth doth offer a small cave; * Angels join in choir with shepherds * in giving glory; * with a star the Magi travel upon their journey; * for our sakes is born a young Child, * He that existed * before the ages as God. Text copyright Holy Transfiguration Monastery; used with permission.

Today we gather to celebrate the birth in the flesh of the Son of God.  Angels sang, shepherds came from their fields to worship and Magi journeyed a great distance to adore a Babe laid in a manger poor, cold and in swaddling bands, this tiny Babe Who is Lord of all creation.  And what caused Him to empty Himself and take on our lowly human form? His inexhaustible love for His creatures.  Man had disobeyed, had gone after false gods and rejected Him; and yet His love for us is so great that it causes Him to become incarnate and to labour and suffer all that He did, that He might bring us back to the Father.  He has bestowed on us incalculable riches, which we can gain if we but strive to live in accordance with His commandments. The beauty and depth of our services are beyond compare. The means of acquiring grace are constantly with our reach. Every phase of our life has a blessing attached to it.  And all this started in that humble cave and lowly manger.  Let us hasten there in spirit to worship with the shepherds and with the Magi offer gifts to the new born King: a loving and humble heart, a grateful disposition and fervent prayer for one another. May the Light of Christ shine in our hearts during these joyful days, blessing us and those around us. I wish you all a Happy Christmas filled with every blessing. In Christ, Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, In today’s Gospel we heard the preaching of the Prophet, and Forerunner, Saint John the Baptist saying, ‘There comes One mightier than I…He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’  Saint John prepares the way for the coming of Our Saviour.  The Great Feast of Theophany celebrates the appearance of God at the Jordan River, the establishment of Holy Baptism as the entry into the Church, and the worship of the Holy Trinity which was made manifest on this day. We prepare for Theophany, by keeping a strict Fast on Monday, and participating in the Services on Monday and Tuesday to celebrate the Great Feast.  Please join the Services that we will both live stream from the Cathedral, as well as through Facetime for Father Sergey’s Services. The Service of the Great Blessing of the Waters will take place following the Liturgy on both Monday and Tuesday morning.  Do you have some holy water at home?  If you do have some from a previous service, I would encourage those praying with us at home to also sprinkle the holy water and chant with us the Hymn of the Feast, “When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord”.  You can listen to the Dismissal Hymn and Kontakion of Theophany chanted by the Choir of Saint Nicholas through the links below.  You will also find the text below, or find it in your Prayer Book. Many blessed years for the Feast of Theophany! Father Anthony Dismissal Hymn. First Tone Listen Here When Thou wast baptized in the Jordan, O Lord, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest; for the voice of the Father bare witness to Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son. And the Spirit in the form of a dove confirmed the certainty of the word. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and hast enlightened the world, glory be to Thee. Kontakion. Fourth Tone. The Original Melody Listen Here On this day Thou hast appeared * unto the whole world, * and Thy light, O Sovereign Lord, * is signed on us who sing Thy praise * and chant with knowledge: Thou hast now come, * Thou hast appeared, O Thou Light unapproachable. Translation copyright 2021 Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA, USA

Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christian, We shall soon arrive at the Fortieth Day since the Nativity of Our Saviour.  In fulfillment of the Law, Our Lady, the Mother of God together with Joseph, bring Our Saviour to the Temple, and there takes place the Encounter of the Lord with Saint Symeon and Saint Anna the Prophetess.  Saint Symeon beholding Him, reveals that Christ is a ‘light of revelation to the Nations, and the glory of Thy people Israel.’ This Monday is the great Feast of the Meeting of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, and we will celebrate with the All-night Vigil and Divine Liturgy in the Cathedral on Sunday night.  At that celebration, we will also keep the very ancient tradition of blessing candles which we will then distribute to the faithful. As we all prepare for the Feast, please read this short excerpt from a Homily of Saint Sophronius of Jerusalem which he gave on this day back in the early seventh century. Many Years for the Feast! Father Anthony On Blessing Candles for the Feast of the Meeting of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple By St. Sophronius of Jerusalem + 638 AD Our lighted candles are a sign of the divine splendour of the one who comes to expel the dark shadows of evil and to make the whole universe radiant with the brilliance of His eternal light. Our candles also show how bright our souls should be when we go to meet Christ. The Mother of God, the most pure Virgin, carried the true Light in her arms and brought Him to those who lay in darkness. We too should carry a light for all to see and reflect the radiance of the true light as we hasten to meet Him. The Light has come and has shone upon a world enveloped in shadows; the Dayspring from on high has visited us and given light to those who lived in darkness. This, then, is our feast, and we join in procession with lighted candles to reveal the light that has shone upon us and the glory that is yet to come to us through Him.   So let us hasten all together to meet our God. The true Light has come, the light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. Let all of us, my brethren, be enlightened and made radiant by this light.  Let all of us share in its splendour, and be so filled with it that no one remains in the darkness. Let us be shining ourselves as we go together to meet and to receive with the aged Symeon the Light whose brilliance is eternal. Rejoicing with Symeon, let us sing a hymn of thanksgiving to God, the Father of the light, who sent the true Light to dispel the darkness and to give us all a share in his splendour. Through Symeon’s eyes we too have seen the salvation of God which he prepared for all the nations and revealed as the glory of the new Israel, which is ourselves. As Simeon was released from the bonds of this life when he had seen Christ, so we too were at once freed from our old state of sinfulness. By faith we, too embraced, Christ, the salvation of God the Father, as he came to us from Bethlehem.   Gentiles before, we have now become the people of God. Our eyes have seen God incarnate, and because we have seen him present among us and have mentally received him into our arms, we are called the new Israel. Never shall we forget this presence; every year we keep a feast in His honour.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ! As we enter into the Great Fast, I ask forgiveness for any offense or lack of attention I have manifested during the year that has passed. May each of us forgive form his heart any with whom we are at enmity, that our souls may be at peace; that our fast may be pleasing to God. The better our Fast, the better our Pascha, and the better our Pascha the better the rest of the year. God send His grace to each of you to strengthen you in the coming struggle. I recommend that you read the daily service of the Triodion, which are available online. It takes about half an hour and within them you will find spiritual enlightenment, and also come to know these most beautiful Church hymns of the whole year. Pray for me. In Christ, + Vladyka Andrew

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, We have entered together into the sacred time of Holy Week, and begin to hear the Scripture readings and hymns of the holy Passion of Our Saviour.  In the Matins of Holy Monday we chanted, “Our Saviour said to His Apostles along the way, ‘behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be delivered up, as it is written concerning Him.’ Come therefore, with minds purified, let us go with Him.” Throughout Great Lent, having prepared ourselves through fasting, confession, almsgiving, prayers, and good works, we stand as the ten Virgins in the parable, watching intently for the Bridegroom who comes in the middle of the night. And so, each night of this week, let us keep Vigil in our homes, in our Churches, and in our hearts, patiently attending with prayer the coming of Our Lord.  Let us keep watch, guarding ourselves, and together go up with Christ to Jerusalem commemorating His saving Passion, sacrifice upon the Cross, and holy Burial.  That we may be found to be faithful servants, and that He may open to us the doors to enter the mystical Wedding Feast. I would ask each of us to pray for one another, and for our beloved Metropolitan Andrew, that together we may experience a soul profiting Holy Week, receive enlightenment through the hearing of the Scriptures, and share together in the light of His holy Resurrection from the dead. Metropolitan Andrew sends his love and episcopal blessing to all of us that we have a blessed Holy Week. With prayers, in Christ, Father Anthony

Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! To all faithful and Orthodox Christians, Earlier this evening, our beloved Metropolitan Andrew reposed in the Lord. By the mercy of God, he served the Divine Liturgy at Holy Nativity Convent in Boston on Saturday morning. Later that day, he suffered a heart attack and received immediate care at the hospital. He was monitored throughout the day. Then earlier this evening, Metropolitan Gregory was able to read the “Prayers of the Departure of the Soul” and be by his side in his final moments. In July of 1968, he entered Holy Transfiguration Monastery and was ordained deacon in November of 1972; he was raised to the episcopy in March of 2013. Having served Christ’s Holy Church for over 50 years, may our Saviour grant him rest among the just. God grant unto our father and chief-shepherd, Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto, eternal memory! Fr. Anthony Fr. Protodeacon George

Bless! Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians, As we proclaimed in the Divine Liturgy this morning at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral, the Holy Synod has confirmed Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston as the Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto. Following the repose of our blessed Vladyka Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto on May 24/June 6, the commemoration of the Glorification of Saint Xenia of Saint Petersburg, we now commemorate Metropolitan Gregory as the holder of the seat of the Metropolitan of Toronto of HOMT. Please see the attached letter issued yesterday by the Holy Synod of the Holy Orthodox Church in North America. Eternal be the memory of our beloved Hierarch, Metropolitan Andrew! Many Years to Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston, and Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto! In Christ, Father Anthony Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral Toronto, Canada

Metropolitan Andrew

1943-2021

Metropolitan of Toronto June 2019 – June 2021

Bishop of Markham, Suffragan Bishop of Toronto March 2013 – May 2019

Metropolitan Andrew was born in 1943 in Washington D.C., USA where he and his younger brother grew up before spending some time in Arlington, Virginia. His father was from Washington D.C. as well, while his mother comes from Freeland, Pennsylvania – north of Philadelphia. Metropolitan (Vladyka) Andrew is from a long-line of Herron Family descendants; his first ancestors immigrated to the United States in 1710 from Alsace-Lorraine, France. However, the generations that followed mostly included Irish and English lineage. In 1963, at the age of 20, he became an Orthodox Christian and following this, he entered Seminary School at Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, New York in 1965 where he studied for two years. In July of 1968 he entered Holy Transfiguration Monastery where he lived for most of his life before he moved to Toronto. As he continued to live the Liturgical life of the Church, he was ordained Deacon in November of 1972 by St. Philaret, Metropolitan of New York. By 1988, he was raised to Archdeacon (highest rank of monastic deacons) and continued to serve at the Monastery, Convents and Parishes, including visits to Toronto, until he was ordained to the priesthood in October 2012. Along the way, he had been fortunate to meet many holy people, including Archbishop Tikhon of San Francisco in 1962 (who held the See before St. John (Maximovitch) of San Francisco). In addition to his love to his patron-saint, Saint Andrew the First-Called, St. Xenia of St. Petersburg, and St. Patrick, Enlightener of Ireland all held a special place in his heart. He loved so much to celebrate all the Feast Days of our Church, and always said he especially enjoyed the Feast of Theophany. He loved the Orthodox Saints of every land, and when it comes to favourite hymns of the Church, he was always moved by the “Glory of Matins for Holy and Great Monday”. He was buried on June 9, 2021, at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, Massachusetts, USA.

Eternal Memory for our beloved

Metropolitan Andrew -June 6, 2021-

---

“We stand for the truth. We say the truth…clearly.”

---

Said during his last sermon on Saturday June 5, 2021 (May 23. OS), Saturday before Sunday of Blind Man at Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, MA, USA

Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians, I have been thinking about the many blessings we have received over the last year, and with this short note I wanted to ask that all of us take a moment to give thanks to Our Saviour Christ for His gifts of grace and mercy!  Some days have been challenging, complex and even frustrating, yet we know that Our Saviour has bestowed and continues to bestow innumerable blessings upon us all.  A few weeks ago we celebrated the Feast of Holy Pentecost and the coming of the Holy Spirit.  We prayed together in the Vespers that the Holy Spirit come upon us all!  We celebrated the Sunday of All Saints and the Sunday of All Saints of Russia, the holy mountain Athos, and All Saints of North America. Whether we have been participating in Services from home, or attending the Service in Church, let us keep the upcoming Feast of Saints Peter and Paul with reverence, remembering the action of the Holy Spirit and the preaching of the Apostles to every nation.  And just as the Upper Room where the Apostles were gathered became a grace-filled Church, and a great house of prayer, so may we also be blessed wherever we are found.   Saint Romanus reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit amongst the Apostles in his Kontakion hymn for the Service for Pentecost: “When he had spoken like this to the other Apostles, Peter roused them to prayer, and standing in their midst, cried out, Let us pray, let us bend the knee, let us ask, let us make this room a Church!  For so it is and so it hath become! Let us sing and cry aloud to God, Send us Thy good Spirit, that He may guide us all into Thine upright land which Thou has prepared for those who honour and who glorify the All-Holy Spirit.” Our thanksgiving at Pentecost is of course mixed with sorrow at the repose of our beloved Metropolitan Andrew.  He has been in all our thoughts and prayers.  Within our loss, we also see a joy in that for over fifty years he dedicated himself to Our Saviour, and certainly loved and guided us all at Saint Nicholas through his prayers and witness to the Faith.  Eternal Memory! How Metropolitan Andrew would also rejoice with us at the words, ‘This room is a Church, for so it hath become!’  How even now he encourages us to keep Vigil and celebrate all the Feasts and Saints of the Church. We have received so many blessings!  Last August, with gladness, we received our brother, Liam Christian into the holy Church, and before Lent on Saturday March 13, Nicademus was baptized and added to the flock of Christ.  Then in April, Father Deacon George and I were honoured to travel to Calgary for the baptism of baby Cyprian and to celebrate the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Mother of God of the Portal on Saturday April 10.  We are both grateful for the warm welcome and wonderful hospitality we experienced, and the opportunity to be together with the faithful and look forward to the next visit. Father Protodeacon George celebrated his 10th Anniversary as a Deacon on April 30!  May God continue to bestow His grace on Father George, and reward him for his years of faithful service! Blessings continued as we con-celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral with Father Demjan of Saskatoon on the Feast of All Saints!  With the blessing of Metropolitan Andrew, Father Sergey established the Saint Serpahim of Sarov Mission.   And last Saturday, we baptized baby Vladimir the nephew of our brother Alexandre, Novice while he was visiting in Toronto. Let us then all remember Liam, Nicademus, Cyprian, Vladimir and the Saint Seraphim Mission in our prayers, and ask that God enlighten and strengthen all in the Orthodox Faith! As we come to the final days of the Apostles Fast we pray for all the new members of our Parish, we pray that the Comforter, the Holy Spirit continue to guide and act amongst us for the glory of God and the salvation of our souls. With prayers in Christ, Father Anthony

Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

‘Right and correct spiritual progress always produces humility‘
–Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston – Sermon on the First Sunday of Luke, Sept. 27 / Oct. 10

We were so grateful to have Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston and Locum Tenens of Toronto with us this past week, from Friday morning, October 8th to Monday morning October 11th. How many insights! What spiritual bonds! And great blessings!

Arriving in Toronto early on Friday morning, the Metropolitan went directly to Saint Seraphim of Sarov Russian Parish in Toronto and celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the Feast of Saint Sergius of Radonezh, the great light of Russia! The day and festive meal that followed, were particularly special as the Metropolitan was together with Father Sergey and Matushka Vera for Father’s Nameday.

Father Sergey served the Divine Liturgy at Saint Nicholas Cathedral on Saturday, Oct 9/Sept 26, the Feast of Saint John the Theologian. Metropolitan Gregory spoke of the beloved Apostle during the sermon which you can listen to here.

After the Divine Liturgy, Metropolitan Gregory presided at the Memorial Service where we remembered all the faithful reposed and especially, our beloved Metropolitan Andrew. Vladika, eternal memory!

We gathered with the Metropolitan after Liturgy for conversation and blessings and the hours passed so quickly, it was time to begin the Vigil.

Sunday morning was beautiful with the first leaves of Fall all golden and shining around the Church. We gathered for the Divine Liturgy, greeting the Metropolitan, and after vesting him, it was a joy to hear the prayer for our brother-in-Christ and long-time parishioner and founder of our parish, John, as he was elevated to the position of Ecclesiarch for the Cathedral. John has served and contributed to the Church for over 30 years with diligence and dedicated service. With his wife Sarah recently becoming our leader of the Sisterhood, whose patron is Grand Duchess, Saint Elizabeth the Martyr, John has now received the blessing to serve Our Saviour as Ecclesiarch. Axios!

How blessed it was to have our Metropolitan celebrating the Divine Liturgy together with Father Anthony and Father Protodeacon George of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, Father Demjan of Saint Andrew’s Parish, and Father Sergey of Saint Seraphim’s Parish. Together, with the many chanters, servers, and with the prayers of the parishioners, we offered praise to God!

At the sermon, Metropolitan Gregory reminded us that, ‘When we say “I have trust in God”, we are saying “we have faith in God.”‘ You can listen to his edifying Sermon here.

Following Divine Liturgy, the faithful gathered in the Church Hall for a delicious meal prepared by the Sisterhood of Saint Elizabeth the Grand Duchess and we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the ordination of Father George to the Deaconate. Many years Father Deacon George and Deaconissa. Please accept our gratitude and appreciation for all you do for us and Christ’s holy Church!

As the meal concluded Metropolitan Gregory provided great insights through a Question and Answer period. It was a wonderful talk that covered how and why we pray for the reposed, Christian stewardship, the Angels, and many other topics. I encourage everyone to listen again to this Q&A here.

“Preserve, O Lord, our Master and Hierarch. Many years to you, Master!”

Let us ask the intercessions of the Saints whom we commemorated during Metropolitan’s visit, Saint Sergius of Radonezh, Saint John the Theologian, and Saint Callistratus the Martyr, as we pray that our Metropolitan’s journeys to the Canadian Parishes be blessed, and that he return to us again soon, as God wills.

We are grateful for your visit Your Eminence!

With prayers in Christ,
Father Anthony

Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

---

‘Saint Nicholas exhibits the perfect balance of meekness and zeal!’   –Gregory, Metropolitan, Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto – Sermon on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Dec 6 / Dec. 19, 2021

---

Truly Our Saviour blessed us with a beautiful and grace-filled Feast of Saint Nicholas, our holy Patron! With light snow falling since the early morning, our Church, the trees, homes, and parks were all covered with beautiful white snow, as we came together with our beloved Metropolitan Gregory, the locum tenens of the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, for the Vigil on the Eve of Saint Nicholas.  We were honoured to have Father Sergey with us, and joyous indeed, that Father Isaac, Abbot of Holy Transfiguration Monastery traveled from Boston to Toronto to share in the brilliance of the Feast. In the Sermon, our Metropolitan encouraged us all to imitate the meekness of Saint Nicholas, together with the firmness of his witness to the Truth of our holy Faith.  ‘This is what we see in all the holy fathers, when it came to matters of the Faith they were like lions, they stood and there was no compromise.’  Gregory, Metropolitan, Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto Following the Liturgy, we continued our celebrations with a Parish Luncheon and a talk on various subjects from Metropolitan Gregory and Father Isaac.  Inspired by their instruction on topics that included our offering of candles with prayers, the Kollyvades Fathers including Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, Saint Macarios of Corinth, and Saint Arsenios of Paros, who were persecuted in their day, and yet beacons of the true traditions of Orthodoxy and their teachings remain so important for us today. I ask Our Saviour to bless all those who helped in preparing the Church and the meal for the Feast, and to bless the chanters, the bell-ringers, and those who provided hospitality to our clergy and guests from out of town, and to everyone who came to offer their prayers and honour Saint Nicholas.   Let the light of this Feast strengthen and encourage you, as we continue with prayers and fasting in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ which is now just a few weeks away. O holy Hierarch, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, intercede before God in our behalf! Father Anthony