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Metropolitan Andrew

In Memorium – the Ever-memorable Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto

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The Ever-memorable Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto
+ June 6, 2021

t. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English

Our beloved Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto, served Our Saviour in our holy Church for so many years, having come to the Orthodox Faith at the age of 20, then studying at Holy Trinity Seminary in Jordanville, and being tonsured a monk at Holy Transfiguration Monastery at the age of 25, he was a man of Liturgy and a man of prayer.

He was consecrated Bishop in March 2013 and made his new home in Toronto serving at Saint Nicholas Orthodox Cathedral and the Parishes of the Metropolis of Toronto.  In 2019 he was raised to be the Metropolitan of Toronto and to lead the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto; he did so with discernment, strictness of faith, and compassionate love.  We can only marvel at his deep knowledge of the Scriptures, Orthodox Church history, the Canons, the Typikon, and his great reverence for the Saints of God.

A Memorial Service was held for him on Saturday June 1st, with his Eminence Gregory, Metropolitan of Boston and Toronto presiding, together with Bishop John of Woodside, Protopresbyter Anthony and Protodeacon George of Saint Nicholas Cathedral, and Father Sergey of Saint Seraphim Parish.  A memorial was also held at Saint Nicholas Cathedral today, the day of his repose.

In matters of the Faith, our dear Metropolitan Andrew, was resolute, firm and insightful, in matters of the heart he was gentle and compassionate.

As we offer our prayers to God on the third year anniversary of his repose, we ask Our Saviour to number him among the Just and give him rest in the bosom of Abraham!

We miss you dearly Vladyka Andrew!

Memorial for Metropolitan Andrew – Saturday May 19/June 1 2024

Eternal be his memory!

Father Anthony

 

 

In Memorium, Metropolitan Andrew

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t. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English

Metropolitan Andrew

1943-2021

t. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English

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

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English

Eternal Memory to our Beloved Metropolitan Andrew

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Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen!

To all faithful and Orthodox Christians,

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in EnglishEarlier 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

Message from Metropolitan Andrew: Great Lent 2021

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Christ Icon Lent 2021-St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church ServicDear 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

Nativity Message of Metropolitan Andrew of Toronto

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Nativity Icon-St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church ServiceToday 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