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Metropolitan Andrew

In Memorium, Metropolitan Andrew

June 13, 2021 By The Deacon

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

Filed Under: Father Anthony, Metropolis News, Metropolitan Andrew

Eternal Memory to our Beloved Metropolitan Andrew

June 6, 2021 By The Deacon

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

Filed Under: Father Anthony, Metropolis News, Metropolitan Andrew

Message from Metropolitan Andrew: Great Lent 2021

March 13, 2021 By The Deacon

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

Filed Under: Metropolitan Andrew, Seasonal Message

Nativity Message of Metropolitan Andrew of Toronto

January 5, 2021 By The Deacon

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

Filed Under: Metropolitan Andrew, Seasonal Message

Message from Metropolitan Andrew for the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul

July 10, 2020 By The Deacon

 

July10/June 27. 2020
St. Sampson the Hospitable

icon SS-Peter-and-Paul-St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in EnglishBeloved 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

Filed Under: Metropolitan Andrew, Seasonal Message

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