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Metropolitan Gregory

Message from Father Anthony-Pascha 2023

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Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

Christ is Risen!

Truly He is Risen!

May the truth of Our Saviour’s victory over Hades, trampling down death by death, and His glorious Resurrection from the dead, be for all of us a wellspring of enlightenment and hope throughout the year ahead.

How blessed we were throughout Holy Week and Pascha to hear together the instructive readings, so many lessons from the holy Gospels, and the prayers and hymns of the Services. And then as we gathered together late in the night in anticipation outside the Church, we heard from the holy Evangelist Mark how the Myrrh-bearing women encountered the Angel in the sepulchre who said to them, ‘Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is Risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.’ And recall also the words in the Gospel of Matthew: ‘Christ is Risen, He is not here… go quickly and tell His disciples that He is Risen from the dead.’

English Orthodox Services TorontoIn the stillness of the night we chanted together in joy:

“Christ is Risen from the dead, by death hath He trampled down death,
and on those in the graves hath He bestowed life!”

Renewed in spirit and in faith, let us all rejoice and come together each Sunday and Feast day ahead to honour and worship Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I share with you the 2023 Paschal Encyclical of our Metropolitan Gregory, the Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto. I encourage you to read it through several times in the coming days as it outlines for us so clearly the magnificent and wondrous work of salvation wrought by Our Saviour.

To Him be glory and dominion unto the ages! Amen.

Father Anthony

Many Years for the Feast of our holy Patron, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker!

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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.

St Nicholas Feast Vespers Orthodox Services in English Toronto

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.Orthodox Church near me in English in Toronto

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