From December 8 to 10, 2023, Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, Temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada, visited Ottawa, Canada, where he celebrated a number of services and held a meeting of the Bishop’s Council with the participation of clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.
On December 9, the feast of St. Innocent of Irkutsk, at Holy Protection Church of the Diocese of Montreal and Canada of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Ottawa, the archpastor celebrated the Divine Liturgy with clergy of the Russian Orthodox Church parishes in the USA and Canada.
During the service, the bishop ordained the cleric of St. Innocent of Irkutsk Church in Redford, Michigan, Hierodeacon Seraphim (Balagtas), to the priesthood, and the subdeacon of Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Manchester, New Hampshire, Rodion Zaam, to the diaconate.
At the end of the Liturgy, Bishop Matthew expressed sincere gratitude to Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, who gave the clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes from the USA the opportunity to meet with their bishop once again and celebrate a service in this beautiful church. Bishop Matthew also warmly greeted the rector, Priest Alexis Pyavka, and the clergy and choir of Holy Protection Church, and thanked them for the service and their warm welcome.
The archpastor addressed words of guidance to the newly ordained Hieromonk Seraphim and Deacon Rodion, wishing them zeal in the Lord and His help in their high ministry for the good of the Russian Orthodox Church.
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On the same day, chaired by Bishop Matthew, the Bishop’s Council met online to review the results of 2023.
In his opening remarks, the archpastor informed those gathered of recent appointments, introducing the acting Chancellor of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Hegumen Nikodim (Balyasnikov), and the secretary of the Bishop’s Council, Archpriest John Vass. Bishop Matthew wished the newly appointed clergy God’s help and thanked Archpriest George Konev and Archpriest Igor Vyzhanov for their labors as chancellor. The archpastor warmly thanked Archpriest Emil Minkovich for more than forty years of service as secretary of the Bishop’s Council.
The bishop proclaimed eternal and grateful memory for the longtime clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA who had reposed in the Lord since the last meeting of the Council — the rector of Holy Cross Church in Hackettstown, New Jersey, Archpriest John Kasatkin, and the rector of the Church of All Saints Who Shone Forth in the Russian Land at the Patriarchal estate in Pine Bush, New York, Archpriest Nicholas Babiychuk.
The vice-chancellor, Priest Mark Rashkov, gave a report on the work of the chancery and significant events in diocesan life over the past two years. The treasurer of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA, Panayiotis Billis, presented the financial report. The bishop’s assistant for legal affairs, Priest Gregory Winsky, spoke about certain parish matters requiring the Council’s attention.
Concluding the meeting, the archpastor expressed gratitude to those present and, through them, to all the clergy, presidents and members of parish councils, volunteers and parishioners of the Moscow Patriarchate parishes in the USA for their diligent labors and for preserving unity and faithfulness to the Holy Mother Church in these difficult times for all.
Bishop Matthew expressed particular gratitude to Reader George Konev for his unpaid labor in maintaining and developing, at a worthy level, the online presence of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA.
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On Sunday, December 10, the feast of the appearance of the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “of the Sign,” Bishop Matthew of Sourozh, at the invitation of Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, celebrated the festal Divine Liturgy, and the evening before the All-Night Vigil, at Holy Protection Church of the Russian Church Outside of Russia in Ottawa. Concelebrating with him were the rector, Priest Alexis Pyavka, and clergy of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and Canada. Representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate parish in Ottawa prayed at the service together with the parishioners and guests of Holy Protection Church.
At the end of the service, the rector, Priest Alexis Pyavka, addressed words of greeting to the bishop and expressed gratitude for the celebration of the Liturgy on the feast of the appearance of the wonderworking icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “of the Sign,” which is called the “Hodegetria of the Russian Diaspora.”
In his sermon, Bishop Matthew spoke about the significance of this wonderworking icon in the life of the Russian Orthodox diaspora and wished all those gathered the grace-filled help of the Most Holy Theotokos in keeping the Nativity Fast and worthily greeting the feast of the Nativity of Christ. In memory of the service and in gratitude for the hospitality once again shown to the clergy from the USA, Bishop Matthew awarded Priest Alexis Pyavka and his active parish members hierarchical certificates and presented him with a pectoral cross. The bishop gave all the parishioners small icons of the Protection of the Most Holy Theotokos.
