The
Feast day of the Holy Trinity in Toronto
The parish
of Holy Trinity Cathedral in Toronto is now one of the largest
in North America; on holidays and Sunday liturgies, it is
common for over 150 people to partake of holy communion, and
the vessel of the church holds up to 500 worshipers.
Almost two thousand gather for Christmas and Pascha; the number
of Orthodox faithful in Toronto has been growing in recent
years.
This year, His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, Ruling Bishop
of the Eastern Canadian Diocese, officiated on the first day
of the Feast of the Holy Trinity. He was joined by the parish
Rector, Protopriest Vladimir Malchenko, Protopriests George
Bielay, John Grigoriak and Vsevolod Martysyewicz and Priest
George Sachewsky, along with Deacons Christopher Breen and
Viktor Tchernikov. The large, grand cathedral in Toronto,
adorned with the traditional birch branches, could not even
accommodate all the God-loving worshipers who gathered to
celebrate the holday of Light: many stood in the narthex and
on the staircase. During the hourse, Vladyka Gabriel ordained
Mark Lumes as reader, a young parishioner of the Bulgarian
parish of St. John of Rila in Niagara Falls. Vladyka had met
with the rector of this church, Priest Todor Grosdanov, the
evening before.
During the Great Entrance, Bishop Gabriel, in accordance with
the decree of the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside of Russia, granted a mitre to the eminent rector
of the Church of the Resurrection in Toronto, Protopriest
John Grigoriak (Fr. John has served as pastor in the Church
of Christ for over 40 years), and Protopriest Vsevolod Martyseywicz,
who is retired, residing at Protection Church in Hamilton,
ON, was given an ornamented cross. Fr. Christopher Breen of
Protection Church in Hamilton was also elevated to rank of
Protodeacon during the Entrance (he is also the legal advisor
to the Canadian Diocese (see photo).
![](../images/people/troitza2.jpeg)
After the sermon of Bishop Gabriel devoted to the grace of
the effect of the Holy Spirit on the life of every servant
of God, vespers for the Holy Trinity began. The service ended
at two in the afternoon. The host of clergymen, accompanied
by the singing of the troparion, moved to the church hall,
where the parish Sisterhood had prepared a trapeza feast.
After the luncheon, Bishop Gabriel once again congratulated
everyone on the occasion of the parish feast day, the clergy
on their awards, and the Sisterhood for their efforts. In
his response, the Rector of Holy Trinity Cathedral, Protopriest
Vladimir Malchenko thanked His Grace Bishop Gabriel for visiting
on their feast day and for his eternal care for the Canadian
Diocese, that had suffered greatly in recent years. Vladyka
Gabriel in Protopriest John Grigoriak were presented beautiful
porcelain plates with views of St. Petersburg by Fr. Vladimir.
These were prepared in the northern capital of our Homeland
in commemoration of the 300th anniversary of the founding
of the great city on the Neva River. Vladyka noted that among
his ancestors were many natives of St. Petersburg, so he was
very pleased to receive a gift made in the homeland of his
ancestors.
The celebration ended with the singing of Eternal Memory for
the founders of Holy Trinity Parish and all its reposed parishioners.
After the trapeze, His Grace Bishop Gabriel flew to New York
to celebrate the liturgy on the Day of the Holy Spirit in
Astoria.
|