On Sunday, November 24, Holy Trinity Church in Toronto, ON, Canada, joyously celebrated its 70th anniversary.

On Saturday, November 23, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, led the festal All-Night Vigil, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada and Bishop Luke of Syracuse, as well as numerous clergy from all ends of the Canadian Diocese and guests from the Eastern American Diocese.

It was providential that the celebrations in Toronto coincided with the feast of the wonderworking Montreal-Iveron icon of the Mother of God. In addition, Holy Trinity Parish was visited by the myrrh-streaming icon of the Mother of God "Softener of Evil Hearts", which arrived in Canada from Moscow.

The parish choir sang joyously and prayerfully under the direction of George A. Skok. Joining the choir were singers from Montreal and other parishes of the Canadian Diocese.

On Sunday morning, Metropolitan Hilarion celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by the aforementioned hierarchs and clergy.

At the Little Entrance, parish rector Archpriest Vladimir Malchenko was awarded the right to wear the second jeweled cross. Deputy rector Archpriest Viatcheslav Davidenko was awarded the palitsa.

Upon conclusion of the service, Metropolitan Hilarion presented the five oldest parishioners of Holy Trinity Church with the Synodal Order of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God. The highest award was given to the last of the surviving founders of the church and the teacher of the parish school, Vasily P. Malikov, the longtime psalmist Olga F. Pechnikova, parish treasurer Maria N. Blagoveshchenskaya, parish choir conductor George Skok (directing the choir since 16 years of age), longtime head sister Maria Y. Slinko, longtime former parish warden Alexandra Y. Furlani. Diocesan gramotas for zealous work for the benefit of the Church were issued to parishioners who were the most distinguished in this field.

His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, warmly congratulated the clergy and parishioners on their 70th anniversary. Following this, "Memory Eternal" was intoned to all the reposed clergy and parishioners, and the Polychronion sung for the clergy and parishioners of the church-celebrant.

Materials from www.mcdiocese.com.