On Monday the 18th and Tuesday the 19th of December, the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God, the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora, visited St. Nicholas Diocesan Cathedral in Montreal, QC, Canada, on the occasion of the cathedral’s patronal feast day, arriving at the parish together with the icon’s long-time guardian: His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad.

On Monday evening, after the solemn greeting of the wonderworking icon with prayerful singing, as well as the long-awaited guest, the seventh First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, All-Night Vigil began. The service was officiated by Metropolitan Nicholas and the ruling bishop of the diocese, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, joined by cathedral clergy: cathedral dean Archpriest George Lagodich, Archpriest Valery Chemskiy, Abbot Nikolai (Perekrestov), and Archpriest Michael Metni, as well as Archpriest Constanine Chemskiy (cleric of the Diocese of Bălţi & Făleşti of the Orthodox Church of Moldova), Archpriest Oleg Mironov (rector of St. Xenia Church in Kanata, ON), Protodeacons Boris Sidorenko (parish cleric) and Eugene Kallaur (cleric of the Eastern American Diocese, accompanying Metropolitan Nicholas), and Deacon Dmitry Matenine.

On Tuesday morning, the celebration of the hierarchal Divine Liturgy began at 10 o’clock in the morning with the same clergy serving, and a large gathering of worshippers present, both parishioners and numerous guests, who arrived to venerate the wonderworking icon of the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora. The cathedral choir, directed by Michael Woinowsky-Krieger, sang with particular soulfulness and festal solemnity.

At the Little Entrance, Deacon Dmitry Matenine was awarded the double orarion by His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, for his diligent service to Christ’s Church.

After the dismissal at Liturgy, the sermon of the Metropolitan, the congratulations to those celebrating their namesday, and akathists to St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and the Kursk Root Icon, all those present were invited to a bountiful luncheon prepared by the local sisterhood, which is renowned for its hospitality throughout the Canadian Diocese.

On behalf of the celebrant parish, its eminent rector, Archbishop Gabriel, presented Metropolitan Nicholas a copy of the myrrh-streaming Montreal Icon of the Mother of God by iconographer Alexander Shelekhov, on the occasion of his first visit to St. Nicholas Diocesan Cathedral as First Hierarch. In turn, on the recommendation of the ruling bishop, Metropolitan Nicholas awarded long-time cathedral dean Archpriest George Lagodich with a jubilee jeweled cross, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Russian Church Abroad.

Diocese of Montreal & Canada
Translation by Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese