Official documents

For the canonization day of Metropolitan Philaret, with the blessing of the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad , one of his spiritual children painted an icon of the Hierarch, called Kostromskaia (city in Russia called Kostroma), which is in fact the main icon of the new church feastday. Two other icons, called New Yorkskaya (painted in New York) and  Kievskaya, (painted in Kiev) were also specially painted for this glorification and  are also in effect official icons of the feastday.

Dear in Christ fathers, brothers and sisters, faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad!

 In the name of the Council of Bishops, I am informing you that from 31July/13 August to 9/22 August, 2009 the Council of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad will meet in the Synodal Podvorie in Montreal, Canada.

This important event for our Church introduces certain changes in the order of the Glorification of ever-memorable Hierarch Philaret, the Confessor. Specifically, that after the conclusion of the Council, on 10/23 August in the Holy Transfiguration Skete in Mansonville, the main Cathedral of our Church, with the participation of all the Bishops of our Church the all-church Glorification of this God-pleaser will take place and a celebratory Divine Liturgy to be served in the other temples of our Church.

Christ is Risen!

Dear in the Lord fathers, brethren and sisters!

I congratulate all of you with the bright and radiant Feast of Christ's Resurrection! This Paschal night, as well as during the services of the entire Paschal period, the temple is full with the sounds of the best New Testament Church hymn: "Christ is risen from the dead, having conquered death by death and to those in the tombs bestowing life."

With His sufferings, His death on the Cross and His wondrous Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christ has reconciled us with God, freed us from the burden of the ancient law, sanctified our human nature, restored it and saved it from death by taking it into an eternal union with Himself.

Christ's Resurrection is an image of the general resurrection of all people; even to the pagans and sinners, who also possess  human nature, the Savior has promised an eternity. However, what kind of an eternity it will be, that will depend on the measure of each person's fulfillment of God's Truth and God's laws.

"We celebrate death's annihilation, the destruction of hell and the beginning of a different, eternal life!" And why these two triumphant words, "Christ is Risen!", are so joyous ? That is because our soul, which is immortal, feels that eternal life of which they speak. The Orthodox Church with great magnificence and splendor celebrates Christ's Resurrection, understanding its deep meaning and distinguishes these bright days with special Paschal services in the great hopes of our salvation.

Bishop Alexei's Nativity Epistle

"Christ is born, glorify Him!"

More than two thousand years ago these words sounded in the quiet of the Nativity night, announcing the nearing of the end of the unlighted night of sin, despondency and disobedience to God, which started from the moment of our forefathers fall into sin and reached its peak at that time. 

"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men." (Luke 2, 14)

These wonderful angelic words we hear very often in the services of the Orthodox Church on the feast of Christ's Nativity. The holy angels, descending to earth, announced to the people of peace on earth and good will towards men. The peace of which the holy angels sang is the peace of God with the human race, peace of heaven and earth. This is the granting of the forgiveness of sins to the human race through our Lord Jesus Christ, who became man and suffered for our salvation.

I wholeheartedly greet all of you with the radiant Feast of Christ's Nativity!

 At one time, Saint Gregory the Theologian while in the church of Saint Anastasia in Constantinople being God-inspired exclaimed: "Christ is born-glorify Him, Christ is from the heavens-look for Him, Christ is on the earth-raise yourself...". Today we can only imagine what spiritual happiness enveloped the hearts of the listeners, those who first heard these words, which later became a true anthem of the Feast of Christ's Nativity.

Beloved in Christ fathers, brothers and sisters in the homeland and in the diaspora!

We, the bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, gathered in Montreal (Canada) for the Bishop's Council under the protection of the miracle-working icon of the Vladimir Mother of God (Harbin-Moss Beach Convent) and the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God and strengthened by a small piece of the Lord's Life-Creating Cross with a feeling of gladness report to you of a long-awaited event, that occurred at the council, specifically the decision to glorify among the saints the Ever-Memorable Metropolitan Philaret, third hierarch of our Church as Hierarch and Confessor.