Feast of the Holy Transfiguration in Mansonville

Again, by God's grace, the faithful of the Eastern Canadian Diocese, and also our brothers and sisters in Christ from other parts of the world, had the opportunity to come together to Holy Transfiguration Skete in Mansonville for the annual Feast of the Transfiguraton of our Lord. So many of the faithful arrived that an improvised camp was organized around the Skete.

This time, apart from the Liturgy, the traditional blessing of water and Memorial Service, the Feast has been marked by the installation of the restored icon of Our Savior over the main Church entrance. The mosaic that the Icon was originally composed of, has been crumbling for years — its pieces have been falling out, and lately the Icon was in a really bad condition. By the efforts of parishioners of the Church of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Montréal, and largely by handmaiden of God Galina Skvortsova who, being a professional art restorer, has recreated the mosaic. The icon has been renewed and installed back to its place Saturday evening, before Vespers. Before elevation to its original place, the icon was blessed by Fr. Cyril Bartoshevich.

The Vespers were served by Fr. Andrei Gritsko from the parish of the Holy Royal Martyrs in Hamilton. During the Liturgy, Bishop Vladimir has awarded Fr. Andrei with a Nabedrennik . As usual, the Liturgy was attended by many people, and as the space in the Church was limited, many were standing outside on the porch and in front of the Church entrance.

After the Procession of the Cross toward the lake, where the blessing of waters was officiated, everyone proceeded to the cemetery where, in a Memorial Service that was held shortly afterwards, our recently reposed hierarchs, whose remains are there — His Beautitude Metropolitan Vitaly and  His Grace Archbishop Sergey were commemorated, as well as newly reposed subdeacon Eugine Gun, who has served the Church of Christ in the rank of Subdeacon for 50 years, and all, whose remains repose in the Skete's cemetery.

After all the Services were performed, a meal was offered, during which Vladika Vladimir congratulated everyone with the Feast of Transfiguration of our Lord, and Fr. Andrei Lomov  thanked those who have labored. In particular, he expressed his gratitude to the Sisterhood, without which the Feast celebrations would not be so warm and welcoming. Then, Vladyka Vladimir had long conversations with people, who had many various questions.

After the meal, some faithful started to leave, but there were also many of those, who stayed in order to clean up the skete surroundings: remove the extra furniture, do the dishes, clean up the Church and dining hall.

Bishop Vladimir remained in the Skete until Wednesday morning, after which he visited the parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Montréal for the Feast of Dormition of Most Holy Theotokos. Before the evening Service, Vladyka  received from neo-Sergianist schism, through repentance, deacon Nikifor Videnovich. Fr. Nikifor lives in Brisbane, Australia, but many years before that, he used to be part of the brotherhood of Saint Job of Pochaev, which was headed by then Archbishop Vitaly (Oustinov), and used to live on Podvorie in Montreal. Now, during his stay in Canada, Fr. Nikifor lives on the same Podvorie. Let us wish him spiritual strength in serving the Lord  Our God.

The following day, Bishop Vladimir served a Liturgy of Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. After the Service, he visited one of Montréal's Orthodox cemeteries, where the remains of many parishioners of the church of Saint Seraphim of Sarov repose.

Friday morning, Vladyka departed for America, and Montréal's faithful have continued their day-to-day lives until the next major holiday, when the parish will be glad to receive our bishops, priests, brothers and sisters in Christ from all corners of the world — until the Sobor, which, God willing, will be held in November of this year. Let us pray that this be so, and thank God for everything.

A participant of the feast,

Montréal, 2008