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Feast Day

Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul

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Feast of the holy Apostles Peter and Paul

–Message from Father Anthony–

Icon Fresco of Saints Peter and Paul circa 375 AD
Catacomb of St Thecla, Rome

Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul

Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

Honouring the holy Apostles in the keeping of their fast, we now prepare to rejoice in the grace-filled days of their Feast.  Tomorrow, Thursday July 11, we begin our Vigil at 6:30pm, and on Friday July 12 at 9am (June 29 according to the Church Calendar) we will celebrate the sacred and Divine Liturgy of the Feast.

Consider how different was the beginning of these two men!  And yet, united in love of Christ, they gave themselves entirely to Him and His Church, and through these two and their companion Apostles, the whole world has received the enlightenment of the Salvation of Our Saviour.

Peter a simple fisherman, walked with God incarnate, received the fullness of the Holy Spirit on the great day of Pentecost, and filled with all knowledge of the mysteries of God set forth to build up the faithful on the rock of the Orthodox Faith.   And Paul, who had been fiercely persecuting the Church, encountered Christ the True Light on his journey to Damascus.  Receiving the restoral of his physical sight and illumined with spiritual revelations he tirelessly preached Christ, and often through difficult journeys, in trials and deprivations, He persevered until the end that we might come to the True Faith.

The power of Christ, His victory over death, the forgiveness of sins, and the light of Truth were made manifest to the world and to us through their labours in love.

Now, let’s hear from them directly!  As Saint Peter declared in his second Epistle, having already been shown of his coming departure from this life by Christ:

    Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;
Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.
Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.
For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ,
but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.   (2 Peter 1:12-21)

Saint Paul from prison writing to the faithful at Phillipi calls them and us to continue to advance in our faith even as Paul does,

    Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which
are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.
(Phillipians 3:13-15)

Desiring to encourage us to reach the heights, Saint Paul continues:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are 
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.   (Phillipians 4:8)

The Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul this Friday, and the Feast of the twelve Apostles on Saturday are days of rejoicing, and days to renew ourselves.  As they have spoken to us confirming that they were eyewitnesses of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and received His heavenly revelations, they call us even now to pursue and advance in our Faith even in times of difficulty, and to raise our minds to things true, and just, and heavenly.

As our ever-memorable Metropolitan Andrew said to us in prayer on their Feast in 2020,

‘May the prayers of Saints Peter and Paul cover us and make us zealous for the Orthodox Faith and piety;
that on the great and final day we may be found in their company, praising God unto the ages.   Amen.’

With prayers in Christ,
Father Anthony

Icon of Saints Peter and Paul by Photios Kontoglou

Treasured at Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline

Thou hast Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God!

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Thou hast Ascended in Glory, O Christ our God!

–Message from Father Anthony–
  

Icon of the Ascension of Christ in Glory
Russian, early 18th century

Dear and faithful Orthodox Christians,

As we gather tonight in prayer and celebration, as Our Saviour’s anthem of Victory over Death, ‘Christ is Risen from the dead, by death hath he trampled down death and on those in the graves, hath he bestowed life,’ is chanted for the last time until next Pascha, let us all keep the joy of Resurrection, and the certainty of our Faith that Christ our God has destroyed death, is the triumphant Victor over Hades and darkness, and has bestowed light and life on all who believe in Him!.

In the Vigil tonight beginning at 8pm, we celebrate the Ascension of Christ. The hymns and readings in the Service will bring us deeper into the meaning of this event and the magnitude of the mercy of God.  Our Saviour leads us from the Resurrection to the next wonder of His glorious Ascension into the Heavens.

Saint Luke the Evangelist tells us in the first chapter of the Book of Acts, that the Holy Apostles, ‘…to whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.’  After Christ had spoken to them of many things, that the Apostles, ‘while they beheld, He was taken up and a cloud received Him out of their sight.’  And two Angels spoke to them saying, ‘This same Jesus, Who is ascended from you into heaven, shall come thus in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven.’

Saint John Chrysostom in his sermon delivered on the Feast of the Ascension around the year 390 A.D. said,

‘What then is the present Feast?  It is venerable and great!  O beloved, surpassing the mind of man and worthy of the largesse of God who made it.  For on this day of the Ascension has taken place the reconciliation between God and mankind. Today, the ancient enmity and the lengthy war have been abolished. Today, a wondrous peace has returned, one that was inconceivable before. We who proved ourselves unworthy of the earth, have today been raised up to heaven, have even surpassed the heavens, and assumed the royal throne.  And that nature which the Cherubim were assigned to keep out of Paradise is today seated upon the Cherubim.’ He continues with the beautiful response of the Angels to men, ‘For it is this that the Angels long yearned for; it is this that the Archangels long desired: our nature gleaming from the Royal Throne, resplendent in immortal glory and beauty.  Christ led up our nature across all the distance and height.

From the Feast of the Ascension tonight until Friday, the 21st of June when we take leave of the Ascension feast, let us add the Hymn of the Ascension to our daily prayers and rejoice in Christ’s work of Salvation for us!

Dismissal Hymn of the Ascension
Tone 4

Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God, and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit; and they were assured by the blessing, that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.

With prayers,

Father Anthony

The Chapel of the Ascension, Jerusalem

Parish Feast 2023-Honouring our Patron Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker

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Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

Over 1700 years ago in the Roman town of Patera, the Christian parents Theophanes and Nonna gave birth to a son, our beloved Saint Nicholas. In his early years, Saint Nicholas would have heard of the time past when the holy Apostle Paul stopped in the port Town of Patera and changed ships on his way to visit with the faithful in Tyre (Acts 21 1-3). In time he became a Priest in Patara, made pilgrimage to the holy places in Jerusalem, and after returning, was raised to the office of Archbishop of the city of Myra.

Main Street Patara-St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English
(The Main Street of ancient Patara where Saint Nicholas was born)

As we ourselves now come to honour our great patron Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, together with our Metropolltan Gregory, our Father and Elder Isaac, Father Sergey, Father Pedros, and Father Protodeacon George, we join in spirit with the Orthodox Christians who have honoured him, and asked for his intercessions over the last seventeen centuries.

Saint Nicholas the Confessor and Archbishop of Myra

Having been ordained a Priest in Patara, as we said, he journeyed to the Holy Land and venerated the precious and life-giving Cross and the holy Sepulchre of Our Saviour. Desiring himself to remain in Jerusalem, he was obedient to God who revealed that he should return to his home, and shortly thereafter he was ordained Archbishop of Myra, the capital of that province of Lycia and near Patara. During his early years as Bishop, a great persecution came against the Christians under the orders of Emperors Diocletion and Maximian. Saint Nicholas was arrested for preaching the Salvation of Christ, and was chained and cast into prison. Remaining steadfast and untroubled by this, he taught, confirmed the faith, and cared for the many Christians imprisoned with him.

When the bright days of Saint Constantine the Roman Emperor came, Christianity was made legal, and Saint Nicholas was released and returned to his spiritual work in Lycia. Traveling when called upon by the Emperor to the First Council of Nicea, Nicholas was vigilant against the errors of Arius, and with the whole gathering of the Fathers proclaimed the true Orthodox Faith of Christ.

One of the innumerable Miracles of Saint Nicholas

Both during his life and after his repose, Saint Nicholas is renowned for his many countless miracles. Here we will recount one that is very instructive.

A number of mariners upon the sea were in danger of death as a gale arose tearing the sails of the ship amidst great waves. Having heard of the Nicholas the Archbishop of Myra, they called out in prayer for him to intercede and help them. Straightway a figure came to them across the sea, took the helm and steered the ship saying, ‘You called for me, stop fearing, I am with you.’ After guiding the ship for a time, and settling the storm, Saint Nicholas vanished. To properly show their gratitude, they set their course to Myra, and there found Saint Nicholas at the City Church and recognized him immediately as the one who indeed was saving captain of their ship. Now hear that as they gave thanks to Saint Nicholas and shared17th Century Icon St. Nicholas-St. Nicholas Orthodox Church Scarborough, English Language Orthodox Church Toronto, Orthodox Services in English the miracle with all those around, Saint Nicholas filled with the Holy Spirt, and knowing their hearts, spoke to them directly and with love. ‘I beseech you my children, to correct your hearts and thoughts, so that you may be pleasing to Go. Man sees the outward man, but God sees the heart.’ And thus the crew having been physically saved, now by the Saints admonishment recognized their sins, and repenting of them sins received spiritual healing as well.

Rejoicing together in the Festival of Saint Nicholas, the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the great Wonderworker, let us also ask for his intercessions with the Saviour, that we receive enlightenment, support our holy Church of Saint Nicholas, and with repentance progress well in the fast until the great Feast of Nativity.

Through the intercessions of Saint Nicholas, O Saviour, save us!

Father Anthony

The Finding of the Canticle Hymn of St. Xenia of Petersburg

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It is most timely, in memory of our dear Father Rodion of Three Pillars Orthodox Church in Carlisle, Pennsylvania and the upcoming feast of St Xenia of Petersburg, that we share the story of how Father Rodion obtained the compunctionate hymn of the Canticle of St. Xenia, translated and sung by the nuns of Holy Nativity Convent, Brookline, MA, USA. (it is used with permission and is copyright).

Many Years for the Feast of our holy Patron, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker!

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Dear and Faithful Orthodox Christians,

‘Saint Nicholas exhibits the perfect balance of meekness and zeal!’  
–Gregory, Metropolitan, Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto – Sermon on the Feast of Saint Nicholas, Dec 6 / Dec. 19, 2021

Truly Our Saviour blessed us with a beautiful and grace-filled Feast of Saint Nicholas, our holy Patron!

With light snow falling since the early morning, our Church, the trees, homes, and parks were all covered with beautiful white snow, as we came together with our beloved Metropolitan Gregory, the locum tenens of the Holy Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, for the Vigil on the Eve of Saint Nicholas.  We were honoured to have Father Sergey with us, and joyous indeed, that Father Isaac, Abbot of Holy Transfiguration Monastery traveled from Boston to Toronto to share in the brilliance of the Feast.

St Nicholas Feast Vespers Orthodox Services in English Toronto

In the Sermon, our Metropolitan encouraged us all to imitate the meekness of Saint Nicholas, together with the firmness of his witness to the Truth of our holy Faith.  ‘This is what we see in all the holy fathers, when it came to matters of the Faith they were like lions, they stood and there was no compromise.’  Gregory, Metropolitan, Locum Tenens of the See of Toronto

Following the Liturgy, we continued our celebrations with a Parish Luncheon and a talk on various subjects from Metropolitan Gregory and Father Isaac.  Inspired by their instruction on topics that included our offering of candles with prayers, the Kollyvades Fathers including Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain, Saint Macarios of Corinth, and Saint Arsenios of Paros, who were persecuted in their day, and yet beacons of the true traditions of Orthodoxy and their teachings remain so important for us today.Orthodox Church near me in English in Toronto

I ask Our Saviour to bless all those who helped in preparing the Church and the meal for the Feast, and to bless the chanters, the bell-ringers, and those who provided hospitality to our clergy and guests from out of town, and to everyone who came to offer their prayers and honour Saint Nicholas.   Let the light of this Feast strengthen and encourage you, as we continue with prayers and fasting in preparation for the Great Feast of the Nativity of Christ which is now just a few weeks away.

O holy Hierarch, Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker, intercede before God in our behalf!
Father Anthony