Permission has been granted for the construction of the narthex, porch, and gallery

Dear brothers and sisters!

We are pleased to inform you that on April 24, 2026, we received the permit for the construction of the narthex. Over the past decade, more and more worshippers have been gathering for services—both on Sundays and on weekdays—at the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in Berezki. The church has become too small for all our faithful. The time has come, with God’s help, to expand our church by building a narthex and a porch in front of the temple.

This is a historic moment in the life of our parish, as our church is located on Conservation territory, which greatly complicates any construction. For three years we worked on the documentation, and on April 24, 2026, we finally received the long-awaited construction permit.

We are sending you the project for the expansion of our church with the hope that every family will contribute what they can. The project budget is 350,000 CAN$. Only together can we bring this project to life and support this good work. May the hand of the giver never falter! God willing, construction is planned to begin in June 2026. And in August 2027, our church will celebrate its 70th anniversary. With God’s help, we hope to complete the construction by that date.

Please make checks payable to **Our Lady of Smolensk Orthodox Church** with a note indicating that the donation is for the construction of the narthex. You may also make a donation on the parish website and immediately receive an official tax receipt:
https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/143611

May the Lord help this holy work!

The Rector, Archpriest Maksim,
and the Parish Council of the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God.