Visit of His Eminence Gabriel, Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, to the Church of the Smolensk Icon of the Mother of God in “Beryozki”

From the evening of Saturday, August 9, and Sunday, August 10, 2025, on the day of the Icon of the Mother of God “Smolensk”, celebrations were held in the church in the name of this miraculous icon (Jacksons Point, Ontario, known throughout Russian Canada under the name “Beryozki”) on the occasion of the patronal feast.

The All-Night Vigil was led, and on Sunday, August 10, the Divine Liturgy was led by His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel. At the All-Night Vigil, the Ruling Bishop was assisted by the rector of the church celebrating the name day, Priest Maxim Abroskin, as well as Metropolitan Archpriest who arrived for the celebrations. Vladimir Malchenko (Rector, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Toronto, Ont.), Archpriest Anthony Filchak (St. George the Great Martyr and Victorious Church, Toronto, Bulgarian Orthodox Church), Priest Yevgeny Shchukin (Rector, St. Tikhon Church, Cambridge, Ont.), with Protodeacon Alexander Morin (Holy Trinity Cathedral, Toronto), and deacons of the parish Leonid Tismenko and Adam Zettler. The Ruling Bishop and clergy were joined at Sunday’s Divine Liturgy by Priest Pavel Gomar (Holy Trinity Cathedral), Priest David Parker (Christ the Savior’s Icon of the Holy Hands Church, London, Ont.), and Protodeacon Boris Sidorenko (St. Nicholas Cathedral, Montreal Quebec). At the Little Entrance, by decision of the Holy Synod, the rector of the church, Fr. Maxim Abroskin, was ordained as an archpriest. The parish choir sang heartfelt and prayerfully under the direction of the church choirmaster, reader Gregory Montanus.

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, a service of prayer was held with a procession with the cross and the reading of a prayer to the Most Holy Theotokos. His Eminence greeted the parishioners and guests of the church, and then said a few kind words addressed to the rector of the parish celebrating the name day.

The festive dinner prepared by the Sisterhood of the church in the banquet hall was attended by parishioners and numerous guests, including Mrs. Margaret Quark, Mayor of the Georgina District, to which the “Berezki” belong, Councillor Naomi Davison and Member of the District Parliament Jacob Mentle. In her welcoming speech, Margaret Quark said, in particular: “It is always a pleasure to celebrate important events together with our community.” Mr. Mentle also addressed those present with a welcoming speech, presenting the rector of the church with a letter of thanks. The guest of honor at the parish celebration was Matushka Maria Naumenko (wife of Archpriest Grigory Naumenko, rector of the Pokrovsky Church of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia in Rochester, USA), the grandniece of the ever-memorable Archpriest Sergiy Shchukin, the founder of the parish in “Beryozki”, a parish that celebrated its 68th anniversary this year.