Category Archives: Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

The Office at the Ordination of a Presbyter: Booklet

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Axios! Axios! Axios!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The Office at the Ordination of a Presbyter — a brief, yet vital rite in the life of the Church which will be celebrated together with the Resurrection of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ at the Liturgy this Sunday. As with all Orthodox services, it is liturgy — literally, “the work of the people” — a rite in which the whole Church is called to active participation, so that with one voice, one heart we may declare of one who has answered the call to serve in God’s own vineyard: “Axios! Axios! Axios!” — “He is worthy!”

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Eastern Eparchy Eparchial Family Celebrations: Sunday, June 14th

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Eastern Eparchy Eparchial Family Celebrations: Sunday, June 14th

On the occasion of the Eparchial Celebration and Feast-day of All Saints of Ukrainian Lands, His Grace, Bishop Andriy invites you to the solemn anniversary celebrations of:

  • the 1000th year of the repose of St. Equal-to-the-Apostles Kyivan Prince Volodymyr — Baptizer of Rus’-Ukraine
  • and the 1000th year of the martyrs’ death and 900th year of the Translation of the relics of the Holy Princes, Borys and Hlib.

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Celebration programme:

  • 9:30 am – Greeting His Grace, Bishop Andriy
  • 10:00 am – Archpastoral Divine Liturgy including the Ordination of Deacon Lubomyr Hluchaniuk into the Priesthood
  • 12:00 pm – Lesser Blessing of Water
  • 12:30 pm – Lunch/Picnic (bring your own lunch or purchase a Lenten meal from the kitchen)
  • 1:30 pm – Afternoon program — discussion of trip to Ecumenical Patriarch and Ukraine
  • 3:00 pm – Moleben to All Saints of Ukrainian Lands for peace, ending the war and God’s blessings upon our Motherland, Ukraine

St. Volodymyr Cultural Centre – free admission

1280 Dundas St. W
Oakville, ON
L6M 4H9

For more information, please contact:

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Lenten Spring: Youth Retreat

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The poster boldly proclaimed Lenten Spring. Thirty-six of our children and youth from seven parishes in the Eastern Eparchy came together to pause from the outside world and to gain insight and reflect on Great Lent, our preparation to celebrating the Resurrectional Feast Day, Pascha!


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Activities varied with hands-on, singing, interactional and formal presentations. Hands-on experiences included Paska Baking with volunteers from UWAC and Candle-dipping with Alex Tury. Learning to sing a new Ukrainian “Христос Воскрес” was led by Oksana Klinovska.

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“Questions and Answers” sessions were hosted by Fr. Bohdan Hladio and Dr. Peter Kondra. Reader Franko Diakowsky presented a fascinating, fact-filled talk on Fasting, Prayer, Confession, the Triodion and much more, giving new information to the participants.

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Vespers was served at 5 pm by Fr. Bohdan. The responses were led by Sandy Takacs, Reader Geza Takacs and Reader Mark Schaefer.

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A delicious supper was lovingly prepared by UWAC members for all the participants and parents.

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The social activities in the evening were skating and paintball. It was a beautiful, thought-provoking but fun-filled time.

  • A special thank you to St. Demetrius parish for use of their facilities.
  • Photographs by Ron Demeda and Bob Rutkay.
  • Poster design by Franko Diakowsky.
  • And a big thank you to UWAC volunteers: from Knyahynia Olha branch – Anne Moskaluk and from Sophia Rusova branch – Nadia Chuda, Hazel Dotchison, Olga Kuch, Darcy Moskaluk-Rutkay, Helen Spendick, Ludmila Spivak.

The retreat was organized by the Youth Committee and Youth Chaplain of the Eastern Eparchy of the UOCC.

Submitted by Natalka Olynyk Kowalenko

Paschal Epistle of the Permanent Conference of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops beyond the Borders of Ukraine

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To the God-beloved Presbyters, Honourable Monastics, and All Faithful Children of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Diaspora and in Ukraine,

“Angels in heaven, O Christ Saviour,
praise your Resurrection with hymns,
make us worthy here on earth
to glorify You
with a pure heart.”
(Paschal Stykhyra)

Rt. Reverend, Very Reverend and Reverend Fathers!
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

CHRIST IS RISEN!

On this joyful and holy day of the Most-glorious and Divine Resurrection of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ, we extend most heartfelt greetings to all you Orthodox Christians with the feast of the Lord’s Pascha! The magnificent feast of the Resurrection of Christ calls all of us to consider again the eternal treasures of Christian teaching and offers a golden opportunity to fill our hearts with goodness and love for God and neighbour. The Resurrection of Christ unites us all through faith in the victory of light over darkness, goodness over evil and life over death. The Holy Apostle James reminds us that “as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (Jam 2:26) And so, on these joyful days of Pascha, we should endeavour with especial diligence to prayerfully alleviate the suffering of those oppressed by sorrow, encourage the downcast, perform acts of mercy, love and compassion, and help those in need, who are waiting for us to offer our aid.

Every person, and perhaps even whole nations, experience in their lives various hardships, derision, suffering and at such times often talk about the victory of evil over good. How many times in our own lives have we ourselves fallen into despair? And so, in order to avoid disenchantment and discouragement, we must remember that evil and untruth are overcome and conquered through the Resurrection of Christ. With faith in the Risen Christ many generations of Christians have finished their earthly journey, accomplished their ascetic struggle of fasting and prayer, patiently endured suffering and sorrow and accepted death, firmly believing in the coming resurrection and eternal life with Christ. St. John Chrysostom stated,

“Today people have joined together with the angels, and, clothed in flesh, together with the bodiless powers now offer hymns. Today the dominion of the devil is destroyed, today the bonds of death are broken, the victory of evil and hell is overcome. By His Resurrection Christ has opened to us the path to salvation”.

The Pascha of Christ has especially great meaning for every Ukrainian this year. We all believe and pray that the Resurrected Christ will assist our Ukrainian people and our homeland of Ukraine to be victorious over her enemy and overcome all difficulties and obstacles which our people are facing. We know that Christ the Saviour also experienced a Golgotha, after which came the Resurrection. These words give hope to our Ukrainian nation that we will be vouchsafed exceptional joy, peace, and unity following the cruel war and enmity. Our faith would not exist without the Resurrection of Christ. There would be no eternal life and without faith. Consequently, our purpose and essence of our spirituality is our belief in the Risen Christ. The Resurrection of Christ has become the heart and foundation of Christianity. The Holy Church prayerfully calls upon heaven and earth in celebration of this divine joy:

“Let the heavens worthily rejoice, and let the earth be glad. Let the whole world, both visible and invisible, keep the feast; for Christ, our Eternal Joy, is Risen” (Tropar of the 1st Ode of the Paschal Canon).

May this bright Paschal joy encourage us once again to offer our thanks to the Lord for His great and limitless love for us!

How should Christians respond to this Divine Love and sacrifice for us sinners? We should orient our whole life towards gratitude to God, to the fulfilling of His Сommandments and to learning how to love one another as God has loved us. The path to realizing this goal has been revealed to us by the power of the Resurrection of Christ.

Following the Resurrection, the Lord appeared to the Apostles and greeted them with the words “Peace be unto you.” After hearing Christ’s words, the Apostles felt this peace in their hearts and they felt joy and the Peace of God instead of fear. Today, the words “Peace be unto you” are very important and relevant for the Ukrainian people. The Peace which is brought by Christ is also the Peace between nations and people.

In celebrating the Pascha of Christ, we should remember that the world today has many conflicts and injustices which give rise to resistance and opposition. We are not lacking in this respect. And so, may the greeting of Christ the Saviour – “Peace be unto you” – resound throughout the world, especially in our Ukraine. For our part, let us also hear the voice of the Resurrected Christ for only sincere and patient love brings us the gift of this long-awaited Peace.

During these joyful spring days, the hopes and expectations of the people for a better future awaken along with the blossoming earth. Therefore, let us strive to increase our good deeds and positive thoughts, which will contribute to the renewal and unity of our Ukrainian nation.

On the occasion of these festal Paschal days, we again extend our most heartfelt greetings to the clergy, deaconate, and monastics of our Ukrainian Orthodox Church in the Diaspora, to our youth and children, to all the pious Ukrainian Orthodox people in Ukraine and in the Diaspora, and especially to our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who are experiencing various kinds of difficulties and tribulations defending their homeland.

We believe and pray that a unified Orthodox Church will be established in Ukraine with the Lord’s help. Only under the conditions of spiritual unity will the Ukrainian people achieve a united nation. A strong Ukrainian society cannot exist without spiritual unity. Thus, may peace, love, and unity always be among us! On this joyous day of the Glorious Resurrection of Christ, let us forgive one another all insults and offenses, embrace each other and joyfully sing:

“Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and on those in the tombs bestowing life!”

Truly, Christ is Risen!



With Archpastoral Blessings,

† YURIJ, Metropolitan

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

† ANTONY, Metropolitan

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA
Locum Tenens of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora

† IOAN, Archbishop

Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Diaspora

† JEREMIAH, Archbishop

Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy of Brazil and South America

† ILARION, Bishop

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

† ANDRIY, Bishop

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of Canada

† DANIEL, Bishop

Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA

Українські Православні Єпископи США і Канади звернулися до Варфоломія І щодо подолання церковного розколу в Україні

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6 березня 2015

Повернувшись з України після семиденного візиту, в який входило відзначення 1-ї річниці пам’яті загиблих героїв Небесної Сотні (18-20 лютого 2014), єрархи Постійної Конференції Українських Православних єпископів поза межами України з 2 по 4 березня 2015р. провели зустріч в Клірвотер, Флорида.

Ініціювали збори Предстоятель Української Православної Церкви США та правлячий Архиєрей Східної єпархії Митрополит Антоній та Голова Консисторії УПЦ США і правлячий Архиєрей Західної єпархії єпископ Даниїл.

Участь у зборах також взяли: Предстоятель Української Православної Церкви Канади та правлячий Архиєрей Центральної Єпархії УПЦК Митрополит Юрій, правлячий Архиєрей Західної Єпархії УПЦК владика Іларіон та правлячий Архиєрей Східної єпархії УПЦК владика Андрій.

Як йдеться у повідомленні Відділу зовнішніх стосунків УПЦ в США, єпископи обговорили політичні, економічні і духовні труднощі, які існують в Україні, на Близькому Сході та в інших країнах, де живуть українські православні християни за межами своєї історичної батьківщини. «Владики заявили, що вони поділяють особливий зв’язок зі своїми братами і сестрами в Україні, а особливо з духовенством, яке продовжує вести своїх вірних та піклуватися ними за найскладніших обставин», – йдеться у повідомленні.

Йшлося також про зустрічі в Україні з предстоятелями різних Українських Православних Церков. Єпископи УПЦ в США та Канаді висловили занепокоєння «з приводу триваючого церковного поділу в Україні в той час, коли нація перебуває під атакою», і закликали єрархів різних Православних юрисдикцій в Україні «дійти до єдності та зцілення пораненого Тіла Христового-Церкви».

«В черговий раз, історія дає нам можливість для об’єднання в єдину Християнську родину в ім’я Спасителя, відклавши усі розбіжності. Цією можливістю, на відміну від усіх попередніх, ми не можемо знехтувати!», – наголошують владики Америки. Єрархи Постійної Конференції Українських Православних єпископів поза межами України підготували Звернення до Вселенського Патріарха Варфоломія І, в якому іде мова про обставини церковного поділу в Україні та можливі шляхи вирішення цього конфлікту.

Крім того, єпископи обговорили різні соціальні, світські та моральні проблеми, які продовжують впливати на парафії їхніх Церков на Північно-Американському континенті. Йшлося також про святкування 100-ліття обох УПЦК та УПЦ США, яке відбудеться в 2018 році. Урочистості з цього приводу пройдуть як окремо в УПЦ Канади і УПЦ США,так і заплановані спільні заходи.

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