Montréal QC Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor 1907

Montréal, Québec, Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor, 1907

Prehistory

The Montréal region of what is now Québec was inhabited for several thousand years before Europeans arrived in what is now Canada. In 1535, Jaques Cartier visited Hochelaga (an Iroquoian village near what is now McGill University), and Samuel de Champlain later established a trading-post in 1611 as New France was being developed. By 1642, the site was known as Forteresse Ville-Marie, and Paul Chomedey de Maisonneuve began active colonisation. On 17 May, 1642, the settlement was officially founded. In 2017, the city celebrated the 375th anniversary of the founding. There were many discouraging attacks by indigenous peoples, but the colonists persisted. It was 1705 when the name Montréal began to be used.

Beginnings of Montréal

The City of Montréal began in part as a military garrison of the French army, and the garrison served in part to protect the colonists. After the British conquest in 1759, and even more after the American Revolution of 1776, it was developed as a British garrison town. The military buildings along the south shore of Montréal Island included installations near the site of the present Temple of Saints Peter and Paul, and the presence of the military influenced life in the region until its final withdrawal in 1870.

19th century military buildings near rue Papineau

Montréal was incorporated as a city in 1832. The city continued to grow, and the military garrison steadily became less needed.

Origin of the current Temple

Saint Luke’s Anglican Church at Champlain and Dorchester Streets was built in 1854 and expanded in 1864. Its history had been associated with the military garrison. It was closed in 1924. This was a few blocks northeast of the British Garrison complex of buildings, and quite close to the eastern boundary of Montréal. This parish served in part as one of the British garrison churches for a time. By the 20th century, the region around this building had become increasingly Francophone, despite the fact that until well after World War II the English language still generally dominated. It was because of this factor that when Russian-speaking immigrants began to arrive, they generally learnt English before they learnt French.

19th century immigration of Orthodox Christians

The arrival of immigrants who spoke Russian and Ukrainian began already at the end of the 19th century. Although at that time Halifax, Nova Scotia, was the primary port of entry to Canada, and Montréal, Québec, a secondary immigration port, Montréal was nevertheless a main stopping-place for the multitudes who began to move into Western Canada. Some of these persons stopped and stayed in Montréal. This explains why the early-arriving parishioners and founders of the parish were largely from the areas of Galicia and Bukovina (which at that time were mostly in the territory of the Austro-Hungarian Empire).

First Orthodox Christian parish

It was the Syrian-Antiochian Orthodox Christians who established the first Orthodox Christian parish in Montréal (Saint Nicholas), and the Slavic immigrants would therefore worship with them. However, the language difference remained an obstacle. As their numbers increased, so did their desire to form a community which would be able to worship with the language, customs and melodies to which they were accustomed.

Montréal, the "mother-city"

By this time, the City of Montréal was already becoming a true “metropolis”. This is a word which does not necessarily imply size, but rather a purpose. The word “metropolis” is made up in origin of 2 Greek words for “mother” and for “city”. This is the rôle which the city has lived out in Canadian history, both in New France and in pre-and post-Confederation Canada. However, in many ways the parish which was to be established in this city fulfilled a similar function towards the very many parishes that were being established across the rest of Canada to her west, to her east, and to her north.

Founding the parish, 1907

Saint Alexander Hotovitzky, 1906

In 1906, the young Priest Alexander Hotovitzky was sent by Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) from New York City to Montréal. This was the result of

 a request by the Russian Orthodox colony in Montreal, headed by Nikolai Berngardovich, before His 
 Eminence Archbishop Tikhon to send one of the missionaries there to serve a Divine Liturgy in 
 Montreal, to confess and communicate Russian people.  Earlier in his rare visits to New York, 
 during a meeting with Vladyka, Nikolai Berngardovich repeatedly reported on the growth of Russian 
 business in Canada and the growing need to have an Orthodox church and a priest there.

Father Alexander had been to Montréal previously on brief visits to the developing community of Russian-speakers there. In addition, Father Alexander wrote in his journal that later, at the invitation of Nikolai Berngardovich Struve, the local Russian Consul in New York,

 I illuminated his newborn baby by Christian baptism, and called him Nikolai after his father.  In 
 the hospitable house of the host, I then met his family, as well as several Russians, his 
 acquaintances. As far as I remember, there were visiting people who were on business, and they did 
 not belong to the category of settled inhabitants of Montreal.  A group of Russian emigrants who 
 settled in Montreal, then, was not yet determined with accuracy. 

Father Alexander was able to foresee what an important influence on the rest of Canada a stable community in Montréal would be. He was also acutely aware of the pernicious effects of the “Seraphimite” schism (led by Seraphim Ustvolsky, the so-called “Metropolitan Seraphim”), and he understood that a properly organised leadership of the Canadian parishes (along with proper canonical organisation) could minimise the damage caused by such persons, self-proclaimed clerics (even in Montréal), who confuse, divide and mislead.

Father Alexander was also acutely aware of the importance of helping newly-arriving immigrants from Western Ukraine. There, many people had lived in a society in which the Orthodox Christian believers had been forced (since the Union of Brest in 1596) to live as Uniats in the Roman Catholic Church. Arriving in Canada, they were finding themselves in a somewhat confusing situation. Many wished to return to the Orthodox Church.

Father Alexander had also previously been sent to Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, to meet with Orthodox Christian believers there about the possible establishment of a community or communities in the Maritimes. Nothing was to develop there until somewhat later.

Mr. Nikolai B Struve encouraged Archbishop Tikhon (Belavin) that under his authority the request of Orthodox Russian-speaking people who lived unattended in Montréal be fulfilled and that a priest would arrive. A Sunday was chosen (a week before the Passion of Christ) for the day of the Divine Liturgy, since on other days hardly anyone would be able to attend. The consent of Vladyka Tikhon was joyfully greeted by the Russian-speaking Montréal colony. In order to facilitate the service, liturgical books and music books were sent ahead to the community, which was eager to organise the place and the correct serving of this Divine Liturgy on the part of the people.

First Divine Liturgy in Montréal ; establishing the Brotherhood, 1906

It was in March, 1906 (near the time of the Feast of Saint Patrick), that the first Divine Liturgy was served in the Slavonic language by Father Hotovitzky in the Antiochian Temple of Saint Nicholas. This Syrian community had been established in Montréal in 1905 by Bishop Raphael (Hawaweeny).

At the same time, the Russian Orthodox Brotherhood was established. This brotherhood was instrumental in the formal and legal establishment of the parish and in gathering both the people and the necessary financial resources to support both a priest and regular services.

Priest Theophan Buketov, 1907

As a result of this first official visit, the Priest Theophan Buketov was sent from New York City to serve the community.

In the autumn of 1907, the parish of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul was established through the leadership of the Priest Theophan Buketov. The first temporary hall, which was blessed in 1907, was in the Pointe-Saint-Charles neighbourhood of "Old Montréal". It was in a small building on rue Soulanges (which also had a pool-hall in the basement). However, Father Theofan was transferred back to the USA already in 1908.

Father Theophan Buketoff

Development in adverse circumstances

During the following 8 years, there was a steady development and gathering of necessary resources in order to proceed to the next step. However, this period was also one of economic straits. There were many priests (12 in the first 20 years) who were sent to serve the parish in the early years. Furthermore, neither the diocese nor the parishes in Canada received more than token financial support from the Russian Orthodox Church (those in the USA received much more), and likewise from the central office of the diocese in New York. Priests were easily enticed away from Canada to the USA for a better income. The parish itself was taking on the heavy responsibility of building a Temple and maintaining it. The result of the difficult environment was that the debt was increasing rapidly.

Priest Vladimir Sakovich, 1913

In 1913, the Priest Vladimir Sakovich arrived in the parish, and there began a period of stress between the parish committee, and the priest and the bishop. The stress was caused by a disagreement about how much authority the priest might have in the parish. For a time, the parish committee locked out the priest, and services had to be held elsewhere.

Priest Vladimir Sakovich

Incorporation, 1915

The resolution came in 1915 with the incorporation. Likely, such a situation could arise at that earlier time, because there was not yet any local legal framework to regulate Orthodox Christian parish life. When the then Bishop Tikhon in 1902 had attempted to incorporate the bishop and the diocese in the Canadian Parliament, the opposition of Roman Catholic and Protestant MPs delayed the third reading so that the bill died with the end of that session of Parliament. Vladyka was able to achieve incorporation only in the Northwest Territories in 1903. It was written that the fact that Vladyka Tikhon was a citizen of the Russian Empire had been one reason for resisting the incorporation. In Québec, this legislation had no force, and a separate act had to pass through the Québec National Assembly which would properly incorporate the parish. The legislation of 1915 provided the necessary framework for the proper governance of the parish and for the proper resolution of disagreements.

Winter seminary

In 1915 (after the beginning of World War I), the Parish of Saints Peter and Paul was officially incorporated and registered with the Province of Québec. In the same year, with the blessing of Bishop Alexander (Nemolovsky), the Priest Vladimir Sakovich began “winter seminary” classes in Montréal. These were classes offered in the evenings to men who were interested in preparing for ordination.

First Temple, 1916

In September, 1916, the newly-built Temple on rue Cartier Street (1 block east of Papineau Street and 2 blocks east of Champlain Street) was sanctified by Bishop Alexander (Nemolovsky). It was in this year that Canada had received its first resident bishop (Bishop Alexander), and that the parishes in Canada were blessed to constitute a Vicar-Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Mission in North America.

On 25 September, 1916, Bishop Alexander (Nemolvsky) ordained Alexander Kiziun to the Holy Diaconate, and then to the Holy Priesthood during the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy during his archpastoral visitation in Montréal. Then, Father Alexander was sent to Buffalo, New York, USA.

Nevertheless, the debt that was accumulating had reached $13,848.00 by 1917, which included $1,000.00 owed to the priest. This was a period of great stress (in part due to World War I, in part to the poverty of the parishioners). Under similar circumstances, other parishes elsewhere had to declare bankruptcy.

Olga Lawes Melnikoff wrote about this first period of immigration, in which people left all sorts of privation abroad in order to seek a better life here :

 Their struggle to adjust and make a living in the new country was very real.  A friend, whose father came here 
 before the Revolution of 1917, reported that he and others like himself could only put a few pennies on the 
 collection plate on a Sunday.  Their efforts to feed and clothe their children, unassisted by any government  
 handouts, was a constant burden ; employment was not easy to come by for those who knew neither English or 
 French.  Families were often separated for years, while the husbands, arriving first, tried to save enough
 money to bring out their wives, and sometimes small children, from the old country.  It was these people who 
 first formed our church and to whom we owe so much for their vision and determination, and for carrying the 
 burden of financing the church year after year.  I knew their children as contemporaries, and I heard much 
 about their difficult early lives and the sacrifices made by their parents. 

The Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, followed by the murder of Tsar Nicholas II and his family in 1918 and then a civil war initiated the departure from their homes of multitudes of refugees. It was as a result of this catastrophe that many persons began to arrive in Montréal who were from territories of the former Russian Empire in which Russian was spoken more than other languages or dialects.

In 1923, there arrived from Constantinople 300 immigrants, who were refugees from the Bolshevik Revolution, and who had managed to escape there from Russia, towards the south, and across the Black Sea.

In the same year, Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky), the Administrator of the Russian Metropolia, made his first visit to Montréal.

Priest Sergei Snegirev, 1924

In 1924, Metropolitan Platon assigned the Priest Sergei Snegirev to serve as the rector of the parish.

Priest Sergei Snegirev

The Lawes family

In 1925, the Albert Lawes family (the Russian transliteration of which name is "Looz" to make the same sounds in Russian), and in particular Catherine Semyonovna, arrived in Montréal. From then, they served in the parish throughout their whole lives, and they were later described as being an “extraordinarily positive phenomenon” in the parish.

Catherine Semyonovna’s daughter, Olga, made these comments :

 The original parish increased in numbers to the point where this present church was bought from the Anglican 
 community in 1924 to better accommodate the members — a real act of faith in the future and a determination to 
 hold on to a rich tradition.  My own parents arrived in Montreal in 1925, from Russia via England.  My mother, 
 Ekaterina Semyonovna Lawes, was from Archangel in northern Russia.  In her youth, Father John of Krondstadt 
 visited Archangel from his home base in Saint Petersburg.  Addressing a crowd of people, he pointed to my 
 mother, then a girl of nine, and said : ‘You will do a lot for the church’.  The words were prophetic, or 
 maybe my mother felt it was her duty to live up to them, but from the time of her arrival in the summer of 
 1925 until her death in 1978, she made our church her greatest responsibility after her family.

A new building

Indeed, it was a leap of faith on the part of the parishioners to take the next steps. Parishioners were willing to work and to help, but financial resources were meagre, and the financial economy of the parish was precarious.

Sanctification of the Second Temple, 1925

In 1925, the Priest Sergei Snegirev negotiated the purchase of Saint Luke’s Anglican Church on the corner of Dorchester and Champlain Streets for $25,000.00. The acquisition of this building included the old rectory (built in 1888) just to its north.

The rectory of the parish

Soon thereafter, there was a solemn procession of clergy and parishioners from the first Temple to the second Temple.

Then the new building was sanctified by Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky).

Second Temple : former Saint Luke's Anglican church

Then, in 1927, there was a disturbance in the heart of the parish with regard to the so-called Karlovy Vary Movement.

Oleg V Rodomar Vukotitch

In 1928, Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch was transferred from Chatham, Ontario, to Montréal, Québec, where he worked at the introduction of the Ford “Model A” automobile. Then, in 1930, he became Assistant Regional Manager for the Chrysler Corporation for Eastern Canada. He and his family continued to live in Montréal, and he worked for Chrysler until 1942. At that time, Oleg was loaned to the Canadian Federal Government as Ration Administrator.

It was during these many years in Montréal that Oleg Vladimirovich was deeply involved in the life of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, in diocesan life, and also in the administration of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America (later The Orthodox Church in America). He served for a time as the parish council president, and he eventually became the choir-director of the cathedral. He was loved by the other parishioners. His daughter Katherine wrote that thereafter he was truly happy only when he was in this city.

Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch

Years of the Great Depression, 1929-1939

The period of the "Great Depression" began in Canada, as it did in the USA, with the famous (or infamous) stock-market crash in 1929. This financial catastrophe affected the whole continent and much of the rest of the world.

At that time (and for many years afterwards), Montréal was the main financial centre in Canada, and the negative effects were sharply felt. With Montréal, the rest of the country was affected.

Saint George Brotherhood, 1929

On 25 September, 1929, the “Saint George the Victorious Russian Brotherhood of Mutual Assistance” was founded in the parish. This brotherhood has continued its life and service until the present day.

In 1930, Father Arkady Piotrovsky, who cared much about the future of the parish, established a Youth Club. However, after he fell asleep in the Lord, the club did not manage to continue.

In 1932, under the guidance of Catherine Semyonovna Lawes, aid was organised for children in Russia. She was aware that there were at least 20,000 needy children in Russia at the time.

In 1933, Professor Babkin (a parishioner) read a series of lectures in the church hall, entitled “Life and Death”. Catherine S Lawes commented that the lecture was only from the physiological point of view. Evenings were also arranged for resting, along with refreshments and dances.

Founding the Saint Catherine Sisterhood, 1934

On 6 December, 1934, Archimandrite Inna (Kibikov), who served in the parish until 1936, blessed the foundation of the Sisterhood of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine. The following words are recollections of Catherine Lawes’ daughter Olga :

 She [Catherine] started the Saint Catherine Sisterhood in 1934 when she was 39 years old, and devoted over 30 
 years of her life to being its President.  My father, an Englishman by birth but who spoke Russian fluently as 
 a result of spending five years in Russia, fully supported her endeavours.  I distinctly remember my mother 
 preparing her speeches for the Sisterhood (whose membership at one point reached 100) by reading her notes out 
 loud in our living room, starting with the familiar ‘Dorogiye Syostri’ ‘Dear Sisters’.  I suspect she planted 
 the fear of God in them with her strong delivery.  When she returned home after meetings, I remember her lying 
 on the sofa with a damp cloth on her forehead and taking a few drops of ‘valerianka!’  Committee meetings 
 were less taxing and occurred regularly with the participation of Matushka Piotrowsky, T S Jacob, 
 A S Mitianin, L L Getopan as a nucleus, joined by others such as J Orlow, E Pimenoff, and Mrs. Demidovich at 
 various times.  They planned fundraising activities to help pay the church mortgage and other expenses by way 
 of concerts, bazaars, ‘yolkas’ [Christmas celebrations involving a decorated spruce tree - ed.]  and ‘blini’, 
 [yeast crepes with savoury foods eaten before Great Lent begins - ed.] coffees, etc., much as today.  The 
 Sisters wore colourful sarafans when serving their traditional dinners or at concerts, as the choir members 
 often do today.  Often at the concerts, my mother played on a very rickety piano, and Madame Archer sang folk 
 songs in a throaty voice that had everyone yearning for the old country.  Besides raising money, the Sisters 
 supported each other in sickness and other difficult moments in their lives.

Mme. Olga L Melnikoff also recalled the active service of the Saint George Brotherhood in the parish. The brotherhood admitted women to membership. The group likewise raised funds for the parish, helped those in need, and served a dinner to the parishioners on the Sunday after Pascha. These primary purposes are still maintained.

Bishop Joasaph (Skorodumov), 1934'

In 1934, during the time with the North American Metropolia and the ROCOR were under a single administration, Bishop Joasaph (Skorodumov) was sent from Europe to Canada, in order to help in the administrative and pastoral care of the Diocese of Canada. He took up residence at 1477, rue Cartier Street, not far from this parish.

In 1935, there was a New Year’s Ball organised in the parish hall. It was surprisingly well-attended and the festivities lasted into the early morning. Mme. Lawes commented that because of the amounts that were now able to be contributed to the parish committee, the financial situation of the parish was improving.

In 1936, on the recommendation of Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsov), the Priest Ilya Klopotovsky was assigned by Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) to serve as the rector of the parish.

Pushkin Russian Library (combining several in one), 1937

In 1937, the parish celebrated the centennial anniversary of Alexander S Pushkin with various events, lectures and concerts. In addition, the parish organised the Pushkin Russian Library on its premises. Besides receiving contributions from parishioners, the new library combined the previous “Russian National Association” and the “Russian Progressive Society” libraries. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 In 1937, a Pushkin centenary celebration was held in the church hall with mainly local parish talent, an event 
 that was celebrated again at the hundred and fiftieth anniversary at Victoria Hall, Westmount in 1987.  In the 
 earlier event, a speech on Pushkin was given by Prof. Babkin, excerpts from Pushkin’s works were dramatized, 
 operatic arias were presented.  In a Montreal newspaper of the time the following appears : ‘The singing, 
 whether of the cathedral choir, under N I Koursky, or of the soloists, was of outstanding simplicity and 
 beauty.  The Duchess of Leuchtenberg was much admired in Liza’s aria from ‘Pique Dame’ and the street song 
 from ‘The Mermaid’ and the duets in which she and Nina Arbousoff sang were warmly appreciated by the audience.  
 Mr. Rodomar and George Youmatoff were excellent in numbers from ‘Pique Dame’ and ‘Eugene Onegin’. 

Mme. Melikoff also wrote that during these years, general meetings of the parish could sometimes be stormy with very loud exchanges of opinions :

 Learning how to run democratic meetings with parliamentary procedure did not come all at once.  But I recall, 
 when I became a member, that Mr. A B Jarcovsky’s loud shouts of ‘ti-sheh’ ! (‘qui-et’!) were very effective !

She also contributed comments from a newspaper review of the choir in 1937 :

 In an unidentified review in a Montreal newspaper of a concert our choir gave at the Church of Saint James the 
 Apostle around 1937 the reviewer writes : ‘The discipline of this choir is astonishing.  One never thinks of 
 individual voices but only of the ensemble.  Mr. Koursky has so disciplined his singers that they respond to 
 him as one voice.  Moreover the singing is absolutely Russian in character and the choir makes its hearers 
 realize how great a part language and culture plays in musical art’.

On 5-7 November, 1938, Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky) visited the parish for the first time.

The agenda of his visit was very full. He and Protodeacon Semov arrived from New York at the railway station on Saturday morning. In the afternoon, he received various persons, and then he and a group of clergy visited the Anglican Bishop of Montréal John Farthing, who was a friend of the parish. After tea with the bishop, Metropolitan Theophilus presided at the All-Night Vigil at Saints Peter and Paul Church. On Sunday morning, for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the priests from Lachine, Québec, and Ottawa, Ontario, attended, along with about 800 persons. There followed a procession around the Temple. Bishop J Farthing was present for all the festivities of the day. Following the festive dinner, Metropolitan Theophilus and Protodeacon Semov were taken to visit Saint John of Sochava Church in Lachine for Vespers. On Monday, at the request of Bishop J Farthing, Metropolitan Theophilus visited the Anglican seminary in the morning. At noon, he visited the parish of Saint Nicholas in Montréal. In the afternoon, he received various persons, and he was invited to a private home for supper. In the evening, he met with the parish council members. At 10:00 p.m., Metropolitan Theophilus and Protodeacon Semov were met by many at the railway station as they made their departure to New York.

Visit of Metropolitan Theophilus, 1938

World War II, 1939-1945

In 1939, World War II began. Its effects on the parish were similar to those on parishes all across the country. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 The second World War, starting in 1939, brought many changes to our parish life.  These naturally stemmed from 
 the many changes going on in the country-at-large – the appearance of military uniforms, food rationing,
 fundraising for war-torn countries, including the U.S.S.R., an ally in the war, though generally perceived as 
 an ideological enemy.  In the thirties and forties our choir, first under N I Koursky, then under O W Rodomar, 
 gave concerts to raise funds both for our church and for various wartime causes, and in doing so expanded 
 connections with the larger community of our city.  Newspaper clippings were quick with praise at the quality 
 of our choir.  My two sisters, Irina and Nina, were choir members and took part in concerts in various venues 
 in Montreal – Tudor Hall at Ogilvy’s, various Protestant churches, and in Ottawa where they sang for ‘Aid to 
 Russia’.  The choir women wore attractive, medium-blue velvet tunics, as shown in photos of the period.  Mary 
 (Harris) and Jenny (Karas) Boichuk, still known in our parish, were among those early choristers, though they 
 were barely in their teens ; our recent Sisterhood president, Olga Lambutsky, was also a chorister for
 many years.

She added about the war years (during part of which her family was in Washington DC) :

 During the war years (1939 to 1945) the tone of our society-at-large became inevitably more serious, being 
 concentrated on the war effort.  Though we were spared any fighting on our soil, many of our fathers, sons, 
 and brothers were volunteering in Europe.  There were threatening German submarines in the Saint Lawrence River 
 that had to be challenged.  An unprepared Canada had much to catch up to become an effective military 
 partner of the Allies.  In this uneasy atmosphere, our parish continued its regular activities : parish
 school on Saturdays ; money-raising social events ; the library growing under A B Jarcovsky’s initiative ; 
 annual banquets ; lectures given by prominent parishioners such as Prof. B A Babkin, a physiologist who had
 worked with Pavlov in Saint Petersburg and was now at McGill University.

Archimandrite Antony (Tereshchenko)

In 1941, after having received many requests from the parish, Metropolitan Theophilus assigned Archimandrite Antony (Tereshchenko) to serve as the rector of the parish, and he was transferred from Winnipeg, Manitoba, for this reason.

In 1942, the Russian section of the Canadian Red Cross was organised in order to raise funds for Russia (a Canadian ally at that time during World War II). The choir sang in many churches and prestigious halls in order to help to raise the needed funds.

Archimandrite Antony (Tereschenko) ordained to the Holy Episcopate, 1947

On 19 December, 1946, the Bishop’s Council of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (which was meeting in Chicago) elected Archimandrite Antony (Tereshchenko) to be the Bishop of Montréal. The parish was elevated to the dignity of a cathedral. The purpose of this ordination was to enable him to provide the needed spiritual care to the whole of Eastern Canada.

Archimandrite Antony (Tereshchenko)

On 29-30 March, 1947, Archimandrite Antony (Tereshchenko) was named and ordained to the Holy Episcopate. He was assigned to be the Bishop of Montréal and Eastern Canada.

Bereavement, 1947

However, on 27 September, 1947, Bishop Antony (Tereshchenko) unexpectedly and suddenly fell asleep in the Lord in a Montréal hospital. He reposed on the Feast-day of the Exaltation of the Life-giving Cross.

After the Funeral Services for the Burial of a Bishop on Thursday, 2 October, 1947, his body was transferred to the Monastery of Saint Tikhon in South Canaan, Pennsylvania, where it was interred near that of Archbishop Arseny (Chahovtsov).

During these years, the parish also suffered the loss of Mr. Oleg Rodomar Vukotitch, who had to move to Toronto, Ontario. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote about him :

 He was not only a director of our choir for a number of years, but for me he was the heart and soul of our 
 church community.  With his fierce enthusiasms and intimate knowledge of church history and church affairs,
 with a tenor voice and a kind heart, he was passionately involved in all aspects of church life from local to 
 North American.  He was also well known to the Montreal Community as a successful business leader, in time 
 becoming president of Philips Industries in Toronto after his wartime position as head of Canada’s ration 
 administration.  In 1945 he was named an Officer of the British Empire for his war work.  His move to Toronto 
 after the war was a severe loss to our parish.  

After the repose of Vladyka Antony, for some months and into 1948, the parish was without a priest. On his own initiative, Protodeacon Paul Hetman served the “Obednitsa” (“Typica”) for the parishioners on Sundays, and he also preached homilies.

Protodeacon Paul Hetman (Getman)

Mme. Lawes Melikoff commented about the post-war changes :

 The end of the war brought a surge of movement of dislocated people in Europe, especially Eastern Europe, 
 which resulted in many coming to Canada, and ultimately to our city and parish.  Some newcomers came from
 other Orthodox jurisdictions in Europe and chose to continue in them.  At the end of the 40s and throughout 
 the 50s, large numbers of immigrants arrived and immeasurably enriched our parish life. 

More recent view of the second Temple

Archpriest Oleg and Matushka Natalia Boldireff, 1948

In March, 1948, with the blessing of Metropolitan Vladimir (Tikhonitsky), the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff, together with Matushka Natalia and their children, emigrated to Canada. (Father Boldireff was a descendant of a Don Cossack family.) In Canada, he was assigned to serve as the rector of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Montréal, Québec. He had previously been assigned to the Cathedral of Saint Alexander Nevsky (rue Daru) in Paris, France.

Priest Oleg, Matushka Natalia Boldireff

He fulfilled his responsibilities in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul for 15 years. During this time, he served as the dean of Québec and Ontario. Further, during these years, he was instrumental in founding churches in Québec City, Val d’Or, Rouyn-Noranda, and Rawdon, Québec, and in Ottawa, Ontario. These foundations were associated with the very many Russian-speaking immigrants who had begun to live in these areas.

In 1948, the Canadian Tolstoy Foundation (named after the writer Leo N Tolstoy) was organised in order to help the many people now immigrating from Europe. This organisation was a branch of the American Tolstoy Foundation.

In the early summer of 1949, Bishop John (Shahovskoy) arrived in Montréal. In June, he and Father Oleg Boldireff went to the dock to meet the Grand Duchess Olga Aleksandrovna (sister of Tsar Nicholas II), who was arriving from Denmark with her family to live in Canada. During World War II, the Grand Duchess Olga Aleksandrovna and her family had been in considerable danger while they were in Denmark. After they completed their necessary paper-work, the family proceeded to Toronto, Ontario, where they settled. Bishop John remained for a time in Canada, but he was required to return to New York in order to fulfil other responsibilities.

Priest Alexander Feokhari, Priest Fyodor Ustutchenkov, Deacon Peter Svetlovsky and others with Metropolitan Vladimir (Tikhonitsky), Liège, 1949

In 1950, the Canadian diocese was again without a resident and present bishop.

Prince Sergei and Princess Lubov Troubetzkoy, 1950

In 1950, Prince Serge and Princess Lubov Troubetzkoy settled in Montréal, where Serge worked for a major agricultural machinery firm. Upon arrival in Montréal, they quickly became active parishioners in the cathedral parish. They proved to be useful in a multitude of ways, and they were constantly present at the services. Luba faithfully attended weekly Lenten services, and she sang the bass line in her peculiar low voice. At the same time, they both served the diocese. A few years after their arrival, Serge Grigorievitch was elected to the parish council as one of the assistant wardens of the cathedral. Soon after moving to Montréal, Mr. Troubetzkoy purchased a farm in the Laurentian Mountains (about a 2-hour drive to the north of Montréal), on the shore of Lac Labelle. There, next to the home of his family, he also established a domestic chapel in the name of Saint Sergius of Radonezh. This move soon opened a way for several other families to purchase summer homes near to the Troubetzkoy family.

Prince Serge, Princess Luba Troubetzkoy

Holy Trinity Mission, Québec City, 1950

In 1950, the Holy Trinity Church in Québec City was founded as a mission from Montréal. It was established by Russian-speaking immigrants who lived in the city, and clergy travelled from Montréal with increasing frequency in order to serve this community.

Tikhvin Icon of the Theotokos, 1951

In 1951, Bishop John (Garklavs) of Detroit, Michigan, visited Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral with the Wonder-working Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which he had brought with him from Riga, Latvia. At the second visit to Montréal of this icon, Deacon Daniel Hayduk (who had lost his sight) received healing.

By this time, many changes had begun to be felt in the parish, much as a result of the pastoral ability of Father Oleg Boldireff. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 Father Oleg was instrumental in welcoming new parishioners and his enthusiasm was contagious.  He knew how to 
 get people involved.  Generally a reluctant public speaker, he persuaded me to give a lecture to the ‘New
 Canadians’, as they came to be known, on the history of Canada, in Russian no less.  Also he had me teaching 
 English to a small group of newcomers in my home.  Many of the ‘New Canadians’ arrived on year-long domestic 
 work contracts and  received no governmental handouts; as well, they had to accept a life-style that was 
 foreign to them.  Most were highly educated and brought a new impulse to our parish life.  Before they came, 
 our parish was decreasing in size through intermarriage and a reduced flow of new blood.
 

Mme. Melikoff also reflected on other changes that were occurring, which were similar to the experience of other parishes in Canada at the time :

 In the late forties, our young people were operating in English for the most part, and for that reason became 
 interested in affiliating themselves with a North American group called the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs 
 of America, known as F.R.O.C., or simply the ‘R’ Club.  We operated for about four or five years with up to 
 twenty-five members, including Charles and Vera Olshevsky and four members of the Boichuk family. We even had 
 an Upper New York State Convention here in Montreal.  Our goal was to keep our Orthodox faith alive through 
 social fellowship and shared experiences in the English language.  Ultimately we had to fold up when it became 
 clear that the newcomers did not feel a need to join us.  Our legacy to the church was the baptismal font 
 which we bought with the residue of our funds.  The new youth were more inclined to join the Scouts led by 
 Father Boldireff.  Some, old and new, were attracted to the dance classes that the noted ballet dancer, 
 Ludmila Chiraev, introduced to Montreal.  Her company ultimately became Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, 
 and her legacy lives on.
 
 Among the newcomers we welcomed in the fifties and who are still largely with us today were the Koshits 
 — Marina (Kartashov) and her sister, Elena (Lebedeff), the Vinogradovs, the Kaminskys, the Mogiljanskys, 
 the Woinowsky-Kriegers, the Slivitzkys, the Levtchuks, the Feoharis, the Cholmskys, the Rumins, the 
 Miklachevskys, the Gribovskys, the Klimoffs (one brother a musician, the other an artist who contributed some 
 icons and most of the paintings in the church hall), and George Kouchougoura (our present starosta) to name 
 only a nucleus of new contributors to our parish life.  But always there remained our old faithful 
 parishioners such as Mr. A I Homych, who was a reader for many years and who trained a new generation 
 to be readers, often by giving lessons over the telephone.

In 1952, the parish organised a branch of “Russian Intelligence” for the youth. Also in this year, on the initiative of Father M Zarbatani (the oldest Orthodox priest in Montréal), the “Commonwealth of Orthodox Clergy” was organised in the city. This organisation included the rector of the cathedral and the rectors of the Greek, Romanian, and 2 Antiochian parishes (Saint Nicholas, Saint George). Furthermore, in this year (in addition to Rawdon), Father Oleg Boldireff organised communities in Québec City and in Ottawa, Ontario.

Protodeacon Peter, Matushka Nadezhda (born Apoukhtine) Svetlovsky

In 1952, Deacon Peter Grigorievitch and Matushka Nadezda Svetlovsky voyaged by ship from Paris, France, to Canada, and they arrived in Montréal (under the sponsorship of someone in Montréal). They had been invited by Father Boldireff, and they were transferred with the blessing of Archbishop Vladimir (Tikhonitsky).

After they settled, Father Peter and Matushka Nadezhda continued the service of vestment-making which they had begun in Paris. During the time of his service in Montréal, Deacon Peter was elevated to the dignity of protodeacon. However, in 1958, with an immigration invitation and affidavit from Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), the Svetlovskys moved to the village of Sea Cliff on Long Island, New York.

Saint George the Victorious Russian Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, 1953

In 1953, Boris V Orlov and Mr. Randles (along with the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff) organised the Saint George the Victorious Russian Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. Within the parish, the Tolstoy Foundation was transformed into the “Russian-Canadian Orthodox Foundation for Assistance in Education”.

In addition, Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 To help the difficult situation of many refugees here and abroad, some of our church members, along with a 
 member from Saint Nicholas Church, formed a organization to help displaced persons living in camps in Europe — 
 by advancing passage money to Canada, and generally offering aid to immigrants where needed. In 1948, under 
 the initiative of the Duchess Catherine of Leuchtenberg, a branch of the Tolstoy Foundation of New York was 
 started here under the name of the Canadian Tolstoy Foundation Inc.  I remember when Alexandra Tolstoy, the 
 daughter of Leo Tolstoy, came here to help set up the organization.  She was a tall, impressive lady of strong
 character.  The meeting was held in our house as my parents were involved in the formation of the new group, 
 my father becoming its first chairman, the Duchess, first president.  A few members of the Montreal English 
 community were invited to be members of the Board.  First off, letters were written to Quebec, and a grant of 
 $25,000 was received to get started.  On the first Board were the Duke and Duchess of Leuchtenberg ; Mr. A B
 Jarcovsky ; Prince S G Troubetzkoy ; A P Apraxine ; B A Hesketh ; O W Rodomar ; my parents and several members 
 from the English-speaking community.  By including English members on the Board, one can see that the Russians 
 here leaned more toward the English community then than now.  This was before the changes brought on by the 
 ‘Quiet Revolution’ of the 70s, when French became the official language of Quebec, when, among other
 requirements, immigrants’ choices for schools were redirected in favour of French.

Canadian Russian Orthodox Foundation

 In 1953, the Committee felt that current needs of our New Canadians would be better served with a local 
 organization and decided it was time to replace the Tolstoy Foundation with an organization to be called the 
 Canadian Russian Orthodox Foundation Inc., or C R O F I for short.  They proceeded with more or less the same 
 Board of Directors.  Their goal was to help newcomers by granting interest-free loans for the purpose of 
 furthering their education or meeting exceptional family needs.  Over time, the borrowed moneys were repaid 
 almost 100%, a most impressive achievement for the Russian community !
 
 In all, according to the records I have, the Canadian Russian Orthodox Foundation, together with the Canadian 
 Tolstoy Foundation, gave loans amounting to over $127,000.00 for education, immigration, and medical care
 to 422 persons, and relief and subsidies of over $20,000.00.  It received in addition to the Government grant 
 of $25,000.00, $14,800.00 in donations, and nearly $2,000.00 in membership fees.  A true example of community
 effort. 

The Duke and Duchess of Leuchtenberg were Dmitri Gheorghievitch de Leuchtenberg (1898-1972), and Catherine Arapova (1900-1991), and they had married in 1921. Duke Dmitri's younger brother Constantin lived in Ottawa.

Duke Dmitri, Duchess Catherine (borne Arapova) de Leuchtenberg

On 20 April, 1955 (the 3rd day of Pascha), Protodeacon Paul Hetman fell asleep in the Lord. He had received the Holy Gifts on Great and Holy Saturday.

Parish organisations, 1953

In the annual calendar for 1953 of the Canadian Orthodox Church (Archdiocese of Canada), it is noted that the bishop was Bishop Nikon (de Grève), and the pastor of the parish was Priest Oleg Boldireff. The parish had 2 protodeacons : Protodeacon Paul Hetman, and Protodeacon Peter Svetlovsky. The "Regent"/Choir-director was Alexander A Kaminski. The Starosta was Mr. Stchastyn.

Organisations included the Sisterhood of Saint Catherine ; the Brotherhood of Saint George the Victorious ; the Russian Youth Club ; the Society of New Canadians ; the Parish Choir ; the A S Pushin Library ; the Church-Parish Church school ; the Scout Troop ; the Society of Culture and Mutual Assistance.

[Note : An Orthodox Christian parish sisterhood is a group within a parish that aims to support the church and its community through various activities. These sisterhoods are typically composed of women who are members of the parish and are dedicated to living out their faith through service and charity. The objectives of these sisterhoods often include providing aid to the Church, the clergy, and the parish, as well as engaging in charitable works and promoting Christian virtues. Brotherhoods are similar in their purposes, although they are typically more concerned with maintaining the Temple and meeting-spaces, as well as raising money for the benefit of the parish. Youth clubs are oranised to strengthen the faith and understanding of the Faith may have (as in this parish) some sort of association with wider movements such as the International Syndesmos, and the Russian Christian Student Movement. The Scout Troop was influenced by association with Russian Scouting movements amongst Russian-speakers in exile. ]

Saint John of Kronstadt Charitable Society, 1955

In 1955, the "Société de bienfaisance Saint-Jean de Kronstadt" ("Saint John of Kronstadt Charitable Society") had its formal beginnings.

Rawdon Chapel of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. 1956

During the summer of 1956, with the help of some parishioners, and especially the architect Mr. George Levtchouk, Father Oleg Boldireff erected a small chapel in the family’s garden in Rawdon for the use of his family and for the local community. The Chapel of Saint Seraphim of Sarov was sanctified by Archbishop Nikon (de Grève). Serving together with him were the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff and Protodeacon Peter Svetlovsky of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 In the fifties, Father Oleg inaugurated a chapel on his property in Rawdon.  Later it was moved to the site of 
 a property bought in 1961 by my parents for the creation of a Russian Orthodox Cemetery in Rawdon, under the 
 aegis of our Cathedral.  For many years, a busload or carloads of Montrealers have come to Rawdon to celebrate 
 the Chapel’s feast day in August. 

The wife of Mr. Levtchouk, Maria (born Vakselyte), became a central personality in the future life of the Rawdon community, until her repose in Christ in 2015. She was a co-founder in 1988 of the “Multi-Ethnic Centre” there.

Saint Seraphim's Temple, Rawdon

Children’s camp, 1957

Beginning in 1957, on the property in Rawdon of the cathedral’s Lawes family, every summer, a children’s camp was arranged by the parish for several weeks. This camp continued to function for 16 years, and the children who had the opportunity to participate seem to have had positive experiences and established good friendships which have lasted throughout their lives. About this, Olga Lawes Melikoff added :

 A developing need among the new parishioners was for a supervised summer vacation spot for their children 
 while the parents worked in the hot city.  C R O F I met the need by inaugurating a children’s camp, first in 
 Val David, then a year or two later, on a property in Rawdon, bought for the purpose by my parents.  It became 
 the camp’s permanent home for the next sixteen years.  Parents were charged or not, according to their 
 ability to pay ; in return, the children, up to 45 in number, spent  from two to six weeks in a Russian 
 ambience, returning home with a store of memories to treasure — of huge campfires, swimming in the small lake, 
 walks to Darwin Falls, singsongs and prayers in Russian.  The older campers would hike to Saint Seraphim 
 Chapel, newly built in Rawdon.  Elena Adamovna Youskevich, A A Kaminsky’s mother, was the camp director 
 throughout the whole period ; she was an educator who had attended the exclusive Smolny Institute in Saint Petersburg 
 in her youth.  Father Oleg Boldireff took an interest in the camp, and I believe all or most of his 
 five sons were campers at one time or another.  My own family of three sons spent every summer at the camp 
 while my parents and I lived in a cottage on the camp grounds. 

59th anniversary, 1957

On 25 October, 1957, the Cathedral Parish of Saints Peter and Paul celebrated its 50th anniversary. The celebration was led by Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), who arrived in Montréal especially for this occasion.

On 2 October, 1960, the parish celebrated the 25th anniversary of the priestly ministry of the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff, and at the same time the silver wedding-anniversary of him and Matushka Natalia. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on this day was led by Archbishop Ireney (Bekish) of Boston. He had recently returned from serving the Church of Japan. While he was serving as the Bishop of Boston, he also temporarily administered the Archdiocese of Canada. Deacon George Pokrovsky was ordained to the Holy Priesthood during the service.

Reader Alexander I Chomicz

It was during this decade that Mr. Alexander I Chomicz arrived in Montréal. He was mentioned by Mrs. Melikoff amongst the earlier arrivals in her comments about the 1950s, and she spelt his name “Homich” (this itself is expressive of the great variety of spellings in English of non-English names). His thoroughly Orthodox Christian example of how to live our lives was passed on simply by his way of life, much more than by any words. He had a profound and positive effect on many others because he simply lived the life of one who loves Christ.

Constantly and lovingly, he was attending services and serving as a reader ; and by his personal example and the lessons he gave, he taught selflessly and carefully a new generation of readers how to read in Slavonic and how to understand the order of services. One may say that he lived in the manner of the exhortation of Saint Herman of Alaska : “From this day, from this hour, from this minute, let us love God above all else and do His Holy will”.

In 1961, Peter Alexandrovitch Feokhari, the son of Father Alexander Feokhari, was ordained by Archbishop Ireney (Bekish) to the Holy Diaconate in the cathedral.

Bishop Anatoly (Apostolov)

In October, 1961, the cemetery of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Rawdon was sanctified by the Bishop Anatoly (Apostolov), the new bishop of Montréal. He was assisted by Father Oleg Boldireff.

In December, 1961, ostensibly for health reasons due to the harsh climate of Canada, Bishop Anatoly returned to Greece.

About the 1950s and 1960s, Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 In Montreal, our parish expanded rapidly in the fifties and sixties, with new needs, new developments.  
 Seating in the church had been tried and rejected.  The original iconostas was replaced with the existing, 
 more traditionally artistic one.  It was an interesting time — lectures were given by exceptional speakers 
 such as Father Alexander Schmemann from New York ; small theatre groups performed ; the choir continued to 
 blossom under A A Kaminsky as new young voices joined the older members. 

Iconostas

On 12 January, 1962, the Lesser Sobor of Bishops in the USA submitted a written report about the attitude of the Church Council towards Bishop Anatoly, since the next Great Council of Bishops (which would make a final decision regarding Vladyka Anatoly) would be convened in the coming March.

In March, 1962, Bishop Anatoly was officially released from the Canadian diocese. After that, he briefly returned to Canada to lead the diocese again on 7 July. During that month, he blessed the Cemetery Cross in the cemetery in Rawdon. Then, on 20 July, 1962, Bishop Anatoly left Canada finally and forever, and he went back to Greece. Archbishop Ireney (Bekish) was assigned to serve as the administrator of the diocese.

Cemetery Cross at Rawdon

Repose of Kuzma V Kostychenko, 1962

In 1962, a long-time parishioner who had arrived in Canada from Constantinople in 1922, Kuzma (Kosma) Varfolomeevich Kostychenko, fell asleep in the Lord. In his last will, he directed about $75,000.00 to the parish. As a result, the new parish hall was named in his honour. This was not only because of his contribution but also because of his personal way of life.

 During his lifetime, very few people knew him.  He was neither a public, nor political, nor a church figure.  
 He was a most ordinary immigrant, a hard working Christian.  Every Sunday, at exactly 11 o’clock, you could 
 always see him in the same place, in a modest corner of Saint Petro-Pavlovsky Cathedral.  Immediately after 
 the church service, he somehow disappeared unnoticed - until the next Sunday.  Always alone, he never 
 complained to anyone, he did not turn to anyone for advice and help.  For many years, without a well-paid
 speciality, he managed to acquire a small, dilapidated house with a piece of land for his modest labour 
 savings.  Already sick, he lived for many years in the basement behind the stove, in a small, semi-dark room.  
 Feeling the approach of death Kuzma Varfolomeevich as an Orthodox Christian made his confession and he 
 received the Holy Mysteries.  In the presence and on the advice of the Archpriest Oleg Boldyrev and the head 
 of the parish council, G P Maksimyuk, Kuzma Varfolomeevich made his will and wrote over all his property to 
 Saint Petro-Pavlovsky cathedral.  This generous donor did not continue in this life, and his old house is 
 demolished.  But the memory of Kuzma Varfolomeevich will always live in the hearts of the parishioners of the
 cathedral.  The new parish hall bears the name of the late Kuzma Varfolomeevich Kostyuchenko.  Eternal memory 
 to him ! Later, it was decided to write an icon of the Holy Martyrs and Unmercenearies Cosmas and Damian
 in memory of Kozma Kostyuchenko.  Now this icon is in the right side-chapel.

Kuzma (Kosma) Varfolomeevich Kostychenko

English language Divine Liturgy, 1962

In 1962, the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff announced that there would now be served 2 Divine Liturgies every second Sunday. There would be an early Divine Liturgy served in the English language, and it would begin at 9:00 a.m.

In the early 1960s, Mr. S G Troubetzkoy was elected to the archdiocesan council. It was in these positions that he played a significant rôle in facilitating the transfer of the archdiocesan see from Toronto back to Montréal (after Bishop Nikon (de Grève) was transferred to serve in Japan). Sergei Grigorievitch was also active in the expansion of the cathedral building in Montréal. Additionally, he assisted Bishop Sylvester in his immigration from France and his resettlement in Canada.

With the restructuring of the governance of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (called “the Metropolia” for short) in the time of Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich), Serge also became the Canadian Archdiocese’ first lay representative (from 1964 to 1971) to the Metropolitan Council of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (“the Metropolia”), later to be known as “The Orthodox Church in America”. During this period, it was also customary that either the clergy or lay vice-chairman of the All-American Church Sobor would necessarily be from the Archdiocese of Canada. Therefore, Mr. Troubetzkoy served as lay vice-chairman of the 11th All-American Sobor in 1963. At the 1967 Sobor, he was again nominated to be vice-chairman ; but he declined this nomination in favour of another Canadian delegate.

On 12 October, 1962, Prince Sergey G Troubetskoy reported to the parish council about his attending the opening of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Seminary at its new site in Crestwood, Yonkers, New York. He also shared information that a decision had been made to assign Bishop Sylvester (Haruns) of Nice, France, to the Archdiocese of Canada.

In 1962, it was decided to commission in memory of Kuzma Kostuchenko the writing of an icon of the Holy Unmercenary Martyrs Cosmas and Damian. This icon was afterwards placed in the right-side chapel.

New parish building extension, 1963

In 1963, the parish made a decision to use the funds it had acquired in order to build a new parish house with offices, a library, a second priest’s apartment and a new parish hall. A construction committee was appointed for the purpose of constructing the new building. It was led by the Starosta Gregory P Maksymiuk, together with G I Vinogradov and J D Olsufiev.

Bishop Sylvester (Haruns), 1963

On 9 October, 1963, Bishop Sylvester (Haruns) was officially assigned by Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish) to be the Bishop of Montréal and Canada, and he arrived to participate in a meeting of the parish council.

Vladyka Sylvester

About the significance of this event, Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 A most fortunate arrival to our parish was that of Archbishop Sylvester in 1963, and during his ‘reign’ we 
 experienced an era of peace and stability.  He had an aura that commanded respect.  At first, rather shy and 
 retiring, one felt his inner strength.  He led by example rather than any sort of coercion.  Because of my 
 mother’s role in the parish, Vladyka soon became a friend of our family, both in Rawdon and in the city, and 
 was often our guest, at which times he shared his stories punctuated by his quiet sense of humour.  I never
 remember him saying ‘You should do thus and so’, neither in his sermons nor in conversations, which is rather 
 amazing, considering his position.  Rather, he quietly and with great dignity officiated and preached the 
 gospel message, and further occupied himself with the administration of the church and his charities.  He led 
 by example.  Vladyka had a particular love of children, as well as young people, as exemplified by treating 
 his altar boys to a pizza lunch once a year.  He paid much attention to Christmas celebrations, trimming the 
 tree in the church hall by himself and, over the course of the year, buying presents for all the parishioners.  
 Eventually volunteers helped him in this task.
 
 Vladyka was especially interested in the spiritual problems of Russians in the U.S.S.R. and corresponded with 
 spiritual leaders there and sent them religious books.  This activity led to the expansion of the John of 
 Krondstadt Charity Fund as parishioners were encouraged to participate.  We would meet around Vladyka’s table 
 after church to discuss what he was doing and what could further be done.  When it became possible to send 
 parcels to the U.S.S.R., goods started to replace books, and members dug in to help prepare parcels.  Two 
 parishioners, namely Ludmila Kruchinina and Natalia Iliesco, almost single-handedly, collected, packed, and 
 prepared for sending tons of clothing and toys for Russia.  These were sent off with the cooperation of 
 Aeroflot and the help of Vladimir Slivitzky, a Vice-President of Air Canada and a distinguished member of our 
 parish.  More recently, money has replaced the sending of goods at the request of the recipients.  After 
 Vladyka had to leave his post and retire to Rawdon for health reasons, where he subsequently died in 2000.  
 Marina Kartashov ably continued his Charity Fund, and now it has passed into the hands of Galina Mikoutskaia-
 Tomberg, a member of our newest wave of newcomers from Russia.  Money is sent twice a year directly to
 special priests for distribution to the needy, and especially to orphans.

Vladyka Sylvester immediately found himself in the midst of a construction project. The following 2 translated letters demonstrate the importance of the project, as Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich) and Bishop Sylvester (Haruns) encouraged the parishioners to contribute both their funds and their labour. From Metropolitan Leonty :

 With a heartfelt and prayerful greeting, we welcome an important church event in the Canadian Diocese, 
 consisting in the fact that you, the loving worshippers in the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in 
 Montréal, are starting to build for the parish with a new hall and a permanent residence for the ruling 
 bishop.  This intention fully corresponds to our plan, according to which the Council of Bishops elected the 
 oldest and prestigious parish in Montréal for the establishment of a permanent residence in it, worthy of the
 high dignity of the Orthodox Bishop of the rich and vast Canadian country. 
 
 We remind you, brothers and sisters, that the residence of the ruling bishop is not only an administrative 
 centre for the administration of the diocese, but rather, it is much more.  The cathedral, headed by the 
 bishop, is primarily a basic place for the liturgical and prayerful and blessed life of the entire diocese.  
 Therefore, in the cathedral, everything should be done decently and in accordance with good order (see 1 
 Corinthians 14:40), so that each parish may have an example before it, as it should be to give praise to the 
 Lord God.
 
 Then, the cathedral with the diocesan bishop is a centre of religious enlightenment, teaching and edification, 
 for the bishop holds a model of sound teaching received from the apostles (see 2 Timothy 1:13).  Finally, the
 cathedral and the ruling bishop are the source of inspired appeals to the flock for Christian charity and good 
 deeds ; for, as a body without a spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead (see James 
 2:26). 
 
 This is the significance of the cathedral, headed by the diocesan bishop.  We know that it is difficult for 
 you alone to build a residence for the cathedral bishop, but the diocese is a living organism made up of all 
 the parishes of this region.  Therefore, we, in the duty of the First Hierarch, are eager to appeal to you 
 all, rectors of parishes, church committees, brotherhoods, sisterhoods, youth clubs and all the beloved 
 children of the Canadian Diocese : Provide friendly and quick help to the Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in
 Montréal in its construction of a residence for the ruling Canadian bishop.  The Lord himself, at the 
 intercessions of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, who organised the first seats for the bishops at the dawn 
 of Christianity, will reward you for every sacrifice made with love for construction in the Montréal parish.
 
 May God’s blessing be with you all to the glory of His Holy Church and to the salvation of the souls of each 
 one of you. 

From Bishop Sylvester :

 We are starting to build a new church house.  In the new building there will be : a second parish hall, a room 
 for our library, an apartment for the church sexton, an apartment for the second priest, and a space for the 
 ruling Canadian bishop.
 
 For a long time the parish has been thinking about this building, it is necessary at our arrival.  With God’s 
 help, with the blessing of our High Priest and Father, the Highly Esteemed Metropolitan Leonty, we started 
 this work ! The construction of this one can be successfully completed only with the combined friendly 
 sacrifices of all in this work.  And I appeal to all members of our parish, to all those who pray in our 
 cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul : sacrificially support the construction of a new parish house.  
 We need general help, and we need the sacrificial contributions of each of you.  Do it.  The hand of the giver 
 does not lack.
 
 If we all do our bit, then by the beginning of October this year we will have a new parish house.
 
 May the Grace and mercy of God rest on each one who offers !

On 4 January, 1963, the Priestmonk Antony (Abramovic) was presented to the committee as the second priest.

Priest Cyril Fotiev, 1963

On 10 April, 1963, the Priest Cyril Fotiev was presented as the new pastor of the cathedral parish.

Priest Cyril Fotiev

On 1 December, 1963, the Archpriest Oleg Boldireff was transferred and assigned to serve at the Holy Resurrection Church in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Constructing the new parish house, 1964

On 19 April, 1964, the foundation of the new building (designed by the architect Suchich) was sanctified at the serving of the moleben entitled “Before beginning any good of work”.

On 29 June, 1964, the Archpriest Alexander Mirochnitchenko (who had been serving primarily in Québec City) fell asleep in the Lord.

On 12 August, 1964, the parish committee accepted the Priest Mikhail Milonov to serve as the second priest in the parish. His responsibilities were then to serve primarily in Rawdon and in Québec City.

On 4 October, 1964, the new building between the Temple and the home of the rector was sanctified. The Archpriest Alexander Schmemann of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in New York was invited for the occasion.

Entrance to the new building through the garden

On 14 October, 1964, the parish celebrated the 81st birthday of Deacon Daniel Hayduk of the parish.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral Parish News

At some time not long after this, the publication of the “Parish News” began to be disseminated amongst other parishes throughout Canada. It was published on the printing equipment that Vladyka Sylvester established in a room of his apartment in the new building. It contained not only news of the cathedral parish, but also news about various parishes in Canada. It was published both in Russian and in English.

In 1966, the parish constructed a cemetery chapel in the Rawdon cemetery, in the name of Saint Seraphim of Sarov. The project was directed by Starosta A A Kaminski. It was sanctified by Archbishop Sylvester in the presence of very many priests, parishioners, and guests.

Canadian Centennial anniversary, 1967

In 1967, on the centennial anniversary of the Confederation of Canada, through the efforts of Mr. B Orlov, a monument designed by the engineer H Skorodinsky was built in Rawdon. The monument commemorates all the Russian soldiers who fell in the First and Second World Wars.

On 12 April, 1968, the parishioners were greatly saddened when Protodeacon Peter Feokhari (the head of the parish school) became seriously ill and fell asleep in the Lord just before Passion Week.

Archpriest George M Benigsen, 1968

On 1 June, 1968, the Archpriest George M Benigsen was assigned by Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish) of New York to serve as the pastor of the cathedral parish.

Later, Elizabeth S Troubetskoy (Saika) wrote about this period of time at the cathedral :

 I cherish very much the memory of the Kaminskis.  A A K was my teacher and mentor and taught me all about 
 choir directing.  I started at 16 with my first English liturgy at Sts Peter and Paul.  This was of course, 
 way before the Tkachuks transferred to Montréal.  We had a small core of teenage singers.  A couple of years 
 later, we continued meeting at McGill.  There were Tim Katsikas, Alexis Vinogradov, Elizabeth Vinogradov, 
 ‘Mimi’ Kishkovsky, ‘Luke’ Richard Rochon (the now Archbishop Iriney) and 
 others.  We gathered at Divinity Hall for Lenten prayers led by Alexis and joined lunch time services at the 
 Cardinal Newman House, attending, not partaking of, the Catholic Eucharist.  We were a dynamic group to say 
 the least.  We sang a Vespers Service at the late Metropolitan Vitaly’s ‘skete’, at the Greek Cathedral with 
 the then Father Sotirios and elsewhere...And so it was ! For a while I took over the choir at Sts Peter and Paul 
 during Father Benigsen’s tenure.  A A K had retreated for that time, coming back after I left and married.  
 Archbishop Sylvestre taught me the ‘Ustav’ and how to read in Slavonic.  Elena Adamovna was quite a 
 personality who lived for the church and was our eternal ‘psalomshchik’ (psalm-reader).  She would remain 
 unmoved whenever an exasperated Kaminski tried to rush her along on Holy Thursday evening during the seemingly 
 interminable readings of the antiphons and troparions.  
 
 He was an exemplary son to her and kept her with him and the family to the very end.  I think that almost 
 everyone would give out a silent, patient sigh when it came to whenever Elena Adamovna did start to read. 

In 1969, Elizabeth Sergeievna Troubetskoy left Montréal, and Matushka Helen Benigsen took up the responsibility of leading the choir. During her short time in the cathedral, she established a youth choir which sang in addition to the main choir.

Vladyka Sylvester, parish council

In 1969, there was a great danger of a split in the parish because of misunderstandings of the negotiations between the “Metropolia” and the Moscow Patriarchate about the granting of autocephaly to the North American Church. Father George Benigsen was able to explain the situation and to reassure the faithful that there was no schism in this action, but rather a return to a properly canonical relationship. Very few persons therefore left the parish in 1970 when the Tomos of Autocephaly was given, because there had been adequate preparation. Elizabeth S Troubetskoy Saika remembered :

 Indeed I do recall Fr. George explaining the issue very calmly.  The transition was quite smooth perhaps in 
 part because the parish was quite fond of Archbishop Sylvestre, who guided the church through this period.  
 Everyone was aware of his negative political views towards the Soviet Union and the activity of the 
 underground network with which he was actively involved.  The sentiment was that if Archb. Sylvestre ‘can do 
 it’ so could we all.  

Autocephaly, 1970

On 31 March, 1970, Eucharistic Communion was restored between the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America and the Moscow Patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of North America was given autocephaly by the Moscow Patriarchate. It was given the new name “The Orthodox Church in America”. This event was accompanied by various disturbances throughout Canada, since not everyone was prepared to return to Eucharistic communion with the Patriarchate of Moscow at this time. Thus, the lines of difference between The Orthodox Church in America and the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia were quite sharply drawn.

In the summer of 1970, the Archpriest George and Matushka Helen Benigsen were transferred away from the cathedral parish and they were assigned to the Church of Saint Nicholas in Saratoga, California.

In 1970, Sergei G and Luba A Troubetzkoy retired and moved to Syosset, New York (where the OCA chancery is situated). Although they necessarily left the parish at the time, their personal connexions remained alive. When Mr. Troubetzkoy became the archivist of the OCA (and he was nick-named “Mr. T”), in due course he took as his apprentice and successor a son of the parish of Saints Peter and Paul, Alexis Pavlovitch Liberovsky. He is the son of Mrs. Elena Lebedeff, and the nephew of Mrs. Marina Kartashov.

In 1972, the Saint John of Kronstadt Charitable Society at the cathedral sent books from parishioners and paid for food parcels sent from Paris to the families of prisoners.

Priest John I Tkachuk, 1973

In 1973, the Tkachuk and Matushka Mary were transferred from the Church of Saints Peter and Paul in Buffalo, New York, to serve in the cathedral. Father John served as the pastor of the cathedral parish. He became active in developing the use of the English language in the parish.

In 1974, the Russian Student Christian Movement sent 35,484 books to the USSR ; a considerable number of parcels with food and medicines ; and financial assistance to believers and families of prisoners.

In 1974, Alexander Kaminski and Peter Ostrovsky built a bell-house at Rawdon for the bells for the Temple which had been received from the Canadian National Railway (CNR), and from the cathedral parish.

On 19 November, 1974, after a long illness, a self-sacrificing parishioner, who was both a public figure and a faithful toiler, Alexander Borisovich Zharkovsky (also spelt “Jarkovsky”), fell asleep in the Lord.

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, 1975

In 1975, the Russian writer, Alexandr Solzhenitzyn visited Montréal, and he spent the whole of Passion week and the Feast of Holy Pascha with the cathedral parish of Saints Peter and Paul. He had been considering whether he might live in Canada ; but he ultimately chose Cavendish, Vermont, instead. Olga Lawes Melikoff recalled those days :

 In 1975, I remember the excitement in our parish at the arrival of a celebrated guest — Alexander Solzhenitsyn 
 — who had been expelled from the Soviet Union and came directly to visit his friend through correspondence, 
 Vladyka Sylvester, in Montreal.  He spent the midnight Easter service in our Altar, while we strained to catch 
 a glimpse of him.  During the Easter breakfast in the church hall, my mother was seated next to him.  She 
 admitted that she found making small talk with him not at all easy — a formidable guest he was.  Solzhenitsyn 
 considered making Canada his home, but realizing the greater possibility of finding source material in the 
 USA, such as in the Library of Congress in Washington, he settled with his family in Cavendish, Vermont. 

Subdeacon Gregory Maksymiuk ; Alexandr Solzhenytsyn ; Archbishop Sylvester ; Archimandrite Antoniy (1975)

Summer Olympics, 1976

In 1976, there was a temporary chapel established at the Summer Olympic Games in Montréal. These games were likely the first in Olympic history which “served” the Orthodox Christian participants and attendees.

Hieromonk Gregory (Papazian) moved his hermitage to Rawdon, 1977

In 1977, the Hieromonk Gregory (Papazian) moved his log chapel-and-hermitage from the Eastern Townships to the grounds of the Rawdon Cemetery, where he continued to live a hermitical monastic life.

All-American Council, 1977

From 25-28 October, 1977, the 5th All-American Church Council was convened in Montréal. At this council, after the retirement of Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish), Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) was elected as the next Metropolitan of The Orthodox Church of America.

Bishops of the Holy Synod of The Orthodox Church in America, 1977, with Metropolitan Theodosius

Formation of the Mission of the Sign of the Theotokos

In 1978, the Archpriest John Tkachuk, his family, and some other parish families left the cathedral parish in order to found the new parish of the Sign of the Theotokos in Montréal. About this event, Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 In the seventies a group of English parishioners led by Father John Tkachuk held services in English in our 
 church.  Unfortunately, misunderstandings developed about their relationship to the membership-at-large, and 
 Vladyka Sylvester gave them permission to start their own mission.  This came soon after a North American 
 church sobor was held in Montreal in 1977, when a new Metropolitan was elected and when the English 
 parishioners played an important role in the celebrations.  In time, their move resulted in a viable English 
 parish under the name of the Sign of the Theotokos, which in 2006 celebrated its 25th Anniversary under Father 
 John Tkachuk.  [It was] A loss to our church, but filling a need for Orthodox services in English in the city. 

In the 1970s, Mrs. Catherine Lawes retired from her responsibility as the “Elder Sister” of Saint Catherine’s Sisterhood. Her daughter wrote :

 The Sisterhood continued its activities under new presidents when my mother retired in the seventies.  It was 
 first led by Mrs. Timasheff, Zinaida Melnyk and, more recently, Olga Lambutsky, a longtime member of our 
 parish.  On her recent resignation, it passed on to Camille Gribovsky.  Efforts are being made to expand the 
 membership among the newest arrivals and to accommodate the Sisterhood to the ever-growing changes in the 
 parish.

During many of the years of his archpastoral service, Archbishop Sylvester had been the bishop responsible for caring for the Australian parishes of the OCA. He travelled to that country several times, and he was both loved and remembered fondly there for many years after he relinquished that responsibility. Vladyka Sylvester also was given many other important responsibilities on behalf of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church. He was frequently absent in the USA for this reason. Towards the end of the life of Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish), Vladyka Sylvester was serving as the Administrator of The Orthodox Church in America.

In 1981, on the initiative of Protodeacon Gregory Maxymiuk (a post-war immigrant who came from Pochaiv, Ukraine, and who was often in the Lavra there) and with the support of A A Kaminski and the cathedral council, in Rawdon, a small house across from the cemetery Temple was bought, and it was called informally the “Bishop’s Datcha”.

Regular educational opportunities on Sundays

Throughout the time of his service as Archpastor in Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Archbishop Sylvester organised a rather regular series of lectures and presentations of a Sunday afternoon. They took place in the smaller hall after the Divine Liturgy and the subsequent coffee-hour.

Vladyka Sylvester himself gave some of the talks. In addition, he invited Archpriests Alexander Schmemann, John Meyendorff, George Benigsen, Cyril Fotiev, and others. He invited also various lay-professors who were teaching Russian studies at universities in Canada and the USA.

These lectures were very influential, informative, and formative for those who were able to attend.

Vladyka’s semi-retirement, 1981

On 1 July, 1981, Vladyka Sylvester decided to give way to a new generation in the administration of the diocese, and he asked for and received the blessing to retire from active episcopal service. Meanwhile, he continued to be active pastorally exclusively in the cathedral parish.

Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch), 1984

In 1984, Igumen Cyril (Bulashevitch) was transferred from Vancouver, British Columbia, and he was assigned to the cathedral parish in Montréal. Here, he served as second priest under Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns). He took up residence in one of the small apartments in the adjoining cathedral precincts, and he served as the main pastor under Vladyka Sylvester’s direction. Igumen Cyril was a very meek and a very kind person, and he loved the parishioners.

In 1987, the Starosta Peter Ostrovsky (a speciality contractor for the construction of houses) attached the “Bishop Sylvester Hall” to the “Bishop’s Datcha”.

In 1987, the Mitred Archpriest Oleg Boldireff retired, and he moved to Rawdon in the following year. He was blessed by Archbishop Sylvester to serve in Rawdon all year round.

Alexis Pavlovitch Liberovsky

In 1988, Alexis Pavlovitch Liberovsky was assigned to serve as the Archivist of the Orthodox Church in America, and he has continued in this rôle ever since. He currently also serves as Director of the Office of History and Archives, Secretary of the OCA Canonisation Commission, Recording Secretary of the Metropolitan Council, Secretary of the OCA Archives Advisory Committee and member of the Statute Revision Task Force.

 Alexis Liberovsky was born in Montréal, Québec, where he was raised in a Russian-speaking home.  His family 
 attended Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral, where, from an early age, Alexis was active as an 
 acolyte, reader and subdeacon.  Following graduation from Loyola High School in Montréal, Mr Liberovsky 
 enrolled at the renowned Saint Sergius Orthodox Theological Institute in Paris, France, where he would later 
 serve as president of the student body.  Having defended his thesis on the history of the Orthodox Church in 
 Canada, written in Russian, he received a Licentiate (M.Div.) degree from the Institut Saint-Serge in 1982.  
 After pursuing further studies, focussed on church history, at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary 
 in Crestwood (Yonkers), New York, he was hired as OCA Archivist in 1988.  He received initial archival 
 training at the National Archives in Washington, DC, and then at the 
 Saints Cyril and Methodius Graduate and Doctoral School of the Russian Orthodox Church, 
 the Moscow State History and Archives Institute of the Russian State University for the Humanities (RGGU)
 and the State Archives of the Russian Federation. 

Alexis P Liberovsky

Retirement of Alexander A Kaminski, 1992

In 1992, the choir-director Alexander Alexandrovich Kaminski (who had served in this capacity for about 40 years for the benefit of the parish) resigned from this responsibility because of his poor health.

Parish activities, 1993

In 1993 (after “Perestroika”), the Saint John of Kronstadt Charitable Society sent a considerable amount of humanitarian aid to Russia.

In 1993, Tatiana K Slivitsky retired from the management of the Pushkin Library. The parishioner Mrs. Elena Lebedev was willing to help, but she asked that the cathedral council manage the library.

In 1993, a new roof was installed on the Temple and repairs in the parish house were undertaken at the cost of $28,000.00.

In 1993, there were changes from the Government of Québec concerning the registration of baptisms, weddings and burials. Prior to this, a special book was issued for registering these throughout the year. Now it was decided to record only marriages.

In 1993, the sexton’s room was provided for the accommodation of the library.

Semi-retirement of Archbishop Sylvester, 1994

In 1994, for health reasons, and having arrived at the “age limit”, Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) asked permission from the ruling bishop, Seraphim (Storheim) to retire from active pastoral service. This was blessed.

At the same time, he was also blessed to serve as the rector of the community in Rawdon.

The cathedral committee, however, requested that Vladyka Sylvester remain active as the rector of the cathedral throughout 1994. This was blessed. Vladyka Sylvester also requested of the committee permission to remain in his apartment until the end of his days. In gratitude, he donated $50,000.00 to $60,000.00 to the parish, and also his large personal library. This was accepted by the committee. Vladyka Sylvester remained for many years afterwards in his apartment at the cathedral, and he attended and participated in the services in accordance with his strength.

Vladyka also spent time in the summer in Rawdon in accordance with his health.

Priest Nikolai Nikolaev ; Archpriest Alexander Janowski, 1994

In 1994, the Priest Nikolai Nikolaev served in the parish for some time during that year before moving to Ottawa.

From 1 October, 1994 until 10 January, 1995, the Archpriest Alexander Janowski from Seattle, Washington, was temporarily assigned to serve as the pastor of the parish. He had already more than 30 years of experience. He was then confirmed as the rector of the parish, and Archbishop Sylvester was regarded as the Emeritus Rector of the cathedral parish.

Retirement of Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch), 1995

In January, 1995, Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch), who had served the parish for 11 years, retired from active service because of poor health.

For several months, the Priest Svyatoslav Dubanenko served in the parish until he was transferred to Yorkton, Saskatchewan as second priest on 10 May, 1995.

In 1995, a repair of the walls in the Temple was undertaken. Gluing new materials and repainting, the installation of ceiling fans, and the replacement of the carpet in the Altar led to some other unforeseen repairs, which brought the cost to $41,878.00.

Repose of Mitred Archpriest Oleg Boldireff, 1997

On 14 November, 1997, the Mitred Archpriest Oleg Boldireff fell asleep in the Lord.

The concelebrating clergy at the Order for the Burial of a Priest and at the Memorial Divine Liturgy were Archpriest Alexander Janowski, Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch), Archpriest Nicolas Boldireff, Higoumène Irénée (Rochon), Hiéromoine Marc (Pierre), Hiéromoine Cyrille (Bradette), and the Priest Nikolai Nikolaev. The Archpriest John Tkachuk was also present.

After the services in Montréal, the body of Father Oleg Bolidreff was taken to the Russian Cemetery (now named for Saint Seraphim of Sarov) in Rawdon, and it was interred there.

Repose of Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch), 1998

On 4 December, 1998, Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch) fell asleep in the Lord in Montréal after a lengthy illness.

On Sunday, 6 December, 1998, after the Divine Liturgy at Saints Peter and Paul's Cathedral, a panikhida was served for Archimandrite Cyril in the presence of many parishioners.

On Monday, 7 December, 1998, there was served a Memorial Divine Liturgy by Bishop Seraphim, assisted by the Archpriests Alexander Janowski (rector) and John Tkachuk (chancellor), the Priest Nikolai Nikolaev and the priest-monk Cyrille (Bradette), and by Protodeacon Gregory Maksymiuk.

The Order of the Burial of a Priest followed the Divine Liturgy. A large choir sang beautifully and compunctionately under the leadership of Michael A Woinowsky-Krieger.

Afterwards, the body of Archimandrite Cyril was taken directly to Rawdon, Québec, and interred in the Seraphim Cemetery there.

Bereavement, 2000

On 18 May, 2000, Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) fell asleep in the Lord in Rawdon. The parish lost their “beloved and respected Vladyka and spiritual authority”. Vladyka Sylvester had received Holy Communion and he was anointed just 2 days before his repose. According to his wishes, his funeral was served according to the rite for monastics at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Montréal. Bishop Seraphim of Ottawa and Canada concelebrated the funeral with 10 priests. After the services, Vladyka Sylvester’s body was interred in the Rawdon cemetery in a special place prepared for him. The period during which Vladyka Sylvester served in this parish has been called the “golden age” of the parish.

Repose of Alexander I Chomicz, 2001

On 11 December, 2001, Mr. Alexander I Chomicz fell asleep in the Lord.

This event was felt keenly by the older parishioners in particular, and by the many who had been taught by him.

In 2001, the “Parish Newsletter” began to be published on the internet.

Retirement visit of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor), 2002

On 20 October, 2002, Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) visited the cathedral parish after a 25-year absence. This visit followed his retirement in July, 2002.

It had been his desire to return to the Temple in which he had been elected to the primacy of the OCA 25 years previously, and the visit was for him a great joy.

Amongst other blessings, he brought and gave to the parish the Holy Relics of Saint Tikhon (Belavin) of Moscow ; of Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny) of Brooklyn ; of Saint Herman of Alaska ; of the Great New-Martyr Elizabeth of Russia.

Visit of Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Greeting Olga Lambutsky and parishioners at dinner.

Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, 2005

On 31 July, 2005, the Archpriest Anatoliy Mel’nyk was released from his responsibility as Rector of Holy Trinity Sobor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and he was transferred to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Montréal, Québec.

He arrived with his wife Iryna and their 2 children Iuliania and Hlib (Gleb). Matushka Iryna and Iuliania soon became active in the choir, and Hlib in serving in the Altar and participating in youth activities. Before long, Iuliania moved to Saint Petersburg, Russia, where she entered the course for choir directors at the Saint Petersburg Theological Academy, where she met her future husband, Vasili Tsaritsyn. After they both graduated, he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate, and afterwards to the Holy Priesthood. Then Hlib (Gleb) Melnyk also went to the Saint Petersburg Academy to study. There, he met his future wife, Ioana. He was married, and in due time he was ordained to the Holy Diaconate and then to the Holy Priesthood.

Matushka Iryna also became responsible for the administration of the Cemetery of Saint Seraphim in Rawdon.

Repose of Matushka Natalia Boldireff, 2005

On 12 December, 2005, Matushka Natalia Boldireff fell asleep in the Lord.

After the funeral services, her body was interred beside that of her husband in the cemetery in Rawdon. She had continued to live in Rawdon since her widowhood, mostly in a seniors’ apartment facility.

Cossak monument erected at the Saint Seraphim Cemetery, Rawdon, 2006

In June, 2006, the “Ataman Kaledin All Cossack Stanitsa” of Montréal erected a monument at the Rawdon cemetery which was dedicated to the 30,000 Cossacks who were tortured and killed in Soviet “gulags”.

Cossack monument

In 2006, the 50th anniversary of the Chapel of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Rawdon was celebrated. Olga Lawes Melikoff wrote :

 2006, being the special occasion of the Chapel’s 50th anniversary, a large crowd of clergy and laity from near 
 and far came to celebrate together, with a liturgy and banquet.  In the early years, parish dinners took place 
 outdoors.  I remember the wasps vying for the food on our plates.

In 2007, Olga Lawes Melikoff also commented :

 Vladyka’s illness in the 90s coincided with an historical development of great consequence to the world, and, 
 eventually, to our community — that is, the fall of the Soviet Union.  It has resulted in a third large wave 
 of immigration to Canada.  Again we see our numbers being replenished, and the Russian language and culture 
 being reinforced in our midst.  The future of the parish is now passing into their hands.  For the first time. 
 we have our priest, Father Anatoly Melnyk, and our choir director, Elena Ilvakhina coming directly from 
 Russia and Ukraine, and not from the diaspora.  We wish them well in our midst.

100th anniversary of the cathedral parish ; visit of Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko), 2007

On 20-21 October 2007, the cathedral parish of Saints Peter and Paul celebrated its centenary of service in the City of Montréal, Québec, and in the Archdiocese of Canada. These hundred years have demonstrated the maternal rôle of this parish in the Church in Canada.

The following description is condensed from an article by Rebekah Goodyear. Metropolitan Herman said to her during an interview :

 For a century Saints Peter & Paul Church has been and continues to be a witness to our Lord and 
 Saviour and a beacon of Orthodoxy in Montreal, just as the Church of Antioch founded by the Holy 
 Apostles Peter and Paul was in the first century.  My prayer is that it will continue so 'until 
 Christ comes again'. (from the interview 2007)

On Saturday afternoon, Archbishop Seraphim began the festal services with a blessing of the Church Museum in the basement hall, which includes vestments, 2 mitres, and other articles belonging to Archbishop Sylvester.

Blessing the new museum

Archbishop Sylvester memorial

People had travelled from all over the country to attend this historic weekend. In the hall, the parish rector, Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, explained in Russian and English the history of the parish. This was followed by a short piano and vocal concert.

Meanwhile, the Faithful gathered in the Temple, where they venerated the Icon of the Theotokos of Port Arthur, and awaited the arrival of the First Hierarch of The Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko).

Metropolitan Herman arrived with his retinue and received the traditional greeting of bread and salt at the Temple door. By this time there were nearly 300 persons gathered inside the Temple.

Serving with Metropolitan Herman at the Vigil were Archbishop Seraphim (Storheim), Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, Archpriest Alexander Janowski, Archpriest John Jillions, Archpriest Nicolas Boldireff, Igumen Irénée (Rochon), Hieromonk Basile (Paradis), and Archdeacon Alexei Klimachev (from New York). During Matins, Metropolitan Herman anointed all the faithful with oil, the little children amongst them bringing a smile to his face.

An agapé ("à la fourchette", that is, standing) followed, bustling with lively conversation and a vast array of delicacies.

Venerating the Holy Gospel Book and the Port Arthur Icon at Matins

The Primatial Divine Liturgy began on Sunday at 9:00 a.m. Nearly 400 people were in attendance.

Serving with Metropolitan Herman were Archbishop Seraphim, Bishop Job (Smakouz) (Moscow Patriarchate), Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, Archpriest Alexander Janowski, Archpriest Nicolas Boldireff, Hieromonk Basile (Paradis), Archdeacon Alexei Klimachev, Deacon Gregory Scratch, and also subdeacons, readers, and servers from all over Canada. The choir sang in Slavonic ; the Epistle was read first in English and then in Slavonic by the deacon and a reader, and the Gospel was read in Slavonic by Archdeacon Alexei. Bishop Job gave the homily in Russian.

At the end of the Liturgy, the sun came out just in time for the great festal procession. It was an exceedingly long one, with every person present participating. As the clergy and faithful processed around the church, at each of the 4 sides the hierarchs sprinkled everyone with holy water. Then at the front door, Metropolitan Herman read the Holy Gospel in English. A beautiful new mosaic icon of Saints Peter and Paul above this door, as well as a new plaque commemorating the 100th anniversary of the parish, were blessed. Before everyone re-entered the temple, the photographers had them gather near the clergy on the steps for a picture.

A view of the mosaic icon over the main door

Following the veneration of the Cross, the hierarchs and many other dignitaries and special guests proceeded to the nearby "Restaurant La Mer", where an elaborate banquet had been prepared.

With a Powerpoint presentation on the 100th anniversary, and lovely Russian music playing in the background, all the hierarchs and many long-standing members of the community gave inspirational speeches. The metropolitan spoke about the importance of continuing to preserve Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, and described also how touched he was by a couple who had approached him, and talked about meeting him many years ago in Montréal. Archbishop Seraphim explained how Saints Peter and Paul, the oldest Russian Orthodox Church in Québec, and the third oldest urban Orthodox parish in Canada, is also “the mother of our diocesan life in Canada”. He also stated that “Montréal is the heart of Canada”. Bishop Job gave a speech in Russian, and many congratulatory letters were read, including ones from the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. (In November, Saints Peter and Paul Sobor produced a special commemorative book, which included photographs from the 100th anniversary celebrations, and the letters of congratulations.) Pewter medals were awarded, first to the hierarchs, and then to many prominent members of the community, and finally to a greatly surprised Father Anatoliy and his Matushka, Irina. During the awards ceremony, some very stirring marching music was played and the guests applauded again and again.

Amongst the many wonders of this church is a bust, in the garden, of Alexander Pushkin, for whom the Church Library is named.

Centennial photo

Visit of the Pochaev Icon of the Theotokos, 2009

In late September, 2009, the Wonder-working Icon of the Theotokos of the Dormition Monastery of Pochaiv in Ukraine was brought to the cathedral in Montréal. Accompanied by a priestmonk and a monk of the monastery, this holy icon had been brought to Canada from Ukraine with the blessing of Metropolitan Volodymyr (Sabodan) of Kyiv and all Ukraine, and the Mother of God consoled many people and brought healing to many between British Columbia and Québec. On 25 September, a video was made of an interview and part of a service before the icon which was led by Father Alexander Janowski. During the following year, a "spisok", a blessed copy of this holy icon was brought to the cathedral by Father Anatoliy Melnyk.

"Spisok" (copy) of the Pochaev Icon of the Theotokos

On 1 November, 2009, the Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, retaining all his other duties, was assigned to serve as the Interim Dean of Québec, and the Maritimes.

From early 2011, the Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk began to make preparations with the help of the parish council to provide an appropriate place in the Temple where the many Holy Relics which the parish now could be made available to the parishioners for veneration. After some preparations and construction, a place was made in the north "transept" of the Temple, opposite the south "kliros".

Parish reliquary

Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor, former parishioner

In October, 2011, the Archpriest John A Jillions accepted the responsibility of serving as the chancellor of The Orthodox Church in America.

 Father John was born in Montréal in 1955 (he is a grandson of Mrs. Jacob), and he was baptised in this parish.  
 In 1963, he moved with his family to the USA. Between 1968-1971, he lived in northern Connecticut.  After 
 attending McGill University in Montréal from 1973 to 1977, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.  
 In 1977, John Jillions was tonsured to be a reader by Archbishop Sylvester, and he then entered 
 Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.  He graduated in 1980 with a
 Master of Divinity degree.  After this, he worked as administrator of Saints Cosmas and Damian Adult Home on Staten 
 Island in New York City.  After marrying his wife, Denise Melligon, in 1979, John was ordained to the Holy
 Diaconate in 1981, and then to the Holy Priesthood in 1984.  Father John then received a missionary assignment 
 of three years to Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane, Australia, a parish then under the 
 jurisdiction of The Orthodox Church in America.  Before that time, Archbishop Sylvester had been the bishop 
 responsible for caring for the Australian parishes of the OCA.  After returning to the USA in 1987, Father 
 John was assigned as priest at Holy Trinity Church in Rahway, New Jersey.  During this time, he was 
 simultaneously a USAF Reserve Chaplain (in the rank of captain) from 1990-1992, and he was the pastoral 
 fieldwork supervisor for seminarians at Saint Vladimir’s Seminary.  In August 1994, he moved with his family 
 of five to Greece, where he attended the University of Thessalonica, and he began his studies 
 towards a Doctor of Philosophy degree in the New Testament (which he completed in 2002), while he was attached 
 to Saint George Orthodox Church in Thessalonica.  He then moved to England, where he was one of the founders 
 of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, UK.  Afterwards, he moved to Ottawa, Ontario, 
 where he was assigned to be the Dean of the Annunciation Cathedral, and where he also taught at the 
 Andrey Shyptytsky Institute at Saint Paul’s University.  When he accepted the responsibility 
 of serving as the chancellor of the OCA, it was recognised that Father John's ability to speak several 
 languages well would be very beneficial.  While fulfilling his responsibility as the chancellor of the OCA, 
 Father John also teaches at Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in Crestwood, New York.  As has 
 been the case with every priest who has accepted the responsibility of serving as the chancellor, some people 
 are quite satisfied with his work, and others are quite dissatisfied.  It was ever thus, as the saying goes. 

On Sunday, 24 February, 2013, Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko, Secretary of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America, announced that Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk had accepted the appointment to the position of Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada, The Orthodox Church in America.

 A life-long member of the Orthodox Church, Father Anatoliy was born in Ukraine, in 1960. In 1986 he graduated 
 from the St. Petersburg Theological Seminary and in 2002 from the Kyiv Theological Academ.  After his 
 ordination to the Holy Diaconate and to the Holy Priesthood in 1986 by His Eminence, the late 
 Archbishop Damian (Marchuk), he served in the Volynia Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. In 1999 Father Anatoliy 
 was invited to come and serve at Holy Trinity Orthodox Sobor in Winnipeg, Manitoba, where he was Priest in 
 Charge.  At the end of 2002, he was released from the Omophor of Archbishop Semion (Shostatskyj) of the 
 Ukrainian Orthodox Church and received into the ranks of the clergy of The Orthodox Church in America, 
 The Archdiocese of Canada, at the beginning of 2003. 
 
 Father Anatoliy served as Rector of Holy Trinity Orthodox Sobor in Winnipeg, Manitoba from 2003-2005. 
 In 2005,  he was transferred to Montréal, Québec and assigned as Rector of Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Sobor. 
 In October, 2007, Father Anatoliy was appointed Dean of Québec and the Maritime Provinces. 
 At that time, he and his wife, Matushka Irina Kosich, had 2 children and 1 granddaughter. 
 Julia is married to the Priest Vasily Tsaritsyn, and they are both graduates of the Saint 
 Petersburg Theological Seminary in Russia. Their child is Emilia.  
 Gleb was at that time a student in his second year at the Saint Petersburg Theological Seminary.

Archpastoral visit of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), together with Bishop Mstislav (Diachina) of Tikhvin, 2013

On Friday, 27 September, 2013, an Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated for the Feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross at the cathedral. Concelebrating with Bishop Irénée (Rochon) of Québec City and Administrator of the Archdiocese of Canada, was Bishop Mstislav (Diachina) of Tikhvin and Ladeinoye Polye (Saint-Petersburg diocese), in which diocese is the Dormition Monastery of Tikhvin. There rests the Wonder-working Icon of the Mother of God of Tikhvin. The secretary of the diocese of Tikhvin, Protopresbyter Alexander Laryn travelled together with Vladyka Mstislav on his first pilgrimage to Canada (at the invitation of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral), First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia). Also concelebrating with Bishop Irénée were Archbishop Justinian (Ovchinnikov) of Naro-Fominsk, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA (and Rector of Saint Nicholas Cathedral in New York) ; Bishop Job (Smakouz) of Kashira, Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada ; the Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk (rector of the cathedral) ; the Protopresbyter Dimitriy Sever, Rector of the Patriarchal Parish in Ottawa ; the Priest Vasiliy Tsaritsyn of Montréal and Kronstadt, and Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko.

Bishop Mstislav ; Archbishop Justinian ; Archbishop Irénée

After the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Mstislav expressed his gratitude to the clergy and parishioners for this communal service. Vladyka Mstislav presented a panagia to both Bishop Irénée and Bishop Job. On behalf of the Holy Trinity Mens’ Monastery in Russia, he also presented to the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul an icon of Saint Alexander of Svir, which Father Anatoliy accepted on behalf of the parish with much appreciation.

Afterwards, there was a festive dinner for all the guests and the parishioners in the parish hall. During the dinner, Bishop Mstislav talked about his life, and about his trip to Canada. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Bishop Mstislav is not a stranger to the Canadian clergy : he has known Bishop Job since childhood, and he was a schoolmate of Father Anatoliy when they were in seminary.

After the dinner, Bishop Mstislav left for Toronto to visit and serve in the Russian Orthodox Sobor of Christ the Saviour. The rector of this parish from 1941 until his repose in 1976 was Father John Diachina, who was a distant relative of Bishop Mstislav, and one of the most remarkable priests in North America.

November, 2014, visit of the Wonder-working Icon of the Theotokos, Abbess of Mount Athos, and Holy Relics of Saint Gabriel of Mount Athos

On 21-23 November, 2014, the Wonder-working Icon of the Theotokos, "Abbess of Mount Athos" was brought to the cathedral for veneration by the Faithful. The Holy Icon was accompanied by the Holy Relics of Saint Gabriel of Mount Athos, which were also offered for veneration.

On this occasion the cathedral added to the calendar of services an additional Vigil service on Friday, 21 November, which gave the initial opportunity to all for the veneration of the Holy Icon and the Holy Relics.

Holy Icon of the Theotokos, Abbess of Mount Athos, and Holy Relics of Saint Gabriel

2016, Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk : 30 years of pastoral service

On 13 July, 2016, the Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk marked 30 years of service in the Orthodox Church from the time of his ordination to the Holy Priesthood.

Father Anatoliy, Matushka Iryna Melnyk at 30 years of service

In 2016, Father Anatoliy and his family had been serving in Saint Peter and Paul's Cathedral for 11 years.

Pascha Midnight 2017

At the Archdiocesan Assembly, 26-28 July, 2017, in Edmonton, Alberta, it was announced that the Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk was released from his responsibilities as the chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada. He retained all his other responsibilities.

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), Parishioners, on 2017 Altar Feast-day

110th Anniversary, 2017

On 29 October, 2017, there was a celebration of 110 years of the service of the Sobor of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal. At the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) awarded certificates of honour to some parishioners who made a great contribution to the Sobor's life. A dinner prepared by the sisterhood was provided, and a concert followed the festal meal.

Centennial Moleben

Deacon Dimitry certificate

One concert group

Celebration of the 80th Birthday of Father Alexander Janowski

On 26 November, 2017, the Mitred Archpriest Alexander Janowski celebrated his 80th birthday with the serving of the Divine Liturgy at the Sobor. He was awarded an honourary diploma for his many years of service. The sisterhood prepared and arranged a festive table, and the children of the Sunday school prepared a festive performance which followed the meal.

80th birthday Father Janowski

Archpastoral visit of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), 2018

On 11-12 July, 2018, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited the cathedral parish on the occasion of its Altar Feast-day (patronal feast, parish name-day), and he led the parish in serving the Vigil, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, and the festal procession around the exterior of the Temple. As usual, there followed a festal dinner which included entertainment by parishioners.

Giving the Cross

Conclusion of the procession

Father Anatoliy addressing parishioners

October, 2022, visit of the Kursk-Root Wonder-working Icon of the Theotokos

On Sunday, 16 October, 2022, Saints Peter and Paul Sobor welcomed the Wonder-working Kursk-Root (Kurskaya-Korennaya) Icon of the Mother of God, "The Sign". This Holy Icon has a very long presence in Russian history (since 1259).

This visit to the Sobor was blessed by Archpriest George Lagodich of the Saint Nicholas Cathedral (ROCOR) in Montréal, where the Holy Icon was present for 2 days. The Holy Icon was accompanied by Igumen Nikolai (Perekrestov) of the cathedral parish.

Holy, Wonder-working Kursk-Root Icon of the Theotokos (with and without the metal protective covering)

The clergy of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor and the Faithful of the parish served an Akathist in front of the Holy Icon, after which they could venerate it.

Veneration of the Holy Kursk-Root Icon of the Theotokos (left) Igumen Peter ; Priest Hlib ; Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy (right)

Vladyka Irénée visits Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, January, 2025

On 12 January, 2025, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited Saints Peter and Paul Sobor in Montréal.

Vladyka led the Divine Liturgy during celebrations of Nativity of Christ. Afterwards, he visited the Christmas 'Yolka, with thematic performances prepared by pupils of the parish school.

At the Divine Liturgy

Vladyka Irénée visits Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, April, 2025

On 13 April 2025, Palm Sunday (Entry of the Lord to Jerusalem), Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Saints Peter and Paul Sobor.

Palm Sunday congregation, 2025

Patronal Feast Celebrated at Saints Peter and Paul, Montréal, July, 2025

On Friday, 11 July, and Saturday, 12 July, 2025 (the Feast-day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, Old-style), Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) led the celebrations of the Altar Feast-day (patronal feast) at Saints Peter and Paul Sobor in Montréal, Québec.

On Friday evening, the Festal Vigil was served in the Temple. On Saturday Morning, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, presided by Archbishop Irénée, was served in the Temple. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, a festal Cross-procession began. It encircled the Temple, with 4 stops for prayer and blessing the exterior walls of the Temple, and the reading of the Holy Gospel at the main entrance. Afterwards, a festal dinner was provided in the hall.

40th anniversary of marriage of Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy and Matushka Irina Mel'nyk, July, 2025

On Friday, 27 July, 2025, after the serving of a moleben, a joyful event took place in the cathedral parish, that is, the 40th anniversary of the marriage of the Rector of the Cathedral, Archpriest Anatoliy and Matushka Irina Melnyk, and the beginning of their family.

Their son, Priest Gleb (Hlib) Mel'nyk, and their son-in-law, Priest Vasily Tsaritsyn addressed the celebrants with warm congratulations.

Father Gleb spoke a little about the path of the formation of the family of Father Anatoliy and Matushka Irina, starting from its inception in 1985. He spoke about the activities of Father Rector for the glory of God, and for the benefit of the family and the community, and about personal labours. He thanked the Lord for the gift of the long life together, which is given by God to the priest and his matushka. Father Gleb also spoke about the paths of salvation of people (he he explained that each has one's own), and said that a person on this path and in the place where the Lord has placed him, needs to shine. That is what this priest tries to do. Of course, he expressed the hope that God sees the work of Father Anatoly, and he prayed for His help in the future.

Father Vasily reminded us that the family in Orthodoxy is a “small church”, where the husband is like a priest, and the wife is like a deacon. She takes care of the home, makes sure that everyone is fed and happy. The children are the “people of God”, whom parents are called to bring to God. Thanks be to God, in the Mel'nyk family, love for the Church is passed on from generation to generation ; children become priests and nuns ; grandchildren attend church, and are introduced to good church and spiritual life ; and spiritual children continue seriously to serve God as monks and bishops. Father Vasily thanked Father Anatoly and Mother Irina for the joy of being in their family, and for earning from them “wisdom, love, and faith”.

Father Anatoliy himself also spoke. He expressed deep gratitude to God for Mother Irina, for her tireless presence near him in the times and events he lived through ; for her irreplaceable help in everything ; and for the fact that he actually became the Priest Anatoliy – thanks to his wise wife.

The choir sang for Father Anatoliy and Mother Irina the “Many years !” and the parishioners congratulated them for a long time after that.

A short video is here.

Congratulations on the anniversary and holy day, dear Father Anatoliy and Matuska. Irina ! Many Years ; God's help in the church's labours ; good family joy ; and also, great-grandchildren who go to church, and who, of course, will hold your hands there !

Father Anatoliy, Matushka Irina

100th Anniversary of the Second Temple, 2025

On Saturday, 25 October, 2025, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard) arrived in Montréal (at the invitation of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada) in order to preside at the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor. This anniversary marked the century of worship in the current Temple, the second since its foundation in 1907.

Upon arrival to Montréal, Metropolitan Tikhon was greeted at the airport by Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk, and other diocesan clergy.

Metropolitan Tikhon was then taken to Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, where he presided at the All-Night Vigil. Following Vigil, a light dinner was offered with the concelebrating clergy in the Church Hall.

On Sunday, 26 October, 2025, Metropolitan Tikhon presided at the celebration of the Primatial Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with him were Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) ; Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk ; Priest Gleb Melnyk ; and other diocesan clergy.

At the conclusion of the liturgy, Archbishop Irénée welcomed Metropolitan Tikhon to Montréal, and Father Anatoliy presented Metropolitan Tikhon with an Icon of Saints Peter and Paul, along with a commemorative book about the life of the parish. Also, Priest Joshua Genig offered prayerful greetings and best wishes to Metropolitan Tikhon, and to the parish community, on behalf of Bishop Matthew (Andreev) of Sourozh, Interim Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes of the United States and Canada.

Afterwards, a festive banquet was offered. It included presentations about the life of the parish, traditional Russian dances, and musical entertainment with members of the local community.

Clergy and parishioners after Vigil

Arrival of Metropolitan Tikhon for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

Metropolitan Tikhon before vesting

Deacons at vesting

Clergy serving the Divine Liturgy

Parish organisations

Saint Catherine Sisterhood, 1934

The Sisterhood of the Great-Martyr Catherine at Saints Peter and Paul cathedral in Montréal was founded on 6 December, 1934, by Archimandrite Inna (Kibikov, 1934-1936). A small group of Russian Orthodox women, presided over by Ekaterina Semyonovna Lawes, inspired by the idea of the need to organise a formal sisterhood, made the foundation of the sisterhood, and they appealed to all Russian-speaking women who love the Orthodox Church and who love and who wish to serve the Church, to join the sisterhood. The main goal of the sisterhood has been to take care of the beauty and beautification of the Temple, and to help needy Russian-speaking people. The number of members of the sisterhood began to increase rapidly, and by 1964, it already had 102 sisters. With the arrival in Montréal of Bishop Sylvester (Haruns), the work of the sisterhood became even more interesting and intense.

With the increase in the number of members, the activities of the sisterhood also expanded. Various sections were created, in particular, to care for the sacristy and to raise funds. Over the years, the sisters sewed numerous vestments for priests and covers for the analoys. They also bought carpets and candle-stands. On all the 12 Great Feasts, the icon of the holiday is decorated with fresh flowers ; and on Great and Holy Friday, the Holy Shroud is adorned through the care of sisters. An economic commission takes care of purchasing table-cloths, dishes and other equipment for the parish hall. All the sisterhood initiatives, such as bazaars, concerts, etc., as well as all banquets and buffets at parish evening events, have been and are arranged thanks to the donations and work of the sisters.

Saint Catherine's Sisterhood, 2006

Caring for the decoration of the Temple, the sisterhood also makes an annual financial contribution to the parish committee for the needs of the Temple. During the many decades of the existence of the sisterhood, the total amount of contributions reaches many tens of thousands of dollars. The sisterhood also does not forget the sick sisters, and helps them in cases of illness.

The sisterhood’s charitable activity is also very significant. During the difficult years of World War II, the sisters helped the Canadian Red Cross, and they provided substantial support to individuals in need. With the arrival of new Russian immigrants to Montréal, the need for help became even greater. The sisterhood tries to help, if possible, all those who turn to her, especially on the feast-days of the Nativity of Christ and Holy Pascha. On these holidays, the sisters donate towards local needs, and they also send small amounts to Europe to single, disadvantaged people. Twice a year, the sisterhood organises breakfast for all the congregation members : on Christmas Day, and on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women.

Three long-serving sisters of the Sisterhood

Saint George Brotherhood, 1929

Perhaps the oldest parish organisation is the Brotherhood of the Holy Great Martyr and Victorious George. It was founded under the leadership of the Archpriest Arkady Piotrovsky on 25 October, 1929, after the acquisition of a new Temple. The brotherhood actively participated in the life of the parish. They collected donations and helped newcomers. At one time it even existed as a joint-stock company : it had its own flag, emblem and statute.

Today, this ecclesiastical organisation has somewhat lost its legal status, but it continues active parish activity as before. These include : decorating the Temple for the holidays ; making minor repairs ; baking bread ; offering audiovisual presentations ; organising lotteries, dinners, barbeques, and other events. They are all parts of the hard work of the parish brotherhood. The brotherhood has many plans to involve as many parishioners as possible (especially from amongst the youth) in the activities to strengthen the parish and to help the spread of the Orthodox Christian Faith. These include : the creation of an Orthodox audio and video library ; the organisation of pilgrimage trips to holy places ; offering other assistance to the cathedral

Church school

The Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox parish school functions every Sunday, after the Divine Liturgy, at 12:30 p.m. The lessons, which introduce children to the basics of the Orthodox Christian Faith, are conducted in the lower hall. The range of interest is very broad : the Holy Scriptures ; the history of Christianity ; the spread of the Orthodox Christian Faith ; the lives of saints ; history ; geography ; literature. The lessons are held in the form of a story-conversation, where children’s questions are very much welcomed, and an exchange of views is deemed to be necessary.

Church school, 2010

During the year, children participate in various concerts, and they prepare thematic performances. In the summer, the vast majority of children, pupils of the parish school, go to the children’s Orthodox camp. Under the guidance of Father Anatoliy, they learn to communicate ; they begin to understand what is the Orthodox Christian Faith, what it means to be an Orthodox Christian.

Alexander Pushkin Library, 1915/1923/1936

In 2017, the leader of the library management was Elena Lebedeff-Koshits.

Directories which may be viewed on the internet include : Basic (fiction, magazines) ; Religious and philosophical ; Detective ; Fantasy ; Biographical ; Children’s literature.

The library is open on Sundays from 12:00 to 14:00 hours.

The registration/subscription conditions include the following : The reader can be any resident of Montréal and the suburbs. It is not necessary to be a member of the parish or a parishioner of this parish. When a persons subscribes to the library, a security deposit of $20.00 is charged (which is returned upon discharge from the library, in the absence of arrears). Subscription to the library requires showing proof of identity. The monthly fee is $4.00 (the fee is not charged if the reader is recorded in the library, but at the moment does not have books on hand, for example, during holidays, business trips, etc.). At the same time, no more than 3 books (not counting children’s) are issued for a maximum period of 3 weeks. The library awaits all the lovers of reading !

Librarians in 2016

The library itself is an inheritance inherited by all the parishioners and their friends. Since the beginning of the 20th century, there has been a large, real library of Russian-language literature in Montréal with a huge collection of excellent books — Russian pre-revolutionary, emigrant, sometimes unique publications, Soviet and translated literature. It was first located in a building adjacent to the Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul — the house of Kuzma Kostuchenko.

Many compatriots mistakenly believe that the library at the church is either a library of exclusively religious literature, or that it exists only for the parishioners of the Temple. However, the volume and content of the book collection go beyond the ordinary church library, which makes it truly unique. The library operates for the entire Russian-speaking population of Montréal. Those who work in the library do so only on a voluntary basis, although there is a cost for the use of library services ($4.00 per month). This money of our readers goes to buy and repair books. In addition, a $20.00 deposit is taken, which is necessarily returned upon discharge from the library. This is due to the fact that some readers, alas, disappeared along with the books, sometimes valuable, and their telephones were already answered by non-Russian voices and uninformed people. With the introduction of a "security deposit", this is much less common.

The library doors are open to all Russian-speaking readers, regardless of their nationality or religion. This reflects the very atmosphere of tolerance of the Russian Orthodox community at the cathedral, where Russians, Jews, Kazakhs, and Anglo- and French-Canadian people sometimes sit together at the carnival.

The Russian library was not always under the roof of the church building. Its history goes back to the origins of Russian emigration in Canada. In 1915, a group of immigrants from Russia founded the Russian-Slavic Society in Montréal. With the goal of creating a Russian library, the board of the society, with the assistance of the Russian consul, appealed to the head of the city of Moscow for help in this noble cause. The Moscow City Administration responded to this request by sending a few hundred books.

In 1923, a large group of Russian emigrants arrived in Montréal from Constantinople, most of them participants of the White Movement. Soon, they founded the Russian National Society and with it a library, which consisted mainly of books by emigrant publishers.

At the end of 1936 in Montréal, as in all centres of the Russian diaspora, the Pushkin Committee was set up to organise literary and musical concerts, performances and lectures, thus marking the centenary of the death of the great poet. It was decided to donate all the net income from the evenings and lectures towards the creation of the Pushkin Library, as a modest monument from the Russian colony to the poet.

By the end of 1936, it was clearly determined that the social life of natives of Russia, mainly charitable and cultural, began to focus on Russian Orthodox churches. And with the gradual dying of the Russian-Slavic and Russian national societies, their board decided to transfer both existing libraries to the Pushkin library, which was sheltered by the Russian Orthodox Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Thus, from the 3 library collections, the present library, which retained the name Pushkin, arose. By the end of 1937, it numbered as many as 1,000 books. The head of the library was Alexander Borisovich Zharkovsky. Considering the library as his child, he treated her jealously and faithfully.

The library played a great role in the life of Russian emigration after World War II, when so-called “displaced persons” began to arrive in Canada in large numbers from the camps of destroyed Europe. At that time, to emigrate to Canada was possible only under the contract, i.e., under the condition that during the first year, the displaced person would work as a lumberjack, shepherd, labourer or miner in the far north of the country ; that women would work in hospitals, as servants in families, etc.

A B Zharkovsky worked towards enabling people to work in Montréal, and helping young people in schools and universities ; but he gave the lion’s share of love and sacrifice to the library. The Pushkin library became for immigrants a place from where help came in all manners, and, most importantly, moral and spiritual support. That is why in the Pushkin Library to this day hangs a portrait of her first director.

Of course, the library has become cramped, since the library collection is constantly growing. It now has more than 7,000 volumes. In this collection, there are books of Russian classics, Soviet writers, literature of the Russian emigration from the beginning of the century to our days, as well as translated literature (from ancient masterpieces to modern detectives and fiction). There are “easy reading” books for those who are looking for reading not related to the everyday difficult emigrant problems, and there are serious scientific philosophical, historical, literary works. Undoubtedly, there is a large section of Orthodox Christian religious literature in this collection.

The children’s library collection includes all the best Russian and Soviet children’s writers : from Pushkin, Tolstoy and Prishvin to Marshak, Mikhalkov, Barto, and Gaidar. And, of course, there is also children’s literature translated from other languages into Russian. Therefore, our children can get acquainted with Carlson and Alice, in the Russian language.

People often bring a gift to the library, especially children’s books. Sometimes, we are given entire libraries of several dozen volumes. The library has no subsidies, and with great joy and gratitude any most modest gift is accepted. Because of this, and because of the continuing interest of parishioners and others, the library is able to preserve and to replenish the wealth inherited by the present parishioners, and after them their descendants. This has resulted in a remarkable, unique book collection which includes some very rare editions.

Charity Fund of Saint John of Kronstadt, 1963

The Charitable Society of the Holy and Righteous John of Kronstadt is part of the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, the oldest Russian-speaking parish in Eastern Canada, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2007. The founding priests of the cathedral were the Archpriest (Saint) Alexander Hotovitsky (who was glorified as a Saint in 1994) and the Archpriest Feofan Buketov.

The history of this society begins with the arrival in Canada of Bishop (later Archbishop) Sylvester (Haruns). Vladyka Sylvester, being an active participant in the RSHD (Russian Student Christian Movement), had for many years engaged in the support of Orthodox Christian believers in the USSR. He continued this activity in Montréal. Gradually, around him, a group of assistants from amongst the parishioners organised themselves, and then formed the Charitable Society of our Holy Righteous Father, Saint John of Kronstadt.

Saint John of Kronstadt Society, 2009

The society was engaged in sending religious literature to Russia, in helping needy Russian emigré families everywhere, as well as families of prisoners and persons persecuted by the godless powers in the USSR. Annually, the Charity Society collected thousands of dollars for the above purposes. Therefore, for the Christmas holiday, the society traditionally sent a “Christmas present” to the needy, and also to some institutions : the Russian military invalids (Paris) ; the Holy Protection Convent (France) ; the Literary Fund (New York) ; the Children’s Society (New York) ; the Holy Land ; the Elderly Home (New York), and others. In 1980, the society was able to provide assistance of $10,567.00, and in 1981, $17,527.00. Every year during Great Lent, Vladyka Sylvester conducted talks about “The Life of Believers in Soviet Russia”, in which he told about the trials and difficulties in an atheistic country under a godless regime.

In his address to the Orthodox people in 1972, Vladyka Sylvester wrote :

 As everyone knows, for more than 50 years in Russia they do not publish books of religious content.  The 
 demand for such books is extremely large. [...] We need money [...] to buy books [...] for parcels and monetary 
 aid to believers and families (especially children) of prisoners. [...] We need to satisfy fully this spiritual 
 hunger and thirst of our brothers by faith. [...] Think about it. 

The situation in the lands of the former USSR has changed greatly, but there remain many needs to be met. Although publishing has multiplied in these regions, poverty has also grown. There are many orphans who need Christian care. There are many elderly who are in danger of homelessness, or who have become homeless. There are similar needs amongst the émigrés in other countries.

Leadership of the parish

Priests of the parish

 Saint Alexander Hotovitzky 			1906
 Priest Theophan (Feofan) Buketov 		1907-1908 	(+1968)
 Priest Ivan Soroka 				1908-1909
 Priest (unknown) Afendik
 Priest Vladimir Iosifovich Sakovich		1913-1916	(+1931)
 Archpriest Mitrophan Poplavsky 		1917
 Priest Gegory Glebov
 Priest Arkady Alexandrovich Piotrovsky		
 Priest Alexei Gromtsev (died in Montréal, buried at Saint Tikhon’s Monastery)
 Priest Peter Dubrovsky (rector of Lachine, served the parish when there was no rector)
 Priest Ivan Manchuk
 Priest Sergei Snegirev 			1924
 Archpriest Sergei Sviridov			1924-1928	(+1947)
 Archpriest Arkady A Piotrovsky			1928-1934
 Archimandrite Inna (Kibikov) 			1934-1936
 Priest Ilia Klopotovsky			1936-1941
 Archimandrite Antony (Tereschenko) 		1941-1947	(+1947 as Bishop of Montréal)
 Archpriest Oleg I Boldireff			1948-1963
 Priest Alexander Feokhari 			1951-1852	Second Priest
 Priest Joseph Homik				1962		Second Priest
 Archpriest Kirill B Fotiev			1964-1968	(+1990)
 Priest Michael Milonov				1965-1968
 Archpriest George M Benigsen			1968-1970 
 Archimandrite Anthony (Abramovich)		1962-1996	Second Priest
 Priest Nicolas Boldireff			1971		Third Priest
 Priest Alexander Chernyshov 			1972-1973	Third Priest
 Priest John Tkachuk				1973-1978
 Priest Oleg Kirillov 				1978-1984
 Archimandrite Cyril (Bulashevitch)		1983-1998 	(+1998)
 Priest Nikolai Nikolaev			1994		Second Priest
 Archpriest Alexander Janovski		1994-2005
 Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk		2005-____
 Priest Gleb (Hlib) Melnyk			2016-____		Second Priest

Deacons of the parish

 Protodeacon Paul Hetman (Getman)		1925-1955
 Protodeacon Peter Svetlovsky			1952-1958
 Deacon Daniel Hayduk				1957-1964
 Deacon Peter Feokhari				1961-1968
 Hierodeacon Gregory (Papazian) 		1974-1977
 Protodeacon Gregory Maksymiuk			1982-2001 	(+2001)
 Deacon Dmitry Belyaykov			2012-
 Deacon Gleb Melnyk				2014-2016

Choir directors of the parish

 Alexei Shovgeniuk				1907---
 Pavel Ignatievich Hetman			1913-1925
 G V Gorlov					1925
 Ilia Voronkov
 A Zhukov
 Nikolai Ivanovich Kursky		 	  ---1932
 Oleg Vladimirovitch Rodomar Vukotitch		1932-1945
 G V Gorlov					1945-1952
 Alexander Alexandrovich Kaminski		1953-1991
 Elizabeth S Troubetskaya			1969
 Matushka Helen Benigsen			1970
 Mikhail Alexandrovich Woinovsky-Krieger	1991-2001
 Elena Aleksandrovna Ilvakhina			2001-

Starostas of the parish

 Gubernik
 Kotovich
 Ivanov
 G F Pochinok (for 14 years)
 A A Krasondubsky
 C I Shchastny
 G F Nikityuk
 M I Khomenok
 D Basyuk
 I K Pimenov
 Oleg B Rodomar Vukotitch
 Gregory P Maksymiuk
 Alexander A Kaminski
 Nikolai Westphal
 Mikhail Alexandrovich Woinovsky-Krieger
 Yuri Mikhailovich Kuchugura

The Temple in autumn

Parish particular details

This parish is a part of the Québec Deanery, of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish uses the Church Slavonic language, and also the Russian, French and English languages.

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, 12 July/29 June.

In 2025, the rector of the parish is the Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk.

The second priest of the parish is the Priest Gleb (Hlib) Melnyk

Priest Petr Boitchouk is attached to the cathedral parish.

The deacon of the parish is the Deacon Dmitry Belyaykov.

Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk

1175, rue de Champlain

Montréal, Québec

H2L 2R7

Telephone : 514-522-2801

E-mail : montreal.sobor@gmail.com ; montreal@sobor.ca

Address :

La Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul

Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor

1151, rue de Champlain

Montréal, Québec

H2L 2R7

Web-site : Русский язык ; English language ; langue française

E-mail : montreal.sobor@gmail.com ; montreal@sobor.ca

Telephone : 514-522-2801

Warden/Starosta : George Koutchougoura

Treasurer : Edouard Tomberg

Secretary : Nicolas Rumin

Directions :

By car :

The cathedral is situated alongside Boulevard Réné-Lévesque and to the west of the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

Approaching the cathedral from the south and on the bridge, take the exit to the right (and keep right) for Avenue de Lorimier south. Continue south on de Lorimier to Boulevard Réné-Lévesque and turn right (west). The cathedral is 4 blocks to the west, at the corner of Rue de Champlain.

The cathedral is often approached by car from the west on the Autoroute Ville Marie (which is Avenue Viger to the east). This autoroute becomes an express way just before Papineau Avenue (no turns). To reach the cathedral, exit the autoroute after leaving the underground tunnel at the exit for Rue Notre Dame Est and Papineau. Keep left and after Rue Panet, turn left (north) at the traffic lights on Avenue Paineau. Cross over Viger and keep to the left. At the traffic lights on Boulevard Réné-Lévesque, turn left. The cathedral is on the corner immediately afterwards at the end of the first block, on Rue de Champlain.

The cathedral may be approached from the north on Avenue Papineau. After Boulevard de Maisonneuve, keep to the right and turn right (west) on Boulevard Réné-Lévesque. The cathedral is at the end of the first block.

The cathedral may be approached from the west along Rue Sainte-Catherine. Turn right (south) on Rue de Champlain. Pass Rue Sainte-Rose. The cathedral is at the end of the next block, on the left.

Parking can be difficult to find on the streets.

By public transit :

There is bus service on Sainte-Catherine Street, on Papineau Avenue, and on Boulevard René-Lévesque.

There is a Metro stop on the Green Line at Cartier Street and Boulevard de Maisonneuve. This is 5 blocks northeast from the cathedral. Métro : Papineau Langues.

Contact the Société de Transport de Montréal.

Mailing Address :

La Cathedrale Orthodoxe Russe St-Pierre et St-Paul

Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Sobor

1175, rue de Champlain

Montréal, Québec

H2L 2R7

Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk

1175, rue de Champlain

Montréal, Québec

H2L 2R7

Telephone : 514-522-2801

E-mails : montreal.sobor@gmail.com ; montreal@sobor.ca

References

Archdiocese of Canada – Orthodox Church in America, “The Orthodox Church in Canada : A Chronology” (Ottawa : Archdiocese of Canada, 1988).

Azbyka.ru : The Cathedral of the Apostles Peter and Paul (Montréal).

“The Russian Mission in North America”

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE.

Parish history (in Russian)

History Video at the centennial (in English and Russian)

Additional information :

Kukushkin, Vadim, “From Peasants to Labourers : Ukrainian and Belarusan Immigration from the Russian Empire to Canada” (Montréal : McGill-Queen’s University Press, October, 2007). ISBN : 9780773532670.

Melikoff, Olga Lawes, “Parish Life” (2007)

Archdiocese listing

OCA listing

Archdiocese of Canada web-site

Archdiocese of Canada Facebook

Orthodoxwiki article about the Archdiocese of Canada

Orthodox Church in America web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about The Orthodox Church in America

The Russian Mission to North America

Archbishop (Saint) Tikhon (Belavin)

Saint Raphael (Hawaweeny)

Archbishop (Saint) Arseny (Chahovtsov)

Saint Alexander Hotovitzky

Metropolitan Platon (Rozhdestvensky)

Metropolitan Theophilus (Pashkovsky)

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Metropolitan Herman (Swaiko)

Metropolitan Jonah (Pauffhausen)

Metropolitan Tikhon (Mollard)

Archbishop Alexander (Nemolovsky)

Archbishop Nikon (de Grève)

Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns)

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon)

Bishop Antony (Tereshchenko)

Protopresbyter Theophan Buketov

Archpriest John and Matushka Mary Tkachuk

Advertisement regarding the LP recording made by the cathedral choir

Article about the Duke and Duchess de Leuchtenberg

“Montréal Gazette” : Obituary of Maria Levtchouk

100th Anniversary of the Alexander Poushkin Library in Montréal (Special reference to Aleksander Borisovitch Zharkovsky)

Obituary of Marina Kartashov

List of Russian Religious workers abroad

List of Orthodox parishes in Québec

List of Russian Religious workers abroad

List of Videos posted by the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Photos of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor

Video of the Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor : History of the Parish (2008) (in English)

Video of the visit of the Pochaiv Icon of the Theotokos (24 September, 2009)

Boris P Sidney film about Rawdon and immigrants from Latvia (in Russian) (2016)

Boris P Sidney film about church singing (in Russian) (2017)

Appointment of Archpriest A Melnyk to be Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada (24 February, 2013)

Archpastoral visit of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), together with Bishop Mstislav (Diachina) of Tikhvin to the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Sts Peter and Paul in Montréal (27 September, 2013)

Archpastoral vist of Archbishop Irénée to Saint Peter and Paul parish on the Altar Feast-day (12 July, 2017)

Celebration of 110 years of Sts Peter & Paul Sobor, Montréal (29 October, 2017)

Transforming the Modern World : An Interview with Metropolitan Herman (with mention of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Montréal) (31 December, 2017)

Visit of the Kursk Root Icon (the Sign) of the Mother of God to Saints Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal, Québec (16 October, 2022)

Nativity Celebrations at Sts Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal (7 January, 2023)

Archbishop Irénée celebrates Two Feasts at Sts Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal (7-9 April, 2023)

Sunday of Orthodoxy at Sts Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal (24 March, 2024)

Vladyka Irénée visits Sts Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal (13 April, 2025)

Patronal Feast celebrated at Sts Peter and Paul Sobor, Montréal (12 July, 2025)

40th Anniversary of Marriage of Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy and Matushka Irina Mel'nyk (27 July, 2025)

100th Anniversary Celebration of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor (25-26 October, 2025)

‘Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul Offers 85 Years of Orthodox Witness in Montreal’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Autumn, 1992), p. 4.

‘Ss Peter and Paul Cathedral, Montreal’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (July, 1993), p. 10.

‘A True Tale of Struggle, Courage and Talent: the Kaminskys’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Autumn, 1996), p. 15.

‘A True Tale of Struggle, Courage and Talent: the Kaminskys, Part II’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Spring, 1997), p. 11.

‘Archbishop Sylvester : 1914-2000 – Memory Eternal’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Autumn, 2000) pp. 1-4.

‘Protodeacon Gregory Maksymiuk falls asleep in the Lord’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Summer, 2001), p. 4.

'The Mother of Orthodoxy in Canada : Sts Peter and Paul, Montréal Celebrates 100th Anniversary' in "Canadian Orthodox Messenger" (Winter, 2007/2008), pp. 3-5.

‘Pochaiv Icon visits Canada’ in “Canadian Orthodox Messenger” (Winter, 2010), pp. 1-3.