The Great Lent Clergy Conference of the Eastern part of the Canadian Diocese

The new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, Metropolitan Laurus, made his first trip to the Canadian Diocese on the fourth week of Great Lent. Together with Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan he conducted the conference of clergy of the Eastern part of the Canadian Diocese. Vladyka Metropolitan along with the diocesan clergy performed the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Laymen active in the Canadian Diocese also attended the Diocesan meeting. For the first time in many years, priests together with bishops and laymen discussed diocesan troubles and parish life in a conciliar manner.

New officers of the Diocesan Council were chosen. The schism within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was not ignored--in Eastern Canada it actually only affected one parish, the St. Nicholas parish in Montreal, but the clergy prays that the schism be overcome. Fr. George Sachewsky took part in the meeting, who had not long before returned to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia from schism through repentance. There was great joy among his brethren for this.

The eldest protopriest of the Canadian Diocese noted the spirit of peace and conciliarity that he felt at the Diocesan Conference. All the members of the meeting expressed their desire to labor for the glory of God, in the spirit of conciliarity, trust and love towards the good of the Canadian Diocese and the Church of Christ and thanked the new First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia for his fatherly attitude towards them.