My Dear Brothers, and Sisters,

As we are beginning our celebration of these fifty years of worship, and service to the Lord of this community, it is important that we remember to reflect as much as possible on our history, in order that we may not only be building positively on the foundation laid, but avoiding any mistakes of the past, as well. It is a joy to make this reflection, particularly so because in these days there are so few opportunities to do this. In a way, it reminds me of the reflection in Tbilisi at the Patriarchate in November last, following the Consecration of the new Cathedral there. It was an occasion almost like in Viking sagas (I am told that recent evidence shows that these people originated around the Caucasus mountains). The reflection, mixed with various recitings of poetry, singing, dance, and instrumental playing, considered the present in the context of past similar major events, and tried to suggest possible implications for the future. It is an important exercise, and I am glad we have an excuse today to do this a little, ourselves.

For my part, I would like to comment that this community has, in its fifty years, been unique. Its history is marked by a term I don’t particularly like to use because of certain connotations, but I cannot at this moment find a better one. It is the leap of faith. The establishment of this community, originally arising out of the former Holy Trinity Bukovinian parish, was part of a natural development, connected in part with post-World War II immigration. It was one of several such developments in Ottawa, resulting in Greek, Antiochian, and other communities. Like many a similar mission beginning later, even in our days, it began in a house. And making the beginning required a great leap of faith, as it were. The first significant priestly leader of this Church of St Nicholas was Father Nikanor Komarnitsky, together with his wife, Maria. It seems that his, and her particular love, and generosity of spirit affects this community even now. Their descendants, and those of many of the founding families, remain active either in this community or elsewhere. The community consisted of an interesting blend of Russian-speaking aristocracy, intelligentsia, and ordinary people, who got along together well.

When the current building was acquired, in time Father Oleg Boldireff, and his wife, Natalia led the community. Father Oleg was a well-experienced pastor, and had already a history of community-building in Québec in particular. He is remembered most particularly for his pastoral love, and care for all, but especially immigrants. He participated in the development of several missions in Québec. In the later years of this time, there arrived in Ottawa Protodeacon Peter Svetlovsky, and his wife, Nadezhda. Living in partial retirement, Protodeacon Peter was a renowned vestment-maker in the USA, who worked together with his wife. They were a strongly believing family, with long histories of service on both sides. They were also a good example of several ways in which the diaconate may be seriously lived out in the Church.

There were, in these days (the first twenty-five years or so), many significant, and hard-working lay people as well, some of whom have been recognised publicly for their labours of love, as is both good, and right. However, there are many who have not been publicly recognised. This hiddenness of service in Christ, and His reward, is far greater in the end than any strings-attached service, and it is important that we all remember this point: whether we are recognised or not in our days by our brothers, and sisters for what we do, what matters is that we are serving Christ, and we are doing it for love of Him. What matters in the end is this love, this unconditional, and unwavering love. Even if, in the past, now or future, many such important persons are not openly mentioned or recognised, it in no way diminished the importance of their contributions, all of them vital, necessary, and irreplaceable.

In the late 1970s, Holy Transfiguration Mission was blessed by Archbishop Sylvester, and led by Father John Scratch, and his wife, Suzanne. Again, a leap of faith was rewarded by the development of an English-speaking mission in a house. Poverty was the lot of the Christ-loving service of this family, and mostly still is, but even in the midst of numerous difficulties, joy has been the characteristic of this larger-than-average family, and devotion to the Church. It has affected for good those around, even until now, and Father John is still an important figure in our life. The now Igumen Gregory (Papazian), in his support of the mission, left his own important mark on the believers. The most unique contribution of this mission was, interestingly, in its end. It came to an end by returning, at the invitation of the Mother Parish, to help St Nicholas’ Church, which had come to difficult days, mostly because of the age of the parishioners. This process required a leap of faith by both communities, and not all survived well the test of blending two very different groups of people. And yet, because of the mutual devotion to Christ, and His Church, this blending brought a union of love which only continues to deepen with time. This blending brought about a change of name. Holy Transfiguration Mission gave up its name, and identity in this union, and the community was placed under the protection of the Theotokos; but St Nicholas, so loved by all, had to remain a visible part. It was the decision of the Holy Synod of Bishops to call the new Annunciation to the Theotokos-St Nicholas Church the Cathedral of the Archdiocese of Canada from 1990.

Father Andrew Morbey, and his wife, Alexandra soon came to the leadership of the community, in the wake of the illness of Father John Scratch. They were the first fully-stipended family of the new community, and they were most formative, focussing, and strengthening in the years of their service. This involved yet another of these leaps of faith, because no one knew how we could manage to afford this. However, with God’s guidance, and support, it was well-accomplished. This family was supplemented by Father Symeon Rodger, and his wife, Larissa, who had secular work, but who, with their family, contributed, and contribute, fully to parish life. Father Symeon, and Father John, as supplementary hearers of confessions in the parish, have had a deep influence on its growth, and formation. More recently was added, in a similar way, Deacon Gregory Scratch, and his wife, Taecey. During these years, the community grew substantially in every way: in mutual interpersonal responsibility, personal concern, and responsibility for the fabric of all, in education, in visibility, in inter-Orthodox communication, in participation in Diocesan, and OCA life, and in numbers.

At this time, before my concluding remarks, I want to mention the personal contribution to the Diocese itself from the Cathedral community, made by several particular persons. These are Olga Jurgens, and Hélène Culhane, who have been supporting the bishop in his office with frequent visits, for almost eighteen years; and Nikita and Mary Ann Lopoukhine, who have cared for the treasury, and for the communications of the diocese for just as long. Without these four, the bishop could not have managed to do much at all, and the diocese would not have managed to develop as it has.

And speaking of help, I must also mention with gratitude to God the great help given over many years in the past by the sons of Father John Scratch, who drove me... If they had not been ready to give up so much time in their lives, very much would not have been possible to accomplish.

In the most recent years, with the arrival of Father John Jillions, his wife, Denise, and their family, the Cathedral community has entered again a phase of challenge. Once again the personality of the Rector adjusts the atmosphere of the community, as the Lord continues to guide the Cathedral’s development. While we are at the beginning of this adjustment, while we are just getting to know, and love the new Rector, and his family, we are faced with yet another big challenge, and another great leap of faith. The building in which we have prayed for so long is too small in many ways, and like those who have gone before us in this community, it is our responsibility to listen to God’s direction in what to do next, and where to go next. Every time we have been faced with these changes, we have had to face a big stretch of our resources, both financial, and personal. Regardless of to where we will be led to move, this will be the factor. What will be a variant is how great the stretch. However, every time we have been ready to listen to, to discern, and to do God’s will, regardless of how almost impossible things seemed, God blessed the offering, and enabled the Cathedral Community to bear fruit.

Regardless of the exact details of how things will happen in the next months, and years, as we take these next steps, whatever they may be, let us never lose sight of our primary purpose, the purpose understood, and lived out by all the faithful parishioners, and leaders who have gone before — the purpose of living in the love of Jesus Christ, serving Him, and doing His will first, and above all, together, and personally in our lives. Let us be ready to serve as He leads, to feed His sheep, and to co-operate with Him as He increases His flock.

† Archdiocese of Canada - Orthodox Church in America