News & Events

Photos from the funeral service for the beloved Archimandrite Philip Speranza at Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto on 13 February 2019.

Archimandrite Philip [Speranza], 71, Associate Pastor of Toronto's Russian Orthodox Christ the Saviour Cathedral, fell asleep in the Lord on February 4, 2019.

Born Philip Joseph Speranza in Aurora, IL on March 19, 1947, the son of the late Samuel and Mary [Mondello] Speranza, he was raised in Wheaton, IL. A convert to Orthodox Christianity from Roman Catholicism, he studied at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL, after completing his high school studies at Sacred Heart Seminary, Geneva IL.

On the feast of Theophany (OS) the Archpriest Gregory Scratch served the Great Blessing of Waters at St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Sandy Lake Manitoba (est. 1905) and blessed the their lake.

This has become a community event that brings out many of Sandy Lake's residents (even in -25 weather!) and speaks to the importance the lake has in the community and their trust in the Lord's saving work in creation. 

You are invited to join us for our annual St. Herman Orthodox Church Lenten retreat in Edmonton, AB with guest speaker Dr. Nicole Roccas (author of "Time and Despondency"). The theme is "Redeeming the Time as an Antidote to Despondency".