News & Events

What do you do when your church is over 100 years old and is a small rural church and you want to have your annual Prazdnik on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos? With the Covid-19 restrictions, you can only hold 6 to 8 people inside, way more than those who would be attending. Well, you trust God and move the service outside and continue the tradition. The ones who founded the church would have done the same without any hesitation. 

The Very Reverend Archpriest Raphael David Johnston fell asleep peacefully in the Lord on July 31, 2020. He is survived by his beloved wife 46 years Matushka Debbie, sons Ian (Laura) and Michael, and grandchildren, Aiden, Emma and Makayla.

Fr Raphael was an Archpriest in the Orthodox Church in America and the rector of Saints Peter and Paul Ruso-Greek Orthodox Church, Dickie Bush Alberta, as well as a regular assisting priest in Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, in Edmonton.

The festal Divine Liturgy for Pentecost was celebrated outdoors at St Seraphim of Sarov Church in Rawdon, Québec, presided by His Eminence Archbishop Irénée and Fr Deacon Denis Letunovsky.

It was a beautiful day: Mother nature was at her best with greenery, the birds were singing, and a nice breeze blew through the rustling leaves. We could not have asked for a nicer day for Pentecost! And of course, social distancing was respected. 

Blessed feast to all!

On Friday, May 1, 2020, meeting under the Presidency of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church issued the following Pastoral Letter, and Synodal Directives related to COVID-19.

Each Diocesan Bishop will be releasing diocesan specific guidelines shortly.

To the clergy, monastics, and faithful of the Orthodox Church in America,