I was not immediately called to the priesthood; it was the result of a long period of religious journey and my gradual entry into the Church. When the Lord, by His holy will, decided that I, although sinful, could be pleasing to Him, I, as unworthy as I am, was ordained as a deacon.

 

The hierarchy in the Orthodox Church consists of three levels: deacon, priest, and bishop. My ordination took place in 2001. At that time, I was already an adult, married, and a father of three sons. I served in the Nikolaev Diocese under the guidance of Bishop Pitirim while simultaneously studying at the seminary affiliated with the diocese. Later, I enrolled and successfully graduated from the Kyiv Spiritual Seminary.

 

My path was not easy, but I believe that God does not abandon His faithful servants. While continuing to serve, I also continued to study. In 2013, I was invited to Canada, to the city of Red Deer, by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). There, through the efforts of the faithful, a parish dedicated to the memory of St. George the Victorious was established.

 

On November 4 of the same year, in Edmonton, during the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Job, at that time overseeing the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada, with the blessing of His Eminence the Archbishop of Montreal and Canada, ordained me to the priesthood. Since then, I have been laboring for the glory of the Holy Trinity, and His Kingdom will have no end.

 

Our parish community is small, primarily consisting of young families. From time to time, baptisms, weddings, and even funerals are conducted. I thank God that our worship services take place every Sunday and on all feast days. Before the pandemic, we also had a Sunday School, where we and our children studied the lives of saints and the structure of the Church. We also had the opportunity to travel and visit ancient parishes and churches in Alberta.

 

Through the efforts of our parishioners, we have formed a beautiful choir that helps create an atmosphere of prayer during the services. After the liturgy, we usually spend time in fellowship, enjoying tea together.

Thus, we live, thanks to God and to the best of our abilities, fulfilling His holy will and saving our souls.

 

Amen.