The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada celebrated the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra, with great joy and splendor.
Archbishop Sotirios of Canada presided over Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy at the celebrating Cathedral of St. Nicholas in Toronto, Ontario.
Both Holy Services were filled with pious faithful. Bishop Athenagoras of Patara, together with many Reverend Fathers from the Greater Toronto Area, participated in the Great Vespers service.
At its conclusion, with the blessing of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Eminence invested Angelo Toulis as an Archon Laosynaktis of the Great Church of Christ. Archon Toulis is a family man and benefactor of the Cathedral of St. Nicholas.
During the Divine Liturgy, the Archbishop was assisted by Frs. Triantafillos Porfiris and Emmanuel Karofilakis, with the Orthodox filling the Cathedral, most of them also receiving Holy Communion. His Eminence tonsured Konstantinos Economakos, a dedicated altar boy from the local community, as a Reader.
Following both Holy Services, the Community Council and Philoptochos chapter provided all with Lenten food and drink; people gathered as one family to celebrate our beloved St. Nicholas and glorify the Triune God.
With fatherly love, His Eminence – who just returned from meetings of the Holy and Sacred Synod in Constantinople – extended the blessings of His All-Holiness to all and wished them well for the Christmas season.