DIOCESE OF EASTERN CANADA: March 24, 2007
Pastoral Retreat and Conference of the Eastern Canadian Diocese

On March 19 and 20, 2007, the annual Pastoral Retreat of the clergymen of the Diocese of Eastern Canada was held in Montreal concurrently with a Pastoral Conference, meeting of the Diocesan Council and of the St Job of Pochaev Brotherhood. The Retreat and meetings were led by His Grace Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan, Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Administrator of the Eastern Canadian Diocese.

The prayerful mood accommodated the calm and humble discussion of all matters relating to daily life in the Diocese, once one of the wealthiest and successful in the entire Russian Church Abroad. Diocesan life has gradually improved over recent years. The number of parishioners is constantly growing, and almost daily, those who could not endure the troubles of previous years, those who unwittingly left the bosom of the Church, are returning to the churches of Eastern Canada. For instance, Holy Trinity Parish in Windsor returned from the "Mansonville schism," to the Holy Church. The newly-established Society of St Tikhon of Moscow, based in Waterloo, ON, is now active under the Rector of Resurrection Church in Toronto, Priest George Sachewsky.

During the exchange of opinions, consistently held in the spirit of brotherly love, everyone without exception expressed their conviction that the differences in attitude towards the forthcoming signing of the Act of Canonical Communion between the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia and the Russian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate in May of this year can in no way serve as a reason for any quarrels and divisions which might threaten our Church's unity. The powers hostile to Orthodoxy, as has been the case for many years, have once again desired to strike a blow against the Russian Church, both in the Fatherland and in the emigration. We believe that through the limitless mercies of God, their goals, pleasing only to the prince of darkness, will fail.