Orthodox faithful from across the Greater Montreal area participated at this year’s Pan-Orthodox Vespers on the occasion of the Feast of the Triumph of Orthodoxy. The Vespers service was held at the Archangels Greek Orthodox Church and was presided by Archbishop Sotirios of Canada (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople).
Twenty Orthodox clergymen from many jurisdictions participated, including Greek, Antiochian, Romanian and Ukrainian priests. Bishops-elect Nektarios and Dimitrios of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada were among the clergy members participating in the service.
The impressive and well-prepared choirs, performing in both Byzantine and Slavonic styles, chanted hymns in Greek, English, French, Slavonic, Ukrainian, Romanian and Arabic. The service, which was attended by many people, provided an excellent opportunity for the faithful from different jurisdictions to come together in witness to our ecclesial unity and sacramental communion.
Archbishop Sotirios recited the Creed, the Synodikon of the Sunday of Orthodoxy as well as the Gospel Reading in three languages (English, French and Greek), before delivering the Sermon on the subject of “Christians as the chosen people of God” to the hundreds of pious Christians in attendance. After the Vespers service, the Archangels Greek Orthodox Community of Montreal warmly received all the faithful in the reception hall.
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada
