The first thing you will want to know is something about our parish. Let’s start with our patron saint — St.Vladimir: It was through his efforts that the whole of that part of the world and its people known as The Rus, became Christian and Orthodox. Let me tell you that St. Vladimir Orthodox Church has more English language speaking parishioners than any other.
St. Vladimir Parish was started by Father Vladimir Tobin as an English Mission and you would feel right at home. St. Vladimir, our Patron Saint, the Prince of Kiev was instrumental in the conversion of that part of the world, Rus, to Orthodoxy, more than a thousand years ago? The Orthodox Church has been teaching about Jesus Christ for more than 2,000 years, and that it has not altered those incredible teachings? Frequently we get asked, “Do you believe in the Bible?” Our answer has to be, “Of course we do, Orthodox Christians wrote the New Testament!” Orthodox Christians wrote the Gospels, the Epistles, the Acts of the Apostles, and the great Revelation. The Orthodox Church (Orthodox meaning right believing) is the ancient and the modern Christian Church, which stretched and still stretches as far back as to St. Peter and St. Paul, and the other Disciples and Apostles, who, led by the Holy Spirit, traveled The Holy Land and far beyond.
The Orthodox Church may be more than 2000 years old, but we live now, by holding on to Traditional Christian teachings. We live in and are part of the 21st Century. Glory to God!
It would be an adventure to visit St Vladimir Prince of Kiev church, and you would be welcome. We don’t criticize, we don’t judge, and there are lots of children.
Saturday evening at 6pm we serve Vespers, which takes about an hour. Sunday 10am we serve Liturgy, which takes about two hours on a regular Sunday. The coffee time that follows lasts as long as people stay and chat, and eat, and drink tea and coffee. Our people love being in each others’ company so we don’t hurry away.
How did we learn about the Church? By being part of the community. So, we await — to welcome you.
In Christ,
Father David
Rector
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Saturday October 26 6 pm Vespers
Followed by General Panikhida
Sunday October 27 10 am Divine Liturgy
Tone 1
The Archbishop has granted permission for me to be away from the parish for most of the month of November. I shall be visiting friends in BC and my Niece and her family in Cochrane, Alberta.
St. Catherine Discussion group led by Dan Wilband will meet in the basement at 4:30 pm on Saturday.
We should be aware that there are parish shut-ins and some who need things like transportation to and from hospital appointments. Father Alexander has been silently doing this. It really is time for the parish to undertake these tasks. I'm not going to put the names of those shut-ins here but there are several folk you can ask: Father Alexander, Heather and Alina, who will tell you who and where these important parishioners are. There are some shut-ins who speak only Russian or Ukrainian. They must all be cared for by us, they are a part of us. I ask for a volunteer to be the coordinator of shut-in visits. I would like a volunteer please. This is a very worthwhile ministry to the parish and to the shut-in.
What an impressive Annual General Meeting. I think it was a good idea to have the Pizza and coffee before the meeting. We will continue that practise, God willing. The weather was good so the children were occupied outside, thanks to the supervision of Yan and Michelle and perhaps others.
Don't forget that on the evening of the 31st, (that's a Thursday), we will be having a party. Children of all and any age are welcome. Even those children that may be receiving pensions are welcome.
Just around the corner:
Way - Way ahead
Rector's Report October 2024
Can you believe that another year has sped by? This year, instead of going directly from the Liturgy to the Parish Meeting, we have paused for pizza and coffee. Now the business of the parish is almost complete
No decision will be made regarding the future of this building or parish without you. You are the people of this parish and you must know and vote - that I can promise you
I asked the people of the parish to tell me their inmost thoughts and feelings about the future of the parish and its relationship to this building. If you look around you will see the incredible work of the Holy Spirit. We are never without catechumens. Why is that? We have people who are really ready and willing to work. You put up with me week in and week out. You tolerate my inability to walk well. You put up with my forgetting things and I do forget things. But look around. Look at all the things that say that this is St. Vladimir Prince of Kiev Orthodox Church. You it was that made this Anglican stone church, with its stone, indicating that it was built by people of a Masonic Temple, into an Orthodox Church. It was you, who gave it, the building, courage, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to attract people, older - and children, to call this building 'A Church,' a place for Baptism, Panikhidas, Liturgies, Icons, Security, and Love. And it has been successful, it has attracted lots of people and children and visitors. All of that success has meant that we have outgrown ourself and we must do something about it.
No decision will be made regarding the future of this building or parish without you as the people of this parish knowing and voting - that I promise you.
There are three things open to us:
1. We could completely revamp this building - add on to it - drill a well and septic system - install a toilet - completely reinvent the electrical system - switch the altar to the east end of the building - fill the surrounding areas with rocks for parking.
2. We could continue to look for church properties in the surrounding communities that are for sale. The closer those properties are to Halifax, the more expensive they become. We've looked at Tantallon, an Anglican Church for sale - not exactly conducive to becoming Orthodox, but a lot of space and a lot of money. There's another church at Lake Echo, that the Catholics gave up on but its further away and much less cost. The question here is, who would we lose by moving further out? I don't wish to lose anyone, each of you is far too special to God and to me.
3. We buy a piece of land and build a purpose-built church - to our specification - that would be a real Orthodox Church right from the beginning. It could start with a basement to serve as a Proto-church. There are great advantages to a community coming together to build. Have you ever heard of 'Barn-Raising?' As I said, the decision will eventually be yours. Think and pray really hard for an answer to this. What shall we do? I know what I think - but, I'll not reveal that - yet.As I stand before you Sunday by Sunday, I look at the people gathered in front of me and I see their love for me and this parish and each other. I am reminded of that evening in Florence Italy when I texted Archbishop Irene, added some pictures of the various paintings or sculptures I had seen that day and told him how nice it would be if he could have joined me in Florence. His reply came back almost immediately explaining to me that although he would love to be in Florence, he was far too busy fixing a problem in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then came my big and brave move, a move that gave the Holy Spirit a big chance to work, not for the first time in my life I might add, I lifted my finger and texting back, I uttered that phrase 'Is there any way I can help?' And so, I had to give notice to my Ottawa apartment people and say goodbye to my apartment, say good bye to my niece and her husband, and goodbye to my friends Father Stelian and his family, and head to Halifax, arriving on November 1st 2019. Have I looked back since? Yes! But not very seriously. Believe it, the whole of my life has led me to this parish, at this time, and it is not by accident that I am here. Do you know the work of the Holy Spirit? It has pushed me twice that I know of - and neither time did it do what I wanted. Not only did it push me into Orthodoxy forty years ago, it pushed me to be here amongst you.
Now, The Holy Spirit is pushing you, all of you, to decide where this parish goes from here. Can you believe it, the Holy Spirit is actually pushing you and you must listen to it. Eventually there must to be 80% agreement as to what must happen - not today - but soon. You and I have time to pray, and that is of even more importance.
Now I want to thank people: There is Father Alexander who has supported me since November 1, 2019, and Matushka Ksenia with their four children. Thank you and love to you. There's Father Stelian, full of ideas, and Matushka Lena who has taken the choir, so successfully, in hand, (and alters my vestments!). There is the newly ordained Deacon, Michael with Matushka Maria and their four and a bit children. There are the Sub-Deacons - David and James, there are the choir members, the altar boys, the ladies who look after and arrange the flowers, those who bring food, those who clean up the basement and the church, there are those who come to 'clean-up Saturdays', there are those who repair and look after linens, and the building itself, there are the People of the Mission of St. Seraphim of Sarov, and then, of course, there are the faithful who come Sunday by Sunday - that's you, all of you, and that's me, too. Thank you and may God bless you and the Holy Spirit fill your lives with joy.
Now I want to turn my attention to one of the founders of this parish. Leslee Mansour, who has been part of the parish since it was founded. She has held most positions on the Parish Council. We are not saying goodbye to Leslee but we are recognizing the contribution she has made to this parish. I received a little note that says 'Retired!' and although one does not want to accept that, if that is what Leslee wants - that is what Leslee gets and we will continue to love her and look out for her. Thank you, Leslee for all that you have done over the years. May God bless you and Grant you Many, Many Years.
Love in Christ, Father David
Saturday October 26 - 10am Baptism of Nathan Eliot, Julie and Ben's son.
May God bless us all,
Love in Christ,
-- Father David
Saturday: 6:00pm Vespers
Sunday: 9:30am Hours, 10:00am Divine Liturgy, followed by coffee hour
See special service times, feasts, and parish events in our online Calendar.
Our parish uses the Old Style Julian calendar.
St.Vladimir‘s has begun the journey towards owning a permanent temple. Join Us!
You can Interac E-Transfer your donations now to halifaxorthodox (at) gmail (dot) com.
PayPal:
Saint Seraphim of Sarov Mission Facebook group
The Divine Liturgy will be held on Sunday, October 27th at 597 Alder Point Road, Alder Point at 10:30am. Father David will be coming up to serve Liturgy. We should all share the date and invite friends and family to come along. Our doors are open to anyone who is interested in experiencing the Divine Liturgy.
For further information, contact: stseraphimofsarovmission (at) gmail (dot) com