Bright Week Conference in Montreal
written by Br. Stavros
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| At Sign of the Theotokos Orthodox Church Host and guests at Montreal conference on Liturgical Renewal |
Brothers Stavros and Jacob attended
an all-day conference sponsored by L'Université de Sherbrooke through L’Institut
de Théologique Orthodox de Montréal, gathered at the OCA Church of Our Lady of
the Sign in Montreal on Saturday of Bright Week, May 11. An old
friend of New Skete, Professor Petros Vassiliadis, emeritus dean of
the School of Theology at Aristotle University in Thessalonika, Greece, where
he was also professor of New Testament, gave two presentations: in the morning
on “Liturgical Renewal and the Orthodox Church” and later that day on
“Interfaith Dialogue and the Integrity of Creation.” The conference also
had two presentations in French, by Rev. Dr. Lambros Kamperidis, also on
liturgical renewal, and by His Grace, Bishop Irénée, the OCA bishop of Quebec, on the future of Orthodox
Witness. The day concluded with Vespers served by the pastor of Our Lady
of the Sign, the Very Rev. John Tkachuk, another old friend of the
monastery. The New Skete brothers joined in the choir and that evening
were guests at the home of the organizer of the event, Dr. John Hadjinicolaou,
head of the Montreal Institute, and professor at Sherbrooke University. He is
also the founder of Alexander Press, responsible for producing the highest
quality literature and art on Eastern Orthodox subjects in Quebec and the whole
of North America. The reception prepared by his wife, Evangelia, a
pediatrician in the city, made the brothers and the many other guests enjoy a
second Pascha.
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| Brother Stavors, Father John, his mother in-law Mme Schmemann, Brother Jacob |
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| N.D. de Bon-Secour, Sailor's Chapel and Refuge at the Montreal Old Port |
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| Around Montreal - Large Steel Cross at Mount Royal Brother Stavros |
While in Quebec for a long weekend,
Br. Stavros and Br. Jacob were graced by the warm hospitality of the Fraternité
de Jérusalem, established only a few blocks from Our Lady of the Sign.
(Br. Stavros’ article “Northern Lights,” from our Spring 2011 newsletter, about
his visit to Fraternité de Jérusalem, is reproduced in this blog for your
enjoyment. Click here...) Sunday evening, Prof. Vassiliadis and Prof. Hajinicolaou,
along with Fr. Cyprian Hutcheon, attended vespers sung by the brothers and
sisters at Saint-Sacrement. Following a light supper, Petros and
John and Brother Jacob joined community members for Br. Stavros’ audio-visual
presentation on “Chant in the Orthodox
Church,” enriching and enlarging the commentary and responding to the
various questions from the Jerusalem members especially about the Church in
Greece.
Monday morning Professor Vassiliadis returned to New Skete with the brothers for a short visit, during which he shared a paper he has prepared in memory of the Romanian ecumenist Fr. Ion Bria, a colleague of Petros on various commissions of the World Council of Churches, entitled “The Missionary Implications of St. Paul’s Eucharistic Inclusiveness.”
Monday morning Professor Vassiliadis returned to New Skete with the brothers for a short visit, during which he shared a paper he has prepared in memory of the Romanian ecumenist Fr. Ion Bria, a colleague of Petros on various commissions of the World Council of Churches, entitled “The Missionary Implications of St. Paul’s Eucharistic Inclusiveness.”
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| Montreal |
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| A Peace-Save the Planet student's demonstration on Mount Royal Street just outside the Jerusalem Community Double Monastery |
