LIFE IS LITURGY. In these difficult days, we all deeply miss coming together for the Divine Liturgy. We find ourselves longing for Holy Communion, and the sweet fellowship of our brothers and sisters. Being sequestered here in the monastery, I can feel the absence of all our congregation which gathers here on Sundays and for […]
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Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 19 March, 2020
Today has proved to be another sunny, and considerably warmer, day. It was possible to go out and take a few photographs but mostly I have been staying indoors, keeping warm and drinking, literally, gallons of hot tea and my favourite drink “Inka” which is made of various powdered grains. There have been a number […]
March 18, 2020
When we announce that there would be no public liturgies at the monastery until further notice, we had one or 2 negative comments – though not from anyone in our congregation. As difficult as it is to cancel public liturgies, we must consider that this matter is not just about us, but about the broader […]
Daily Diary, 14 March, 2020
This day has proved to be another very cold and windy day with small branches being blown from trees on the monastery property. Just as it was yesterday, the day was sunny but again very cold and this evening as I type this note, it is windy and cold and feels like maybe snow is […]
March 14, 2020
For the present time, the pre-sanctified liturgies are cancelled at the monastery, and there will be no agape meals after the liturgy. The 40 day service for Vladika Varlaam will be private, and we will serve again at a later date for everyone to attend. We suggest that those who wish to, visit the cemetery […]
Daily Diary, 13 March, 2020
Today at the monastery has been cold and there are very high winds. Several times the lights have flickered so it is a surprise that we didn’t lose our electrical power during the day or evening. The interiors of our buildings are quite chilled and often make me think of what it would be like […]
Daily Diary, 12 March, 2020
Not too much to report to the diary today. It was a beautiful day with a lot of sun for most of the day. Still, the air is rather chilled so creates a startling contrast between the interior and exterior temperatures. Although I am not feeling too well today, it was possible to take some […]
Daily Diary, 11 March, 2020
Today was a sunny, but not warm, day at the monastery. There were a number of interesting calls but one that I want to mention. A man called and wanted to talk with Vladika Varlaam. Before I had a chance to say anything to him, he went on to tell me that he had just […]
Daily Diary, 10 March, 2020
Another interesting day at the monastery. Thanks to the cooking lessons that Dr Mikhail Martynenko gave to Fr Moses, he has been doing a bit of experimenting in the kitchen, though it is not for certain how much of a success this has been. Well, these things do take time. As this note is being […]
Daily Diary, 9 March, 2020
Today was a rather relaxed day, also a sunny but cold day. I went down the stairs to go next door to the kitchen and noted that the door to the room which is being prepared for Fr Shio, was open. Being a curious person, I looked in and saw what a beautiful job had […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 08 March, 2020
This day was a celebration of the “Sunday of Orthodoxy” which is one of the major feast days of the Orthodox calendar. Here at the monastery, we celebrated the morning Matin service, followed by the Liturgy. We were pleased to welcome back our “Babushka Svetlana” who graced the service with her quiet and composed piety. […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 07 March, 2020
This day has been of interest for several reasons. The first is that our good friend, Kyril, came for the weekend and has been of much help here at the monastery, doing a multitude of chores which we are no longer able to physically accomplish. As well, he brought Mimi, our favourite Golden Chihuahua, who […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 06 March, 2020
As we enter deeper into the lenten season, it becomes ever more clear that our striving for improvement is seriously helped by those whom we consider to be our “community”. Our Orthodox friends share our joys and sorrows, our successes and failures and offer their advice and perspectives on what they see. It is an […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 05 March, 2020
Today has proved to be another fine day during our Great Lenten period. This evening we celebrated the service of Compline and the reading of the Canon of St Andrew of Crete. As before, the Canon reminded us of our imperfections and the need to work on correcting them with “faith and trembling” meaning that […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 04 March, 2020
Today proved to be an interesting day from several perspectives. The first is that a design for the grave monument of Vladika Varlaam has been approved. It is especially interesting because the actual hand blessing cross used by Vladika Varlaam is to be inset into the stone marker making the design both simple and meaningful.The […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 02 March, 2020
….I had a little adventure this morning when he found it necessary to climb through the window in order to leave his building; it seems that the sliding glass door would open only wide enough to pass a broom through but not wide enough for a person to make an exit.….Other than this small adventure, […]
Fr. Moses’ Daily Diary, 01 March, 2020
Once again we struggle to regain a sense of balance in our daily life and the understanding of the various kinds of human loss that are possible. We still feel the loss of Vladika Varlaam while striving to honour his memory. Regarding this, many people have commented on the new memorial Cross which has been […]
Daily Diary for Friday, 28 February, 2020
The early morning began with a most amazing atmospheric display of fog enshrouded beauty. It can only be described as pure silver, partially hiding trees and other greenery as well as the variety of local architecture. On the mountainsides, this same fog appeared in billows which slowly migrated according to the movements of the winds […]
MEMORIAL FUNERAL LITURGY
MEMORIAL FUNERAL LITURGY:. The liturgy will be served at 8 AM on Saturday 22 February. This is a memorial liturgy for Vladika Varlaam. The funeral service will begin at 11 AM.
Thank you
Dear Brothers and Sisters. Allow us to take the opportunity to thank all of those who came today to the monastery, even though it was a public holiday. The cleaning and preparations for the “welcoming” of Vladika Varlaam was an obvious act of love and respect but we still wish to express our appreciation because […]
For all those attending Vladika’s funeral:
For all those attending Vladika’s funeral: there will be no eulogies at the funeral. Vladika Lazar will say a few words before the last kiss takes place. Eulogies are possible after the memorial liturgy and at the meal both on Saturday and Sunday. David Goa will deliver the main eulogy and the sermon for Sunday. […]
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2020
The funeral for Bishop Varlaam will be served at 11 AM, Saturday the 22nd at the monastery. The burial will take place immediately afterward at the Heritage Garden Cemetery, 19082 – 16th Avenue, in the Orthodox section. The cemetery is near Campbell River Park.
the schedule for the preparation and serving of the funeral of Vladika Varlaam
Monday, February 17 – Volunteers are needed for funeral preparations, such as cleaning the church inside and outside, which will start at 9 a.m. We want to make the monastery setting as nice as possible in preparation for the arrival of Vladika Varlaam on Friday. Friday, February 21 – Vladika Varlaam will be brought to […]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2020
Dear brothers and sisters, We would like to announce Monday, February 17, 2020, as a clean-up-day at the monastery in a memory of Vladyka Varlaam. We kindly invite you to participate in it. Work will start from 9 a.m. and potluck lunch for all the workers will be served. There is plenty of work that […]
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 2020
Dear Father Moses and Father Markel,Thank you for thinking of us. The sorrow for the loss of our beloved Vladika Varlaam is great, but we cannot imagine how great could it be for Vladika Lazar and Father Moses. May God comfort them and all of us!We pray for our dearest spiritual father Vladika Varlaam. He […]
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13 2020
This very brief note is to let you know the hospital called a few minutes ago to inform us of the repose of Vladika Varlaam. Arrangement for the funeral have not yet been made so please check the website where I hope a notice will be posted. I will sign off with the prayer, “Vechnaya […]
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12 2020
For those who are wondering, *NO*, Vladika Varlaam has NOT departed quite yet… There was some confusion as we are planning for the end. But he is close to Home now! To the life of the age to come! To the banquet of angels! To brightness and refreshment! What a long race of faithfulness our […]
THURSDAY, 06 FEBRUARY, 2020
As our readers have become aware, there have been numerous medical emergencies for the previous few weeks and this little notice is simply to update all on what has so far transpired.At the present time, Vladika Varlaam is comfortably ensconced in the Palliative Care section of the Abbotsford Cancer Clinic. Today Fr Moses and Fr […]
WEDNESDAY, 05 FEBRUARY, 2020
DAILY DIARY: we are sorry that there has not been a diary for a few days. Vladika Varlaam only has a few weeks to live. Vladika Lazar was in hospital from a mild stroke,, and just returned home. Father Moses will try to take up producing a daily diary from the monastery shortly, and try […]
MONDAY, 03 FEBRUARY 2020
VLADIKA VARLAAM’S DAILY DIARY: we regret that there is not a daily diary for the past 2 days. Vladika Varlaam suffered a severe fall and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. He will be in hospital for a few days. His condition has worsened, and his pain has increased perhaps 50 percent over […]
FRIDAY 31 JANUARY 2020
On the whole it has been a terrible day, beginning about 4 a.m. when I finally fell into a deep sleep. As a result, I awoke at noon with an uncomfortable feeling of having missed a good portion of this day. When Vladika Lazar left for his physical exercising, he asked Father Moses to come […]
THURSDAY 30 JANUARY 2020
Once again I fell for the mystery of time. I remembered that I lay down for a while to rest, using the reclining chair yet, when I opened my eyes, it was bright outside so that could only have meant that it was early in the morning but, how could that be possible when it […]
TUESDAY 28 JANUARY 2020
One can relive the unfairness of youth as it is reexamined in old age and the taste of bitterness continues to make its presence felt. This suddenly reminded me of the bag of oranges that someone brought recently, you know the kind—firm and sweet, and impossible to keep your hands off them. As soon as […]
MONDAY 27 JANUARY 2020
I recall from my youth the words to a song that either began it or one of its verses “Happy days are here again…” and indeed, it was a bright, sunny, cheerful and joyous day, the kind that one could only wish to have for eternal happiness. Perhaps I am being too optimistic, but today […]
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY 2020
I often begin a daily entry with the words “What a surprise it was……” but last night’s was one even better than that, such as “What a shock it was……” because it really was a shock. Half way through the shower the water suddenly turned ice cold just when the hair and beard were all […]
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY 2020
I was still sitting in the reclining chair when I awoke this morning which was not surprising but what made it remarkable was looking out straight ahead of me and seeing a gorgeous winter scene. The double glass door occupies more than half the entire wall and I could look at the mountains across the […]
FRIDAY 24 JANUARY 2020
Just as there are countless ways of preparing Greek dishes, so also are there endless ways of preparing Greek food, often depending on which part of the world one came from. Must we always fall back on the gastronomical world to begin a meaningful discourse? How about “How often ringeth the supper bell” or “The […]
THURSDAY 23 JANUARY 2020
Holy Pascha is still far off, yet we are receiving requests from pilgrims who wish to come here in Great Lent. Almost all the tax receipts for last year’s donations have been made with just a few left to verify addresses and then they will be ready to hand out or to mail. Considering how […]
WEDNESDAY 22 JANUARY 2020
It became so much warmer today that this day’s cares and woes could soon be forgotten. In fact, we also became enthused about the change in the weather which lead to a common feeling of exuberance. At such times it is difficult to hold back anyone who is gung-ho and it is in precisely such […]
TUESDAY 21 JANUARY 2020
Something happened along the way and I lost my diary entry for this day, so I shall have to begin anew. As it happens, I am too ignorant concerning computers, otherwise I could have pressed a button or key, or uttered some magical mumbo-jumbo and the computer would be off in high gear. As a […]
MONDAY 20 JANUARY 2020
David’s brief visit ended early this morning as his plane departure was around five o’clock and we thus said our goodbyes last night. My afternoon caregiver arrived promptly at four o’clock and, as she walked in, she roared aloud, “Good afternoon.” It turned out that she was the girlfriend of Cliff our neighbour who died […]
SUNDAY 19 JANUARY 2020
Here it is, almost midnight, and I had vowed that I would not begin today’s diary entry about the weather and, guess what, I managed to avoid the topic altogether, but it was not easy to do. For us this was the great feast of Theophany or Epiphany —quick, hurry to the dictionary or computer. […]
SATURDAY 18 JANUARY 2020
There is so much discussion about climate change nowadays and yet we continue to ignore the subject even if it affects us directly, not that we know what that means as we continue in our old ways. The early morning caregiver got stuck in the field, rather in a snow bank I should say. Andy […]
FRIDAY 17 JANUARY 2020
Because of the inclement weather no care giver was expected to arrive around nine o’clock, but the sudden sound of a lawn mower made me wonder if I was hallucinating. A lawn mower in the middle of winter??? Then it suddenly dawned on me that it was not the sound of a lawn mower but […]
THURSDAY 16 JANUARY 2020
Need I say more? We had snow and rain today and, at times both, which made driving dangerous. Perhaps this is preparing us for the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord which will take place this Sunday. Later this month, Scotland will be celebrating Robert [Robbie] Burnes Day. I can put up with the […]
WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2020
What a pity it is that I cannot report anything more interesting than snow, more snow and freezing rain. We keep hoping that British Columbia’s famous unpredictable winter weather will suddenly change. You can see how some of early blooming shrubs can scarcely wait to have their colourful buds open up. Meanwhile, I have not […]
TUESDAY 14 JANUARY 2020
“More of the same,” is what could be reported to the captain of the ship except that this is no ship and we are going nowhere. I do not know how Five and Nine, Andy’s dogs, are managing in this weather but they seem to be enjoying it, prancing about the fields and stopping occasionally […]
MONDAY 13 JANUARY 2020
The storm has not relented and, by normal standards, it would be nothing to worry about but here, such things can be frightening, especially when you see women in cutoff shorts and high heels, acting as if they were on a TV country or barn dance show, or shopping at Walmart’s. But, to be fair, […]