This morning I went for my first appointment to my specialist’s new location, a modern, scarcely completed building where everything looked and smelled fresh. The doctor is of Czech origin and is highly regarded. By early evening it had become cooler and we have been promised some rain in the next two days, but weather […]
Vladika Varlaam’s Daily Diary
THURSDAY 9 AUGUST 2018
I hate having to repeat myself, but today was a beastly hot day, even worse than yesterday which is why we spent most of the day in the air conditioned cottage. I drove Vladika Lazar to see an optometrist, after which we went for a drive to Abbotsford to find the new address of the […]
WEDNESDAY 8 AUGUST 2018
At noon I took Vladika Lazar out for a ride and we drove as far as Harrison Bay to the Kilby Park where an old country store has been preserved in its original form. We did not wish to see the store, as we had seen it years ago when it was still a functioning […]
TUESDAY 7 AUGUST 2018
This morning Father Moses and I drove to the Cancer Clinic pharmacy in Abbotsford to pick up my medication. I was under the impression that I would simply walk in and pick up the material, instead I was told that it would take at least an hour, if not more. Twice I asked if they […]
MONDAY 6 AUGUST 2018
We survived another scorching day, mainly by not being outside, or at least as little as possible. A group of Georgian men came to work on the pavilion that they are constructing on the lower lawn where they, and others, can gather to sit and visit, and eat as well. I am sure that they […]
SUNDAY 5 AUGUST 2018
This is the British Columbia Day long weekend when many people are gone for a brief rest in the countryside, yet there were many people in church for the liturgy. For some reason the service was longer than usual, ending at about 12:30, that is, almost four and a half hours long. Deacon Markel was […]
SATURDAY 4 AUGUST 2018
It was a quiet day until early afternoon when people arrived to work and to feed us. It is so difficult to refuse their hospitality and there are times, such as today, when I feel that I did overeat. At first we had afternoon tea with blini served with a thick and sweetened strawberry sauce […]
FRIDAY 3 AUGUST 2018
How pleasantly cool it has been today, but there was none of the promised rain and it appears that the heat will soon return. Never mind, before we can realize it, summer will be over and autumn will arrive. I picked a couple of figs from one of our fig trees, although another week or […]
THURSDAY 2 AUGUST 2018
It became so cool today that, while I was driving Vladika to his therapy session, I had to turn off the air conditioner and, after a while, I even turned on some heat. What a welcome change this has been. Volunteers worked at cleaning indoors and also struggling to eradicate the bamboo that had begun […]
WEDNESDAY 1 AUGUST 2018
At last it has begun to feel cool again. One woman even claimed to have had to put on a sweater! At any rate it has been a great relief and now we are looking forward to some rain. Joanna, who has been away in Greece for a month, returned and came here with boxes […]
TUESDAY 31 JULY 2018
Yes, it has been a hot day but the weather was not so punishing as in the previous days; cooler, and even some rainy days are forecast, much to our delight. The day began early, as Vladika Lazar had to be at the Abbotsford Hospital to have a bone density test, and while he was […]
MONDAY 30 JULY 2018
We continue to lose our energy in this heat, but at least it is Monday, our favourite day of rest and recovery. At noon we sat outside with our visitors, again in the shade of the tall cedar trees where a slight breeze kept us comfortable, yet soon the heat of the day fell upon […]
SUNDAY 29 JULY 2018
Even though the temperature was about 35 degrees [about 100 degrees Fahrenheit] Today’s celebration of the feast of the Joy of Canada went splendidly. With two air conditioners and several fans, we managed to endure the heat. After the blessing of the old icon of Christ the Saviour, the Cross Procession began but, by that […]
SATURDAY 28 JULY 2018
I dreaded to think of what it would be like to baptize five month old Victoria in today’s heat, yet it was not unbearable in church and, moreover, she did not cry or even make the slightest sound during the entire service. Later we all went outside and had a light meal on the lawn, […]
FRIDAY 27 JULY 2018
There was no desire to venture out today, nor any need to do so. Part of the afternoon was spent outdoors, seated in the shade of our giant cedar trees, eating and conversing while a slight breeze helped to keep us cool. I think that our American visitors are coping better than us with this […]
THURSDAY 26 JULY 2018
Each day seems to be the hottest day of the year, yet the hottest one is yet to arrive. It is on days such as this that we like to reminisce about the chilly days of winter. I am grateful that people have been watering the plants and the newly planted birch trees. Our visitors […]
WEDNESDAY 25 JULY 2018
I do not know what happened in the middle of the night, for I awoke and then could not fall asleep again. As a result, I read until the sun was ready to rise and then I had a couple of hours of sleep. Strange as it might seem, I have not been sleepy or […]
TUESDAY 24 JULY 2018
It has been even hotter today [not that I am complaining!!] and Vladika Lazar bought three more fans when Thomas took him for therapy this afternoon. If that does not cool us, nothing will. Even the water in the stream at the top of the monastery property is looking a little sparse. I doubt if […]
MONDAY 23 JULY 2018
Another day and more heat which drains one of all energy. I was to have blessed a house but, I had to cancel the visit, as I had no energy left. Without air conditioning in the cottage, we would have melted into puddles of water. On the other hand an important step was experienced by […]
SUNDAY 22 JULY 2018
It was another hot day, but nothing would hinder us in our Sunday Liturgy. It was the first liturgical service for the newly ordained Deacon Markel and, I must say, he served splendidly and he is such a benefit to the monastery. Soon after the Agape meal, we baptized little Luka, the fourth member of […]
SATURDAY 21 JULY 2018
Even though I was not entirely satisfied with the prosphora I baked yesterday, I could not manage to bake another one today and so we will make do with this one. We served a lovely crowing ceremony for a middle aged couple that had a civil marriage in their youth and they felt that the […]
FRIDAY 20 JULY 2018
Aside from the Home Care women who come morning and evening to help Vladika Lazar, a Home Care Cleaning woman arrived this morning, ready to clean the cottage by vacuuming the carpets and washing the kitchen and bathroom floors, and dusting everywhere. This was welcome help, as we cannot always rely on volunteers to help […]
THURSDAY 19 JULY 2018
After having had an inspiring, delightful, and memorable day yesterday, it was necessary to relax today and to regain one’s strength and energy. This makes it sound as if I were filled with boundless energy and spent the entire day on the go. No, not really, for in fact I spent most of the day […]
WEDNESDAY 18 JULY 2018
We gladly welcomed today’s cooler temperature, for we could avoid the previous unbearable heat. People arrived before noon, on this the occasion of my birthday, and began to prepare lunch. Soon, we were seated at a long table in the hall, eating and appreciating each other’s company. All afternoon people kept coming and going, and […]
TUESDAY 17 JULY 2018
The heat has become almost oppressive, so we have spent much of the day indoors, cooling off with the aid of the air conditioner. Some people are against air conditioners, thinking that they are harmful to one’s health. That might be so, but without one I would have been much like a hard boiled egg. […]
MONDAY 16 JULY 2018
After the long, busy and tiring weekend, I thought of how nice it would be to sleep a little longer this morning, but I had forgotten that I had promised to drive Thomas to the train station so he could catch the seven o’clock train to Vancouver. No doubt this is why I am so […]
SUNDAY 15 JULY 2018
It has been a memorable day. Archbishop Iriney arrived early in the morning to begin the Matins service. Neither Vladika Lazar nor I served, since Vladika Iriney had Father Phillip Erickson and Father Evgeny Prokhin, as well as Deacon Paul Bartlett serving with him. Reader Markel Tihon was ordained first as subdeacon, and later in […]
SATURDAY 14 JULY 2018
How should one react to a day full of activities? With gratitude and thanksgiving. Father Moses and I drove to Surrey to serve a funeral for Alexey who had lost his life at a waterfall. In a day or so he would have been thirty years old and his parents are heartbroken, as one could […]
FRIDAY 13 JULY 2018
Although today is Friday the thirteenth, no one must be superstitious about this. The fear of this date is called triskaidekophobia which is derived from the Greek thirteen and fear. In many countries, high rise buildings do not have a thirteenth floor, and after the twelfth floor, the next one is fourteenth. We welcomed Vladika […]
THURSDAY 12 JULY 2018
Today we celebrated the memory of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the Liturgy was served by Vladika Lazar , assisted by Deacon Paul. Most of the singing was done by Father Moses and reader Markel and, I must say, it was extremely good. I was also pleased and surprised by the number of […]
WEDNESDAY 11 JULY 2018
I have not seen it yet, but Deacon Paul has fixed the broken sliding door so that we have one less problem to deal with. The bamboo in Vladika’s little garden has only partially been cut down, but we really must get rid of all if it before it overtakes the entire garden. Andy was […]
TUESDAY 10 JULY 2018
Today was rather a difficult day in that the family of the young man, Alexey Lyakh, who recently drowned with two friends at Shannon Falls, north of Vancouver, came to talk about the funeral. As an only child, his parents are heart broken as one can readily understand. Sometimes there is little that one can […]
MONDAY 9 JULY 2018
This has not been an outstanding day, with little happening and perhaps it is just as well, since each day cannot be full of adventures and spectacular events. While Thomas and I were standing outside, we could hear a car driving up and, when it came around the curve, I was certain that it was […]
SUNDAY 8 JULY 2018
Vladika Lazar served the Divine Liturgy, assisted by Father Alexey and Deacon Paul. It was good to see Vlad and Doina back from their trip to Europe in addition to having Deacon Paul from Cranbrook serving with us. After the Agape meal, some went with Vladika to his spiritual talk, while some stayed behind to […]
SATURDAY 7 JULY 2018
The loud clashes of thunder in the middle of the night, together with flashes of lightning were disturbing, but perhaps they helped to keep today almost free from rain when the forecast told us that it would rain much of the day. Vladika Lazar came to the old church to baptize three little girls whose […]
JOY OF CANADA
The feast of the icon of the Theotokos “Joy of Canada” will be celebrated on 29 July 2018. This is the annual feast of the Monastery of All Saints in Dewdney. The Liturgy will be celebrated in various languages to reflect Canada’s multiculturalism. An 18 century icon of Jesus Christ “The Pantocrator” will be blessed. […]
FRIDAY 6 JULY 2018
While driving on the monastery road on the curve beyond the cherry trees, there suddenly loomed before us a machine that looked like some military war weapon, which meant that I had to back up all the way to the trees, and I do not like backing up whatsoever. It turned out to be a […]
THURSDAY 5 JULY 2018
A group of professional medical people came to make an assessment of Vladika’s condition here at the monastery. They made some positive suggestions and promised to do whatever they can to make things easier for him and less burdensome. Later in the day, the “foot woman” came to tend to our feet. It is not […]
WEDNESDAY 4 JULY 2018
Two groups of women came to do cleaning, weeding, and other jobs that we ourselves are no longer capable of doing. Many thanks for their enthusiasm. We drove in the Jeep across part of the field to look at the blueberry bushes and, much to our delight, the crop looks good. I picked a couple […]
TUESDAY 3 JULY 2018
Both sun and heat have returned and it feels like the middle of summer. I apologize for writing about the cherries again, but Thomas picked two more large containers of cherries that are even riper than the last, but I think that they are beginning to get mouldy and now we will wait for the […]
MONDAY 2 JULY 2018
A heavy rain during the night has given our plants, shrubs, and trees the moisture that is needed to survive well. I had noticed the price of cherries in the stores [cherries probably from California or elsewhere] and I realized that we had picked hundreds of dollars worth of cherries, our own organic cherries, eaten […]
SUNDAY 1 JULY 2018
The church was occupied from eight o’clock in the morning until after twelve noon. As usual we had Matins, then the Liturgy, followed by the singing of Many Years for Vladika Lazar whose nameday it was the other day and for Leonty, as we commemorated the Martyr Leonty today. Then we had prayers for those […]
SATURDAY 30 JUNE 2018
Although it has been an overcast day with some showers, there was much activity here at the monastery, as the Georgians gathered early for the Divine Liturgy served by Father Thomas who had flown in from Toronto. I am certain that the people were amazed at the beauty of the large icon that he had […]
FRIDAY 29 JUNE 2018
We received good news when Vladika Lazar went to the Wound Clinic, for they told him that it was not necessary to return, that the wound had healed sufficiently. We felt elated to hear this. Some ladies came and painted most of the balcony floor in dark green which looks good and it was needed. […]
THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2018
On this day we commemorate the memory of Martyr Tsar Lazar of Kosovo who gave up his life for the defence of Serbia and who is honoured to this day by all Serbs. It is also the nameday of Vladika Lazar, and I feel sad that he has not received a single telephone call, message […]
WEDNESDAY 27 JUNE 2018
I felt proud of Vladika Lazar today, watching him walk in alone [with a walker] into the credit union and later into the pharmacy. He also walked up a flight of stairs to his doctor’s office, much to the amazement of the doctor who said that it usually takes a year for someone in Vladika’s […]
TUESDAY 26 JUNE 2018
I believe that I have driven more this day than any other for months. Before noon the sedan had to be taken to Abbotsford to have the windshield and the passenger window changed, which meant that the Jeep had to be taken as well in order for us return home. In mid afternoon I drove […]
DAILY DIARY FOR MONDAY 25 JUNE
Has our fortune changed? I did not see a single mosquito today and let us hope that they have gone permanently, but that is too much to wish for. During my monthly session at the chiropractic clinic, I was told that they are receiving a new machine that both decompresses and works on the hips. […]
SUNDAY 24 JUNE 2018
Today’s Liturgy was served in Church Slavonic with two litanies, one in Romanian and the other in Georgian. A number of people were about to leave for Europe, so prayers for travellers were read. Vladika Lazar served together with Father Alexey and Father Evgeny. Later in the afternoon, after almost everyone had left, some of […]
SATURDAY 23 JUNE 2018
We baptized seven year old Jason this morning and it was so uncomplicated, for he did all that he was told and, with his perfect behaviour, this service was a delight. During the reception after the baptism, while speaking to his mother about family details, Iwas astonished to discover that her grandfather came from the […]