Archdiocesan Assembly-1979 - Moose Jaw - October 26-28, 1979

The Archdiocesan Assembly of the Archdiocese of Canada was convened in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, on 26-28 October, 1979. The host for this assembly was Holy Trinity Orthodox Church in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

Details of this assembly were published in the Parish Leaflet of Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral, Montréal, Québec (in Russian).

In October, 1979, Father Svetislav Balevich (rector of Holy Trinity parish) was given the responsibility of hosting the first assembly of the Archdiocese of Canada which had been able to take place in a decade.

Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) convoked this meeting. The assembly lasted for several days, and it included representatives and clergy from parishes between Vancouver, British Columbia and Montreal, Quebec.

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, Moose Jaw

The agenda of the assembly included the serving of the Divine Liturgy on Saturday and Sunday. On Friday, 26 October, the sessions began in the afternoon with a Moleben for Beginning the Assembly, and the presentation about the state of the Archdiocese of Canada by Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns). Later, there was a presentation "One Church" by Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. In the evening, a film was viewed, which presented the life of The Orthodox Church in America.

On Saturday, 27 October, following the report of the Treasurer of the Archdiocese, there was a discussion about the material state of the archdiocese. Later, there was a discussion about the organisation of the archdiocese, and the passing of resolutions. This was followed by Vigil and confessions.

On Sunday, 29 October, following the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, the Moleben of Thanksgiving was offered, and a banquet was served to all by the Sisterhood of Holy Trinity Church in Moose Jaw.

In addition to the deliberations of the assembly, at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, 28 October, 1979, Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) ordained subdeacon Seraphim Storheim to the Holy Diaconate. A Canadian student at Saint Vladimir's Seminary in New York, he had arrived from the seminary, accompanied by the seminary Dean Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann. He then returned to his studies. After the conclusion of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, a banquet was served in the parish hall by the parish Sisterhood of Saint Anna.

Archbishop Sylvester signs the guest book

With Archbishop Sylvester : Archimandrite Antonije Abramovich, Deacon Gregory Maxymiuk, Archpriest George Pokrovsky, Priest John Tkachuk, Mayor H E Taylor

The event of the archdiocesan assembly in Moose Jaw proved to be a significant event for the city, and Archbishop Sylvester was taken to the Office of the Mayor, Herb E Taylor, where he signed a special visitor's book.