Rawdon QC Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church 2023

Rawdon QC Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church 2023

The Parish of the Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church in Rawdon, Québec, Canada, is the continuation of what was formerly called the Parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Rawdon.

Prehistory

The prehistory of the Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church in Rawdon, Québec, Canada, is essentially the history of the Parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in Rawdon, Québec.

As the parish community grew in numbers, it became possible to distinguish this community from its mother parish in Montréal Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Montréal, Québec. The cathedral parish is the owner of the cemetery land on which the Saint Seraphim Church stands. The establishment of the community as a parish occurred in 2004. Eventually, the incorporation of the community was achieved in 2016.

Rawdon Saint Seraphim Temple

Establishment of the new parish, new Temple, 2023

In January, 2023, the United Church of Rawdon put its church building up for sale. It is located at 3253-4th Avenue East, Rawdon, next to the Mid-Laurentian United Church Cemetery. After the necessary negotiations, the Orthodox Parish of Saint Seraphim acquired it in April, 2023.

New name of the parish community

From 2023, the parish of Saint Seraphim of Sarov continued its life in this new Temple, but under a different name. With the blessing of Archbishop Irénée (Rochon), the parish decided to continue under the protection of the Most Holy Mother of God, under the name of her Icon of “Tenderness of Diveyevo”, the icon before which Saint Seraphim of Sarov prayed in his monastic cell and before which he surrendered his spirit to the Lord God.

Tenerness of Divieyevo Icon of the Theotokos

The reason for the establishment of the new building was two-fold, in fact. Indeed, the 2 chapels in which the parish had been worshipping until 2023 were clearly too small for the number of people now participating. Furthermore, the larger chapel was not useable in the winter time, because it was uninsulated. The second reason, also practical, was that the Saint Seraphim Cemetery and the 2 chapels all belonged to the parish of Saints Peter and Paul Sobor in Montréal, Québec.

When the previous bishop had given the Rawdon community a distinct parish status, it began to produce a confusion between the 2 entities (in Montréal and in Rawdon), and what were the particular responsibilities. The new arrangement made the relationship clearer, and it made room for the growing parish in Rawdon itself to worship without being overcrowded and perhaps breaking fire-regulations.

Archdiocesan Council Meets in Rawdon, 2023

On Tuesday and Wednesday, 24-25 October, 2023, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) met with the regional deans and other elected members of the Archdiocesan Council of the Archdiocese of Canada in Rawdon, Québec. This was the first major event to take place in this new site.

This meeting was hosted by the parish of Saint Seraphim in the new Temple of the Theotokos of Diveyevo. The parish had begun to be known as the Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church of Rawdon, Québec.

The council meeting began with a moleben in the recently-acquired and refurbished chapel of the Mother of God of Diveyevo where the parish of Saint Seraphim of Rawdon meets for worship. The Liturgy was celebrated there on the Wednesday morning.

Council discussions focussed on reviewing the 2023 Archdiocesan Assembly held in Châteauguay, Québec ; planning for future assemblies ; co-ordinating support for the impoverished Diocese of Alaska ; and meeting the mission and educational needs of the growing diocese.

Photos of the Temple

Royal Doors, Holy Table

Altar area (through the deacon-door)

Iconostas on the Feast of Pentecost

Parishioners on the Feast of Pentecost

Sanctification of the Temple, 2025

On Saturday, 25 October, 2025, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) presided at the complete Sanctification (Consecration) of the Holy Table and the Temple of the Holy Virgin of Diveyevo in Rawdon, Québec.

Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) of Ottawa and of the Archdiocese of Canada presided over both the Sanctification and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. He was assisted by 8 priests and 4 deacons, some some local, and others who had come from across the country, from east to west (including from Halifax to Edmonton), who had arrived in Montréal for the regular Archdiocesan Council meeting.

Despite the fact that the Sanctification began at 8:00 a.m., a large crowd of Faithful participated in the celebration. This is not surprising, since such a ceremony takes place only once in the history of the Temple.

First, the bishop and the priests put on their liturgical vestments, but wore white aprons over them. The Holy Table was washed, as if it were being immersed in baptismal waters. Molten ceromastic (an aromatic binding mixture used particularly for this purpose) was poured into the holes drilled in the Holy Table, recalling the spices with which Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus anointed the Saviour’s body after taking it down from the Cross (John 19:40).

The nails were driven into the same holes using 4 stones, in remembrance of the fact that Christ was nailed to the Cross with 4 nails.

The Holy Table (altar) was anointed with holy chrism on all sides. Chrismation is both the seal of the Holy Spirit during the Sacrament of Baptism and a reference to the precious gifts of the Myrrh-bearing Women who came to the tomb to anoint Christ’s body.

Then a procession with the holy relics took place around the Temple, during which the interior walls were anointed with holy myrrh and the exterior walls were sprinkled with holy water.

The bishop, accompanied by the concelebrating priests, entered the the Temple. He carried the holy relics, which were placed in the fifth niche of the Holy Table, which was then filled with ceromastic.

The Holy Table was clothed in new garments, like the newly-baptised Christian dressed in white, and like Christ wrapped in his burial cloths (John 19:40). The Antimension (Antimins) and the Holy Gospel (the living word of the living God (despite the sealed tomb)) were placed on the Holy Table.

Thus, the Great Sanctification of the Holy Table (altar) reminds us of baptism : the Holy Table is washed, anointed with holy chrism, and clothed in new garments. The Temple was before an ordinary building ; now, the Temple becomes sacred, that is, holy, and reserved solely for specific sacred rites.

With the sacrament of baptism, the rite of the Great Sanctification of the Holy Table (altar) reminds us of Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and glorious Resurrection (Pascha, Easter). The sanctified Temple, like our physical temple (2 Corinthians 6:16), becomes a vessel for the Holy Spirit. It gathers within itself all its members, the baptised Christians who form the Church, which is the Body of Christ.

After this, there followed the serving of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, which was served by Vladyka Irénée and the same clergy, in the presence of the same Faithful. Archpriest Stelian Liabotis, Dean of the Atlantic Provinces, gave the homily. The service was followed by a repast in the parish hall.

The original article includes a substantial slide-show of photographs.

Preparation

Procession with Holy Relics

At the entrance doors

Divine Liturgy beginning

Divine Liturgy conclusion

Some serving clergy

Some attendees

Repast

Founding anniversary of the Sisterhood of Saint Barbara, 2025

On Monday, 3 November, 2025, the founding anniversary was marked of the Sisterhood of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara of the Theotokos of Diveyevo parish.

Sisterhood of Saint Barbara, Hieromonk Seraphim (Tregubov)

Particular parish information

This parish is part of the Québec Deanery of the Archdiocese of Canada in The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is Mitred Archpriest Anatoliy Melnyk. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

The languages of services in this parish are French, Slavonic, and English.

This parish provides also for the services at the summer Temple of Christ the Saviour Orthodox Church, Shefford, Québec.

This parish follows the Old (Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of the Seraphim-Diveyevo Tenderness Icon of the Mother of God (28 July/10 August).

In 2025, the pastor of the parish is Hieromonk Serafim (Tregubov).

The deacons of the parish are : Archdeacon Amvrosi (Mlodzyk) (retired), and Deacon Denis Letunovsky.

Address :

Holy Virgin of Diveyevo Orthodox Church, Rawdon (Saint Seraphim Orthodox Parish)

3253-4th Avenue

Rawdon, Québec

J0K 1S0

E-mail : rawdon@orthodoxchurchrawdon.ca

Telephones : (450) 760-0733 ; (450) 834-2870

Web-site : https://www.orthodoxchurchrawdon.ca/?page_id=424&lang=en

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Directions :

By bus :

Travel to Rawdon by Autobus "Gaudreault Inc." from Station de Metro Radisson in Montreal (7155 and 7250, Sherbrooke Street East, Montréal, Québec H1N 1E3).

By car :

From downtown Montréal, drive westwards on Autoroute Ville Marie (Route #136). Follow the signs leading to Highway #15 North (Décarie Expressway). After passing Rue Jean-Talon Ouest, keep right and follow the signs to Autoroute #40 Est and Autoroute #15 Nord. Very soon, follow the signs for the exit for Autoroute #15 Nord. Follow Autoroute #15 Nord. After passing Boulevard Saint-Martin Ouest (in Laval), keep to the right, and take the exit for Autoroute #440. This becomes Autoroute #25 Nord. Continue on Autoroute #25 Nord. At Saint-Esprit, follow the signs for Route #125 Nord. This is a left turn. Follow Route #125 Nord as far as Rawdon. Take the exit to the right for 6e Avenue. Drive on 6th Avenue until the intersection with Rue Queen. Turn left onto Rue Queen, and drive until 4e Avenue. Turn right on 4th Avenue. The Temple is on the left, just past the Mid-Laurentian United Church Cemetery.