Kingston ON Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church 1981

Kingston, Ontario, Church of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, 1981

Prehistory

The Orthodox Christian Church had a visible presence Kingston, Ontario, Canada, from the 1960s with the establishment of the "Kimisis" (Dormition) Greek Orthodox Church. Greek-speaking immigrants had been living in Kingston since the early 1900s, but for sacraments they usually travelled to Montréal, Québec, or to Ottawa. Other Orthodox Christians would participate in this community as well.

However, with the passage of time, and since the services were only in Greek, by the late 1970s some of the Orthodox Christians felt the need for an English-speaking presence. There were many conversations about the possibility, and the fledgling anglophonic communities in Ottawa and Montréal were consulted. After gathering the Faithful in the city and its environs for a Divine Liturgy in the latter part of 1980, it was decided to proceed.

Founding the mission, 1981

In 1981, Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church was founded as a mission within the Archdiocese of Canada of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, by the blessing of Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns) of Montréal and Canada.

Father Basil Zion

Saint Gregory’s began as a mission to Queens University students, in the home of the family of the Priest Basil (†1997) and Matushka Rhoda Zion.

Father Basil had been ordained for this missionary purpose in Ottawa by Archbishop Sylvester, and his family established a domestic chapel in their home on Alfred Street in Kingston. Father Zion was a professor of religious studies at Queens University. On growing, the mission began to meet in a chapel at the university. From the beginning of the mission, a great deal of both spiritual and practical support was given by Father John Scratch and the Holy Transfiguration Mission in Ottawa.

Almost immediately, the mission attracted both students and a small number of local residents who were Orthodox Christians. These included some former parishioners of Saints Peter and Paul's Cathedral in Montréal, others such as the Indian Orthodox Nadavallil family, and local visitors from the Greek parish. During the time of his pastoral service, Father Basil began to develop warm fraternal relationships with the local Dormition Greek Orthodox parish, a relationship which was further nurtured by the priests who followed him. Father Basil was a serious Orthodox Christian scholar, who had compassion for all. This is reflected in his writing. After the repose in Christ of Father Basil on 21 March, 1997, Matushka Rhoda continued to live in Kingston for a year, and to support the life of the community.

During the following year, Matushka Rhoda became a rasophor nun, and she received the name Theodora. Nun Theodora (Zion) then moved to the Monastery of Saint Silouan near Prescott, Ontario. Later, she was tonsured to be a stavrophor nun, and she received the name Sophia. Almost 10 years later, she moved to Toronto, Ontario. Most recently, she moved to Brockville, Ontario.

The presence of university students in the mission was always a blessing ; but because for the most part they remain only for a few years, students cannot constitute the stable core for the future. Nevertheless, those who have passed through this community have moved to other places (including Great Britain), where they enrich the life of Orthodox parishes.

Founding members

There were other founding members, who were long-time residents of Kingston, and who were of traditional Orthodox Christian nationalities. One such was Wsewolod (Harry) Rummel (†1999), who had served as the first president (starosta) of the parish council. Another such founder was Alexandra Gibson. She had just moved from Montréal, where she had been a faithful and active parishioner at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul all her life. She had been recommended to the mission by Archbishop Sylvester (Haruns). She remained a faithful parishioner and an example of a holy life until her repose in 1983. Hers, as Harry’s, was a sudden but blessed repose. Yet another founder was Thomas Nadavallil who became the president of the parish council after Mr. Rummel’s repose, and he has remained in this responsibility for many of the years since then. He and his wife Ramani Susan have been a constant presence, and they raised their 2 sons in the parish.

Father James S Griggs

After the retirement of Father Zion, Father James Griggs, a recent graduate of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary in Crestwood, New York, was assigned to lead the parish. The parish became a house-church for a time, after which the growing community moved to a rented store-front in a strip-mall.

After some time in this accommodation, it was announced that the rent would be trebled. This required serious consideration about what to do next, since this trebling of the rent would not only cause serious hardship for the community, but it also would mean that there could be no stipend for Father James, his wife Tena and their 4 children.

Father James S Griggs

Move to a new site, 2001

Then there occurred a conversation between Father Griggs and an Anglican minister named Ed Dallow about the situation. As a result, in 2001, at the invitation of the Christ Church Cataraqui Anglican parish (which had built a large new building nearby) the community moved to the basement of their original historical church building (built in 1870). This historical building is in the Cataraqui Cemetery (originally Christ Church Cemetery) where the body of Sir John A MacDonald, the first Prime Minister of Canada is interred.

There, the rent was much more affordable. The Griggs family was also able to live in the old glebe house of the Anglican parish, not far away from the new facility.

New site at Christ Church Cataraqui on Sydenham Road

From the winter of 2004, for economic reasons, Father Griggs began dividing his time pastorally. Two weekends per month, he would serve the mission in Kingston. Two weekends per month, he would serve the small Ascension Greek Orthodox parish in Brockville, about 80 km to the east.

Igumen Luke (Majoros), 2007

In August, 2006, the service of Father James in Kingston concluded when he began to serve on a salary at the Dormition Greek Orthodox Church in Ottawa, Ontario, while he continued to serve the Brockville community twice monthly. After this, the Hieromonk Luke (Majoros) was asked to care for the Kingston community temporarily.

On 1 January, 2007, the Hieromonk Luke (Majoros) was assigned to lead the parish of Saint Gregory. He did this while he continued to live in the Hermitage of Saint Anthony the Great near Westport, Ontario.

On 1 November, 2012, Igumen Luke (Majoros) was released from his responsibilities in the parish of Saint Gregory of Nyssa.

Archpriest Andrew Anderson, 2012 ; Priest Nicholas Young, 2015

At that time, the Archpriest Andrew Anderson was assigned to serve as the rector of the parish. He and his wife Karen live in Montréal, where he studies towards a doctoral degree, and from where he commutes to Kingston. Since his assignment, the parish began to grow more noticeably.

Father Andrew Anderson with Vladyka Irénée (Rochon) and Deacon Nicholas Svetlovsky (left) Priest Andrew Anderson (right)

Priest Nicholas Young

In 2015, a second priest was attached to Saint Gregory’s Church when the Priest Nicholas M Young became a Military Chaplain with the Canadian Armed Forces (Royal Canadian Chaplain Service), and he was posted to CFB Kingston.

Father Chaplain Nicholas Young

After a short time in Kingston, Father Nicholas was transferred to Québec, Québec.

Exterior dual-community sign

Prediction of the missionary challenges

Although this parish did not yet have its own Temple, it did have a stable place in which to grow. A previous Anglican Bishop of Kingston predicted to Father Zion that developing an Orthodox community in the English language would be a difficult (if not impossible), long-term project in this city because of the nature of this city and its history. It seems to have been an accurate understanding on the part of that bishop. However, the parish continued all along to provide a visible witness for the Orthodox Christian Faith in Kingston.

The parish serves according to the typikon (custom) of the Russian Orthodox Church, with some Constantinopolitan elements included from time to time. These elements reflect the constituency of the parishioners, and the abilities of at least 2 of the priests who have served in the parish. Although almost everything is served in English, there have been occasional appearances of Slavonic, Greek, Malayalam, French and Hungarian. The membership of the parish presents a wide range of national backgrounds, with members from North America, Russia, the Balkans, the Middle East and India. Further, a steadily increasing number of people have entered into Holy Orthodoxy from outside the Orthodox Church. Saint Gregory's parish seeks to make welcome anyone looking for an Orthodox Christian parish home in Kingston.

For many years, the parish of Saint Gregory of Nyssa continued to meet in the basement of Christ Church Cataraqui Anglican church on Sydenham Road, just north of Princess Street.

Sir John A Macdonald memorial plaque

Sir John A Macdonald gravesite

Archpastoral visit, 2014

On Sunday, 26 January, 2014, Bishop Irénée (Rochon) made an Archpastoral Visit to Saint Gregory of Nyssa's Orthodox Mission.

Concelebrating together with him were Protodeacon Nazari Polataiko, Deacon Justin Mitchell, Priest Nicholas Young, and Priest Andrew Anderson (pastor of the mission).

During the service, 4 young men received the blessing to wear the orar of a subdeacon : Vadim Ignatov, Theodore Collins, Alexander Kovalev, and Nicholas Liabotis.

A major moment in the morning was the awarding of the Canadian Archdiocese Medal of Saint Tikhon, Patriarch of Moscow and Apostle to America, to the servant of God, Reader Thomas Nadavallil. This presentation was in recognition of his over 30 years of untiring labour for the building up of the Kingston mission. His wife Susan was recognised with a bouquet.

Vladyka Irénée, Thomas and Susan Nadavallil

Archpastoral visit, 2017

On the Seventh Sunday of Pascha, the After-feast of Ascension and Feast of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited the parish.

During the Divine Liturgy, the Priest Andrew Anderson was elevated to the dignity of archpriest by Vladyka Irénée.

In addition, the Archpriest Stelian Liabotis and his family brought the Holy Fire that had arrived from Jerusalem at the Annunciation Cathedral in Ottawa. The Archpriest Vasyl Kolega and Deacon Ivan Symchyna from Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Toronto were also present, and they concelebrated with Archbishop Irénée.

Parishioners at the 2017 archpastoral visit

Archpastoral visit, 2018

On 13 May, 2018 (the 6th Sunday of Pascha, the Sunday of the Blind Man), Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy in this parish. Serving together with him were the Archpriest Andrew Anderson, the rector, and Deacon Ivan Symchyna, along with the subdeacons Nicholas Liabotis and Michael Cherry. Vladyka was presented with a bouquet of flowers by 4 young girls of the parish.

Parishioners at the 2018 archpastoral visit

Archpastoral visit, 2019

On Sunday, 19 May, 2019, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) visited Saint Gregory of Nyssa's Parish in Kingston, Ontario. He was assisted by Deacon Denis Letunovsky.

During the Divine Liturgy, Archpriest Andrew Anderson was awarded the right to wear the palitza.

Father Andrew awarded the palitza

Parishioners in 2019

Covid-19 virus closures and restrictions, 2020-2022

In the spring of 2020, the Covid-19 virus pandemic began to have a serious and limiting effect on parish life in Kingston, as it did throughout Canada. For substantial periods of time, no public services were permitted. When they were permitted, attendance was strictly regulated. As time passed, and inoculations increased, more services began to be permitted.

A permanent building, 2022

Despite hope and various considerations that the long-term rented Anglican building might some day be available for purchase, this possibility did not develop in the face of various complexities. One major such complexity was that the historical nature of this building prohibits any changes to the structure, both exterior and interior.

In 2022, a former United Church building nearby ("Cataraqui United Church"), at 965, Sydenham Road, became available for purchase. Although this structure was a listed historical building, similar to the Anglican building, its circumstances allowed for interior adjustments.

Furthermore, the parish property included a cemetery, the administration and management of which required a special arrangement.

The parish decided to purchase this property, which was directly across the street from the former site.

Cataraqui Church building

Sign for United Empire Loyalist Cemetery, 2023

On 12 June, 2023, the parish of Saint Gregory of Nyssa Parish unveiled signage the for United Empire Loyalist Cemetery on the parish property.

When the parish purchased their new temple in 2022, little did they know the historical legacy surrounding their new parish home.

The former United Church, built in 1881, as a Methodist Church, is located on the same site as the Heritage Cemetery At Cataraqui. This historic cemetery is a burial ground for Loyalist settlers who came to Upper Canada as they fled for their safety from the American Revolution in the late 18th Century. More precisesly, a group of United Empire Loyalists led by Captain Michael Grass had settled in the area known as Cataraqui in the spring of 1784. The establishment of the cemetery was a consequence of this permanent settlement.

When the United Church property was sold to Saint Gregory's parish, the care of the historic cemetery became the responsibility of the parish, under the guardianship of a committee of trustees.

The unveiling of the first stage of the signage for the United Empire Loyalist Cemetery Heritage Cemetery at Cataraqui too place on 12 June, 2023, at Saint Gregory’s Orthodox Church. A delegation of Loyalists, along with the acting Deputy Mayor of Kingston, Councillor Jeff McLaren, assembled at the parish hall in order to mark the occasion.

Those gathered

Guests and officials were welcomed by the Dean of Ontario, Archpriest Geoffrey Korz, who is also a descendent of Loyalists to Canada. Father Korz gave the address, saying,

 Friends and brethren : as we stand here and honour the memory of these Loyalists, we share in 
 their hope for this country to continue to be a beacon once again, and to raise up champions for 
 those things which make it great – and not to tear them down.
 May God bless you all.  God Save the King !

Archpriest Geoffrey Korz speaks

]

United Empire Loyalist Men and Women

New Cemetery Sign

Archpastoral visit, 2024

On Sunday, 26 May, 2024, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) made his annual archpastoral visit to Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church in Kingston. His visit celebrated the second anniversary of the purchase of the new property, the Cataraqui Church building (June, 2022).

There were 78 people in attendance for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, during which Vladyka Irénée received into the catechumenate a local Mohawk family. This brought the number of catechumens in this parish over the past 2 years to 26. 12 adults have been baptised in the new building since it was purchased in 2022. The pastor and parishioners give glory to God, who is working through the parish to shine His holy light in southeastern Ontario.

Vladyka Irénée and parishioners

Archpastoral visit 2026

On Sunday, 10 May, 2026, Archbishop Irénée (Rochon) made an archpastoral visitation to the Saint Gregory of Nyssa Mission in Kingston, a visit which marked 2 major moments in the history of the parish :

 To the glory of God, and with thanks in their hearts, the parishioners of St Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church in 
 Kingston, Ontario, on Sunday, 10 May, 2026, were happy to watch His Eminence Archbishop Irénée burn their 
 completely paid-off mortgage.
 
 The annual archpastoral visit by Vladyka Irénée marked the 45th anniversary of the founding of the parish, and 
 simultaneously marked the end of the four-year 'What Can You Do For God's Kingdom ?' capital campaign.
 
 Following the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday, the luncheon in honour of the archbishop was the venue for a 
 presentation given by the rector, Archpriest Andrew Anderson, in which he detailed with pictures the 45-year 
 history of St Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church. 
 
 Founded in 1981 by His Eminence Archbishop Sylvester of Montréal as an English-speaking outreach to the 
 students of the University of Queens, the fledgling mission spent the next 40 years "wandering in the desert" looking 
 for a permanent church home in Kingston. It moved from a house church, to the university chapel, to more house 
 churches, to a storefront, to a rented basement in an Anglican building, until the present facility became available 
 for purchase in 2022 for the amazingly low price of only $290,000.
 
 The historic red brick (originally Methodist) colonial era building and three acre Loyalist Burial Ground cemetery 
 were purchased on June 15, 2022, via a gracious loan from the archdiocese assisting the parish's own large down-
 payment. In gratitude to God, the parish moved "across the Jordan River into the Promised Land," which in their 
 case was just across the street to 965 Sydenham Road. 
 
 In 2022, the Parish Council launched the 'What Can You Do For God's Kingdom?' capital campaign to repay the 
 $230,000 loan back to the archdiocese. And now, after four years, the loan has been completely repaid via the 
 generosity of many donors, mainly parishioners. 
 
 Therefore, on Sunday, everyone had the joy of watching Vladyka Irénée burn the promissory note, signifying the 
 conclusion of the mortgage and the capital campaign.  Also, the parish was excited to witness the tonsuring of 
 Reader Michael Cochrane earlier in the day at the hierarchical Divine Liturgy. 
 
 The Parish of St Gregory of Nyssa in Kingston is grateful to God Almighty for this completely-paid-for property, and 
 also remains grateful to the archbishop and the archdiocese for their help and support.

Tonsuring a reader

At the Great Entrance

Parishioners on the anniversary

Burning of the mortgage

Particular parish information

Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Canada of The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) in Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

As do many other parishes, this community considers itself to be a mission even though it has had parish status for a long time.

This parish is a part of the Deanery of Ontario, of the Archdiocese of Canada, of The Orthodox Church in America. The dean is the Archpriest Geoffrey Ready. The bishop is Archbishop Irénée (Rochon).

This parish follows the New (Revised Julian) Calendar.

The Altar Feast-day of this parish is the Feast of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, 10 January.

In 2025, the pastor of the parish is the Archpriest Andrew J Anderson.

Address :

Saint Gregory of Nyssa Orthodox Church

965 Sydenham Road

Kingston, Ontario

K7M 3L8

Telephone : 613-800-9537

Web-site : http://saintgregoryofnyssa.com/

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Directions :

From Montréal, Kingston is 287 km (179 mi) distant, and 3 hours 15 minutes by car. Drive west on Highway #20, which becomes Highway #401 in Ontario. Continue to Kingston, and take the Sydenham Road exit.

From Toronto, Kingston is 265 km (165 mi) distant, and 2 hours 40 minutes by car. Drive eastwards from Toronto on Highway #401, and exit on Sydenham Road.

From the city-centre and the south parts of the city, drive on Princess Street to Sydenham Road. Turn north and drive about .5 km (.3 mi). The building is on the right, very near to the road.

From the north, that is from Highway #401, take the exit for Sydenham Road and drive south about 2 km (1.25 mi). The building is on the left, after having passed the newer Anglican church building.

Archpriest Andrew Anderson

256 Rue Sommerset

Dollard-des-Ormeaux, Québec

H9G 2N9

Téléphone : 514-722-0182

E-mail : fatherandrewanderson@gmail.com