Annual Memorial Service for the Clergy, Archons and Benefactors of the Holy Metropolis of Toronto

The Holy Metropolis of Toronto has established that every year, on the first Saturday after September 14th (the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross), a Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service be done for the Clergy who served our Holy Metropolis, for the Archons of our Ecumenical Patriarchate and for the Benefactors and Donors of our Metropolis.

The Holy Metropolis of Toronto did a thorough search and found all the bishops, priests, deacons, monks and nuns, who served in Canada from the beginning of the 20th century and have since fallen asleep in the Lord. Of course, the Metropolis has an official list of all the Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate who lived and live in Canada and a list of the great Benefactors and Donors of our Holy Metropolis.

The Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service for the Clergy, Archons, Benefactors and Donors was celebrated this year by Metropolitan Sotirios at St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Church in Toronto, assisted by Fr. Ign. Delis and Fr. T. Paraskevopoulos.

The chanters, composed of clergymen, students and graduates of our Theological Academy, was directed by Fr. O. Drossos.

Participating in the Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service were relatives of the fallen asleep in the Lord from near and far. It is worth noting that Mr. Antonakis Andreou, Archon Hartoularios of our Ecumenical Patriarchate, along with his wife, came all the way from Vancouver, B.C.; a five hour plane ride.

The Divine Liturgy was solemn. The participants communed the Holy Mysteries. After the Divine Liturgy and Memorial Service a breakfast was offered to everyone at the banquet hall of our Metropolis.

Metropolitan Sotirios, touched and deeply satisfied, stated. "This Memorial Service for the Clergy, Archons, Benefactors and Donors of our Holy Metropolis has been taking place every year now for a number of years. We owe it to these people who have served our Church in Canada, sometimes under very difficult conditions. It is the least we can do to show our gratitude. The greatest thing we can do to always show our gratitude to the Clergy, Archons, Benefactors and Donors of our Holy Metropolis is to perform our duties properly on a daily basis. I wish that our thrice Holy God will give rest to their souls among the Saints and the Angels of Heaven."