Metropolitan Sotirios: "We would be outside Paradise if God was not merciful. If we are not merciful, the result will be the same. We will remain outside Paradise."

Metropolitan Sotirios: "We would be outside Paradise if God

was not merciful. If we are not merciful, the result will

be the same. We will remain outside Paradise."

His Eminence Metropolitan Sotirios, assisted by Fr. S. Bourjeily and Fr. N. Papageorgiou, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the historic community of Quebec City, the capital of the province of Quebec, on Saturday, October 1st. Fifty pious pilgrims, organized by Presbytera Christina Papageorgiou and Mrs. Angeliki Karabatsou, visited from Montreal. Orthodox Christians from Quebec City of various ethnicities, including Greeks, Serbs, Russians, Ukrainians, and English and French Canadians, participated with piety.

Blair (Paisios) Lofgren and his wife Marianne Roos, and Mrs. Natalia Dobrovolska chanted Byzantine music wonderfully in both Greek and French. Metropolitan Sotirios preached in both Greek and French and stressed the importance of Orthodoxy in Canada, and how the Community in Quebec City is an example of a true family that includes all ethnicities.

A meal was offered to everyone following the Divine Liturgy and the President of the Community, Mr. Tryphon Constantinou, addressed those gathered.

Metropolitan Sotirios thanked everyone. He congratulated the Community for the very beautiful renovations that were made to the Church and he expressed his complete satisfaction and praise.

In the evening of the same day, the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Community in Laval celebrated its 25th Anniversary with a grand banquet together with the participation of many dignitaries. Metropolitan Sotirios and many others spoke at the banquet.

The great benefactor of the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Community in Laval, Mr. Eftychios Tomadakis, who offered $200,000, was honoured.

Fr. N. Mostratos, Parish Priest of the Community, was responsible for the general program and offered, on behalf of the Parish, a Byzantine icon to the great benefactor.

On Sunday morning, October 2nd, Metropolitan Sotirios, assisted by Fr. L. Kamberidis, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Community in DDO, Quebec.

Metropolitan Sotirios focused his homily on the Gospel passage: "Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful." He said that if God was not merciful, He would not have sent His only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the result would be that we would have remained outside paradise. If we are not merciful the result will be the same. We will remain outside paradise. He continued by mentioning the practical application of being merciful.

A meal was offered to everyone following the Divine Liturgy and the youth presented a music program with piano and dance.