The Monasteries of Patrokosmas and Parigoritissa in Canada

In 1993, the then Diocese of Toronto (and now Archdiocese of Canada) purchased two large estates and founded the Monasteries of Patrokosmas (after Saint Kosmas of Aetolia) and Parigoritissa (after the Virgin Mary of Consolation).

The Patrokosmas Monastery is located just outside of Toronto, in a beautiful area of fifty acres. The monastery is comprised of sixteen nuns. Sister Alexia serves as Abbess. It is the first monastery to be established in the name of Saint Kosmas.

For its part, the Parigoritissa Monastery is located just outside Montreal on a magnificent expanse of three hundred acres of land. The monastery celebrates its Feast on August 23. It is comprised of twenty-four nuns and sister Thekla serves as Abbess.

Like every year, our Monasteries’ annual Feasts were each celebrated with Great Vespers and the Divine Liturgy. Archbishop Sotirios presided over both the Vespers and the Liturgies. All the priests from Montreal participated in the services at the Parigoritissa Monastery, while all the priests from Toronto attended the festivities at the Patrokosmas Monastery.

Thousands of devout pilgrims attended the Vespers and the Divine Liturgies. It was very moving to see such a large number of devout Christians receiving Holy Communion.

The choirs of the monasteries chanted Byzantine music in a superb manner. Everything was perfectly organized and all pilgrims left completely satisfied.

Archbishop Sotirios spoke with emotion on all occasions and even compared the era of Patrokosmas to the present time. At that time, the Orthodox faith was endangered by the Turks and Muslims. Now, Orthodox Christianity is under attack by atheism and rationalism.

We thank and glorify the Most Merciful God, the Virgin Mary of Consolation, and our Father Saint Kosmas for all the gifts they bestow on us.

Archbishop Sotirios has also composed hymns for our Monasteries (in Greek, below).