To this day, I have prayed here, in an expanse I am visiting, in three churches that are affiliated to our diocese in North America. It is such a precious tradition that we make a pilgrimage to the local saints in whatever city we happen to be in. I have been told about churches here ...
Read moreMonthly Archives: August 2023
Notre-Dame Basilica
When my daughter pointed out to me the Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal, first by talking about it, then from a brochure about it, she told me: “dad, talking is nothing like seeing”. Prepare yourself. Tomorrow, we will visit it”. I have not abandoned the view of our heritage that links visiting churches to worship. Nevertheless, ...
Read moreOne of the Most Precious Gifts
My two eldest grandchildren race to accompany me on my walking in this beautiful expanse. In these days in which I have known the country, sometimes, the four seasons of the year could pass in a single hour. Days ago, when I left the house, it was springtime. In a few minutes it turned into ...
Read moreGod is Here
Every human being carries a message. These days on which I went out to walk here, two people spoke to me. The first man asked me about the hour. I got the message! Wherever I am, my call is to extend to the hour, to the one which Jesus has asked us to spend our ...
Read moreA Precious Call
On the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, after the Divine Liturgy, the brethren in the Orthodox Youth Movement, in Hazmieh, organize every year a general meeting in a mountainous area, in which they enjoy nature together, and share the Word, bread and salt. This year, I did not participate with them in their ...
Read moreFeast of the City
Thirty-five years ago, one of the brethren priests in Mount Lebanon proposed to some priests in his neighborhood the idea of celebrating together the feasts of the patron saints of their parish churches. However, the idea did not materialize. Yesterday, here, in the city of Montreal, believers from the parishes of the city responded to ...
Read moreGreater than Language
4% of the population of Montreal are Arabs! The insanity of politics and the fear for their fate and their children has driven most of them to emigrate out of their countries. When my friend Samir Abi-Ghanem bade me farewell before I travelled, he told me that, here, in this city whose inland seaports open ...
Read moreThe Face of Jesus
In my son’s house, an icon of Jesus is placed above the entrance door. My son knows that it is not part of our heritage to put the icon in our homes, in other than an inner room, in the place of prayer, on the eastern wall. The icon is not for public display, but ...
Read moreThe Church of Wisdom
The priest does not move from one diocese to another prior to his obtaining his presiding bishop’s permission and that of the bishop in whose diocese he will reside. Before my departure, I visited Metropolitan Silouan Moussi to ask for his blessing and prayers. I learned that he would write to Metropolitan Saba Isper that ...
Read moreThe Mystery of the Church
Of those I met in this wide expanse, are relative brethren, some of whom I did not know were here. We met in our home, in the Church. How wondrous is the mystery of the Church! How wondrous is her ability to break the boundaries between people, regardless of their origin, color, or gender… wondrous ...
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