On 25/26 October, the Feasts of the Holy Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council and the Iveron Icon of the Mother of God, with the blessing of Bishop Matthew, Priest Joshua Genig (Dean of the Central States and Rector of St. Innocent of Irktusk Parish) represented His Grace at the 100th anniversary of Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Cathedral (OCA) in Montreal.

On Saturday evening, the All-Night Vigil was served by the Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan Tikhon, the Archbishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada, His Grace Irénée, as well as many clergymen from Canada and the United States. Later in the evening, a fraternal meal was prepared for the clergy by the Cathedral sisterhood.

On Sunday morning, in the Cathedral filled to capacity with the faithful, the Festal Divine Liturgy was served by Metropolitan Tikhon and Archbishop Irénée, together with clergy from throughout North America. The spirit was one of prayer, celebration, and gratitude. Immediately following the Divine Liturgy, both hierarchs conveyed their blessings and greetings to the faithful.

Fr. Joshua, on behalf of Bishop Matthew, read a letter marking this centenary and our common history. It read, in part:

The glorious jubilee now being celebrated, together with all the stages of the founding of Saints Peter and Paul parish, reminds us of our common history, which spiritually unites all Orthodox Christians on the North American continent. Under the omophorion of the great hierarch of the Church of Christ—the future Patriarch Tikhon—priests, missionaries, and the laity of many nationalities labored to establish and strengthen the Orthodox Faith in North America. The founder and first rector of the Cathedral in New York, the Holy New Martyr Alexander Hotovitzky, was the first priest to celebrate the Divine Liturgy in this God-protected city, laying the foundation for a parish that remains to this day a hospitable House of God for Orthodox Christians of various nationalities living in Montreal and its surroundings…. Through the prayers of Saint Tikhon and Father Alexander Hotovitzky, may the Lord establish this temple until the end of time, and under its arches may prayers ever be offered for the peace of the whole world and for the salvation of our souls!

In turn, both Metropolitan Tikhon and Archbishop Irénée expressed their gratitude for the presence of the Moscow Patriarchate at this festive occasion and for our common mission carried out in brotherly love and collaboration in the United States and Canada.