This post was originally published on this site
On July 15–17, 2026, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon traveled to Calgary, AB, to preside at the 2026 Canadian Archdiocesan Assembly.
His Beatitude was accompanied by Archpriest Alessandro Margheritino, Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America. Upon their arrival in Calgary on July 15, they were greeted at Calgary International Airport by Archpriest Phillip Eriksson, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Canada, and proceeded to Ambrose University, the venue for the Assembly, where he was greeted by His Eminence Archbishop Irénée.
That evening, Vespers were served by Priest Matthew Francis and Deacon Micah Friesen. Following Vespers, His Beatitude addressed the gathered clergy and faithful, speaking about Saint Vladimir, Equal-to-the-Apostles, as a fitting example for the Assembly.
“Here was one man, in one generation, who received the faith and chose — freely, and at some cost — to hand it on,” His Beatitude said. “Everything that has followed from that choice: a thousand years of the Church’s life among the Slavic peoples, the planting of Orthodoxy in North America, in time, the establishment of this very Archdiocese, its expansion and flourishing, including the succeeding gatherings of clergy, monastics, and faithful at events such as this Assembly, and even our evening prayer this evening — all of this flows from a single act of transmission.”
Read the full text of His Beatitude’s address
On Thursday, July 16, following the Divine Liturgy in the chapel, His Beatitude and Fr. Alessandro met with members of the Archdiocesan Council to discuss matters pertaining to the life of the Archdiocese.
Later that morning, His Beatitude presided at the Assembly session. Archpriest Rodion Luciuk presented a proposal for a Canadian clergy pension plan, Priest Andrew Applegate offered a report from the St. Tikhon’s Archdiocesan Stewards, and the Assembly received nominations for the Archdiocesan Council and Metropolitan Council.
Following the session, His Beatitude had lunch with the clergy wives. During the afternoon session, His Beatitude answered questions from the clergy and assembled delegates.
That evening, His Beatitude, His Eminence, and Fr. Alessandro attended the Assembly Banquet, held in the parish hall of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. During the banquet, Archpriest Matthew Francis, who serves as Regional Director for British Columbia and Yukon of the Canadian Bible Society, presented His Beatitude and His Eminence with copies of a newly translated version of the Gospel of John in the Blackfoot language, spoken by the member nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy in southern Alberta.
His Beatitude also offered remarks at the banquet, reflecting on the meaning of a common meal in the life of the Church.
His Beatitude said, “On a fundamental level, the Church has never really handed down bare information. She has handed down a table — from the manna in the wilderness, to the bread and cup Christ gave His disciples, to the Divine Liturgy we will serve together before this Assembly ends. God feeds His people first, and only afterward asks them to tell the story of having been fed.”
Read the full text of His Beatitude’s remarks
On Friday, July 17, His Beatitude presided at the celebration of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church in Calgary. Concelebrating with His Beatitude were His Eminence Archbishop Irénée, Fr. Alessandro, Fr. Phillip, the diocesan deans, and other clergy of the Archdiocese.
At the Little Entrance, His Beatitude awarded Igumen Vladimir Lysak the right to wear the jeweled cross and Priest Aleksey Isakov the right to wear the gold cross.
During the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude delivered the homily, speaking about the need to hold knowledge and love together in the life of the Church.
“This is a gentle reminder to us that often the complexities we are presented with in life are not problems to be solved but opportunities to love God so that we might be known by him, that is, receive his divine grace,” His Beatitude said. “And in this simple movement is where healing begins and where worship flows forth.”
Read the full text of His Beatitude’s homily
The liturgical responses were sung by the St. Peter the Aleut parish choir, joined by many Assembly delegates, under the direction of Mka. Barbara Eriksson.
Following the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Archbishop Irénée thanked His Beatitude for his time and expressed the love of the clergy and faithful for him. His Beatitude, in return, expressed his gratitude to His Eminence, to the clergy and faithful of the Archdiocese, and to all who had worked in preparation for the Assembly. He also noted the blessing of seeing the growth of Orthodoxy in Canada and the strong faith of the Archdiocese.
On behalf of Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut Church, Priest Jonathan Goossen presented His Beatitude with an icon of the parish’s patron saint, the original painted by a Canadian monastic in British Columbia.
Following the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude, the clergy, and the delegates returned to Ambrose University, where the Assembly concluded with a brunch, final presentation, and closing Molieben.
His Beatitude and Fr. Alessandro departed Calgary that afternoon.
