Blessed Saint Xenia of Petersburg Russian Orthodox Church

As our parish prepares to celebrate the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we are pleased to share the schedule of upcoming services and activities. On Tuesday, 6 January 2026, the Royal Hours will be served from 10:00 to 11:00 AM; this service takes its name from the ancient tradition of the Byzantine Emperor and his court attending at Hagia Sophia, expressing submission to Christ, the true King, and today it is celebrated only three times a year: on the Eve of the Nativity, the Eve of Theophany, and Great Friday. An All-Night Vigil will follow that evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. On Wednesday, 7 January 2026,…

Dear Parishioners, We are delighted to announce that, in keeping with our cherished tradition, our annual Children’s Yolka Pageant will take place after the Liturgy on 11 January 2026. We warmly invite you to register your children and grandchildren to participate. To do so, please send the following information to Anastasia Polonskaya at piano.apolon@gmail.com: As in previous years, Grandfather Frost will join us after the concert to offer his greetings and distribute gifts to the children, graciously organized by our sisterhood. If you would like to support the organization of this joyful event, donations may be made via e-transfer to donations@stxenia.ca or in cash. We look forward to celebrating together…

St. Xenia Parish has a long-standing tradition of hosting the annual Blini Fundraising Luncheon. Last year’s event was a great success, thanks to the efforts of the parish council, the Sisterhood, and the many volunteers who helped with the preparations. This year, the Parish Council, Sisterhood, and Brotherhood are again organizing the event for our community, which will take place on February 15, 2026, at 12:30 PM. Funds raised will go toward the parish’s operational requirements, with a special focus on helping those in need. A traditional pre-Lenten Russian meal, the Maslenitsa or Butter Week menu, will be offered, including blini, red salmon caviar, and various other traditional toppings. A…

On September 28, the Patronal Feast Day in honour of Blessed St. Xenia of Petersburg was joyfully celebrated at St. Xenia Parish. The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was led by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, with many parishioners and honoured guests in attendance. The service was further enriched by the participation of the choir from the local St. Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church, under the guest direction of Conductor Elias Dubelsten.

Father Oleg, accompanied by several parishioners from St. Xenia Parish, made a pilgrimage to Mount Athos in the spring of 2025. The holiness and beauty of this sacred place are beyond imagination and continue to reveal themselves in the heart long after the journey ends. These photos were taken during their blessed pilgrimage.

Every year, on the feast day of St. Herman of Alaska, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad youth gather for a multi-day St Herman’s Youth Conference that includes lectures, beautiful hierarchical services, and social events. Each year, different parishes host the conference, providing resources to make this important gathering possible. The year 2024 marked the 45th anniversary of the conference, hosted by the Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church in Toronto, thanks to a dedicated organizing committee and an active Sisterhood.

This year, the Annual Lenten Pastoral Retreat of the Canadian Diocese took place from April 8 to 10 at the Church of Blessed St Xenia of Petersburg. The ruling Hierarch, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal and Canada, presided over the retreat. It should be noted that our Vladyaka has been instrumental in organizing these sessions for more than two decades. During his opening remarks, His Eminence spoke about the history of the Canadian Diocese, which has had to endure many difficulties in the 21st Century. Despite this, the number of parishes and communities has been increasing, with new communities springing up in Vancouver, Alberta, and, Quebec City since 2023. This Fall,…

In the last days of the 30th Church Musicians’ Conference in Ottawa, Canada, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas, First Hierarch of the Russian Church Outside of Russia, presided at an all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy on the day of remembrance of St. Sergius in the Church of Blessed St. Xenia of Petersburg in Ottawa. Along with the large choir of conference participants, His Eminence Archbishop Gabriel of Canada, Archpriest Vladimir Morin, Archpriest Oleg Mironov, Archpriest Mikhail Metni, Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky, Deacon Andrey Anishchenko, and Deacon Seth Davidenko also participated in the service. In his remarks to the church musicians and parishioners, Vladyka Nicholas emphasized the importance of the church singing ministry…