CANADIAN DIOCESE: April 10, 2009
The Parishes of the Canadian Diocese Hold Fundraisers

On the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross in London, Canada, and on the fourth Sunday of Great Lent in Ottawa, fundraisers were held to benefit an orphanage in Chernovitsa, Ukraine. The House of Children there is operated by nuns of the Boyansk Convent of the Diocese of Chernovitsa and Bukovino under the omophorion of His Eminence Metropolitan Onouphry.

In 2003, after a visit to Pochaev Lavra, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurus, accompanied by Protodeacon Victor Lochmatov, his cell-attendant Nicholas Olhovsky and his brother Mikhail Shkurla, traveled from Slovakia to Chernovitsa through Ternopol. On the steps of the cathedral, the late Vladyka Laurus was greeted by Metropolitan Onouphry.  During his trip, Metropolitan Laurus visited the flourishing monasteries of the diocese, making his final stop to the orphanage at Boyansk Convent, some 20 kilometers from the city.

Seeing the visitors, the orphans, many of whom are invalids, rushed outside, hugging and kissing them. The effect this had on the guests was indescribable.

Hearing of this trip from Vladyka Laurus, Protopriest Vladimir Morin of London and Priest Stelian Liabotis of Ottawa had their parishes organize benefit dinners to support the orphanage. Both events were attended by Fr Victor, who recounted his visit with the Metropolitan to the orphanage and shared photographs of the event.

Thanks to the generosity of the parishioners, each parish raised several thousand dollars. For the Ottawa parish, this is the fourth such Great Lenten fundraiser.

More information on this and other orphanages may be found at cirota.ru