† Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor, Vancouver

Dear and beloved Father Seraphim,

With grateful hearts, the clergy and faithful of Holy Resurrection Sobor warmly congratulate you on your 80th birthday.

We especially cherish the fact that your spiritual journey in Orthodoxy began in our parish, where, as a theology student, you first came to the Orthodox Church and embraced the Orthodox faith.

From this beginning, the Lord guided you to a remarkable ministry, through which tens Orthodox parishes were established across Canada.

Throughout the years, you have continually supported our parish with wisdom, pastoral care, and prayer, helping us resolve many important challenges and grow stronger in faith and unity.

Now, in your monastic life, you continue to serve the Church through prayer, humility, and faithful devotion to Christ.

Your daily work compiling the History of Orthodoxy in Canada on your website https://orthodoxcanada.ca is invaluable.

We prayerfully wish you good health, inner peace, spiritual joy, and abundant God’s grace for many blessed years.

With love and gratitude,

Clergy, Parish Council and Parishioners of Holy Resurrection Russian Orthodox Sobor

Благодарственный Гимн Свято-Воскресенского Собора

Господи, Свет наш и Сила,
Ты нас ведешь сто лет,
Храм этот — дивная милость,
Здесь исполняем Завет.

С Верой пришли в эту Землю
Из бури и тьмы веков,
Твое Воскресенье встретили,
Здесь расцвела Любовь.

Свет Православия Божьего
Пришел чрез Аляску в Америку
Благословение Господа
Российскому проповеднику

Миссионерам скитальцам
Посланцам Святой России
За помощь американцам
Слава и память, благие.

Святитель Тихон (Белавин)
Создатель местных Епархий
В России Церковь возглавил
И стал ее Патриархом.

Отец Антонин Покровский
Наш основатель прихода
Помог иммигрантам российским
Воссоединиться с Богом

Трудами отца Серафима
Приходами выросла Паства
Не раз он помог заблудшим
Вернуться на путь Христианства

Служенье Андрея Сомова
С матушкой Генриэттой
Украсило Храм иконами
И витражами нетленными

Приход обновился заново
С отцом Михаилом Фуриком
Мы укрепились финансово
И в Вере стоим незыблемо.

Серафим нас в скорбях утешил,
Иреней нас ныне ведёт,
Ты, Господь, нам будь прибежищем,
Дух Твой в наших сердцах живёт.

Благодарим Тебя, Боже,
За край, где наш дом и свет.
Канада, принявшая Верных,
Храни нас в любви сто лет!

Свет Христов — навеки с нами,
Собор наш — любви завет.
Аминь.

Припев
Слава Тебе, Господи Милостивый,
Благослови наш приход!
Под Покровом Святой Богородицы
Пусть Воскресенье живёт!

Holy Resurrection Hymn

O Lord, our Light, and our Strength,
For more than a hundred years,
You have been leading us, and feeding us
In this Holy Temple – a wondrous mercy!
Here we fulfill Your Covenant.

Refrain
Glory be to You, O All-Merciful Lord!
Bless our beloved parish family!
Under the Protection of the Holy Theotokos,
May the Resurrection Church live on!

With Faith we came to this Land
From the storm and darkness of ages.
We met Your Holy Resurrection here –
And here Love blossomed.

The Light of the Holy Orthodox faith
Came through Alaska to America —
The Lord’s blessing
Through the Russian missionaries.

Glory and blessed memory!
To the wandering missionaries –
Messengers from Holy Russia,
For their help to those in North America.

Here Saint Tikhon of Moscow
Visited everywhere,
And he founded local dioceses.
In Russia, he was chosen
to lead the Church as Patriarch.

With Love, Father Antonin Pokrovsky,
Founder of this parish,
Helped the Russian immigrants
And he reunited with the Lord.

Through the labors of Father Seraphim
The flock of parishes grew.
Many times he helped the lost
Return to the path of Christ.

The service of Father Andrey Somov,
And of Matushka Henrietta
Adorned the Holy Temple with Holy icons
And with timeless stained glass.

The parish was refreshed anew
With Father Michael Fourik
and Matushka Elena.
We were strengthened financially,
And we now stand firm in the Faith.

Vladyka Seraphim comforted us in sorrow,
and now Vladyka Irenee leads us.
O Lord, you are our refuge –
Your Spirit lives within our hearts.

Refrain
Glory be to You, O All-Merciful Lord!
Bless our beloved parish family!
Under the Protection of the Holy Theotokos,
May the Resurrection Church live on!

We thank You also, O God,
For this land, our home and light –
this Canada, that received the Faithful —
Keep us in love for another hundred years!

The Light of Christ is forever with us,
Our Parish Council is a covenant of love.
Amen.