On Sunday March 8, 2009 the Hierarchs and Clergy of the Winnipeg Orthodox Clergy Association gathered at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church to celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy. His Eminence Metropolitan John and His Grace Bishop Andriy led the service with clergy representing the various Orthodox jurisdictions in Winnipeg. The Pan Orthodox Choir provided the beautiful responses in various languages for this Vesperal Service. The church was filled with faithful representing the various Orthodox parishes and communities in Winnipeg.

His Grace, Bishop Andriy was invited to give the homily this year. He spoke on the troubled history that led to the establishment of the Sunday of Orthodoxy that celebrated the re-establishment of the proper place and veneration of Holy Images in the worship of the Church.

During the procession around the church, led by the Hierarchs and clergy, as has become the custom, children with Icons followed in procession. The parish hosted all in attendance to a fellowship following the service. A short program of introductions and explaining the work of WOCA was led by the president of WOCA, Protodeacon Taras Maluzynsky. He thanked Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos and the St. Demetrios Congregation for their hospitality and expressed that WOCA would continue the work of bringing the various Orthodox communities together.

Photo credit: Bill Economou