Saints Archangels Michael and Gabriel celebrated in Montreal

The belief in the work of angelic powers is an important fact in the Orthodox Church. Angels are heavenly and spiritual powers that carry out God's will and are part of God's redemptive plan.

On the occasion of the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian was present in Montreal at the parish that has the two Holy Archangels as protectors. The hierarch was present the evening before at the Vespers service where he spoke about the role of angelic powers and St. Archangel Michael and Gabriel in the history of salvation. The next day he served the Holy Liturgy. Together with the hierarch of Canada, served Rev. Fr. Constantin Ciubotariu - parish priest, Rev. Fr. Elie Touma (Antiochian Church) and Rev. Fr. Stefan Bigham (OCA).

"The work of salvation originates in the work of the Son of God, St. Paul tells us - the hierarch specified. He incarnated from the Virgin Mary and lived among us. So, the knowledge of the work of the Kingdom of Heaven is a fact due to the preaching of the Son of God, the Savior Christ. He spent time among us and spoke to the Holy Apostles about the Kingdom of Heaven.

But the Apostle of the Gentiles says even more: those who proved this to us were the Holy Apostles who saw and touched Christ. There are those who heard His preaching, saw the miracles He performed, saw His divine power and believed in Him.

But God did not leave this preaching unstrengthen by signs and wonders. The latter reinforced the preaching heard and transmitted from generation to generation in the Church through the people chosen by God. They were strengthened in turn by the powers and gifts of the Holy Spirit."

"Christ in His redemptive work suffered death for each of us. He sacrificed Himself in such a way that each one of us would have the possibility according to the measure of faith to be able to turn towards God. But this depends on the freedom of man. The will to listen to the word of God proclaimed through His servants is a freely consented act of man. Through it, man manifests his freedom to enter the sanctifying and transforming work of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit. And the heavenly powers have shown themselves throughout human history to be the messengers and the heralds of God's will and workers of God and defenders of this path."

Fr. Constantin Ciubotariu thanked the hierarch for his presence and those present for their participation.

After the final blessing, the participants could enjoy the fraternal agape prepared by the community.