St. John Maximovitch, Patron Saint of the Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood, Celebrated Together for the First Time by the Orthodox Clergy of the Region

On Saturday, July 18, 2026, St. George and St. Andrew Șaguna Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Windsor, Ontario, hosted a remarkable gathering of prayer, fellowship, and pan-Orthodox unity. On the occasion of the celebration of St. John Maximovitch, the heavenly patron of the Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated beginning at 10:00 a.m. by His Grace Ioan Casian, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada.

The hierarch concelebrated with the Orthodox clergy of Windsor and the surrounding region, members of the Brotherhood: Protosyncellus Corneliu Andrașco, rector of St. George and St. Andrew Șaguna Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Windsor and Exarch of the Monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada; Fr. Evangelos Aravantinos, Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Church, Windsor; Fr. Vlatko Golić, St. Demetrius Serbian Orthodox Church, Windsor; Fr. John Ayoub, St. John the Theologian Orthodox Church (OCA); Fr. Nicolae Codrea, Descent of the Holy Spirit Romanian Orthodox Church, Windsor; Fr. Emil Atanasov, St. Nicholas Macedonian Orthodox Church, Windsor; Fr. Milorad Delić, Gračanica Serbian Orthodox Church, Windsor; Fr. Marko Dimić, St. Paraskeva Serbian Orthodox Church, Lakeshore, Ontario; and Fr. Brian Payne, priest of Gračanica Serbian Orthodox Church, Windsor.

This Divine Liturgy held special significance, as it marked the first time that the members of the Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood solemnly celebrated together the feast of their heavenly patron, St. John Maximovitch.

The Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood, established as a forum for communion, cooperation, and mutual support among Orthodox clergy serving in the various canonical Orthodox jurisdictions present in the region, chose St. John Maximovitch as its patron saint in 2025.

The choice of this great saint of the Orthodox Church is deeply meaningful. St. John Maximovitch stands among the most radiant examples of an Orthodox bishop and missionary in North America. Through his holy life, missionary zeal, profound love for all people, and tireless labor in strengthening and spreading the Orthodox faith, he remains an inspiring model for all who are called to serve the Church in contemporary society.

In the missionary context of North America, Orthodox clergy are in constant need of authentic spiritual examples and the intercessions of saints who dedicated themselves sacrificially to the work of Christ's Church. For this reason, St. John Maximovitch was chosen as the Brotherhood's heavenly patron, with the hope that his prayers and example will strengthen the missionary ministry of the Orthodox clergy throughout Windsor-Essex.

At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian delivered an inspiring homily highlighting the life, holiness, and missionary ministry of St. John Maximovitch. He emphasized the enduring significance of the saint's example for the Orthodox Church today and for the missionary witness of Orthodoxy in North American society.

Following the service, Protos. Corneliu Andrașco, who serves as president of the Brotherhood since 2024, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian for the joy and blessing his presence and liturgical leadership brought to the Brotherhood's first patronal celebration.

He also thanked all the clergy for concelebrating and for their powerful witness to Orthodox unity and brotherhood, as well as the faithful whose participation, prayers, and love enriched this joyful celebration.

The Windsor-Essex Orthodox Clergy Brotherhood brings together clergy from the various canonical Orthodox jurisdictions represented in the area and serves as a beautiful example of cooperation and fraternity among the local Orthodox communities. Its members meet regularly, collaborate on various initiatives, and organize missionary and pastoral activities that strengthen and bear witness to the Orthodox faith throughout the Windsor-Essex community.

The celebration of St. John Maximovitch thus became a profound occasion of joy and communion, uniting Orthodox clergy and faithful from different traditions and canonical jurisdictions in prayer, inspired by the radiant example of one of the great missionaries of modern Orthodoxy.

(notes by Protos. Corneliu Andrașco)