Met Youth Edmonton
10831 124 St T5M 0H4 Edmonton, AB, Canada

On Monday we’ll be having a virtual Theophany retreat! The meeting ID is 994 7393 2318. DM us for the password!

This coming year we’ll be starting a new newsletter series! On the first of every month we will be sending out our newsletter (on email). We will be including updates on what we’ve been doing, our upcoming events for the month and more! Make sure you subscribe by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/mZYWdCriojaB6rFx8

We would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and safe New Year 2021!

We had a great virtual advent retreat yesterday! We even had some of our friends from Calgary and Ottawa join! Stay tuned for the next one!

Today, after liturgy a few of our youth members helped to decorate the church in preparation for Christmas.

On Monday we’ll be having a virtual Advent retreat! The meeting ID is 964 2347 7570. DM us for the passcode!

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT CONCERNING CHRISTMAS SERVICES: (PLEASE NOTE THAT ONLY 50 PEOPLE CAN BE PRESENT AT EACH SERVICE)

We have a special fundraiser happening this month! We will be auctioning off a very special icon of the Dormition of the Theotokos. This would be the perfect Christmas gift for the Maria, Panagiotis, Panagiota, Despina, Mario’s, Marietta, Gesthimani, Krystal, Iliostalakti and many more in your life! It’s also a great addition for any household! We will be accepting bids to our social media DM’s or our email ([email protected]) from December 9th to 19th and we will be contacting the highest bidder on December 20th to collect their prize! The icon has dimensions of 15.5 x 12.5, with crystal accents, a gold leaf background, and a hand painted inscription. It was handcrafted by the sisters of the monastery of Parigoritissa in Brownsburg-Chatham, Quebec and is valued at $200.

Since we will be celebrating Christmas differently this year we would like everyone to share their Christmas trees and nativity scenes with us so that we still get to see everybody’s decorations! Make sure to message them to us through Instagram, Facebook or through email ([email protected])!

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra. Happy Nameday, , to all who celebrate today! A special Xroni...a Polla to @nickoz101 ! We hope everyone has a blessed Sunday #metyouthcanada #xroniapolla #greekorthodox

A letter from Father Andrew for all of the youth in the community.

A short message from Fr Andrew regarding the Nativity fasting season:

A letter from our youth board on the status of our events until further notice.

Reminder that we are still accepting donations for our bottle drive!

28 1940 Long live Greece. Happy OXI day from Met Youth Canada.

We had a great time pumpkin carving tonight!

On Monday we will be carving pumpkins! Please message us if you are coming. Reminder that masks are mandatory!

On behalf of Met Youth Canada, we would like to wish everyone a happy and blessed thanksgiving! #metyouthcanada #thanksgiving

We are pleased to announce that during Fr Andreas' October absence, two wonderful and illustrious priests will be joining us for Sunday Divine Liturgy. Please c...ome out to greet these great veterans of Edmontonian Orthodoxy and thank them for stepping up to the plate! Sunday October 4 & 18- Stephen Keaschuk Sunday October 11 & 25 Fr Mircea Panciuk (Please note that we will begin at 10AM on each Sunday. Live streaming will not be available during this time but links will be provided to other live streams.)

We had an a-MAZE-ing time at the corn maze today!

Join us this Thursday to get lost in the Edmonton Corn Maze! We will be meeting at 6pm at the main entrance of the maze. Please pre-purchase your ticket online for the 6pm time slot at edmontoncornmaze.ca. Please remember to bring your mask! Address: 26171 Garden Valley Road ... Spruce Grove, Alberta If you have any questions please message us or email us at [email protected]

Today, on September 14th, we commemorate one of the Great Feasts; The Elevation of the Holy Cross. As You were voluntarily raised upon the cross for our sa...ke, Grant mercy to those who are called by Your Name, O Christ God; Make all Orthodox Christians glad by Your power, Granting them victories over their adversaries, By bestowing on them the Invincible trophy, Your weapon of Peace. - Kontakion (Tone 4) to all who celebrate today: Stavros and Stavroula See more

For those able to help: Our supply of Prosphora is starting to get extremely low. If someone is able to bring a few in, it would be greatly appreciated! Haven't attempted it before? Here's a recipe! https://myocn.net/recipe-prosforo-church-bread/

Our updated June schedule is now available. Please be advised that weekday liturgies will only be streamed until further notice.

SPECIAL NOTICE Beloved parishioners, As I have announced, our temple will be reopening on Pentecost Sunday which Falls on Sunday June 7. With this joyous announ...cement comes a list of requirements which must be strictly adhered to. These do not constitute a compromise of the Orthodox faith, but rather a charitable act towards the health of the crown of God’s creation, the human person. The requirements were made in consultation with both ecclesiastical and civil authorities and will remain in effect until such a time that this pandemic will pass. The measures are as follows: 1. The Church is open to the faithful on a first come, first serve basis. We are currently opening for up to thirty (30) persons. This is to ensure that we have enough space for necessary volunteers as well as many faithful. When we have reached capacity, doors will be locked. 2. Upon entering the church, the temperature of Every attendant will be taken. Those with fever will be denied entry. The same applies to those with COVID-19 Symptoms. We highly suggest that everyone use the COVID-19 self assessment tool prior to coming to church. 3. Hand sanitizer will be provided as soon as you are admitted to the church. We will be able to provide a limited number of masks as well but we strongly encourage you to bring your own. 4. Social distancing methods are in full effect. You will notice that the candle stand is blocked off by a table. This is to assure that there is limited contact between volunteers and parishioners. A distance of at least six feet must be kept between all persons. To accommodate this, we have taped off pews and request that all present please respect the seating arrangements. Likewise there will be tape placed on the floor indicating where to stand for Holy Communion., etc. 5. An usher system will be implemented for seating and Holy Communion. This will ensure that there is order in the church. *** 6. All pew books have been removed as of March 22. These will remain in storage until such a time that restrictions are lifted. Personal prayer books are welcomed. 7. Veneration of the Sacred images (Icons,Gospel book, Cross, Priests hand) cannot be done via kissing. Instead, a contactless bow. This remains the typical mode of veneration of Icons throughout various places where Orthodoxy is the predominant Christian faith tradition. 8. Collection will not occur during Liturgy but the faithful will be able to give their offerings upon entering or leaving the church. 9. The soleas is entirely off limits*** 10. Instructions for Holy Communion will be given by the celebrating Priest at the time of Holy Communion. 11. Antidoron will not be distributed at this time and the same applies for Artos. 12. Coffee hour will not follow liturgy. 13. Memorial wheat (Kolyva) will not be used. 14. Persons are asked not to crowd the entrance or any other area of the church after services. *** 15. For the time being, Liturgy will only be open to the public on Sunday. All other services will be streamed. (*** indicates a permanent change that will remain after restrictions are lifted) We realize that these directives may seem restrictive but they are for the benefit of everyone, especially those most vulnerable to COVID-19. Those who are immunocompromised should stay at home and view the live streams provided during services. I wish to clarify that our goal remains the same: To bring as many people to Christ as possible. It is not our goal to exclude, but rather to include in different ways all of the members of the Body of Christ. Technological advances have proven to be a major blessing during these difficult times, allowing for faithful to participate in the services no matter where they were or what circumstances they found themselves in. For this same reason, our services will continue to be streamed. Above all, it is commanded of us by Our Lord to conduct ourselves in a manner best befitting the name Christian This means that we are to emulate the example of our Lord and exercise perfect love in all things we do. To do otherwise is to place ourselves outside of the Kingdom. May God's mercy continue to be poured down on us and may we work together in perfect love during this time of plague. In Christ, Fr Andrew

Yesterday we were blessed to have @metyouthedmonton come in and clean and sanitize our church for our future reopening. With social distancing procedures being ...followed to a "T", it was a unique yet fun experience. Our beautiful temple has never been so clean! A big thank you to all the youth that participated! See more

St George's is now on Instagram! Scan the nametag below to follow!

Met Youth BINGO ! Let’s see who gets a bingo. Repost and tag @metyouthcanada and #metyouthbingo

Beloved in the Lord, ! Christ is risen!... During this difficult time, we have been blessed to be able to keep in touch with all of you via Facebook livestreams and the other social media platforms that our parish is actively using. This has been a huge blessing to all of us, especially for those living in remote areas and those who are shut-in. While providing these services is a great joy to us, our church continues to need funding for basic upkeep. This will ensure that future generations will be able to work out their salvation here at St George's. Being called to be stewards of the house of God, we are responsible for the upkeep of the church and it's property. This is the same commission that our Lord gave to man in the first place where man had communion with God, the Garden of Eden, while addressing Adam and Eve: Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it. Genesis 2:15 Of any time in the history of our parish, this is when our Lord is calling us to step up to the plate and take our position as true stewards to his holy house. From the handful of Greeks that would gather at St Barbara's Russian Orthodox Cathedral, to the first congregation of St George's that purchased the property and built the first temple on Jasper Avenue, to the present day, God has called us to emulate those before us and care for his Church. For those of you that say you cannot give because your gift would be too small, I remind you of the widow who gave what little she had into the temple treasury. Never be ashamed of what little you are able to give. Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood. Mark 12:41-44 Together, we can move mountains and be a true light to an increasingly darkened world. I have never and will never ask you to do something that I myself am not able to do. On this principle alone, I have kept up my stewardship obligation via my weekly stewardship envelopes to the church and will continue to give as I am able to. Realizing my own imperfection, I ask that we remember the words of the Apostle Paul concerning emulating his example: Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. 1 Corinthians 11:1 Being called to be the body of Christ, and stewards of God's creation, let us all give cheerfully in hopes of a brighter future, basing in the resurectional light of God's grace. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 With love in Christ, Your servant, Fr Andreas Allain +

Watch at: https://www.facebook.com/gocedmonton/ (No Facebook account required)

Dearest faithful, As we all know, Holy Week is fast approaching. This year is an exceptional Holy Week as all of the services will be streaming and we will be a...t home for the services. I know that this is exceptionally difficult for you, and for this reason I have decided to compile all of the services of Holy Week into one post for ease of access. The links are from AGES Digital chant stand and may differ slightly from the Papadeas Holy Week book (pictured below), but will follow the general structure found in the book. The only service missing from the Papadeas book is the bridegroom service of the Mystical Supper on Holy Wednesday, which is linked below. I wish you all a blessed and spiritually fruitful Holy Week as we journey with our Lord from the raising of Lazarus, through his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, at the table during his Mystical Supper, through his Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, his arrest, trial and crucifixion, descent into Hades and finally, the greatest event of all time, his third day Resurrection! With Love in Christ, Fr Andreas _______________________________________ Links to Holy Week Services: /Saturday of Lazarus https://www.agesinitiatives.com//li/gr-en/se.m04.d11.li.pdf /Palm Sunday https://www.agesinitiatives.com//li/gr-en/se.m04.d12.li.pdf /Bridegroom Service on Sunday Evening https://www.agesinitiatives.com//em/gr-en/se.m04.d13.em.pdf /Bridegroom Service on Monday Evening https://www.agesinitiatives.com//em/gr-en/se.m04.d14.em.pdf /Bridegroom Service on Tuesday Evening http://www.agesinitiatives.com//14/em/gr/se.m04.d15.em.pdf /Bridegroom Service on Wednesday Evening http://www.agesinitiatives.com//15/em/gr/se.m04.d16.em.pdf . . /Vesperal Liturgy of St. Basil of Holy Thursday http://www.agesinitiatives.com//16/vl/gr/se.m04.d17.vl.pdf Holy Week / The Twelve Passion Gospels on Thursday Evening http://www.agesinitiatives.com//16/em/gr/se.m04.d17.em.pdf Holy Week / Removal from the Cross on Friday Afternoon http://www.agesinitiatives.com//17/ve/gr/se.m04.d18.ve.pdf /Graveside Lamentation on Friday Evening http://www.agesinitiatives.com//17/em/gr/se.m04.d18.em.pdf . /. ( )/Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil (First Resurrection) http://www.agesinitiatives.com//18/vl/gr/se.m04.d19.vl.pdf /Services of the Resurrection on Saturday Evening http://www.agesinitiatives.com//c/gr-en/se.m04.d19.co1.pdf http://www.agesinitiatives.com//19/ma/gr/se.m04.d19.ma.pdf http://www.agesinitiatives.com//19/li/gr/se.m04.d19.li.pdf /Vespers of Agape http://www.agesinitiatives.com//19/ve/gr/se.m04.d20.ve.pdf

Practical Home Worship Guide For Live Streamed Divine Services Blessings beloved, Hope you are doing well and adhering to Corona Virus health safety measures.... In addition to the daily Reader Services (Compline, Salutations, Typika etc.) and Daily Prayers, we encourage that you also participate in home worship via our parish's live streamed Divine services on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/st.andrews.noarlunga) and Divine Services from other Churches from SA, Australia and abroad. Attached are a few tips for your consideration when participating in live streamed Divine Services at home. In Christ, Fr Michael Psaromatis Below are some links to Live streams of Holy Services: https://www.stgeorgethebarton.org/live.html https://www.youtube.com/user/greekcathedral http://www.tv4e.gr/livestreaming.php https://www.goarch.org/live-broadcasts https://www.radioena.com.au Directory of live streams: orthodoxonline.net.au

Due to preventative measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, we have decided to postpone our Shroud of Turin event to a future date when it is safe. We strongly encourage everyone to follow the health guidelines suggested by Alberta Health Services and the Canadian government. As well we ask that everyone continues to pray for a quick global recovery and for strong faith during this time. Please remember that church services still continue as normal at this time and that Holy Unction will be offered after every church service.

As you all may know by now, COVID-19 (coronavirus) has been declared a global pandemic. The best thing we could do to stop the spread of this virus is follow wh...at health officials and the Canadian government are telling us to do. That being said, all non-essential meetings and events that would have been hosted by any of our youth groups are cancelled until further notice. All our youth groups have been notified and instructed to cancel all weekly gatherings, or any planned regional assemblies We urge everyone to read the following encyclical from His Eminence Archbishop Sotirios and proceed accordingly. https://www.gometropolis.org//encyclical-of-archbishop-so/ Everyone must stay safe and limit unnecessary public interaction. And most of all continue to pray for quick global recovery and strong faith in these trying times!

Let's journey together!

Orthodox fasting - it's not just about food...

This past weekend, five of our youth and Fr. Andrew were able to attend the Met Youth Regina Regional retreat. We would like to thank Met Youth Regina again for inviting us and organizing this amazing retreat. We have returned to Edmonton more knowledgeable in our Greek Orthodox faith, made countless memories and gained new friendships!

Just a friendly reminder concerning our trip to the regional youth retreat in Regina. There were two conditions that needed to be met in order to attend: 1. Attendance at Church twice a month for Father to approve your attendance. 2. Attendance and volunteer at our Youth Sunday events within reason for Met youth to comp your ticket. ... If these have not been met, then you will not be able to attend. These are the rules which were agreed upon at our first Met Youth meeting in September of 2019. Met Youth is a FAITH BASED organization with the goal of involving Orthodox Youth in the life of the church. We encourage all youth to attend our events and welcome all with open arms. In Christ, Fr Andrew

Discussed in this video are our values as a group, our event schedule for 2020, and why you or your child should join our group this year!