LEADERSHIP
Our Lord, God, and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
is the Head of the Church, which is His Body. According to the Scriptures, He alone is the Good Shepherd and the Great High Priest.
To Him is due all glory, honour, and worship!
During His earthly ministry, the Lord chose and sent out Apostles – the Twelve (Matthew 10:2, Mark 3:14, Luke 6:12) and the Seventy (Luke 10.1-16). These Apostles in turn ordained Deacons and others for the work of the Kingdom of God. Through the laying on of hands, by the Grace of the Holy Spirit through the Mystery of Holy Ordination, an unbroken link has been maintained in the Orthodox Church – from Jesus Christ until today.
The Bishops of the Church are the successors to the Apostles and carry on the ministry of overseeing Christ’s Holy Church. The Bishop in each territory (called a “Diocese”) ordains Presbyters (also called “Priests“) and Deacons (meaning “Servants”), to assist in leading the Church in each place. These servants of the Church teach, encourage, and support all Orthodox Christians to fulfill their calling to bring the love and healing of God to the world and all Creation.
The Most Reverend Irénée
Father Matthew Francis
Priest–in–charge
Holy Apostles Orthodox Mission Station
Archbishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada
Having grown up here, Fr. Matthew moved home to Chilliwack with his wife and son early in 2015, after living away for 19 years in Alberta and the U.K. He served as Priest of the St. Nikolai Mission in Whitehorse, and also served at St. Herman of Alaska Sobor in Edmonton. Father Matthew has a background in history and theology. He was ordained as a Deacon in the Orthodox Church in January 2010, and to the Holy Priesthood in December 2011. He served on the Archdiocesan Council for the Archdiocese of Canada, and was actively involved in leading Youth and Young Adult Ministries from 2006-2011.
Tel: (604) 845-1063 | orthodoxchilliwack@gmail.com
Archbishop Irénée was elected as Bishop of Ottawa and the Archdiocese of Canada by the Holy Synod of Bishops on October 21, 2014. Three weeks earlier, he had been nominated by clergy and lay delegates at the Extraordinary Archdiocesan Assembly held in Gatineau, QC. On on Saturday, November 29, 2014, he was enthroned at Annunciation/ Saint Nicholas Cathedral in Ottawa. His Eminence was elevated to the rank of Archbishop during the 2015 Spring Session of the Holy Synod.