From the Desk of Father David

: Fr. David Belden

Welcome to St. Theodore’s, the only all English-language parish of the True Orthodox Church in Toronto.

Our Bishop, Metropolitan Moses, is a member of the Synod of the Genuine Orthodox Christians of Greece under Archbishop Kallinikos of Athens and All Greece.

The ONLY reason for the existence of the Church is for the salvation of our souls! If we can make the world a better place to be in doing so, so much the better. Unfortunately, most of the denominations today have reversed this order.

St. Theodore’s offers an English-language Liturgy every Sunday at 10 A.M. for those who live in Toronto and west of the city. Our sister parish of St. Joseph of Arimathea in Pickering, also serves Toronto and points east of the city.

Confessions are heard at 9:30 A.M., or anytime by appointment. Sick calls, house Blessings, instruction in the Faith are also part of the ministry at St. Theodore’s. Fr. David has also given talks on the Faith for the Anglicans, Presbyterians and others. He is also our “Missionary-at-Large” and serves wherever a priest may be needed…often at a moment’s notice. On such occasions, St. Theodore’s congregation worships with our Greek-language “Mother Church” in the same building.

St. Dunstan’s Orthodox Mission, meeting in the side chapel of St. Olave’s Anglican Church, from 2007, returned as St. Theodore’s in 2012, to the space occupied by St. Joseph of Arimathea from 1985 – 1995. We are so happy to be back!

We thank our “Mother”, St, Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church for housing us; giving us all our supplies, etc. In return, we are able to provide an all English-language ministry to converts and those who prefer to worship in the vernacular.

The following verses are from St. Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, Chapter 14:

“For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God, for no man understandeth him.” (14:2)

“So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air.” (14:9)

“What is it then? I shall pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.” (14:15)

“How shall the unlearned give thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified.” (14:16,17.)

“Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, then ten thousand in an unknown tongue.” (14:19)

“Let all things be done unto edifying.” (14:26)

“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.” (14:33)

“Let all things be done decently and in order.” (14:40)

All Welcome!

Fr. David