St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral

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St. Elias Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral is an Antiochian Eastern-Orthodox cathedral in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 2975 Riverside Drive just east of Mooney's Bay, south of the Hog's Back Falls. The pastor of the cathedral is Ghattas Hajal.HistoryThe congregation was founded in 1929 by immigrants from Kfarmishki, Lebanon. They originally worshiped in a church downtown, that is today St. Elijah's Housing. In part due to the Lebanese Civil War the Antiochian Eastern-Orthodox population of Ottawa increased dramatically in the 1970s and 1980s and the congregation began to look for a larger home. The land was purchased in 1975, and the church was built from 1990 to 1992. In 2000 it was consecrated as a cathedral.The Diocese of Ottawa today covers Eastern Canada and Upstate New York.Vesper services are usually held on Saturday evenings. Sunday morning consists of matins at 8:45 AM, followed by the divine liturgy. The annual Lebanese Fun Festival is held in the parking lot every July and draws Lebanese and non-Lebanese alike from all over Ottawa.