New Germany, Nova Scotia, Canada, August 7, 2025
Photo: goosechasemonastery.ca
The Hermitage of the Annunciation (Orthodox Church in America) in New Germany, Nova Scotia, has announced what it intends to be its first annual pilgrimage, scheduled for Saturday, September 20. The event will honor the Feast of the Birth of the Mother of God and marks Atlantic Canada's first pilgrimage of this kind.
The monastery, located on Goose Chase Road near New Germany, will welcome Orthodox Christians from across the Maritime Provinces for a day of prayer, worship, and community gathering, the monastery reports.
The day's events include:
9:00 Divine Liturgy
11:00 lunch
1:30 Akathist to the Mother of God and a procession to the cemetery
3:00 spiritual talk by abbot Papa Luc
4:00 Vespers
6:00 farewells and departures
According to the monastery, it has long desired to host an annual pilgrimage where Orthodox Christians from Atlantic Canada could gather in prayer and sing the praises of the Mother of God, who serves as the protectress of their community. However, scheduling proved challenging, as their patronal feast day of the Annunciation falls on March 25/April 7, during Lent and early spring weather conditions.
Finally, the brotherhood decided to schedule the annual pilgrimage as close as possible to the feast of the birth of the Mother of God on September 8/September 21.
Those interested in updates can sign up for pilgrimage email notifications by contacting monks@goosechasemonastery.ca. See the monastery site for information about nearby accomodations.
About the Hermitage
The Hermitage of the Annunciation grew from a monastic cell established in Halifax in 1994. The community relocated to their current countryside location in 2004, seeking a more secluded life in the rural landscape near New Germany.
The brotherhood operates under the protection of the Mother of God and focuses on contemplating humanity’s spiritual calling to give birth to God in the heart, as Mary did physically when she gave birth to Jesus. The monks practice lectio divina, the prayer of the heart, continual repentance, and attentiveness as part of their daily spiritual discipline.
The monastery describes itself as “a school of love” where everything is ordered toward intimacy with Christ and prayer. The brothers work the monastery grounds, creating fruitful gardens while grounding themselves in the surrounding fields and forests to provide for their community's needs.
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