October 1,
2014
Albany, NY: Bishop Nicholas celebrates Patronal Feast Day of
Nativity of the Mother of God Church
On
Saturday the 20th and Sunday the 21st of September, the parish of
the
Nativity of the Mother of God Church in the capital of the state
of New York, Albany, celebrated its patronal feast day. For several
days, parishioners worked on various repairs, landscaping, and
cleaning, in order to ensure the church and grounds were beautiful
for the feast.
On Saturday evening, the parish welcomed Bishop Nicholas of
Manhattan on his first visit to the parish since his hierarchal
consecration. Bishop Nicholas has been a longtime friend of the
parish. As an assistant to the ever-memorable Metropolitan Laurus,
he frequently accompanied the Metropolitan to the Albany parish,
seeing how that Vladyka Laurus greatly loved the community. The
parish has a decades-long relationship with Holy Trinity Monastery,
and indeed was founded by Archimandrite Panteleimon with the
blessing of Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko).
On Saturday evening, Bishop Nicholas arrived and the All-Night Vigil
began. His Grace was co-served by parish clerics: rector Archpriest
Alexis Duncan, Archpriest Michael Fritz, Priest Andrei Roudenko, and
Protodeacon Michael Soloviev, as well as Protodeacon Paul Wolkow
(cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY). The Vigil
was sung by the Youth Choir of the Eastern American Diocese under
the direction of Alexander Cooley. The choir loft was filled with
young people and the service was tremendously beautiful. The Litiya
was sung outdoors, and at each petition, the participants encircled
the church in procession. During Matins, Bishop Nicholas and all of
the clergy came to the center of the nave and sang the magnification
of the feast in the midst of a church filled with parishioners and
visitors. After the Vigil, a wonderful supper was prepared for the
guests in the church hall.
On Sunday morning, the meeting of the Bishop was followed by the
vesting of the hierarch and the Hours. The Divine Liturgy was sung
by the parish choir and included several new arrangements of the
sacred hymns masterfully performed. Joining the clergy who served at
Vigil were Archpriest Wsewelod Drobot, retired longtime rector of
the parish, Hieromonks Theophylact (Clapper-DeWell) and Anatoly
(Zilin) from Holy Trinity Monastery in nearby Jordanville, NY, as
well as Protodeacons Joseph Jarostchuk (St. John of Kronstadt
Memorial Church in Utica, NY), Nicholas Drobot (Holy New Martyrs of
Russia Church in Norwich, CT), and Alexander Jarostchuk (Holy
Epiphany Church in Boston, MA).
At
the Little Entrance, by decree of the Synod of Bishops, the jeweled
cross was awarded to Archpriest Michael Fritz for many years of
dedication and service to the Church. The service proceeded with
great solemnity and a spiritual peace prevailed, which was
noticeable to all present. Many communicants received the Divine
Mysteries from two chalices. After the dismissal, a procession made
its way around the church under breathtakingly blue skies. Bishop
Nicholas delivered a wonderful sermon for the feast.
All were invited to a festal luncheon in the church hall, which was
packed to capacity, and many tables were placed outside the hall in
the beautiful weather. The parish is known throughout the region for
its hospitality and truly magnificent meals. This feast was no
exception, and everyone dined on a delicious assortment of foods.
After the meal, the rector, Fr. Alexis, spoke about the gratitude we
must have to God for providing the parish with such a sense of
community and harmony. Bishop Nicholas delivered several words of
thanks to the sisterhood and the members of the parish.
During the Liturgy, word was received that Protodeacon Paul Wolkow’s
father Nicholas had reposed earlier that morning. Additionally, on
Saturday there reposed Matushka Eugenia Temidis’ father - Leonty.
Fr. Joseph intoned ‘Memory Eternal’ for the newly reposed. After the
thanksgiving prayer, friends enjoyed each other’s company and bade
farewell until the next opportunity to gather together.
Archpriest Alexis Duncan
Photos by Xenia Drobot
