September
14, 2009
Red
Bank, NJ: Bishop Meletiy of Khotin led the Divine Liturgy in St.
Nicholas Church
On
Sunday, September 13, on the feast of the Placing of the Cincture of
the Mother of God, the vicar bishop of the Chernovtsy Diocese (Ukranian
Orthodox Church), His Grace, Bishop Meletiy of Khotin, celebrated the
Divine Liturgy in Red Bank, in the
Church
of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.
His
Grace was co-served by Priest Jonah Campbell (assistant to the
rector), Hierodeacon Nikita (Vladika's cell attendant), and Deacon
Leonid Roschko, in the presence of many worshipers. Vladyka delivered
an excellent sermon on the topic of the Gospel reading, in which he
explained the importance of living a Christian life so that we may be
worthy of being called one of the "chosen." At the end of
the Liturgy, Fr. Jonah greeted Bishop Meletiy and outlined the unique
brotherly and spiritual ties between the parish of St. Nicholas and
the Chernovtsy Diocese along with her ruling hierarch, Metropolitan
Onufry. On behalf of the rector, Fr. Jonah presented Vladyka with an
icon of St. John of Shanghai, along with two bottles of oil from his
tomb. Vladyka expressed his gratitude to Metropolitan Hilarion, rector
Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and all the parishioners for their warm
reception and the opportunity to perform the Holy Eucharist in St.
Nicholas Church. He expressed a special greeting in Ukrainian to his
fellow countrymen, who have found a new spiritual family in America.
Tears were seen on the eyes of parishioners, who were overjoyed to see
their beloved hierarch serve the Divine Liturgy in their parish.
After
the Liturgy, a festive luncheon was held in honor of Vladyka in the
parish hall, where parishioners had an opportunity to socialize with
one another and speak to the hierarch. Later that same evening,
Vladyka hosted a spiritual discussion and dinner for the parish clergy
and parishioners.
