December 28, 2014
Brooklyn, NY: Bishop Nicholas celebrates Liturgy in Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church

On Sunday, December 28, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Holy New Martyrs & Confessors of Russia Church in Brooklyn, NY. His Grace was co-served by parish rector Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Archpriest Petro Kunitsky (parish cleric), Priest Igor Grytstyna (ROCOR cleric), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ). The presence of the wonderworking Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God was a great blessing for the clergy and faithful. Many parishioners communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries, which were offered from two chalices. Upon completion of the service, a moleben was served to the Most Holy Theotokos before her wonderworking icon.

Bishop Nicholas addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he touched on the Gospel Parable of the Banquet, on those called to God’s feast and those chosen. "Come to Me, I await you," said the King, and sent His servants to summon the guests to the wedding feast. But those who were summoned began to refuse, making excuses, claiming to be occupied or bound up in urgent business. The King was wroth and sent his servants to summon others – the sick, the withered, the hopeless. These people came, and the King bade his servant to go farther and invite more guests.

"The parable ends with the words, ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ The called are we ourselves, and the King is our Lord, Jesus Christ, Who even now called us to His banquet, calls each of us to His house, invites us to God’s church, invites us to the feast of the Divine Liturgy," said His Grace. "He calls us, that we might be with Him and share in this spiritual triumph. But we, unfortunately, are not the chosen. The Lord summons us, but we find various reasons not to come – we are busy with our earthly lives… Our Lord came, opened His church for us, and we do not come. How strange this is, how terrible! We live an earthly life, we live not for God, but for this world. But the Lord does not close His doors, does not close His Church; He goes farther, He summons all: the sick, the withered, all those who wish to be with Him. Indeed, the chosen are those who desire to be with God, who desire to live with Him. The chosen are those who live in a Christian manner, who live a life in accordance with the Gospel; the chosen are those who attend church and partake in the Sacraments of the Church; the chosen are those who honor God’s holy saints; the chosen are those who pray, who fast, who accept Christ with all their heart, mind, and thought."

Bishop Nicholas called on the faithful to follow the example of the Old Testament Fathers, whose memory this year is celebrated on the 29th Sunday after Pentecost, and who, though they never saw Christ, nonetheless lived in hope of and faith in the Savior.

His Grace congratulated all of those present on the coming feast of Christ’s Nativity, thanked the clergy and parishioners for the opportunity to lift up his prayers in their church, wished everyone God’s aid, and called on the parishioners to always be with the Lord, having love between them and giving thanks to God for all things.

Fr. Serge spoke regarding recent changes and coming events awaiting the parish in the New Year, and called on the whole parish to help finally purchase the church building.

The parish sisterhood invited the clergy and faithful to a delicious lenten luncheon, during which prizes and gifts were given out in anticipation of the radiant feast of Christ’s Nativity.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese