January 18, 2016
Howell, NJ: Bishop Nicholas celebrates Liturgy at Diocesan Cathedral & attends Nativity Yolka

On Saturday the 9th and Sunday the 10th of January, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, led the Christmastide services at St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ. His Grace was co-served by the cathedral’s pastor emeritus Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov, and cathedral clerics: Archpriest Boris Slootsky, Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, and Protodeacons Nicholas Lukianov, Leonid Roschko, and Paul Drozdowski, as well as Archpriests Rafael Melendez (Albanian Orthodox Church) and Athanasios Kyritsis (Orthodox Church of Greece).

Cathedral parishioners and guests communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries at Liturgy. Upon completion of the service, Bishop Nicholas congratulated those gathered with the feast of Christ’s Nativity and addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he said, in part: "In his 1951 Nativity Epistle, the ever-memorable Metropolitan Anastassy writes to the faithful children of the Church that Christ was born, became man, came to earth, in order to save mankind. And at the birth of the Savior, a multitude of angels sang out in a lofty and magnificent chorus: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill among men.’ The ever-memorable Metropolitan adds that at that time, both in Bethlehem and in Jerusalem, all slept, and only the shepherds, who kept vigil through the night, heard this marvelous hymnody. The angels sing today, as well, and we imitate them when we sing in our churches and in our homes. And Metropolitan Anastassy asks if we can hear this singing, or if we slumber. If we do not wish to hear this angelic hymnody, then all will pass us by, and we will remain without Christ."

His Grace reminded his audience of the day’s Gospel reading, which speaks about how Herod was wroth when he learned of the birth of the King. He considered Him his adversary, he was afraid, and issued a decree to kill all of the children born in those days – 14,000 innocent souls. But Bishop Nicholas noted that the newborn Savior brought us spiritual peace rather than earthly peace, as Herod expected. "If we will possess this spiritual peace in our hearts, then there will be peace on earth," he said. "But today God’s name is profaned, no one prays, and that is why lawlessness takes place both in our nation and around the world. Peace is a gift from God. The Lord came to earth and gave us His peace. Our hearts are a manger, and we must open our hearts for the Infant God, and accept God’s peace. Venerable Seraphim of Sarov tells us that, if a person acquires peace, he will pour out the light of peace and enlightenment of mind upon others, as well. And we must strive toward this peace and pray to the Lord God: ‘O Lord our God, grant us Thy peace.’"

Upon completion of the Liturgy, the cathedral sisterhood invited the clergy and parishioners to a festal luncheon, after which the clergy, parishioners, and parents with their children proceeded the Russian House "Rodina," where the administration, teachers, and students of the St. Alexander Nevsky Parish Russian School held their annual Nativity Yolka. The students opened their presentation with the singing of Christmas carols, assisted by parish clergy. Students then acted out the play Morozko, based on the Russian fairy tale of King Frost. The children sang songs, danced, and frolicked, and Grandfather Frost ("Ded Moroz") arrived to the delight of the Yolka participants, and distributed gifts to all.

Upon conclusion of the Yolka, Bishop Nicholas greeted all of the organizers, assistants, and participants of the Yolka. His Grace congratulated everyone with the ongoing holy and radiant days of Christ’s Nativity and thanked the organizers and parents, calling on them to raise their children in such a way as they might always be "lanterns of Russian piety and witnesses of the Orthodox Faith," and called on the children to "remain bright and kind and love God."

The school administration and audience expressed their gratitude to all those who helped organize the wonderful Nativity spectacle: the producers and customer designers Lubov Volsky and Anna Mohlenhoff, Vera Mackanic (chairwoman of the parents’ committee), Bill Mackanic (who was responsible for the decorations, lighting, and audio), technical assistant Dimitry Grachev, decorative artists Tamara Konovodoff, Sophia and Bemba Balzaro, and Antonina Preis, Olga Raskoshin for preparing food, and all of the actors.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese