Ascension Thursday was very special this year as His Eminence Metropolitan Antony travelled with Deacon Pavlo Vysotskyi and the Seminarians to celebrate the Festal Liturgy. He was greeted in the back of the Church by our Parish Sisterhood President Kathy Duncan who presented him with a beautiful bouquet of flowers which was created by Sandra Cramer. Linda Hnatow, Parish Trustee, both baked and greeted His Eminence with a beautiful korovai and salt. Father Stephen Hutnick, Pastor, greeted Vladyko with the Hand Cross and Holy Water, expressing the joy and expectation of his arrival to the Parish. He assured the Metropolitan of our continued prayers of the Parish Faithful and asked that he continue to pray for the Parish.

There was another reason that this Liturgy was very special. Our Seminarians not only served at the altar, but also sang in place of the Parish Choir. The Seminary Choir, under the direction of Marian Meleshko, was comprised of Subdeacon Andrii Akulenko and Seminarians Bohdan Bodnar and Marian Koval. Their angelic voices filled the Parishioners with joy.  

Concelebrating at the altar with His Eminence were Father Stephen,  Protopresbyter Emmanuel Pratsinakis and Deacon Pavlo. Serving at the Altar were Subdeacons Mykola Stefanyk, Yurii Izhyk, Mark  Jaskolka, (St. Nicholas Parish, Dover, DE) and our own altar server,  Matthew Andreas.

After the Holy Gospel, His Eminence preached an unforgettable Sermon. The story of the Resurrection and the Ascension in Luke’s Gospel were woven together. The problem with Christians today is that they do not understand the power of the Resurrection. It is here that we receive a new life – a life which is filled with the power of God. Instead of living the life of an Orthodox Christian and through our dedication to this life approach the life of God (deification), we are burdened with the cares of life, in the here and now. We never realize that the power of the Resurrection is ours as a gift from God that can never be taken away. Christ is with us every second of our life and though He has Ascended, He has not abandoned us. The power of the Resurrection is ours if we seek Him with all of our hearts.

At the end of Liturgy, Father Stephen asked the people to keep our Hierarchs, Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel together with all the clergy in their prayers.  He also asked that we remember our Seminarians who one day, God willing, will be ordained to the Priesthood. One of them may be the Pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul.

After the Divine Liturgy, a luncheon was prepared sponsored by our Parish Sisterhood. Special thanks again to President Kathy Duncan, Chairperson, and Sandy Cramer for the beautiful preparation of the food and hall. Special thanks also to all those who helped in the serving and clean up for the event.

After spending the afternoon with the Parishioners, it was time for the Metropolitan  and the Seminarians to return to South Bound Brook. We look forward to the next time we will all be together.

Text by Dobrodiyka Elizabeth Hutnick