On Sunday, December 22, 2024, His Eminence, Metropolitan Antony made his 9^thArchpastoral Visitation to St. Nicholas Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Dover, Delaware. Greeting His Eminence and representing the youth with a bouquet of flowers was Philip Rus. Philip’s mother, Oana arranged the flowers for the bouquet. Next, Christina Mentis, Parish Board Secretary gave the greeting with the traditional bread (which she baked) and salt. Father Stephen then greeted His Eminence with the Cross and Holy Water asking him to continue to pray for our Parish Family as we continue to pray for him. His Eminence reminded everyone of how important those prayers are for him in his daily life. He thanked the people for praying for the repose of the soul of his brother, +David, who reposed recently and how they strengthened him and his family in their time of need.

Concelebrating the Liturgy with Vladyko were Father Stephen, Pastor and Father David Chidzhokie, one of our new priests to our Church, and   Protodeacon Pavlo Vysotskyi. Serving at the Altar were Subdeacons Marc Jaskolka, Subdeacon Kevin Minnich and Altar Server Philip Rus of the Parish and Seminarian Marian Koval.

Unfortunately, our Choir Director, Veronica Perrine was away for this festive occasion. Our Seminary Choir, under the direction of Seminarian Marian Meleshko, sang like the choir of Angels. The choir was comprised of our Seminarians Andriy Akulenko, Michael Stasiv, Bohdan Bodnar, and Marian Meleshko.

His Eminence preached on both the Gospel of the day and the Gospel for our Patron Saint. He explained the problem with leprosy according to the Law of Moses and why they were shunned by the community. He spoke about how all were healed physically, but only one, the Samaritan, was healed spiritually as well. Even though he was a double outcast because of his leprosy and being a Samaritan, he was the only one to return and fall at the feet of Jesus to thank Him and to worship Him as the Son of God!

Vladyko asked the question: “How often do we give thanks to God for all the gifts that we have received from Him? How many times we take credit only for ourselves and our accomplishments forgetting about God completely?”

He then dovetailed into how St. Nicholas was a Saint who was not perfect, but also a person who gave himself over to God in thanksgiving. He spoke about the First Ecumenical Council and how St. Nicholas slapped the heretic Arius as he was preaching his heresy there.  St. Nicholas was also a kind and gentle Bishop, always ready to follow in Christ’s footsteps even when he was exiled and imprisoned for being a follower of Jesus Christ. His Eminence challenged us to go and do likewise.

After the Divine Liturgy, the tables were set and the meal was brought forward. Dmitra Cookson, the coordinator for the dinner and our weekly prosphora baker, and all the ladies and men, did an outstanding job of preparing this Lenten Patronal Feast.

As we were almost finished with the meal, we had a special visitor! St. Nicholas arrived bringing gifts for the youth and the Parish Board. He had a special cookie tray as a gift for the Metropolitan, whom he said was a very good person this past year!

Father David joined our Seminary Choir for the singing of traditional Nativity Carols. Afterwards, they sang “Dostoyno Yest” and His Eminence gave the final blessing. All said their goodbyes and were on their way home, taking the joy of the season with them.