27th Sunday after Pentecost
St. Nicholas Bulletin - December 26, 2021
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Christ is in our midst! Христос међу нама! Cristo esta entra nosotros! |
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Accepting the Lord's Invitation
Homily from Fr. Steven Kostoff
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Within the Orthodox Church, the Sunday between December 11-17 is called, simply enough, the “Second Sunday Before the Nativity of the Lord,” and more specifically, the “Sunday of the Forefathers.” This liturgical preparation for the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity—something of a build-up—is a conscious echo of the lengthy time of preparation, determined by God and embodied in the history of Israel, before the sending of His only-begotten Son into the world “in the fullness of time” [Galatians 4:4]. This specific period of liturgical time—and here we mean the entire forty days of the Nativity Fast—is something of a microcosm of the historical time in which the righteous ones of Israel fervently awaited the deliverance promised by God and embodied in the Messiah, “Who is Christ the Lord” [Luke 2:11]. The spiritually fertile promise of God given to the patriarch Abraham will begin its historical expression with the Advent of Christ: “Now the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who curses you I will curse; and by you all the families of the earth shall bless themselves” [Genesis 12:1-3].
For this reason, Saint Paul emphasized the importance of Abraham, exalting him as the father of the faithful: “So you see that it is men of faith who are the sons of Abraham…. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” [Galatians 3:7,29].
According to the Scriptures, one’s “faith identity” is far more significant than one’s “ethnic/social identity.” This was magnificently expressed by the Apostle Paul in what were certainly radical terms for his time (and, alas, for our present time): “Here there cannot be Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free man, but Christ is all, and in all” [Colossians 3:11]. And in Galatians, Saint Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” [3:28].
According to one of the currently-available editions of The Synaxarion (The Lives of the Saints) for this particular commemoration of the Forefathers, we read the following spiritual interpretation: “Through the connection of the holy Ancestors and Patriarchs, Our Savior Jesus Christ is Himself also, in a way, the fruit of the faith of Abraham. So, when God makes His voice known to each of us while we are still in a strange land of the passions and worldly vanities, we must like Abraham unhesitatingly leave all that is ours, and follow the divine calling with faith until we reach the Promised Land where, in our turn, we shall be able to give birth spiritually to Christ. For, planted in us by faith and Baptism, He has to grow in us through the virtues so as to shine in the light of contemplation” [November-December, pp. 390-391].
Essentially, it is through faith—simultaneously a gift and a response—that we will yet again “see” the pre-eternal God “wrapped in swaddling cloths lying in a manger” [Luke 2:12]. Is there any possibility that we could experience a child-like eagerness and sense of anticipation for that awesome vision amidst our “mature,” yet grindingly realistic, if not cynical, reflections on the present Christmas season as we await the Feast? If not, we may just well be facing another “merry Christmas” that lasts about as long as it takes to unwrap our gifts and eat our holiday meal.
The appointed Gospel reading for the Sunday of the Forefathers is Luke 14:16-24. The connection between this particular parable and the commemoration of the Forefathers may not be readily apparent. However, this Parable of the Great Banquet clearly anticipates the coming of the Gentiles into the Church—foretold to and by the Forefathers—thereby bringing to fruition the promise made to Abraham and the other righteous ancestors of Christ. The banquet of the parable is the image of the Christian Eucharist that unites both Jews and Gentiles in the one Body of the Church and points to the heavenly banquet of the Kingdom of God, an image going back to the Prophet Isaiah among other Old Testament sources. This dialectic between “promise” and “fulfillment” may therefore be the very point of its choice for this particular Sunday.
In the parable, we hear various “excuses” as to why some of the invited guests ask to be excused from the great banquet. They all sound quite legitimate and understandable—as do our excuses when we decline the King’s invitation to the great banquet on either the exterior or interior level. Life presents its demands that must be immediately met. These demands can be domestic (the home and children), professional (work-related), or even recreational (needed time off). They combine in such a way that at times it all seems overwhelming. We can easily lose track of the days as they become something of an indistinguishable blur of endless activity—perhaps right now even more so than at any other time of the year. Christmas puts such a demand on all of our resources—energy, time, money, etc.
As legitimate or understandable as these excuses of the invited guests may have appeared to be, even drawing forth our sympathy or empathy, the master of the parable, on the contrary, proved to be neither sympathetic nor empathetic, and did not accept them. And this master is clearly an image of God (the Father). It is not because He is harsh and demanding. That would clash with the image of the Father throughout the New Testament. Perhaps it is because of how great an invitation and how great a gift is being freely offered at such a “great price”—“you were bought with a price” the Apostle Paul reminds us—that the master of the parable reacts with “anger” when his invitation is declined. The Father offers His Son as the sacrificial food of the great banquet that we are called to enjoy. Therefore, since the Incarnation culminates in the Crucifixion, we understand the nature of that “price.” With this in mind, we may further understand that our efforts to postpone the invitation to that Great Banquet are actually quite misplaced—including life’s everyday demands. That seems to be what the Lord is conveying to us in this parable of the Great Banquet with His stark closing words: “For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste of my banquet” [Luke 14:24].
We are the spiritually “poor and maimed and blind and lame” [Luke 14:21] who have been invited to the great banquet. This is none other than the “marriage supper of the Lamb” [Revelation 19:9]. Let us accept the invitation with joy and thanksgiving.
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Commemorating the Holy Forefathers of Christ, St. Gavrilo I of Peč, Martyrs Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius and Orestes at Sebaste, Virgin Martyr Lucy of Syracuse, Venerable Arkady of Novotorsk, Venerable Mardarije the Recluse of the Kiev Caves, Venerable Arsenios of Latros
RESURRECTION TROPARION—TONE 2
When You descended to death, O Life Immortal, You destroyed hell with the splendor of Your Godhead. And when from the depths You raised the dead, all the powers of heaven cried out: “O Giver of life, Christ our God, glory to You!”
FOREFATHERS TROPARION—TONE 2
Through faith You justified the Forefathers, betrothing through them the Church of the gentiles. These saints exult in glory, for from their seed came forth a glorious fruit: she who bore You without seed. So by their prayers, O Christ God, have mercy on us!
HOLY FATHER NICHOLAS TROPARION—TONE 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith, an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence; your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you. Hierarch Father Nicholas, entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
HOLY HIEROMARTYR GAVRILO OF PEČ TROPARION—TONE 1
You were condemned by an unjust court and hanged, and as a divine sacrifice, alive and willing, you were offered to your Master Christ. Thus, you were received on the heavenly altar, Hieromartyr Gabriel, worthy of all honor.
RESURRECTION KONTAKION—TONE 2
Hell became afraid, O almighty Savior, seeing the miracle of Your Resurrection from the tomb! The dead arose! Creation, with Adam, beheld this and rejoiced with You, and the world, my Savior, praises You forever.
FOREFATHERS KONTAKION - TONE 6
You did not worship the graven image, O thrice-blessed ones, but armed with the immaterial Essence of God, you were glorified in a trial by fire. From the midst of unbearable flames you called on God, crying: “Hasten, O compassionate One! Speedily come to our aid, for You are merciful and able to do as You will!”
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~Scripture Readings of the Day~ |
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READERS:
Matins: Nick Ressetar Epistle: Natalija Gligorevic
Matins Next Week: Lenny Tepsic Epistle Next Week: Wayln John
EPISTLE: Colossians 3: 4-11
DEACON: Let us pay attention.
PRIEST: Peace be unto all!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: The Prokeimenon in the Forth Tone: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: v: For You are just in all that You have done for us!
CHOIR: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers, and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
READER: Blessed are You, O Lord God of our fathers...
CHOIR: ...and praised and glorified is Your name forever!
DEACON: Wisdom!
READER: The Reading is from the Epistle of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Colossians.
DEACON: Let us attend!
READER: Brethren, when Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.
PRIEST: Peace be unto you, reader!
READER: And with your spirit!
DEACON: Wisdom.
READER: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel also was among those who called on His Name.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
READER: They called to the Lord and He answered them.
CHOIR: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!
АПОСТОЛ: Колошанима 3:4-11
Ђакон: Пазимо
Свештеник: Мир свима!
Читач: I Духу Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач : ПРОКИМЕН- глас 4 Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Јер си праведан у свему што си учинио за нас.
Хор: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших, и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Читач: Благословен си, Господе Боже отаца наших,
Хор: и хвално и прослављено је име Твоје у све вјекове.
Ђакон: Премудрост
Читач: Читање посланице Светога апостола Павла Колошанима
Ђакон: Пазимо
Читач: Браћо, када се јави Христос, живот наш, онда ћете се и ви с Њиме јавити у слави. Умртвите, дакле, удове своје који су на земљи: блуд, нечистоту, страст, злу похоту и лакомство, што је идолопоклонство, због којих долази гњев Божији на синове противљења, у којима и ви негда ходисте, када живљасте у њима. А сад одбаците и ви то све: гњев, љутину, пакост, хуљење, срамотне ријечи из уста својих. Не лажите један другога, јер свукосте старога човјека са дјелима његовим, и обукосте се у новога, који се обнавља за познање, према лику Онога који га је саздао, гдје нема Јелина ни Јудејца, обрезања ни необрезања, варварина ни Скита, роба ни слободњака, него је све и у свему Христос.
Свештеник: Мир ти читачу!
Читач: I Духом Твоме!
Ђакон: Премудрост.
Читач: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Мојсеј и Арон, свештеници Његиви, и Самуило један од оних који призиваху име Његово.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
Читач: Призиваху Бога и Он их услиши.
Хор: Алилуиа, Алилуиа, Алилуиа
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LITURGY GOSPEL:
Luke 14: 16-24
At that time, “A certain man gave a great supper and invited many, and sent his servant at supper time to say to those who were invited, ‘Come, for all things are now ready.’ But they all with one accord began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a piece of ground, and I must go and see it. I ask you to have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to test them. I ask you to have me excused.’ Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So that servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house, being angry, said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in here the poor and the maimed and the lame and the blind.’ And the servant said, ‘Master, it is done as you commanded, and still there is room.’ Then the master said to the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say to you that none of those men who were invited shall taste my supper.’ ”
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ЈЕВАНЂЕЉЕ:
Лука 14: 16-24
Каза Господ причу ову: Неки човјек зготови велику вечеру и позва многе. И у вријеме вечере, посла слугу својега да каже званицама: Дођите, јер је већ све готово. И почеше се сви редом изговарати. Први му рече: Купих њиву и морам изићи да је видим; молим те, изговори ме. И други рече: Купих пет јармова волова, и идем да их огледам; молим те, изговори ме. И трећи рече: Ожених се, и зато не могу доћи. И дошавши слуга тај, јави ово господару своме. Тада се разгњеви домаћин и рече слуги своме: Изиђи брзо на тргове и улице градске, и доведи амо сиромахе, и богаље и хроме, и слијепе. И рече слуга: Господару, учињено је како си заповједио, и још има мјеста. И рече господар слуги: Изиђи на путеве и међу ограде, и приволи их да уђу да ми се напуни дом. Јер вам кажем да ниједан од оних званих људи неће окусити моје вечере. Јер је много званих, али је мало изабраних.”
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~ The Week Ahead: Scriptures and Services ~ |
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December Birthdays
Laurie Brosius (Dec 1), Stephani York (Dec 2), Alex Govelovich (Dec 2), Georgi Herigan (Dec 4), Gordana Fasnacht (Dec 4), Alexandra McFall (Dec 4), Paul Kasper (Dec 7), Alexa Healy (Dec 10), Nicholas Blitva (Dec 11), Sarah Milletics (Dec 11), Lorraine James (Dec 15), Quinn Gilroy (Dec 15), Irina Miljkovic (Dec 17), Steve Barry (Dec 17), Michael Filepas Jr (Dec 23), Carole Blitva (Dec 25)
December Anniversaries
Alex & Nicole Bazdar (Dec 11), Dori & Doug Bert (Dec 18), Lauren & Ross Spangler (Dec 21), Pharon & Christine Bertsch (Dec 27)
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FEAST OF ST DANIEL AND THE THREE HOLY CHILDREN
We will celebrate the Feast of St Daniel and the Three Holy Children with Liturgy on Thursday, December 30 at 9 am.
SERBIAN/AMERICAN CLUB 2022 DUES
Peggy Radanovic will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
KSS/CIRCLE OF SERBIAN SISTERS 2022 DUES
Jovanka Shaffer will be seated in the church hall after Liturgy on Sundays to collect 2022 dues. Dues remain at $5 for the year.
MOTHERS CLUB 2022 DUES
Mothers Club dues for 2022 are due. Please submit $5 to Popadija Andreja. The Mothers Club primary mission is to support our Sunday School and children. If you are not a member and would like to join, please also contact Popadija Andreja.
BULLETIN DEADLINE
The deadline for the January 9th bulletin is Tuesday, January 4 at 11 am
MOTHERS CLUB NEWS
Mother’s Club members please join us at our Annual Christmas Party on January 9th at 12 noon at Gilligan’s Restaurant. Please bring a $10 gift to participate in the grab bag gift exchange. We will also be electing officers. We have a few open board seats and if you are interested, please contact Tracy Petrovich, Paula Werner or Nikki Lewis to discuss or answer any questions.
SOTAYA ČEVAPI SALE
Our SOTAYA Group is once again selling frozen packs of cevapi at $15/pack (32 pieces). To order see Dn. Bojan Gligorevic, Matthew Hoover, or call the office at 717.939.3872.
2022 PARISH COUNCIL NOMINATIONS
The following positions for the Parish Council are open for nominations for the Annual Assembly in February:
I Vice President—responsible for helping to manage Church events.
II Vice President—responsible for the operation of the Church buildings and grounds.
Treasurer—responsible for managing Church expenses
Financial Secretary—responsible for managing Church income.
Member at Large—responsible for assisting II VP in operation of buildings and grounds.
All those who are interested in serving on the Council are required to the following:
1) Regularly attend services.
2) Regularly participate in the Holy Mysteries of Confession and Communion.
3) Regularly offer of their Time, Talents and Treasures to the Church.
Please notify Fr. Christopher by calling 717.939.0251, emailing at fr.chris@stnicholassteelton.org if you are interested in serving our parish in this way.
NEW ITEMS AVAILABLE IN THE DISPLAY CASE
The Mother’s Club Display Case has new Nativity/Christmas Cards available. Check them out!
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND
SOTAYA HAM/LAMB SALE
We are once again having our Christmas Fund Raising event.
For your Christmas dinner on January 7,
let us provide you with hot Roast Lamb or Roast Pork.
Roasted Potatoes in lamb/ham juice are also available.
Contact Chris Radanovic at 717-841-6794 or chrisrad@mindspring.com.
Deadline to reserve your lamb/ham is Friday, December 24.
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The Life of St. Nicholas, The Wonderworker
Archbishop of Myra in Lycea
Saint Nicholas, the Wonderworker, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia is famed as a great saint pleasing unto God. He was born in the city of Patara in the region of Lycia (on the south coast of the Asia Minor peninsula), and was the only son of pious parents Theophanes and Nonna, who had vowed to dedicate him to God.
As the fruit of the prayer of his childless parents, the infant Nicholas from the very day of his birth revealed to people the light of his future glory as a wonderworker. His mother, Nonna, after giving birth was immediately healed from illness. The newborn infant, while still in the baptismal font, stood on his feet three hours, without support from anyone, thereby honoring the Most Holy Trinity. Saint Nicholas from his infancy began a life of fasting, and on Wednesdays and Fridays he would not accept milk from his mother until after his parents had finished their evening prayers.
From his childhood Nicholas thrived on the study of Divine Scripture; by day he would not leave church, and by night he prayed and read books, making himself a worthy dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Bishop Nicholas of Patara rejoiced at the spiritual success and deep piety of his nephew. He ordained him a reader, and then elevated Nicholas to the priesthood, making him his assistant and entrusting him to instruct the flock.
In serving the Lord the youth was fervent of spirit, and in his proficiency with questions of faith he was like an Elder, who aroused the wonder and deep respect of believers. Constantly at work and vivacious, in unceasing prayer, the priest Nicholas displayed great kind-heartedness towards the flock, and towards the afflicted who came to him for help, and he distributed all his inheritance to the poor.
There was a certain formerly rich inhabitant of Patara, whom Saint Nicholas saved from great sin. The man had three grown daughters, and in desperation he planned to sell their bodies so they would have money for food. The saint, learning of the man’s poverty and of his wicked intention, secretly visited him one night and threw a sack of gold through the window. With the money the man arranged an honorable marriage for his daughter. Saint Nicholas also provided gold for the other daughters, thereby saving the family from falling into spiritual destruction. In bestowing charity, Saint Nicholas always strove to do this secretly and to conceal his good deeds.
The Bishop of Patara decided to go on pilgrimage to the holy places at Jerusalem, and entrusted the guidance of his flock to Saint Nicholas, who fulfilled this obedience carefully and with love. When the bishop returned, Nicholas asked his blessing for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Along the way the saint predicted a storm would arise and threaten the ship. Saint Nicholas saw the devil get on the ship, intending to sink it and kill all the passengers. At the entreaty of the despairing pilgrims, he calmed the waves of the sea by his prayers. Through his prayer a certain sailor of the ship, who had fallen from the mast and was mortally injured was also restored to health.
When he reached the ancient city of Jerusalem and came to Golgotha, Saint Nicholas gave thanks to the Savior. He went to all the holy places, worshiping at each one. One night on Mount Sion, the closed doors of the church opened by themselves for the great pilgrim. Going round the holy places connected with the earthly service of the Son of God, Saint Nicholas decided to withdraw into the desert, but he was stopped by a divine voice urging him to return to his native country. He returned to Lycia, and yearning for a life of quietude, the saint entered into the brotherhood of a monastery named Holy Sion, which had been founded by his uncle. But the Lord again indicated another path for him, “Nicholas, this is not the vineyard where you shall bear fruit for Me. Return to the world, and glorify My Name there.” So he left Patara and went to Myra in Lycia.
Upon the death of Archbishop John, Nicholas was chosen as Bishop of Myra after one of the bishops of the Council said that a new archbishop should be revealed by God, not chosen by men. One of the elder bishops had a vision of a radiant Man, Who told him that the one who came to the church that night and was first to enter should be made archbishop. He would be named Nicholas. The bishop went to the church at night to await Nicholas. The saint, always the first to arrive at church, was stopped by the bishop. “What is your name, child?” he asked. God’s chosen one replied, “My name is Nicholas, Master, and I am your servant.”
After his consecration as archbishop, Saint Nicholas remained a great ascetic, appearing to his flock as an image of gentleness, kindness and love for people. This was particularly precious for the Lycian Church during the persecution of Christians under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Bishop Nicholas, locked up in prison together with other Christians for refusing to worship idols, sustained them and exhorted them to endure the fetters, punishment and torture. The Lord preserved him unharmed. Upon the accession of Saint Constantine (May 21) as emperor, Saint Nicholas was restored to his flock, which joyfully received their guide and intercessor.
Despite his great gentleness of spirit and purity of heart, Saint Nicholas was a zealous and ardent warrior of the Church of Christ. Fighting evil spirits, the saint made the rounds of the pagan temples and shrines in the city of Myra and its surroundings, shattering the idols and turning the temples to dust.
In the year 325 Saint Nicholas was a participant in the First Ecumenical Council. This Council proclaimed the Nicean Symbol of Faith, and he stood up against the heretic Arius with the likes of Saints Sylvester the Bishop of Rome (January 2), Alexander of Alexandria (May 29), Spyridon of Trimythontos (December 12) and other Fathers of the Council.
Saint Nicholas, fired with zeal for the Lord, assailed the heretic Arius with his words, and also struck him upon the face. For this reason, he was deprived of the emblems of his episcopal rank and placed under guard. But several of the holy Fathers had the same vision, seeing the Lord Himself and the Mother of God returning to him the Gospel and omophorion. The Fathers of the Council agreed that the audacity of the saint was pleasing to God, and restored the saint to the office of bishop.
Having returned to his own diocese, the saint brought it peace and blessings, sowing the word of Truth, uprooting heresy, nourishing his flock with sound doctrine, and also providing food for their bodies.
Even during his life the saint worked many miracles. One of the greatest was the deliverance from death of three men unjustly condemned by the Governor, who had been bribed. The saint boldly went up to the executioner and took his sword, already suspended over the heads of the condemned. The Governor, denounced by Saint Nicholas for his wrong doing, repented and begged for forgiveness.
Witnessing this remarkable event were three military officers, who were sent to Phrygia by the emperor Constantine to put down a rebellion. They did not suspect that soon they would also be compelled to seek the intercession of Saint Nicholas. Evil men slandered them before the emperor, and the officers were sentenced to death. Appearing to Saint Constantine in a dream, Saint Nicholas called on him to overturn the unjust sentence of the military officers.
He worked many other miracles, and struggled many long years at his labor. Through the prayers of the saint, the city of Myra was rescued from a terrible famine. He appeared to a certain Italian merchant and left him three gold pieces as a pledge of payment. He requested him to sail to Myra and deliver grain there. More than once, the saint saved those drowning in the sea, and provided release from captivity and imprisonment.
Having reached old age, Saint Nicholas peacefully fell asleep in the Lord. His venerable relics were preserved incorrupt in the local cathedral church and flowed with curative myrrh, from which many received healing. In the year 1087, his relics were transferred to the Italian city of Bari, where they rest even now (See May 9).
The name of the great saint of God, the hierarch and wonderworker Nicholas, a speedy helper and suppliant for all hastening to him, is famed in every corner of the earth, in many lands and among many peoples. In Russia there are a multitude of cathedrals, monasteries and churches consecrated in his name. There is, perhaps, not a single city without a church dedicated to him.
The first Russian Christian prince Askold (+ 882) was baptized in 866 by Patriarch Photius (February 6) with the name Nicholas. Over the grave of Askold, Saint Olga (July 11) built the first temple of Saint Nicholas in the Russian Church at Kiev. Primary cathedrals were dedicated to Saint Nicholas at Izborsk, Ostrov, Mozhaisk, and Zaraisk. At Novgorod the Great, one of the main churches of the city, the Nikolo-Dvorischensk church, later became a cathedral.
Famed and venerable churches and monasteries dedicated to Saint Nicholas are found at Kiev, Smolensk, Pskov, Toropetsa, Galich, Archangelsk, Great Ustiug, Tobolsk. Moscow had dozens of churches named for the saint, and also three monasteries in the Moscow diocese: the Nikolo-Greek (Staryi) in the Chinese-quarter, the Nikolo-Perervinsk and the Nikolo-Ugreshsk. One of the chief towers of the Kremlin was named the Nikolsk.
Many of the churches devoted to the saint were those established at market squares by Russian merchants, sea-farers and those who traveled by land, venerating the wonderworker Nicholas as a protector of all those journeying on dry land and sea. They sometimes received the name among the people of “Nicholas soaked.”
Many village churches in Russia were dedicated to the wonderworker Nicholas, venerated by peasants as a merciful intercessor before the Lord for all the people in their work. And in the Russian land Saint Nicholas did not cease his intercession. Ancient Kiev preserves the memory about the miraculous rescue of a drowning infant by the saint. The great wonderworker, hearing the grief-filled prayers of the parents for the loss of their only child, took the infant from the waters, revived him and placed him in the choir-loft of the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) before his wonderworking icon. In the morning the infant was found safe by his thrilled parents, praising Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker.
Many wonderworking icons of Saint Nicholas appeared in Russia and came also from other lands. There is the ancient Byzantine embordered image of the saint, brought to Moscow from Novgorod, and the large icon painted in the thirteenth century by a Novgorod master.
Two depictions of the wonderworker are especially numerous in the Russian Church: Saint Nicholas of Zaraisk, portrayed in full-length, with his right hand raised in blessing and with a Gospel (this image was brought to Ryazan in 1225 by the Byzantine Princess Eupraxia, the future wife of Prince Theodore. She perished in 1237 with her husband and infant son during the incursion of Batu); and Saint Nicholas of Mozhaisk, also in full stature, with a sword in his right hand and a city in his left. This recalls the miraculous rescue of the city of Mozhaisk from an invasion of enemies, through the prayers of the saint. It is impossible to list all the grace-filled icons of Saint Nicholas, or to enumerate all his miracles.
Saint Nicholas is the patron of travelers, and we pray to him for deliverance from floods, poverty, or any misfortunes. He has promised to help those who remember his parents, Theophanes and Nonna.
Saint Nicholas is also commemorated on May 9 (The transfer of his relics) and on July 29 (his nativity).
Troparion — Tone 4
Truly you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,
an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;
your humility exalted you; your poverty enriched you.
Hierarch Father Nicholas,
entreat Christ our God that our souls may be saved.
Kontakion — Tone 3
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,
For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ
By giving up your soul for your people,
And saving the innocent from death.
Therefore you are blessed as one
become wise in the grace of God.
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December Charity
V. Rev. Fr. Srboljub Jockovich
Fund
In 2010, our congregation established The Fr. Srboljub Fund as a permanent resource for special ministries and other special needs or events in our church community or with our Orthodox Christian partners in the Central PA area or the larger Orthodox Christian community. Each month we participate in the Charity Sunday program and we always give those donations to an outside charity. Through the Fr. Srboljub Fund, we have created a dynamic new way to support the special ministries of our Church community and to respond to the special needs of our Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters. We are preparing ourselves to respond to ministries and programs in areas such as feeding the hungry, youth and senior programs, library needs, gift shop resources, education and outreach initiatives, visitation efforts and unforeseen emergencies or crises. Please give generously to the Fr. Srboljub Fund so we may honor our long-time spiritual leader in this unique way as we grow our resources and are prepared to respond when a special need arises. God bless you and thank you for your generosity.
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