A few days before the end of the weekend, the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church of St. Mary (having as its patronal feast The Protection of the Mother of God) in the city of Dacula, in the metropolitan area of Atlanta, were busy preparing for the event to be held on Saturday and Sunday: the pastoral visit of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae. After a two-year hiatus, the faithful were eager to meet their Hierarch, who used to visit them annually. The church was adorned with flowers and prepared for the beautiful hierarchical service that was to take place.
Arriving at the airport in Atlanta shortly after noon on Saturday, January 29, 2022, HE Nicolae was greeted at the church by Parish Priest Nicolae Clempuș, together with the Parish Council. A short visit followed on the construction site of the social hall. The project to build a social hall started many years ago, but it was started concretely with the blessing service and breaking ground ceremony on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, August 15, 2020. Since then, the building has been erected, finished on the outside, having all indoor installations in place. Father Nicolae explained to His Eminence Nicolae the next steps towards the completion of the construction: interior finishes and the parking lot around the building that needs to be lit and asphalted.
After visiting the new social hall, HE Nicolae met with all the members of the Parish Council. An informative meeting took place in which Fr. Nicolae Clempuș briefly presented the activity of the parish in the last two years. The necessary solutions for ministering to the children, young people and putting into use the new social space in the parish were discussed.
In the evening, HE Nicolae together with V. Rev. Fr. Nicolae Clempuș, the parish priest, Rev. Fr. Theodor Regoș, retired at St. Mary’s Church, V. Rev. Fr. David Hudson from St. Gregory the Theologian Mission in Easley, SC, and Rev. Fr. George Acsente from the Church of the Holy Emperors in Lilburn GA concelebrated the service of Vespers together with Lithia. After the service, Metropolitan Nicolae spoke to the faithful about the importance of January 30 and the feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs, their lives being up to this day an example to follow, and about their effort and contribution to establishing the true teaching of the Church.
The next day, Sunday, January 30, the feast day the Holy Three Hierarchs, His Eminence Nicolae was received with the Holy Gospel and the Holy Cross by Fr. Nicolae Clempuș and Fr. Teodor Regoș. The faithful gathered with great piety to actively participate and enjoy the Hierarchical Liturgy. After the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Nicolae spoke to those present about the changing power of God’s grace, about the effect of Zacchaeus the publican's meeting with the Savior, and how a publican changed his life:
“Zacchaeus wants to do all he can to make amends for what has happened in his life: to be honest, and especially to be a servant of God. This happened in the heart of a sinful man and separated from God because of his encounter with Christ. We see first the gesture of Zacchaeus to rise physically and spiritually by ascending the sycamore tree and then the answer of God, the Savior, who did not take into account the opinion of the world but did what was necessary to save a soul: he entered into his house, bringing him this joy that turned Zacchaeus away from sin and separation from God.”
Examples of a changed and fruitful life can be witnessed especially in the Three Hierarchs of the “golden age” of the Church: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom. Metropolitan Nicolae highlighted the contribution of each to the definition of the truth of the Church’s faith and their struggle against the heresies that shook Christianity in their time.
In conclusion, HE Metropolitan Nicolae congratulated the Romanian community at St. Mary’s Church in Dacula, GA for the ambitious project they started, for the rapid progress of the construction and appealed to all those present to contribute to the “Last Step” campaign which has as its aim the raising of funds necessary for the completion of the social hall project. At the anointing of the faithful, all those present received as a gift from His Eminence Nicolae the icon of The Solemn Year 2021.
Submitted by
V. Rev. Fr Nicolae Clempuș
