What a joy and blessing!
Our gratitude goes to all those who were involved in holding the feast day of Saint Luke the Evangelist. October 18 and 19, 2024 may be an exceptional event for all Romanians in the metropolitan area of Columbia, South Carolina.
The presence of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae in our midst was an occasion of immense joy! The Vespers service held on the very day of the Saint Protector Saint Luke the Evangelist was a unique event for our community. The spiritual teaching of our hierarch during the vespers, about the life of Saint Parascheva and the homily during the Divine Liturgy about Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke emphasized the importance of our closeness to God and the steadfastness of faith in Christ. Metropolitan Nicolae's exhortation to those present at the Hierarchical Liturgy was simple but profound: "Be God’s witnesses beyond the church door, expand the teaching of the Divine Liturgy with your children, in your homes! Confess Christ where you are and in what you do! There are no more spiritually useful places in this world than the Holy Church and your family! May your home become a small church, an oasis of prayer and peace!"
In addition to the presence of Metropolitan Nicolae in our midst, the high spiritual experience was also given by the common service of the worthy servants of the Holy Altars: Reverend Father Nicolae Clempuș, parish priest of Saint Mary’s Church in Atlanta, Reverend Father Michael Platanis, parish priest of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church from Columbia, Reverend Father Cătălin Moț, parish priest of the Transfiguration Church in Florence and Reverend Father Bogdan Cojoleancă, parish priest of Saint Gregory the Theologian Church in Greenville.
The uplifting Hierarchical Service made heaven unite with earth, and our souls anchored in the light of Christ. The answers given in the pew by Mr. Marian Dima, the cantor of the Romanian Church of St. Mary in Atlanta, Mrs. Florentina Totilca, from the Romanian Church of Saint John the Baptist in Kannapolis and Mrs. Mihaela Livingston, from the Romanian Mission Saint Luke the Evangelist in Columbia made the souls of those present to vibrate in unison.
Without the huge contribution of each member of the Parish Council of Saint Luke the Evangelist Mission, the patron saint feast of our community could not have taken place. Countless hours of work were invested to complete each simple or complex task. The organizational spirit, everyone's talent invested to the maximum, attention to detail, generosity in various forms, and above all, teamwork, were the reasons why every member of the Parish Council and all involved deserve all our appreciation. Many thanks and gratitude!
Warm thanks to the talented cooks in the community and to the skillful and enthusiastic ladies of the AROLA Association who, under the careful planning of the dedicated Mrs. Laura Moldovan, AROLA's president, worked like honeybees to organize the mission's high-level celebration!
Many thanks to the children of the Mission who, through their participation in the cultural educational program, under the careful, thorough and sustained training of Mrs. Mihaela Livingston, Director of the Education Department, delighted the souls of those present at the Feast Day celebration. Andrei Moldovan played three pieces on the cello, teenagers of the Mission recited the biography of Saint Luke, Brianna Albetel recited poems with a specific theme for the patron saint, and the little ones in "Hora Valahă " danced. All the acts proved that our youth are a living bouquet of talents.
We enjoyed the presence of the members of the Parish Council of the Greek Church who opened the doors of their hearts, making the liturgical space of the Greek Cathedral and the hall of festivities for the festive reception of the patron Saint Luke the Evangelist available to us, and who, together with the Romanians of the Mission, lived this beautiful day in a special way.
Thanks to all the Romanians who came from North Carolina (Raleigh, Kannapolis and Charlotte), Georgia (Atlanta and Augusta) and South Carolina (Greenville, Summerville, Myrtle Beach, Florence, Sumter, Aiken) who through their presence and effort helped us to perpetuate and spread of our joy. We would like to thank the entire community who, under the care of the Reverend Father Nicolae Clempuș, from small to large, contributed to the success of this memorable event.
We offer glory to God and His Mother for all the gifts received and thanks to Saint Luke the Evangelist who interceded for us!
Mihaela Livingston
