On Saturday, January 25, 2025, we gathered for the Divine Liturgy to glorify our God in the Blessed Trinity and honor Saint Gregory the Theologian who is our intercessor and benefactor at the Throne of God.
The service was officiated by His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Americas, along with a group of priests consisting of V. Rev. Bogdan Cojoleancă, V. Rev. David Hudson, and V. Rev. Nicolae Clempuș. We thanked God for the blessings poured out upon us and honored the patron saint of our parish, Saint Gregory the Theologian.
The sermon of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, of high intellectual training, referred to the life of Saint Gregory and constituted for those present an open invitation to research the work of the great theologian consisting of numerous speeches, theological writings and literary poems of a special beauty. We learned that, beyond the depth of thought with which God endowed him, Saint Gregory the Theologian distinguished himself through the courage to confront the heresies of the times in which he lived, firmly and resolutely defending Orthodox Christian teaching.
It was a service full of peace and grace, which filled our souls with joy and gratitude. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae recalled the special significance of the year 2025 for the Romanian Orthodox Church: the celebration of the centenary of the elevation to the rank of Patriarchate and the commemoration of Romanian Orthodox clergy and confessors of the 20th century. The Romanian Patriarchate and the Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas will organize several activities throughout the year, activities in which all priests and believers are urged to participate. Among these is a presentation, on ZOOM and Facebook, in 11 episodes, of Romanian Orthodoxy, a presentation offered by Prof. Dragoș Ursu from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Alba Iulia, but also of a symposium organized in Chicago with the aim of presenting Romanian Orthodoxy in an academic setting. His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae offered the Metropolitan cross for laypeople to Ioan and Fruzina Catrina family, long-term members of the parish of St. Nicholas and St. George in New York, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in December 2024.
Finally, we enjoyed a festive meal together with selected dishes, a moment of communion that strengthened our bonds as a spiritual family. The feast of our Church ended with the Hora Unirii, in which we all participated, young and old, young and old. We thank all those who were with us and those who contributed to the organization of this blessed day!
Recorded by,
Mihaela Livingston
