His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicolae, blessed the Saint Michael parish in Southbridge Massachusetts for their feast day celebration through a pastoral visit beginning with Vespers on Saturday evening, November 4. After Vespers and Litia, His Eminence expressed his joy and amazement concerning the miraculous myrrh flowing Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God that had just visited the Metropolitan Cathedral of Chicago. The vespers service was attended by Fr. Nicholas Apostola, Vicar of the Archdiocese, and Fr. Onisie Morar. With fatherly care, Fr. Nicholas Apostola has assisted the parish through a transition phase, introducing a new priest to the community, Fr. John Downie. Fr. Onisie Morar has also supplied his talent as sculptor, helping to beautify the Church and has shown his moral and spiritual support to the community. Light refreshments were served in the parish hall after vespers.
The following Sunday the fullness of the Church was represented in a special way through the attendance of His Eminence Nicolae, Fr. John Dally, from a sister Albanian Orthodox Church, Father Deacon Tudor Sambateanu from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, and St. Michael’s soon to be parish priest, Fr. John Downie. His Eminence noted during the homily that these three ranks of clergy along with the people of God is the complete expression of the Orthodox Church, expressing the liturgical function of the people of God as a worshiping Church. He developed this theme by drawing attention to the angelic ministry of worship, and how the community at Saint Michael’s is called to participate in the angelic worship that takes place during the Divine Liturgy.
Neighboring Orthodox communities were well represented at the Divine Liturgy and at the following banquet where His Eminence stressed the beauty of Orthodox fellowship, encouraging the communities to continue in this practice. His Eminence expressed his joy in seeing positive growth and a reinvigoration in the parish.
Fr. John Downie