On the weekend of April 13-14, 2019, HE Metropolitan Nicolae visited St. Callinicus of Cernica Mission of Fredericksburg, Virginia. The pastoral visit began on Saturday with HE Nicolae’s meeting with members of the new Parish Council followed by the Great Vespers. Together with HE Nicolae served Fr. Ionuţ Voicu from the Life-Giving Fountain parish of Long Valley, NJ. At the end of the service, the hierarch spoke of the life and mission of St. Irodion of Lainici whose holy relics were brought to Fredericksburg for veneration. HE Nicolae also recalled the history of the discovery of the holy relics on April 10, 2009, after much prayer and desire to put forth the holiness of St. Irodion of the Lainici by the monastic community.
Sunday morning, Metropolitan Nicolae served the Divine Liturgy at the Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Church, which hosts St. Callinicus of Cernica Mission, along with the parish priest, Fr. John Katsoulis and Fr. Ioan Ardelean from Rochester, NY. At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, the hierarch spoke of the significance of the 5th Sunday of Great Lent dedicated to the commemoration of St. Mary of Egypt: The life of long repentance of the St. Mary of Egypt is an example to us all, since each one should consider his position toward God. If we are in sin, let us return to God. And if we want to find an answer to the question of who or what can do this change in our lives, we find out the answer in the second Holy Gospel scheduled to be read today: the great love, the burning love of God. The hierarch also remembered the life of St. Hierarch Callinicus of Cernica, the protector of the Fredericksburg Mission, and of his disciple, St. Irodion of Lainici. He thanked the hosts for the hospitality and brotherly love shown to the Romanian Orthodox.
The Divine Liturgy was served in English, Greek and Romanian, so that each of those present would rejoice in the common prayer. The brotherly agape offered to all those present ended a day full of the blessings of the commemorated saints.