On Friday, May 22, the parish of St. Nicholas in Endicott, NY was filled with festal joy as the faithful gathered to celebrate the Translation of the Holy Relics of their beloved patron, the Wonderworker of Myra. 

The day shone with hierarchical splendor as His Grace Luke, Bishop of Syracuse, was received at the doors of the temple by parish warden Mark Halushka, who, with warmth befitting a son greeting a father, offered Vladyka the traditional bread and salt and spoke heartfelt words of welcome.

Concelebrating with His Grace were Archpriest David Hritcko (rector of St. Basil Church in Simpson, PA), parish rector Priest Matthew Smith, Protodeacon Michael Pavuk (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY), and parish Deacon Nikolaos Kontogiannis.

From the kliros, choir director Joseph Zapach led the singers with skill and reverence in Church Slavonic and English, their voices weaving the festal hymns into a fitting offering for the day.

A great multitude of the faithful had come from Holy Trinity Monastery and Seminary in Jordanville to accompany their Bishop and to venerate the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, swelling the ranks of the parish family with the prayers of monastics and seminarians alike. Many communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Following Liturgy, the clergy and faithful processed solemnly around the temple with the cross and icons of St. Nicholas and our Lord’s Ascension, as Vladyka blessed the church grounds and sprinkled the gathered faithful with holy water – a moment in which Heaven seemed to bend low over Endicott and the prayers of St. Nicholas to settle visibly upon his people.

After the services, the sisterhood, with characteristic generosity and care, set before the assembly a festal and formal luncheon, delicious in every particular and lovingly prepared, where clergy and laity broke bread together in the joy of the feast.

Glory be to God for so radiant a day, and may the Holy Hierarch Nicholas continue to shelter his parish in Endicott with his prayers, unto the ages of ages.

Festal Participant