Patronal Feast Day in the St. Nicholas Church in Red Bank, NJ

On December 19 (6), the Church celebrated the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

He went down in history as St. Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, that is, Archbishop of the city of Myra in the Lycian region (now the city of Demre in Turkey). Initially, this Saint of God became famous for his service to people. The veneration of the Saint began in Byzantium and quickly spread throughout the Christian world. His veneration in Ancient Rus’ was initiated by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, who built the first church in Kyiv named after St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas is called the Wonderworker for the many miracles that he performed both during his earthly life and after his transition to eternity. Sailors, travelers, bakers, children and students consider him their Patron Saint.

St. Nicholas Day is the Patronal feast of the parish in Red Bank, New Jersey will celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. The Divine Liturgy was led by Protopresbyter of the Ecumenical Throne Alexander Belya, the parish Confessor and the Rector of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Brooklyn, New York. He was co-served by Archpriest Rostislav Zadorozhnyy, the Rector of St. Nicholas church, and Hegumen Tikhon Gayfudinov, Rector of the Holy Theotokos Protection Hermitage in Buena Vista, New Jersey, as well as Archdeacon George Hero, the cleric of St. John Cathedral in Brooklyn.

Before the Liturgy, Fr. Alexander performed the complete rite of confession for the parishioners. It’s been gratifying to see that the number of parishioners increases every year, most of whom began to receive the Holy Communion that day. After the Divine Liturgy, a special prayer service was held in front of the relics of St. Nicholas. Congratulating the clergy and parishioners on the holiday, Protopresbyter Alexander noted that in their Patron Saint, St. Nicholas, believers have a strong defender and intercessor before the throne of God, a spiritual healer and comforter who hears human requests and quickly aids to fulfill them with the grace given by God. Protopresbyter Alexander recalled that until recently their church was in disrepair and was on the verge of ceasing to exist. Yet, St. Nicholas, the venerated Saint of God, did not abandon the faithful and assisted in the revival of the parish. Protopresbyter Alexander thanked Fr. Rostislav, the Rector of the church, for his efforts to maintain faith in the parishioners and increase their number, the choir for their beautiful singing, and the parishioners for their joint prayer and support of the church.

After the service, the clergy and laity shared a trapeza, i.e. a festive dinner. The children’s concert in honor of St. Nicholas concluded the joyful holiday. It was prepared by the teachers and the students of the Parish Sunday school.