On the weekend of October 14, 15, and 16, 2016, the parishioners and friends of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, Bethlehem, PA, gathered together to give thanks to our Lord for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us and to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of our parish.
 
The centennial celebration began on Friday, October 14, with an Akathist to St. Nicholas.  On Saturday, October 15, a Divine Liturgy
commemorating the departed members of the Parish was celebrated and later Great Vespers.  On Sunday, October 16, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman, His Grace Bishop David, and Rector Father James Weremedic concelebrated the hierarchical Divine Liturgy.  Concelebrating with the Hierarchs and Father Weremedic were Archpriests James Mason, Thomas Edwards, George Hasenecz, Dimitri Oselinsky, John Onofrey, Reverends Timothy Hasenecz, Jason Vansuch, Archdeacon Joseph Matusiak, Protodeacons Mikhail Sawarynski and Jacob Frimenko, Deacon Geoffrey LoBalbo, Subdeacons James Weremedic and Roman Ostash, Readers William Podlusky, Andrew Fartuch, and Matthew Lezinsky, and altar servers Yuri Guanowsky, Moses and Alexander Hodson.  The choir was directed by Reader Nicholas Lezinsky.

Parish Council president Alexandra Keysock greeted His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon with the traditional bread and salt.  Yuri Guanowsky and Elizabeth Hockman presented greetings and flowers from the Church School children.

Father Weremedic accepted a Synodal gramota for the Parish in recognition of their dedicated service over the past many years.  Several parishioners were presented gramoti for their devotion to St. Nicholas Parish.

Following each liturgical service guests enjoyed time to renew friendships and feast on a bountiful meal.  After hierarchical Divine Liturgy Sunday, a gala banquet at the Best Western Lehigh Valley culminated a spiritually inspiring and glorious weekend.

 

See other photos at:  stnicholasoca.org  “PARISH PHOTOS”