On December 6//19, the Orthodox Church prayerfully commemorates the feast of one of the greatest saints – the Holy Hierarch Nicholas, Archbishop of Myra in Lycia, the Wonderworker. This feast was especially lovingly celebrated in Our Lady of Pochaev Church in North Port, FL.

This feast is a special one for the community, as four years ago the first Divine Liturgy was served in the current church. Likewise, thanks to the efforts of Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral; +2022), the church received a reliquary containing the relics of the Holy Hierarchs Nicholas and Spyridon of Tremithus, Venerable Seraphim of Sarov, and other God-pleasing saints.

On Monday evening, December 18, All-Night Vigil was served with the litia and an akathist to St. Nicholas. Parish clerics Hieromonk Arkadii (Polishchuk) and Deacon Alexander Kharitoniuk served Vigil. Singing on kliros were the community’s rector, Archimandrite Stefan (Khilchuk), and Hierodeacon Paisius (Alexeevets).

On the day of the feast, Fr. Stefan celebrated Divine Liturgy, co-served by Fr. Alexander; the other brethren sang in the choir. Upon conclusion of the service, the rector addressed parishioners with a sermon, wherein he noted the particular importance of the veneration of St. Nicholas in the Christian world, and wished that each one of us might become a "God-pleaser" in the course of our lives.

After the service, everyone in attendance was presented with gifts, lovingly prepared in advance by the brethren of the community. The festivities concluded with a luncheon and fellowship.