2010 St. Nicholas Great Vespers

December 5, 2010 

Troy, MI – His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas celebrated the Great Vespers for the Feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker at the St. Nicholas community in Troy, Michigan along with his special guest His Excellency Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit who was also accompanied by Rev. Fr. Jeffrey Day, Ecumenical/Interfaith Advisor for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit and Rev. Fr. Charles D. Fox, Secretary to Archbishop Vigneron.

The evening started with the solemn entrance of the hierarchs followed by the clergy carrying the relics of St. Nicholas. Participating clergy included: Archimandrite Joseph, Rev. Fathers Dean Hountalas, Stratton Dorozenski, George Athanas, George Hatz, Chris Dalamangas, Philemon Karamanos, Nicholas Kyritses, Nicholas Pathenos, Michael Varlamos, John Moutafis, Teodor Petrutiu and Angelo Maggos. During the Artoklasia Service (the Blessing of the Loaves), the icon of St. Nicholas was carried in procession through the church and was venerated by both hierarchs.

His Excellency Archbishop Vigneron delivered the homily during which he acknowledged St. Nicholas as being a “common Father” to both the Catholic and the Orthodox Churches. He also expressed the desire that by praying together to St. Nicholas and by the help of God we may pursue the path of restoration of full communion between the two Churches “so that someday, in the not too far distant future, on St. Nicholas Feast Day, we can participate in the one Eucharistic Sacrifice of the Divine Liturgy on the one same altar, sharing one bread, one cup.”

At the end of the service, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicholas thanked Archbishop Vigneron and stressed the importance of continuing to publicly witness with a unified voice the message of Christ.  As a token of appreciation, Metropolitan Nicholas presented Archbishop Vigneron with a hand painted icon of St. Nicholas reiterating his commitment to engage in future events that would bring the Orthodox and the Catholics together in prayer and the service of the common good within Metropolitan Detroit.