"I am with you and no one is against you"

 

     Red Bank, New Jersey is a small, 1.7 square mile American town nestled between the Navasink River and the Atlantic Ocean. Settled in the late 17th Century, Red Bank is one of many quaint towns located along the historic New Jersey Coast. The town is home to the world famous Count Basie Theatre, and a mere walking distance from the theatre stands a small Russian Orthodox church dedicated to the memory of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker. The church is one of the oldest buildings in town, dating back to 1910, when it was originally build by Baptists. The church was later converted to a beautiful Russian church in 1950, whose gold cupola testifies to the prominent Russian influence in the community.

     It is easier to describe through sounds instead of words the feeling of joy and excitement that was felt by all the parishioners a few days before the feast of St. Nicholas. The sound of hammers and saws came from the altar, where readers and subdeacons were busy rebuilding the old walls that adorn the Holy Tabernacle. Outside the church, you could hear the warden and his helpers repainting the exterior and trimming the landscaping. Below the church, you could hear the sound of fresh vegetables being cut by the sisterhood, while the choir was rehearsing for the hierarchal liturgy. This collage of sounds culminated in a feeling of brotherly love and affection for the small church. It was a beautiful site of many different people coming together to honor the memory of one of the Christian Church's most notable saints, St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.      

     When Saturday, December 15th finally arrived, the parish was finally ready to welcome the feast of St. Nicholas and the arrival of Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan. The small church was filled with parishioners and the festive vigil service began. The all-women choir beautifully adorned the service, and were accompanied by an all-male choir that sang from the altar. At the end of the service, the church was filled to capacity with parishioners waiting to receive Holy Confession in preparation for the feast. Everyone was deeply moved by a sermon read by Fr. Serge Lukianov, who called the faithful to repentance, and stressed the importance not only of preparing the church, but preparing one's soul to properly greet the feast. Despite the long lines for confession, the late hour of the night and the pending storm that was already dropping freezing rain outside, no one wanted to leave until the prayers for Holy Communion were completed. Finally, sometime around 10:30, everyone parted ways with a wonderful feeling of repentance and anticipation of the great feast.

      On Sunday, December 16th, the church was once again filled to capacity, despite the heavy rain and strong winds that howled outside the stained glass windows of the church. When Bishop Gabriel arrived, he was greeted by a full assembly of clergy, including Archpriests George Kallaur and Serge Lukianov, Archdeacon Eugene Burbelo and an altar full of subdeacons, readers, and altar servers. The small church fostered a cozy, yet festive environment for the hierarchal liturgy. There are no words to describe the feeling of joy that abounded when the entire parish came forward to receive Holy Communion, which was administered out of two chalices because of the great number of communicants.

     On this day, parishioners received a very special comforting grace when they saw for the first time the new icon of the Mother of God which was recently painted by Reader Paul Drozdowski for the high place in the holy Altar. The icon was donated by all the parishioners and will hang high enough to be seen anywhere in the church. This icon is very unique because it is painted in the style of the Mother of God "I am with you and no one is against you." The original icon was blessed by St. John of Kronstadt as the icon of the "final days." According to tradition, the icon brings comfort to Christians living in our time and facing the threats against Christianity in the "final days." His Grace Bishop Gabriel blessed the icon as well as many new liturgical vessels which were recently purchased in Russia, including a chalice set, English and Slavonic Gospel, anointing vessel and five bread litiya set. Upon completion of the blessing, the faithful had an opportunity to venerate the icon while singing the kondakion in sixth tone: "We have no other help, we have no other hope, aside from You, O Most Pure Virgin: do You help us, we hope in You and we praise You, for we are Your servants, let us not be ashamed."  

     After the liturgy, the faithful gathered for a festive luncheon, during which the children of the Parish School entertained everyone by performing a puppet show. Many kind words were offered to the parish and to Fr. Serge, who was assigned as temporary rector by Bishop Gabriel after the liturgy. Fr. Serge concluded the luncheon by thanking all those who helped with the feast, especially the choir conductor Nadezhda Mamyshev, warden Eugene Stupin and head sister Olga Stupin, who have been toiling in the parish for many years. The parishioners parted ways late in the afternoon when it was already dark, looking forward to returning on Tuesday evening for the actual day of St. Nicholas. Glory be to God for bestowing His mercies on this small parish and the faithful that dwell therein.