October, 22nd there was a first service with a newly appointed priest V. Rev. Evgeniy Protsenko at St. Mary Russian Orthodox church in Nisku region. The church choir was directed by our trustworthy servant Sergiy Kuflevsky, who, together with the Nisku choir, provided a very good singing and reading.

The altar service was lead by the church President David Borys with two helpers Andrew and Michael.

A lot of faithful were praying at the service, including many elders of the parish; some people came from far away to pray at their native and natal church, the church of their parents; some people came to support the newbie priest and his family at their first sole liturgy, the previous one having been served together with the rector of St. Barbara Cathedral and Patriarchal Parishes dean father Igor Kisil, the former rector of St. Mary’s church.
There were several people who took part in the confession and partaking of the divine Mysteries of Christ.

The sermon of the father Evgeniy was on the Gospel story of raising from the dead of the son of the widow of Nain: when two processions collided at the gate of Nain – of the only begotten son of the widow and the Only Begotten Son of God – one of the great mysteries happened! Do we mourn over the origin of all our tribulations and sorrows, including the utmost one that has this widow, at least the way this woman did and drew the loving-kind and merciful attention of the Savior?

After the Divine Liturgy according to the good and old tradition of the farmers’ churches (there in Nisku, as well as at all the Orthodox 9 parishes) we served a thanksgiving moleben (service) giving thanks to the Lord for his kindness and mercy for the last year as well as for the crop of this fall. The parishioners brought some vegetables and fruit that were the representation of the first fruit of harvest to be blessed.

At the end of the service Mr. David Borys presented the new priest to all the parishioners, wishing father Evgeniy (Yevhen) to keep up with what has been made by his predecessor father Igor, distributed the Bulletins for October passed by father Igor and called the people to aid the new rector in his service.

The wife and the daughter of father Evgeniy were presented with flowers and the parishioners shared the sanctifies fruit with the rector and the choir director.

The President of the parish also reminded of the coming events (that have been discussed at the last parish meeting) – the second visit of His Grace Matthew, bishop of Souroz and temporary Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes in Canada – from December the 12th (at the patronal feast of St. Barbara Cathedral, 16-17 December) to December, 20th; and the annual Cabbage Rolls event at St. Mary’s church.

f. Evgeniy Protsenko,
photos by Anna Wasiluk