On Tuesday, March 18, 2025, on the day of the Commemoration of the Repose of St. Nicholai Velimirovich (+March 18, 1956), the St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary community and other faithful gathered for a momentous occasion, the first-ever liturgical celebration in the St. Nicholai Shrine in South Canaan, Pennsylvania. The shrine was established in the Saint's former cell, located within the seminary’s main building.  The Liturgy of Presanctified Gifts was celebrated, with the blessings of His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Chruch in America, by The Reverend Presbyter Dr Paul Witek, Academic Dean of St. Tikhon’s Seminary. 

 

Prayerfully present in the shrine was the Reverend Archpriest John Parker III, Seminary Dean and Chief Operating Officer. It was he, through his awe of and respect for Bishop Nicholai, who was responsible for establishing the St. Nicholai Shrine in the Saint’s room, wherein he resided during the academic year at St. Tikhon's. It was in this very room that Nicholai wrote a number of his latter publications, prepared his lectures and communicated with many throughout the world. Here, he also closed his earthly eyes and reposed in the Lord. 

 

The room presently features a large reliquary with a magnificent icon of Bishop Nicholai that contains a relic of the Saint, bestowed by His Grace Bishop Isihije of Valjevo, Serbia, custodian of his relics. Above the reliquary Bishop Nicholai’s own vigil lamp was lit for the first time since his repose in 1956. The same was gifted to the seminary by The Very Reverend Protopresbyter Yaroslav Sudick, who was Nicholai’s attendant as a student in the seminary. The shrine is adorned with iconic images of Bishop Nicholai while at St. Tikhon’s. One such rendering depicts the Saint with his personal secretary and close confidant, Protopresbyter Dragoljub Sokich of blessed memory. 

 

The initial idea for the conversion of the cell into a chapel, unbeknown to Fr John at the time, was the idea of His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church, literally a life-long student of the life of Bishop Nicholai. While entertaining studies at St. Tikhon’s Seminary, the Bishop wrote his graduate thesis on Nicholai at St. Tikhon's 1951-1956: The "Forgotten" Years of His Life.

 

The then Academic Dean, Protopresbyter Vladimir S. Borichevsky, the Bishop’s thesis instructor, called him into his office to discuss the work in progress. Looking at his student, he told him, "you write as though you knew Bishop Nicholai!” Stunned, he responded, "how could I, when I was only one year old when he reposed?” The mentor’s response was, "when you go home for Thanksgiving vacation, ask your mother, when you came into contact with Bishop Nicholai." 

 

The response which he received from his mother, who smiled and nodded her head, was, "you met him, when I was carrying you inside of me, and took his blessing!”  Every year, the Bishop’s parents would go to Chicago for the renown Vidovdan Ball. Nicholai was consistently present, as he spent his summers largely in Chicago with Protopresbyter Dushan Popovich and his family. The Bishop’s mother, Milica, and Protinica Radojka were God-sisters. 

 

Following the Presanctified Liturgy, those in attendance enjoyed delicious Lenten food and fellowship at the St. Nicholai Dinner, where they were uplifted by the inspiring words of Protinica Lela Powell.

 

Thanks be to God for this blessed gathering and to all who joined in prayer and fellowship. Through the prayers of St. Nicholai of Zhicha and All-Orthodoxy, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us!