On Sunday, May 8, 2022, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae was amidst the faithful at St. Nicholas Church in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, for the installation of the new parish priest, Rev. Fr. Vasile Aileni, following the retirement from this position of the V. Rev. Fr Nicholas Apostola. The event was also attended by V. Rev. Fr. Daniel Ene, Eparchial Secretary and Dean for the Eastern United States.
After the Holy Gospel, His Eminence Nicolae spoke about the significance of the third Sunday after Easter, dedicated to Myrrh-Bearing women:
“Out of love for Christ, these women came to the tomb early Sunday morning to perform the anointing ritual, and they also believed that someone would roll the stone at the door of the tomb. This was accomplished, and moreover, instead of finding the dead body, they received the news of the Resurrection from the angel and the assurance to the Apostles that they would meet Him in Galilee.
St. John Chrysostom calls these women the apostles of the Apostles because they were the ones who proclaimed the Resurrection to the Apostles. These faithful women were the first to receive the proclamation of the Resurrection and met Him, the Risen Christ, together—except Mary Magdalene, who met Him separately. For their love, faithfulness, and courage, they were made worthy of this meeting and of the words of the Risen Christ: Rejoice and be not afraid.”
After the Hierarchical Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae handed Father Vasile Aileni the Holy Gospel, the Holy Cross and the key to the church, explaining in turn the importance of the Word in the Holy Gospel that must be read and be made known by every priest, in order that the faithful might partake of it. The Cross is the sacrifice we make in this life and which we carry together with Christ, with the hope that we too will be victorious over sin and death. Finally, the Key entrusted to the priest shows us both the administrative responsibility of the priest towards the Church of Christ, but also the duty to lead the faithful to the Kingdom of Heaven.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae offered the new parish priest the icon of the Most Holy Mother of God for protection and guidance in his new mission and welcomed Fr. Vasile, Psa. Claudia and their children to St. Nicholas Church.
Priest Vasile Aileni was ordained on April 14, 2013 by HE Metropolitan Nicolae and has served as Parish Priest at All Saints Romanian Orthodox Church in Toronto, ON, Canada from 2016 until now. As a gift from the parish of Saint Nicholas, Fr. Vasile Aileni received a diptych with the icon of Saint Basil the Great together with his new patron, Saint Nicholas.
After the installation of the new priest, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae offered Father Nicholas Apostola, as a token of appreciation, a beautiful pectoral cross, thanking him and Preoteasa Maria for all their activity, dedication and love for over forty years in this parish. From the parish, Father Nicholas and the Preoteasa Maria received an icon of the Mother of God painted in Romanian costume, surrounded by saints named after their children and grandchildren, as well as many flowers.
The Massachusetts House of Representatives sent a letter of appreciation to Father Nicholas, in which it mentions Father Nicholas’ missionary work and community service in the Worcester area: founding a food bank for the needy, being a founding member of the Nursing Home sponsored by the Orthodox Churches in the Worcester area, missionary work as Vicar of the Archdiocese and academic work as a professor at the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox Seminary in Brookline. For his entire mission, members of the Chamber congratulate Father Nicholas Apostola. As a sign of love and gratitude, Father Vasile Aileni gave him an icon of Saint Basil the Great.
The ceremony was followed by a fraternal agape in which the faithful said their goodbyes to Father Nicholas Apostola and Preoteasa Maria, while offering a warm welcome to Father Vasile and Preoteasa Claudia.
Parish Priest Vasile Aileni
