With God’s help, His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae began the pastoral visits of 2020 in California at Torrance and Upland. For several days HE Nicolae looked after and blessed the spiritual sons of the West Coast Deanery as in the recent years.
On Sunday, January 5, 2020 the Sunday before the Baptism of the Lord and the Theophany’s Eve, HE Nicolae served the Divine Liturgy and the service of Great Blessing of the Waters at the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel parish in Torrance together with the parish priest, Fr. Mihai Cărpenișeanu. At the time of the sermon HE Nicolae spoke about the mission of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner and Baptizer of the Lord: "Repent that the kingdom of heaven is at hand! are the words with which St. John the Baptist began his activity. There are words that call us to a "change of mind", according to the exact translation of the Greek word metanoia. A change in the way we view the world and this life, a change not only of the mind, but of the whole orientation of our being. The goal is an eternal one, the Kingdom of God."
Metropolitan Nicolae then spent two days in the midst of the Orthodox Christians at the Parish of the Ascension of the Holy Cross in Upland. At the great feast of the Baptism of the Lord and at the Holy Prophet John the Baptist HE Metropolitan Nicolae served the divine liturgy together with Fr. Archimandrite Nikodim Bibarț, the parish priest, Fr. Sorin Iustinian Deac and Fr. Deacon Valentin Despoiu.
On Monday, January 6, 2020, at the Divine Feast of the Lord's Epiphany or Theophany, the believers of the Upland parish and the surrounding area participated in the Matins and the Divine Liturgy services followed by the Great Blessing of the Waters Service, in order to receive the New Year's Blessing through the prayers of the Our Father Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae. In the sermon, full of great power, Metropolitan Nicolae, starting from the Gospel of the Feast, showed the work of the Most Holy Trinity in the world, so that we may believe and live with hope of salvation, bringing spiritual fruit in our life, that we may walk, as being sons through grace, to the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit!
At the Great Blessing of the Waters, the litany and wonderful prayers showed us the full love of the Lord for the human race and the grace of the Holy Spirit descended upon us, filled our hearts with joy and hope in God's help and protection in the New Year 2020. Metropolitan Nicolae blessed with Holy Water the parish church of Upland placed under the protection of the Holy Cross and all the believers, founders and benefactors present, who came to spend spiritual time with their hierarch. Mr. Cosmin Dumitrescu, Consul General of Romania to Los Angeles, also participated in the service.
On Tuesday, January 7th, at the Commemoration of the Holy Prophet John the Baptist, we again enjoyed together ministry and liturgy with HE Metropolitan Nicolae, bringing honor to "the greatest Man born of woman", the cousin of the Lord, as our Savior Jesus Christ Himself spoke to us! Metropolitan Nicolae, in the catechetical word, reminded us of the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Covenant with reference to Saint John the Baptist, "The Voice of the Crying One in the wilderness" preparing the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, having the mission to show to the world “The Lamb of God who raises the sins of the world” in the new Law of the New Covenant. Mission sealed by the manifestation of the Holy Trinity at the time of the Baptism of the Lord. HE Nicolae wished everyone a blessed New Year with good health and heavenly protection, full of spiritual joys and accomplishments for salvation, together with the small and larger family of the Church of Christ!
In the two holy days of fellowship and liturgical communion in Upland we could not miss the brotherly agape prepared very dearly by the ladies of the parish, whom we thank wholeheartedly for the hard work and sacrificial love with which they are involved in the life of our Holy Cross parish! Glory to God for all!
Father Iustinian Deac reports from Upland, California
