Istoricul Parohiei

O ctitorie a romanilor din New York

“…In Sfanta Scriptura , o spune prorocul David: “De n-ar zidi Domnul casa, in zadar s-ar osteni cei ce o zidesc; de n-ar pazi Domnul cetatea, in zadar ar privegea cel ce o pazeste…”(Psalmul 126).

Intr-adevar , in viata popoarelor si a fiecarui om, nimic nu se face fara de ajutorul lui Dumnezeu. El iti da sanatate si spor in toate cele ce tu le faci.
De aceea poporul roman cind incepe orice lucru in viata, isi face mai intai cu credinta semnul Crucii si spune “Doamne ajuta!”.
Cu acest gind am inceput si noi, ca preot si credinciosi, sa avem o biserica in Woodside/Queens, in 1984.
Nimenea nu poate spune ca a dat totul. Ci cu totii impreuna au dat totul!
Nu pot uita dania ce o facea batrana vaduva Valentina, care in fiecare Duminica dadea douazeci de dolari.
Era darul vaduvei, pe care insusi Mantuitorul il apreciaza zicand:
“Si privind a vazut pe cei bogati aruncand darurile lor la cutia darurilor din templu. Si avazut si pe o vaduva saraca, aruncand acolo doi bani. Si a zis: Adevar va spun voua ca aceasta vaduva saraca a aruncat mai mult decat toti. Cati toti acestia din prisosul lor au aruncat la daruri, aceasta insasi din saracia ei a aruncat tot ce avea pentru viata”(Luca 21, 1-4).
Biserica “Sfantul Nicolae” din Woodside/Queens e infaptuirea intregii comunitati romanesti din aceasta regiune a orasulu New York.”

Reinvieri Spirituale – Fr. Dr. Vasile Vasilachi

IPS Arhiepiscopul Victorin a supus aprobarii Cosiliului Eparhial, in sedinta din 10 aprilie 1974, cererea de infiintarea a unei parohii ortodoxe in New York, care sa fie sub jurisdictia Arhiepiscopiei din America si Canada. Dupa aprobarea in unanimitate de catre Consiliul Eparhial a infiintarii parohie, a fost transferat de la Philadelphia la New York preotul Nicolae Barsan.
La 19 Ianuarie 1976 se obtine certificatul de inregistrare: “Certificate of Incorporation from Albany, New York, of the St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church New York”.
La inceput slujba s-a savarsit intr-o capela inchiriata de la presbiterieni, in Manhattan.
Ca orice inceput a fost mai greu, mai ales ca Pr. Barsan s-a transferat la Detroit si dupa ce s-a intors inapoi, curand a trecut cu familiile catorva parohieni la Episcopia de la Vatra, infiintand parohia “Sfanta Maria”.
In 1984 IPS Arhiepiscop Victorin numeste ca preot pe Fr. Dr. Vasile Vasilachi.
Odata cu venirea P.C. Sale si cu concursul generos al credinciosilor, se cumpara o cladire situata in Woodside, 45-03, 48th Ave., care a costat $85.000, suma care in rastimp de sase ani este achitata de credinciosi.
Biserica a fost sfintita la 9 decembrie 1984 de catre IPS Arhiepiscopul Victorin.

Prezentul intre trecut si viitor

Dupa trecerea la Domnul a Pr. Vasile Vasilachi in 2003, prin grija IPS Nicolae a fost numit preot paroh la biserica noastra Pr. Ioan Casian Tunaru, care cu vredinicie si credinta ne-a pastorit pina in iulie 2006 cind dansul a fost hirotonit episcop vicar al Arhiepiscopiei noastre.
Acum avem bucuria de a-l avea ca preot paroh pe Pr. Andrei Turcoane.

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Historic

Saint Nicholas Church
Founded by the Romanians of New York

“..in the Holy Scripture, prophet David says: “If God the Lord builds not the house,The builders do their work in vain. If over the city God watch not, The watcher vigil keeps in vain. (Psalm 126).”
Indeed, in the life of people nothing is done without God’s help. He gives us the health and ability in every little thing we do. This is why the Romanians, whenever they embark on an endeavour in life, they say “Doamne-ajuta!” (”God, help us!”). With this thought we started as well, priest and believers, when we planned to have a church in Woodside, Queens, in 1984. Nobody could say that they gave everything. We all gave everything, all together! I cannot forget the gift made by an old widow Valentina, who every Sunday gave 20 dollars. It was the gift of the widow, which our Savior Himself appreciated:
“When he looked up he saw some wealthy people putting their offerings into the treasury and he noticed a poor widow putting in two small coins. He said, “I tell you truly, this poor widow put in more than all the rest; for those others have all made offerings from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has offered her whole livelihood.”
(Luke, 21, 1-4)
Saint Nicholas Church from Woodside is the achievement of the whole Romanian community from this region of New York City.
( from “Spiritual Revivals” by Fr. Dr. Vasile Vasilachi)

Archbishop Victorin approved, during the meeting of April 10, 1974, the request to build an orthodox parish in New York, who would be under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Archiepiscopate of America and Canada. After the approval, father Nicolae Barsan was transferred from Philadelphia to New York. On January 19, 1976, we obtained the Certificate of Incorporation from Albany, New York, of the St. Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Church New York. In the beginning, the Divine Liturgy was held in a chapel rented from a Presbyterian church, in Manhattan.

Fr. Vasile Vasilachi (left) and Archbishop Victorin in our church.

In 1984, Archbishop Victorin appoints Dr. Vasile Vasilachi as priest to St. Nicholas Church. Once he arrived in New York, and with the help of the parishioners, a building was bought in Woodside, at 45-03, 48th avenue, whose cost was $85,000. The whole sum was paid off by parishioners in 6 years. The Church was consecrated on December 9th, 1984 by Archbishop Victorin.

The present, between past and future…

…and on this foundation, here we are, the parishioners of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, having Rev. Fr. Protos. Ioan Casian as our priest, serving God for the good of the Romanian believers of yesterday, of today, and of always.

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