Pascha DC
St. Nicholas Cathedral in Washington DC is "my cathedral." In 1977 when I considered returning to Washington DC, my priest told me that I would not like St. Nicholas because "it's too Russian."I looked at going to St. Mark Church, but public transportation there was a nightmare. So I looked at the other churches and eventually in 1982 settled on St. Nicholas Cathedral and fell in love with the parish. It was not too Russian for me. I have found other parishes which are much more Russian.
In 1986 by the grace of God I became an Altar server. In time I realized that I really wanted to be a deacon and not a priest. My bishop told me that I would have to go to the seminary and when I approached the president of the parish council, he told me that they had a policy and I benefited from this policy. The parish made it possible for me to attend the seminary without having to take out a student loan, which I would not had been able to pay back since the seminary degree would not increase my income.
Now when I have an opportunity, especially during the week, I come back there to say "thank you" for their support. I'm also returning home. I was born and raised in Washington DC.
This year Deacon James invited me to go down with him for Pascha and I accepted the invitation. It was a wonderful experience. During the Agape Vespers, he read the Gospel in German and I read it in Latin.
