His Eminence's Archpastoral visit to the St. Nicholas parish in Manchester, New Hampshire on Sunday, December 10th.

The St. Nicholas parish of Manchester, New Hampshire, was blessed on Sunday, December 10th, by an Archpastoral visit from Metropolitan Methodios. His Eminence spoke lovingly to the parish, observing and highlighting the congregational singing and sense of community between members.

His Eminence called to mind the loving leadership history of parish priests, including Fr. Tom FitzGerald, Fr. Nicozisin (of blessed memory), and Metropolitan Maximos (of blessed memory). He spoke of the parish proistamenos, Rev. Dr. Philip Halikias, with fondness for his service to the community, but also as a collaborator with His Eminence on the Orthodox Catholic North American Consultation. He encouraged Fr. Philip to "keep up the good work" and said the community, and Fr. Philip, are blessed to have each other.

The Sunday school presented His Eminence with a donation for the building fund for the new gymnasium at MBC. In turn, the parish also thanked His Eminence for the guidance and care for the communities through the Thriving Congregations Initiative, of which St. Nicholas was a recent recipient of grant funding.

During the luncheon, His Eminence spoke of the love he felt from the parish. He shared that it reminded him of the early church's practice of a post-liturgy "agape meal," of which he felt the agape at St. Nicholas.

The community, from the youngest members to the eldest, said it was "a very special and memorable day."