Metropolitan Borys Gudziak Visits St. Nicholas Parish in Wilmington
On March 16, 2025, Metropolitan Borys Gudziak made a pastoral visit to St. Nicholas Parish in Wilmington, Delaware. He presided over the Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by the parish pastor, Fr. Volodymyr Klanichka, Fr. Volodymyr Radko, the metropolitan’s master of ceremonies, and Deacon Ihor Demydas.
Addressing the faithful, Metropolitan Borys expressed his joy at visiting the parish and praying with the community. He shared his reflections on the "Pilgrimage of Hope," which took place a month earlier at the Cathedral in Philadelphia with the participation of the Head of the UGCC, His Beatitude Sviatoslav Shevchuk. He also invited the faithful to join the upcoming pilgrimage on the feast of Pentecost.
In his homily, reflecting on the Gospel passage about the healing of the paralyzed man, the Metropolitan emphasized that although the Gospel of Mark is the shortest, it contains the highest number of miracles performed by Jesus. "Thirty percent of the Gospel of Mark consists of accounts of various miracles," he noted.
"Miracles reinforce faith. They help people recognize Christ as the Messiah and understand that He has power over evil, weakness, and ultimately death, which will be revealed in His Resurrection," the Archbishop stressed.
"The entire way God communicates with us is through love. The Lord preaches to us with tenderness. Yes, there are a few shocking signs—miracles—but the greatest miracle is His death and resurrection, which are paradoxical to this world. We are often tempted to cling to money, power, and material possessions, inflating ourselves and measuring everything in relation to ourselves. But Jesus gives. He goes beyond Himself, comes to us, and sets an example," said the Metropolitan.
The Archbishop urged the faithful not to waste the time of Great Lent: "We are living in a very difficult time, and if we do not have inner strength, we may lose our freedom. This is a critical moment for Ukraine, for America, and for the world. The world needs you as witnesses of Jesus Christ—those who know that the Kingdom of God is where God's love is present. Be witnesses of this love, bring it to others, and heal them with your tenderness and mercy."
"Lent frees us. Through prayer, fasting, and good works, we are called to be healers. Let us recognize that Jesus is our home. Let us see the paralytics around us and rejoice in the gifts we have," he added.
After the Liturgy, Metropolitan Borys, who is himself a Plast member, visited the newly established Plast scout group that gathers at the parish.
