February 2021 Divine Liturgies' Attendance Survey: Continuation of Phase 2 Stage 4 of the Safe Reopening of St. Nicholas Cathedral

Dear Parishioners: 

We are delighted to continue with the Phase 2, Stage 4 of the Safe Reopening of St. Nicholas Cathedral. The same processes that were successfully implemented in June 2020 - February 2021 will be applied to March 2021. 

Lately, we have observed a rapid increase in COVID-19 cases in the DMV area and nationwide. Therefore, we would like to remind you that even though you have the opportunity to participate in the Divine Liturgies in March, you are under NO OBLIGATION to do so during these very challenging times! We urge you to continue to monitor the situation which changes daily and do what is in the best interest of you and your family.  

Your health and safety are of utmost priority! There is no guilt nor shame in keeping you, your loved ones and the parish community safe! Please feel comfortable in choosing to stay home, pray and be safe than risk your well-being to the pandemic. 

To participate in March, please complete the survey to help identify cohorts of 23 parishioners per the Divine Liturgy and 10 parishioners for the Sunday Communion only. The surveymust be completed by EACH member of the household interested in attending the Divine Liturgy or Sunday Communion Only. The survey is short (less than 3 minutes) and must be submitted before 11:00 pm on Friday, February 26.

Here is an overview of the attendance process:

On Monday, June 22, 2020, the District of Columbia entered into Phase Two of reopening and on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon gave his blessing to St. Nicholas Cathedral to enter Phase 2, Stage 4 as outlined in the Synodal Directives of May 1, 2020 and evidenced in the chart below.

Note: St. Nicholas Cathedral closely monitors and follows all the DC Mayor's Orders related to the COVID-19 Public Emergency, including Order 2020-126 of December 16, 2020, and Order 2020-127 of December 18, 2020.

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Specifically, the Metropolitan’s blessing directs St. Nicholas Cathedral only to “...celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sundays and appropriate weekdays with the minimal crew (up to 23 people, or a few more when accounting for family units) and the safety precautions as described in your proposal. Anything beyond this, both in terms of types of services and number of parishioners will require the re-submittal of a proposal using the Archdiocesan form.” 

With the Cathedral’s reopening to a larger group of parishioners, our goal remains the same: to keep everyone safe and healthy and observe social distancing during the liturgy and prevent, as much as possible, the spreading of COVID-19 within our community. 

To help you make an informed decision about whether you would feel safe attending the liturgy or communion, we have included an outline of the Cathedral's already established preparation processes. These procedures have proven to create safe environment as per the testimonies of the parishioners who participated in the earlier phase of the Re-Opening. Please see the outline below.

As we continue with this Phase, the outlined procedures and processes are subject to change. We strongly rely on your patience, help, cooperation and understanding. May the Lord further deepen our appreciation for the Orthodox values and the importance of unity, respect, care and love for each other during this difficult period of time and beyond.

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Outline of the Cathedral’s Preparations

To ensure personal safety as well as our compliance with the guidelines set by the District of Columbia, OCA, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, and the Cathedral’s Parish Council, the following are the Outline, Maps, Instructions and Important Notes to be observed by each parishioner. 

Important: Again, there might be modifications to the below processes. Any changes will be reflected and communicated to you. Thank you for your respect, patience and support!  

1. Schedule of the Divine Liturgies and Sunday Communion Only

The Parish Council and a group of volunteers have been reorganizing and sanitizing the premises as well as working on the safe reopening plan launched originally on Saturday, July 11, 2020. The March Schedule will include 4 English Divine Liturgies, Slavonic Divine Liturgies and 4 Sunday Communion Only on the following days: 

4 (four) English Divine Liturgies with twenty three (23) parishioners attending

from March 7 through March 28

Sunday, March 7

Sunday, March 14

Sunday, March 21

Sunday, March 28 

4 (four) Slavonic Divine Liturgies with twenty three (23) parishioners attending

from March 6 through March 27

Saturday, March 6

Saturday, March 13

Saturday, March 20

Saturday, March 27 

4 (four) Sunday Communion Only to be held outdoors with ten (10) parishioners

attending from March 7 through March 28

Sunday, March 7

Sunday, March 14

Sunday, March 21

Sunday, March 28

2. Maps for Observing Social Distancing

The interior of the Cathedral will be different from what you remember because of the steps we have taken to assure your safety and comply with the CDC regulations. To ensure social distancing and minimal contact, we have created 23 individual spaces. For detail, please see the attached maps/charts:

·     Registration Map before entering the Cathedral (outside map of the Cathedral and outside map of the Annex) - we have marked the Cathedral's grounds as well as the Annex to make sure we have 23 designated lots - one per each parishioner - before registering for the liturgy. These maps will also be used for Sunday Communion Only.

·     Entrance and Exit - before entering the Cathedral, the cohort of 23 parishioners will be split into 4 smaller groups to minimize contact:

·     Group 1: Numbers 1 through 7

·     Please click here for Group 1 Entrance

·     Please click here for Group 1 Exit

·     Group 2: Numbers 8 through 12

·     Please click here for Group 2 Entrance

·     Please click here for Group 2 Exit

·     Group 3: Numbers 13 through 17

·     Please click here for Group 3 Entrance

·     Please click here for Group 3 Exit

·     Group 4: Numbers 18 through 23

·     Please click here for Group 4 Entrance

·     Please click here for Group 4 Exit

·     Designated location - each designated location is tape outlined.

·     Communion - please remove your mask before receiving Holy Communion and put it back on immediately thereafter. Please see the map to receive Holy Communion.

·     Group 1: Numbers 1 through 7

·     Group 2: Numbers 8 through 12

·     Group 3: Numbers 13 through 17

·     Group 4: Numbers 18 through 23

·     Restroom - If you need to use the restroom, please let the usher know and he/she will escort you downstairs. Only one person is allowed to use the restroom at a time.

3. Mandatory Pre-Registration Process

As per the Preventative Measures of the Synodal Directives Towards a Re-opening of our Churches effective May 1, 2020, every action has been taken to safeguard the well-being of our parishioners. The cohorts of parishioners will need to fill in the Pre-Registration Form in a timely manner. The Pre-Registration form will be open for submission between 6:00 pm Thursday and 12:00 pm Friday.

4. Arrival time for Divine Liturgies and Sunday Communion - each group is expected to arrive at the time designated below. Due to the check-in process we are adamant that you arrive on time:

·     Group 1: Numbers 1 through 7

·     Arrive at 8:30 am

·     Group 2: Numbers 8 through 12

·     Arrive at 8:30 am

·     Group 3: Numbers 13 through 17

·     Arrive at 8:40 am

·     Group 4: Numbers 18 through 23

·     Arrive at 8:40 am

·     Sunday Communion Only

·     Arrive at 10:05 am

Services will begin at the serving priest's discretion as soon as the majority of parishioners have arrived. That's why we strongly request to arrive at the time, scheduled for your designated group.

5. Check-in process - each Divine Liturgy and Sunday Communion Only are preceded by the registration/check-in process that includes:

·     Signing of the Acknowledgement Form (click here to view; no need to print) which must be signed at the door each morning before the Divine Liturgy and not earlier;

·     Sanitizing your hands;

·     Taking your body temperature.

6. PPE: A face mask must be on before entering the church and through the entire service. Please carry an extra face mask with you at all times.

Other Important Notes:

·     There will be no icons to venerate in order to eliminate sources of the COVID-19 viral transmission. Please do not venerate the frescoes either;

·     Candles will be lit before each service as the Candle Counter will remain closed through the end of Phase Two;

·     No kissing, touching or hugging are allowed before, during or after the service;

·     Bow to venerate the frescoes, the Holy Communion cup, the priest’s hand, and the cross;

·     A basket will be near the exit doors in case you would like to leave an offering. You can also make your donation through the Cathedral’s website.

We hope the above outline helps you be better prepared for the service in March 2021. Please click here to go to the survey and we hope to see you at the Divine Liturgies or Sunday Communion Only.

With love in Christ,

Father George Kokhno

Father Valery Shemchuk

Claire Nobles, President

The St. Nicholas Parish Council

Scripture Readings for February 21

2 Timothy 3:10-15

10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra – what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 

Luke 18:10-14

10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ 13 And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

Scripture Readings for February 14

1 Timothy 4:9-15

9 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. 10 For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. 11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. 14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the eldership. 15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Luke 19:1-10

1 Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Scripture Readings for February 7

1 Timothy 1:15-17

15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

Matthew 15:21-28

21 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” 23 But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” 24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” 26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” 27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Scripture Readings for January 31

Colossians 3:12-16

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 

Matthew 25:14-30

14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 24 Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’ 26 But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. 29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’