Liturgy will mark bishop's 25th anniversary

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April 25, 2008

Anonymous The Tribune-Democrat Fri Apr 25, 2008, 10:26 AM EDT

BY RUTH RICE

RRICE@TRIBDEM.COM

As an Orthodox priest and bishop, Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko has traveled all over the world, but he enjoys Johnstown the best.

“My most happy years have been in Johnstown,” said Smisko, who is bishop of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese. “I appreciate the city and the surrounding mountains.

“The people are friendly, especially in this church.”

Smisko is referring to Christ the Saviour Cathedral, 300 Garfield St. in the West End section of Johnstown, headquarters of the diocese.

Smisko will celebrate 25 years as a bishop with an anniversary liturgy at 4 p.m. Friday at the cathedral.

Twenty-one bishops who have worked with Smisko through the years will be in attendance.

“It will be ecumenical,” Smisko said.

“There will be Roman Catholic, Byzantine Catholic and Lutheran. They’re coming from Mexico, London and the eastern United States.”

Archbishop Demetrios of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, based in New York City, will head the list of dignitaries.

“This gathering of brother bishops will be the first time for Johnstown,” Smisko said. “My own two brothers and their families will be coming.”

Responses to the liturgy will be sung by the cathedral choir.

Following the liturgy, there will be a reservation-only banquet at 6:30 p.m. at the Pasquerilla Conference Center, 301 Napoleon St., downtown Johnstown.

Despite his travels and high office, Smisko is a man of the people who can be found walking down the street, greeting and praying for those he meets.

“I am who I am,” Smisko said. “I’m not going to pretend. I’m not perfect or the best, and I don’t consider myself great.”

Smisko finds he has an evangelistic mission visiting the sick of all faiths and frequenting what he calls the coffee shops of Johnstown.

“I enjoy making contact with the people,” Smisko said. “They come with their problems, and we have coffee and talk.”

Smisko, 72, said he feels 39. He has beaten colon cancer and had a knee replacement.

“I like to be positive,” Smisko said. “I hope to live to finish my projects.”

Smisko’s projects include Camp Nazareth, a diocesan camp in Mercer County, and working in area soup kitchens and hospices.

Smisko came to Johnstown in 1954 when he entered Christ the Saviour Seminary following graduation from Perth Amboy High School in New Jersey.

He was ordained a priest in 1959 and had his first pastorate at SS. Peter & Paul Church in Windber, where he served until 1962.

Smisko will note another milestone next year when he celebrates 50 years as a priest.

During his travels, Smisko has lived at Holy Cross Monastery in Jerusalem and at Mount Athos, the monastic center of the Orthodox Church, in northern Greece.

In 1963, he returned to Johnstown as prefect of discipline at Christ the Saviour Seminary, a member of the faculty and an assistant at the cathedral.

He then served Orthodox churches in Homer City and Clymer before becoming pastor of St. Nicholas Church in New York City in 1972.

He was elevated to the episcopacy on March 13, 1983, and was chosen as the third ruling hierarch of the Carpatho-Russian Diocese at a special clergy council in Johnstown on Nov. 25, 1984.

Celebration

What: Silver anniversary liturgy for Metropolitan Nicholas Smisko.

Where: Christ the Saviour Cathedral, 300 Garfield St. in the West End section of Johnstown.

When: 4 p.m. Friday.

Information: 536-6601.

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