It’s not often that Orthodox Christians in America have the opportunity to meet a saint, but on Tuesday, 26 March 2024, the students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community gathered in the St. Tikhon’s Seminary convocation hall to hear a talk delivered by Father Yaroslav Sudick, a student and personal typist for Saint Nikolai (Velimirovic).

Fr. Yaroslav’s reminiscences on the occasion of the 4th Annual St. Nikolai Lecture revealed a human aspect of our beloved saint rarely encountered in more formal hagiography. St. Nikolai’s catchphrase, “Yaro, Yaro—this, too, shall pass,” was woven throughout accounts of his kindness, gentleness, selflessness, and down-to-earth sense of humor.

As Bishop, St. Nikolai never wore his klobuk in church, and never vested in the center of the church— “I’m only here to serve the Lord,” he would say. Fr. Yaroslav remembered that he always helped everyone, and that he never criticized or corrected anyone in front of others, choosing instead to speak to them later in private. Such humility is striking in a man who knew seven languages fluently and corresponded with sitting United States Presidents!

In attendance were Archbishop Michael (Dahulich) and Bishop Irenej (Dobrijevic) of the Diocese of Eastern America in the Serbian Orthodox Church. Bp. Irenej gifted relics of St. Nikolai to St. Tikhon’s Seminary, which have been installed in the St. Nikolai shrine on the main hall of the seminary building.

St. Nikolai, pray for us all.