Enthronement of the Most Reverend Bishop Nicholas J. Samra as Eparch of the Diocese of Newton

Bishop Nicholas J. Samra's Enthronement
August 23, 2011
All the Bishops in Attendance
Bishop Nicholas - 9th from the left
Bishop Cyril Bustros - 10th from the left

The Enthronement of Bishop Nicholas J. Samra, as Eparch of the Eparchy of Newton (MA), was beautiful.  It took place at Our Lady of the Annunciation Melkite Greek Catholic Cathedral in West Roxbury, MA, on August 23, 2011, the Closing of the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.

There were three parts to this two-hour-plus gathering:  The Enthronement Ceremony, Divine Liturgy, and a photo session.  Visiting clergy sat in numerous pews up front on the right side.  I sat immediately behind them and was in 7th Heaven.  With all those male voices chanting together throughout the Liturgy, it was a powerful experience.

In the enthronement ceremony, Bishop Nicholas proceeded up and down the aisles in the nave, ending up front and center, where he was disrobed of his old vestments, and dressed by one of the other clergy in his new vestments, pectoral cross, etc.  This is one of the draws for me to the Eastern Catholic Church.  They are visceral,  hands on, in their undertakings.  The material world combines with the spiritual world and I'm in Heaven on Earth.  The dressing of Bishop Nicholas was so real.  It took quite a bit of time, and they allowed it to.  Our restlessness was overridden by the reality of dressing in all that garb.

Divine Liturgy came next and it was the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom  The laity received Communion in the nave, while the clergy circled around back and down the left aisle to receive Communion in the sanctuary.  Again, I have to say that the chanting was uplifting and powerful.  Several times, I stopped chanting myself and just listened to everyone else.

Bishop Nicholas J. Samra's Enthronement
August 23, 2011
Bishop Nicholas Samra with the Deacons in attendance
Bishop Samra - 11th from the left

Divine Liturgy was followed by picture taking.  I could not get photos during the ceremony because it was quite crowded (although, I still wish that more people attended).  I was glad to get some photos at the end - the Bishop with all the other bishops, the Bishop with all the priests, and the Bishop with all the deacons.  I unofficially heard that every priest from the Eparch was there.

As for Bishop Nicholas' charism, he has a great devotion to Mary, as was apparent in his homily, as well as in the fact that, he chose a Feast associated with the Dormition of the Theotokos for his enthronement.

05-Sep-2011:  St. Ann Melkite Church in Danbury, CT has several more photos of this event on their Facebook Page.  Click here


image - personal photos, also uploaded to Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.372145964977.61804.125900079977