historic info

Clergy of St. Nicholas

In chronological order, from top to bottom, left to right.

1.Rev. Pandeli Checho
2.Rev. Paul Rado	11.Rev. Michael Simerick
3.Rev. Costa Belba	12.Very Rev. Victor George
4.Rev. Ernest Tsonis	13.Very Rev. Thomas Hopko
5.Rev Gregory Reynolds	14.Rev. Denis Rhodes
6.Rt. Rev. Konstandin	15.Noni Rev. Peter Batkis
7.Rev. Batholomew Fox	16.Rev. Philip Reese
8.Very Rev. Christo Costa	17.Rev. John Garvey
9.Rev. Joel McEachen	18.Rev. Elijah Mueller
10.Very Rev. Constantine Ragopulc	19.Fr.David Rodney Fox

The Building Up of The Lord's House

Albanian

Gjithshka filloji ne 21 Dhjetor te 1941, kur nje grup shqiptaro-amerikane u takuan ne Hotel Diplomat dhe krijuan nje komitet te perkoheshem te perbere nga: Elia Prifti, Kryetar, Irakli Letchko, Sekretar, James Nuni, si llogaritar, si the nga antare te tjere si James Viso, Stavre Gjoka, Raphy Naum, Sotir Pochi, Charles Kochi, Thoma Shagla, Thoma Pillari dhe Sotir Dhimitri. Te gjithe dhane nga nje dollar, keshtu qe me 11 dollare dhe me besimin tek Zoti filloji ndertimi i kesaj kishe. Dhe keshtu fillon jeten e saj Kisha e Shen Nikollit, duke patur aktivitete nga me te ndryshme. Disa nga me te rendesishmet po i rendisim si me poshte.

--PER LAVDINE E ZOTIT--

Prill 19, 1942	Mbahet liturgjia e pare ne Hotel Diplomat nga Bishop Fan S. Noli, Rev. Terova, and Rev. Checho.
Maj 3, 1942	Krijohet komiteti i pare i regullte i cili vijon si me poshte; Evans Liolin si Kryetar, Elia Prifti n/kryetar, Charles Kochi si llogaritar, Joseph Vasiliu zv/llogaritar, Vasil Kasuli si sekretar I dokumentacionit, Thoma Pillari si mirembajtes i thesarit si the nga antaret: Raphy Naum, Irakli Letchko, Arthur Kallfa, Stavre Gjoka, dhe Peter Apostoli.
Mars 15, 1943	Rev. Pandeli Checho caktohet si Pastor i pare i kishes Shqiptare Orthodoxe ne N.Y
Qershor 11, 1943	U vendos te blihet Kisha Presbyteriane qe ndodhej ne 359 West 48th Street, New York City per nje shume $30.000.
Shtator 12, 1943	Antaret e Komitetit per formimin e Kishes, caktuan dhe emrin e kishes, te quhej Shen Nikolla, dhe si Kumbare per pagezimin e kishes u caktua Peter Stassa.
Shtator 12, 1943	Organizohet edhe Kori i Kishes nen drejtimin e Evans J. Liolin.
Maj 19, 1944	Organizohet dhe shoqata e gruas shqiptaro-amerikane me kryetare Mrs. Angelina Bourzouku.
Mars 4, 1945	Organizohet shkolla e se Dieles, me rreth 30 studente.
	Ne vitet 1950, komuniteti orthodox shqiptar merzitet sepse Kisha demtohet nga nje zjarr i befasishem, por ai (komuniteti) e rinderton edhe nje here dhe aktiviteti vazhdon perseri. Po ne kete vit ne Cypress Hills blihet nje zone e madhe toke, ne nje kodrine, per llogari te varrezave te ardhshme, nevoje kjo e komuniteti shqiptar dhe kjo kodrine u quajt Mali i Tomorrit, ne kujtim te Malit te Tomorrit ne Shqiperi.
Vera e 1968	Liturgjia e fundit ne godinen e vjeter u mbajt nga Fr. Nicholas Liolin.
Gusht 16, 1970	Liturgjia e pare ne godinen e re u mbajt nga Fr. Christo Costa.
May 22, 1976	Shenjtimi i Kishes se re.
Prill 24, 1982	Celebrohet 40 vjetori i Kishes Orthodoxe Shqiptare ne N.Y
Maj 1, 1992	Banketi me rast te 50 vjetorit te kishes
Tetor 20, 2002	Organizohet nje mbremje festore me rastin e 60 vjetorit te kishes.




     Keshtu vazhdon aktivitetin e saj Kisha Shqiptare Orthodoxe e Shen Nikolles ne N.Y. Ajo gezon nje komunitet akoma me te madh mbas ndryshimeve demokratike ne Shqiperi. Me ardhjen e shume imigranteve nga Shqiperia, aktiviteti i Kishes eshte rritur shume. Ajo ka nje Keshill me shqiptaro-amerikane te vjeter si dhe te rinj. Cdo te dieje tashme kemi mesatarisht mbi 200 besimtare. Po keshtu tashme aktivitet e saj jane shume me te larmishme dhe me ndihmen e besimtarve ky aktivitet do te jete edh eme i madh ne te ardhmen.

English

It all began on December 21, 1941, when a group of Albanian Americans met at the Diplomat Hotel and appointed a temporary church commitee composed of the following dedicated individuals: Elia Prifti, Chairman, Irakli Letcho, Secretary, James Nuni, Treasurer, James Viso, Stravre Gioka, Raphy Naum, Sotir Pochi, Charles Kochi, Thomas Shagla, Thomas Pillary, and Sotir Dhimitri. Each contributed one dollar. With a treasuryof $11 and faith in God they succeeded in building a church.

-FOR THE GLORY OF GOD-

April 19, 1942	The First litergy held at the Diplomat Hotel with Bishop Fan S. Noli, Rev. Terova, and Rev. Checho.
May 3, 1942	First regular church commitee elected. Evans Liolin, Chairman, Elia Prifti, Vice Chairman, Charles Kochi, Financial Secretary, Joseph Vasiliou, Assistant Financial Secretary, Vasil Kasuli, Recording Secretary, Thomas Pillary, Treasurer, Raphy Naum, Irakli Letcho, Arthur Kalfa, Stavre Gioka, and Peter Apostol.
March 15, 1943	Rev. Pandeli Checho was appointed first pastor of our church.
June 11, 1943	Decision was made to purchase the Presbyterian Church at 359 West 48th Street, New York City for $30.000.
Sept. 12, 1943	Members chose the name of St. Nicholas for the church and Peter Stassa was the Kumbare
Sept. 12, 1943	The first choir was organized under the direction of Mrs. Evans J. Liolin.
May 19, 1944	The Daughters of St. Nicholas were organized with their first president, Mrs. Angelina Borzuku. They accepted the responsibility of the Sunday School.
March 4, 1945	The first Sunday School started with thirty students.
	In the 1950's the church community was devestated by the church building being destryed by fire. But once again, they (the community) pulled together and rebuilt. The church purchased cemetery plots in Cypress Hills, wich is named Mount Tomori, after one of the highest mountains in Albania.
Summer of 1968	The last litergy served at 359 West 48th Street with the newly ordained Fr. Nicholas Liolin.
August 16, 1970	First liturgy at St. Nicholas' new location by Fr. Christo Costa.
May 22, 1976	Consecration of the new St. Nicholas Church.
April 24, 1982	Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Church
May 1, 1992	50th Anniversary Celebration Banquet
October 20, 2002	60th Anniversary Celebration Dinner Dance