Mitred Archpriest Nicholas Molodyko-Harris Marks 65 Years of Priesthood

BATH, PA — The Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania has marked the 65th anniversary of the priestly ordination of Mitred Archpriest Nicholas Molodyko-Harris, honoring six and a half decades of service to the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). The diocesan Media Office conveyed congratulations on behalf of Abp. Mark, the clergy, matushki, and faithful.

Fr. Nicholas and Matushka Anastasia were married on September 3, 1961. He was ordained to the Holy Diaconate on September 23 and to the Holy Priesthood the following day, September 24, at St. Michael’s Church in Philadelphia. Both ordinations were performed by Abp. Dimitry Magan, who served as Archbishop of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania.

Fr. Nicholas began his priestly ministry as rector of Holy Trinity Church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, and later served St. Andrew’s Church in Baltimore before being assigned to Alaska. He and Matushka Anastasia spent 32 years serving the Church there, where Fr. Nicholas became closely involved in diocesan life and construction projects.

Among his accomplishments in Alaska was overseeing construction of St. Innocent of Irkutsk Cathedral in Anchorage. He also served as Chancellor of the Diocese of Alaska and as dean of the cathedral until his retirement in 1999. Fr. Nicholas is also the last living priest who participated in the 1970 canonization of St. Herman of Alaska.

After retiring from the Diocese of Alaska, Fr. Nicholas served for nearly 11 years as spiritual father of St. Alexis Mission in Palm Coast, Florida. He and Matushka Anastasia traveled weekly from their home in Merritt Island to serve the community, while Matushka Anastasia directed the parish choir.

In 2017, during the 50th anniversary celebration of St. Innocent Cathedral, Abp. David Mahaffey bestowed upon Fr. Nicholas the right to wear the mitre, elevating him to the rank of Mitred Archpriest. The honor recognized his decades of priestly ministry, his work on the cathedral, and his broader service to the Church.

Fr. Nicholas and Matushka Anastasia returned to the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania in 2021. He is attached to Holy Apostles Church in Mechanicsburg, where their daughter, Matushka Anastasia Hojnicki, and son-in-law, Archpriest Timothy Hojnicki, serve. In 2022, the St. Tikhon’s Seminary Alumni Association honored Fr. Nicholas as its Alumnus of the Year. The diocese concluded its anniversary tribute by praying that God grant Fr. Nicholas, Matushka Anastasia, and their family many years.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Bp. Jerome marked 50 years in the priesthood on Bright Saturday.