On the Sunday before the Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (January 4, 2026), according to the Julian Calendar, a small but deeply faithful community in the hills of Cambria County, Pennsylvania, was filled with great spiritual joy. His Eminence Archbishop Daniel made an archpastoral visit to Saints Peter and Paul Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Bakerton - officially known as Bakerton, yet bearing an Elmora address - a humble town of just 421 residents according to the 2023 census, located 4.4 miles southeast of Northern Cambria.

Bakerton may be small in number, but it is rich in faith. Nestled within West Carroll Township, this parish community stands as a living testimony that the Church of Christ is not measured by size, but by faithfulness, sacrifice, and love for the sacred apostolic tradition.

Traveling from the Metropolia and Spiritual Center of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, Archbishop Daniel arrived accompanied by subdeacons Yaroslav Bilohan and Yurii Izhyk, making the long journey to be present with this vital community of approximately 60 faithful gathered in prayer. His visit was especially meaningful, as it coincided with the setting aside of a new subdeacon for the parish - Daniel McNulty - a moment of grace and renewal for the life of the parish.

At the entrance of the holy temple, Archbishop Daniel was warmly greeted by the President of the Parish Board of Administration, Mr. Daniel Abrams, who presented him with the traditional bread and salt - a timeless sign of welcome, gratitude, and love. In his words of greeting, Mr. Abrams thanked the Archbishop for his pastoral care and for traveling such a distance to be with a small, yet steadfast, community devoted to preserving the sacred faith of the Holy Church.

The parish pastor, Rev. Fr. Paul Bigelow, together with the faithful, welcomed their archpastor with heartfelt joy, asking him to offer his prayers, blessing, and spiritual guidance for the community as they prepared to enter the bright feast of the Nativity.

Having entered the temple, Archbishop Daniel called forward Daniel McNulty, a man of faith raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who later moved to the greater Pittsburgh metropolitan area for education and professional life, while remaining deeply rooted in the liturgical and sacramental life of Orthodox Christian communities. In his address, the Archbishop noted a profound spiritual connection they shared through the blessed memory of Protopresbyter Frank Estocin, longtime spiritual father of Saint Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral in Philadelphia. Archbishop Daniel spoke movingly of Fr. Frank as his own spiritual mentor, whose example of priestly dedication and pastoral love left an indelible mark on generations of faithful.

Reflecting on the sacred calling of a subdeacon, Archbishop Daniel emphasized that this ministry is not merely functional, but profoundly spiritual. A subdeacon, he explained, is entrusted with the care of the House of God, the assistance of the priest at the Holy Altar, and the edification of the faithful through reverent service and chanting. “This is a calling,” Archbishop Daniel noted, “to become a consecrated vessel of the grace of the Holy Spirit - set apart for service, humility, and faithfulness.”

During his sermon, the Archbishop reflected on the Gospel reading of the Genealogy of Christ, inviting the faithful to see within it not only the history of salvation, but also a mirror of their own families and spiritual roots. He spoke of the “family of Christ” as a living family, bound together not only by bloodlines, but by faith, obedience, repentance, and love.

Quoting Archbishop Daniel: “The genealogy of Christ reminds us that God enters history through families - broken, faithful, struggling, and hopeful. In Christ, every family finds healing, purpose, and belonging.”

He also addressed the spiritual challenges of modern society, especially the commercialism that often overshadows the true meaning of the Nativity. He reminded the faithful that there is a profound difference between observing the feast and acting upon it.

“To observe Christmas is to look,” he said. “To act upon it is to live it - through charity, kindness, forgiveness, and love. The Nativity becomes real when Christ is born in our actions.”

In a particularly moving moment before the chanting of the Creed, the entire congregation exchanged the Kiss of Peace, responding to the deacon’s exclamation: “Let us love one another, that with one mind we may confess…” - a powerful witness to unity, reconciliation, and shared faith.

At the conclusion of the service, Vladyka Daniel, assisted by subdeacon Daniel, presented those in attendance with a commemorative Nativity icon as a sign of gratitude and love. With warm words, he wished the Archbishop - and all present - a blessed Feast of the Nativity and a healthy, grace-filled Year of Our Lord 2026.

This archpastoral visit was more than a journey to a small town; it was a living encounter with the mystery of the Church - where Christ is born anew in faithful hearts, where service is embraced with humility, and where even the smallest community shines brightly with the light of the Gospel.