Fundraiser for Funeral Expenses

With a very heavy heart, we regret to inform the faithful that on August 11th, 2021 in Cleveland, Hieromonk Nikolai (formerly priest Serhii Chebotar) reposed after a long battle with cancer. He was 36 years old when he fell asleep in the Lord. 

Fr. Nikolai came to Cleveland for his first lung transplant 8 years ago from Pochaev monastery in Ukraine, where he had been the choir director. Recently he received his second lung transplant. He developed cancer shortly thereafter. After his cancer diagnosis he was tonsured into the small schema with the name Nikolai, in honor of St. Nicholas of Myra which was his life long dream.  Fr. Nikolai was released from Cleveland Clinic this past Monday into Hospice care and returned home. His mother had arrived two weeks prior and his dear friend Archimandrite Dosifey from Kiev Theological Academy arrived  in Cleveland the night before he passed. Wednesday morning Fr. Nikolai received Holy Unction and partook of Holy Communion. He reposed in the Lord as the Akathist to his patron saint was being read at 3:30 p.m. The Canon with the prayer for the departure of the soul from the body was read immediately after. His funeral will be at the St. Sergius Cathedral in Parma, Ohio on Saturday at 11 a.m. There will be an early Liturgy at 8:30 before the funeral. Parastas will be on Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral. He will be buried at Pochaev monastery.

It was his last wish to be buried in the Pochaev monastery in Ukraine. This is where he began his spiritual journey and considered it to be his spiritual home. The transporatation of his remains to the Pochaev monastery is very costly. Please consider helping to fulfill his last wish.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him. He has greatly touched so many hearts with his kindness, generosity and prayers. He spent his life serving God with his immense musical talents both vocally and in conducting. Let us show our love and gratitude to him by fulfullling his last wish. May his memory be eternal!