For each of us the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim is a spiritual mentor, spiritual father without who we would be people poor in faith, orphans. It was only due to the advent to Ukraine of such a prominent person full of boundless faith and love of people that brought our land and all of us nearer to understanding God, that granted us the benediction of God.

       "I want the words "Christ has arisen" to be said sincerely, from the heart, so that these words would make our soul revive, as well as our destitute Ukraine neglected by us just like Christ on the cross when they would cry: "Crucify him!"

       "...Stop shouting at each other, stop plaiting the thorn-crown of Christ, come to Christ in peace, come to each other and proclaim: "Christ has arisen from the grave. It is our resurrection, and it is us who will resurrect with him" - these words f the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim from the sermon at the celebration of the Bright Resurrection of Christ found its way to the heart of every Christian, they cultivated all of us.

On April 18, 2001 the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim became 81 years old. An endless stream of people whose souls had been touched by Father Nikodim with kindness, faith and compassion, headed towards the Kharkov Eparchy administration on that bright day. No one has an idea of what a long and thorny way lead to that day; it is even hard to count the awards which marked it.

       At the day of the "Life-bearing well" icon on April 20, 2001 in the Holy-Annunciation cathedral the president of Ukraine awarded the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim with the first degree Order of Merit.
       "I am positive, - said the president of Ukraine L.D.Kuchma, - that we all love this outstanding person, it is impossible to treat him without genuine respect and love for the deeds he does for our hearts."

       Among the flickering of candles the Metropolitan of Kiev and Ukraine Vladimir performed divine service and delivered the icon of Our Lady as gift to the cathedral. Eyes full of unearthly wisdom and warmth viewed from the icon the people who came to the church of God to honour their archpastor and teacher. Many words were said about the merits of the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim, about his Holy work which he did for his people. And it seemed as though you knew every word that was going to be said, maybe it was born in your heart when you were listening to a sermon of Father Nikodim or went to church. He became a father not for us only but also for each Cathedral and each church which is being constructed.
       It was him who laid the first stone of the church of the Great Martyr St. George the Victory-Bearer being constructed in Kharkov, and later on he presented to it a beautiful icon of the Great Martyr St. George the Victory-Bearer. Church is a house of God, and God is Love. This means that each Church is a House of Love, and if we compare it to a river then the inexhaustible source in it would be the heart of Father Nikodim. We all reach out for his kindness, wisdom, long-suffering, mercy; we see in him the source of the spiritual life, a pastor on the way to Salvation.
       Undoubtedly we were all deeply moved by the words of the Most Reverend Father in God Nikodim which he uttered in the Holy-Annunciation cathedral: "Without church I am nobody".