October 21, 2009
Jackson, NJ: Bishop Jerome Celebrated the Divine Liturgy in Holy Virgin Protection Church

There is a little known additional church of this Diocese dedicated to the Protection of the Theotokos. This is the lower church of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ. This lower church was originally dedicated to St. Olga, but in the 1960s, after an ancient, darkened icon of the Protection of the Theotokos self-renewed there, this church was rededicated in Her honor. Today, a small dedicated group meets every Sunday for services sung entirely in English, headed by Archpriest Phillip Petrovsky.

On Sunday, October 18, the feast of the Holy Hierarchs of Moscow, His Grace Bishop Jerome of Manhattan celebrated the Divine Liturgy in this lower church, being unable to be present on the feast of the Protection itself.

His Grace was greeted with the ringing of bells, a welcoming speech by John Petrovsky, and the scattering of flowers by the children of the parish. During the Sixth Hour, Reader Paul Drozdowski was elevated to the rank of Subdeacon by His Grace. Co-serving with His Grace were the rector of the English mission Archpriest Philip Petrovsky, Priest Serge Ledkovsky, and Deacon Dimitry Temidis. Also present was Archpriest Boris Kizenko.  The choir sang prayerfully in both English and Slavonic under the direction of Alexandra Kulinyi. Bishop Jerome gave a homily in two languages on the importance of being fervent in the Orthodox faith. The service concluded with a moleben combined with the blessing of the new altar frescoes, recently completed by Subdeacon Paul Drozdowski, depicting the Protection of the Theotokos and Sts. Job and Amfilokhiy of Pochaev. Memory Eternal was then sung for Archbishops Vitaly and Nikon whose remains both repose in the lower church.

Before the faithful venerated the cross, Father Serge Ledkovsky presented a blue miter to Bishop Jerome. This miter was a gift from Metropolitan Yuvenaliy of Kursk and was entrusted to Father Serge to present to His Grace. Father Phillip then presented a framed copy of Archbishop Vitaly’s address at the laying of the cornerstone of St. Vladimir’s church in 1938.

A festal meal was prepared by the ladies of the English Mission, followed by a meeting of the Board of Directors of the St. Vladimir's Society led by His Grace, Bishop Jerome.

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese