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May 9, 2011
Lakewood, NJ: The First Hierarch of ROCOR led the celebrations in honor of the 75th anniversary of the parish of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral

On Saturday the 7th and Sunday the 8th of May, diocesan hierarchs led the divine services in honor of the 75th anniversary of the parish of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Lakewood, NJ. The parish was founded in 1936 by His Eminence Vitaly, Archbishop of Eastern America and Jersey City.

On Saturday evening, His Grace, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop George, served the All-Night Vigil in the cathedral, co-served by cathedral rector Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov, Eastern American Diocesan secretary Archpriest Serge Lukianov, Priest Jonah Campbell (cleric of St. George’s Church in Howell, NJ), parish cleric Priest Sergio Silva, Protodeacon Joseph Jarostchuk (cleric of St. John of Kronstadt Church in Utica, NY), Deacon Nicholas Olhovsky (cleric of Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY), Deacon Leonid Roschko (cleric of St. George’s Church), and parish Deacon Nathan Mousselli. Parish cleric Protodeacon Nicholas Lukianov prayed and sang in the choir.

The following morning, the First Hierarch of ROCOR, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, was greeted before the cathedral. His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by Their Graces, the diocesan vicars: Bishop George and Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, and by local clergy.

Upon completion of the Liturgy, a Thanksgiving moleben was served, after which the First Hierarch congratulated Fr. Valery and the God-loving parishioners of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral on the momentous occasion. In memory of the milestone event and in gratitude for his many years of service to Christ’s Holy Church, Metropolitan Hilarion awarded Fr. Valery the Synodal Order of the Sign, 2nd Class. In his reply, the rector expressed his gratitude for the archpastoral visit, and the joy with which he has watched the growth and development of Archbishop Vitaly’s so-called "firstling parish" over the years.

After the service, a festal anniversary banquet was held in the parish hall, during which a photomontage of the history of the parish was shown.

 

Media Office of the Eastern American Diocese