October 30, 2014
Howell, NJ: Statement from the Diocesan Office regarding St.
Nicholas Church in Red Bank, NJ
As
a result of recent events in the former parish of St. Nicholas
Church at 15 Pearl Street, Red Bank, NJ, and the false rumors
surrounding these events, His Eminence, Metropolitan Hilarion, has
given his blessing for the publication of a statement of
clarification, as well as supporting documentation.
St. Nicholas Church has had a troubled past. Founded in 1950 by the
Kuban Cossacks, the building proper has always belonged to the Kuban
Stanitza of Red Bank ("Kuban Cossack Association"). However, in
accordance with the church’s charter, the parish housed therein was
always to be affiliated with the ROCOR Synod of Bishops. Over the
past 20 years, the parish experienced significant administrative
difficulty, unable to maintain a rector for any long duration. Among
the former rectors in this time period were Archimandrite Gideon
(Marzev), Priest Andrei Kortusov, Archimandrite Athanasy
(Mastalski), and Archpriest Philip Petrovsky. All four reported
serious concerns and disagreements with certain parishioners, who
over time were able to solidify their positions within the parish
and assumed full control over the parish council, chasing out
previous members. Disturbingly, their insistence at serving in the
church continued even without a pastoral presence, and both regular
and irregular lay services were conducted in the church building,
including the midnight Paschal service with the placing of the Holy
Shroud on the altar table and the blessing of baskets, all without a
clergyman present.
In November 2007, Archpriest Serge Lukianov was temporarily assigned
rector of St. Nicholas Church; his assignment as rector was made
permanent on January 10, 2008. He encountered the same difficulties
as previous rectors, namely a refusal to accept his authority as
rector over the day-to-day life of the parish, in contradiction of
the ROCOR Normal Parish By-Laws. Fearing for the state of the
parish, he met with former rector Fr. Philip and representatives of
Commerce Bank, where they were able to secure the parish funds and
ensure that they would not be improperly withdrawn and spirited away
by the parish council. As the situation in the parish deteriorated,
Metropolitan Laurus of blessed memory assigned a special
investigative commission, chaired by diocesan secretary Archpriest
George Larin, to interview parishioners and restore order in the
parish in February 2008.
The sudden death of Metropolitan Laurus in March 2008 put the
commission’s work on hold, and the report was only delivered to the
new First Hierarch, Metropolitan Hilarion, in June 2008.
Unfortunately, this delay gave rise to rumors that the commission
had been silenced or ignored. Ultimately, the commission’s report
showed that the parish council members were steadfast in their
refusal to recognize any administrative authority over them, either
of the priest or the bishop. It was the commission’s final
recommendation that they be removed immediately and new officers
elected. During this process, the parish council members abandoned
the parish and did not return, instead serving lay services in the
basement of a local Episcopalian church, after attempting and
failing to infiltrate St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ.
Following the enactment of the commission’s recommendations (a new
parish council was elected in June 2008 and ratified by His
Eminence), the former parish council members filed civil suit
against Fr. Serge, Fr. Philip, and the bank, later impleading
Metropolitan Hilarion. The lawsuit alleged embezzlement of funds and
a cover-up; after reviewing the facts of the case, the New Jersey
Superior Court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, citing the
absence of any criminal activity on the part of the clergy, and the
court’s inability under the First Amendment to interfere with the
inner workings of the Church. The former parish council members
appealed to a review board, to the Appellate Court, and finally to
the New Jersey Supreme Court. At every level, the ruling of the
Superior Court was honored, and the plaintiffs’ case found to be
without merit. Significantly, the court explicitly informed
plaintiffs that they did not represent St. Nicholas Church (despite
absconding with parish property, including the parish seal), and
could sue only on behalf of themselves personally, rather than on
behalf of the parish.
The former parish council members were told by Metropolitan Hilarion
to cease spreading false information and slander against the rector
and Fr. Philip. When they refused, they were banned from Holy
Communion for one year, in the hopes that this would awaken them to
the damage they were causing to the church community. Instead, they
were emboldened, and when they sued His Eminence, the ban was made
permanent, pending their full repentance. Furthermore, they were
banned from holding any officer position in any parish or
organization of the Russian Church Abroad.
Parish life at St. Nicholas Church continued as normal, and annual
General Parish Meetings elected council members every year from
2009-2014. The minutes of these meetings and their attendant budgets
were all ratified by the ruling bishop, Metropolitan Hilarion.
Despite the former parish council members’ accusations of
embezzlement, all of the money remained in the parish. Much of the
money went to repairing and renovating the 100-year-old church
building, which was in a dire state in 2007, to the point where city
code inspectors had rescinded the Certificate of Occupancy. All of
this and more was put in good order, and parishioners lovingly
donated new icons, analogia, books, paint, a candle counter, and
more.
From 2009 on, the parishes of St. Nicholas Church and St. George’s
Kuban Cossack Church in Freewood Acres in Howell (no affiliation to
the Kuban Cossack Association in Red Bank) were joined, and services
were divided between the two churches. Beginning in December 2013,
with the blessing of Metropolitan Hilarion, the rector and parish
council resolved to allow Archpriest Rafael Melendez of the Albanian
Orthodox Church to serve at St. Nicholas as a Spanish- and
English-language mission. However, on May 21, 2014, the eve of St.
Nicholas’ feast day, Fr. Rafael arrived at the church to find that
the locks had been changed and a sign placed on the door, indicating
that the Kuban Cossack Association, owners of the building, were
evicting the parish. This was a legal violation of the parish’s
longstanding tenancy agreement, and the Association was required to
relinquish temporary control of the building to the parish, until
such time as a proper eviction notice would be issued.
In response to this, the parish held a special general meeting, at
which the parishioners unanimously petitioned Metropolitan Hilarion
to close the parish; His Eminence approved, and directed that all
parish property be removed from the building, including the
iconostasis and cupola. The Metropolitan made it explicitly clear
that the building owned by the Cossacks at 15 Pearl Street would no
longer function as a church, its belongings transferred to the
Eastern American Diocese and its parishioners assigned exclusively
to St. George’s Church in Howell. This directive was carried out,
and the parish property was removed from the building prior to
September 30, 2014. On that date, Mr. George Borisov (Vice President
of the Association) met with Fr. Serge to review the property and
execute its transfer. All was found to be in order, and the two
parted ways on good terms.
In an unexpected turn of events, Mr. Borisov and the Kuban Cossack
Association turned over control of the property to the former parish
council members, who over the past six years have claimed to be St.
Nicholas Church in exile. They immediately took to the internet to
decry the "vandalizing" of the church, filing police reports and
ignoring the authority of the true parish council and the
Metropolitan to close the parish. In direct disobedience to His
Eminence’s directive and wishes, they have resumed performing
"prayer services" at 15 Pearl Street, and have even attempted to
submit insurance claims and register as a tax-exempt church entity.
To all concerned: the Eastern American Diocese and the Synod
of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia consider
St. Nicholas Church in Red Bank to be permanently closed. Any entity
claiming to be this parish is doing so under false pretenses, and
has neither ecclesiastical nor civil recognition. His Eminence calls
on all of the faithful children of the Russian Orthodox Church, as
well as faithful people everywhere, to pray for the repentance and
salvation of these people, who are under deep spiritual delusion.
Moreover, all are cautioned to avoid the group calling itself "St.
Nicholas Church," which recognizes no spiritual authority and has
dedicated significant amounts of time and money to slandering our
Metropolitan, our clergy, and our God-loving parishioners.
Documents available for review (PDF):
January 10, 2008 – Directive from
Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan assigning Fr. Serge rector
September 20,
2008 – Letter by Metropolitan Hilarion to former parish council
members (Russian)
March 31, 2009 – Final Statement
by Metropolitan Hilarion on the situation in St. Nicholas Church
November 9, 2009 –
Directive from Bishop George of Mayfield to former parish council
members
May 22, 2014 – Statement by
Metropolitan Hilarion instructing closure of St. Nicholas Church
August 28, 2014 –
Directive from Metropolitan Hilarion officially closing St. Nicholas
Church
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
