July 31, 2015
Jackson, NJ: Jubilee Celebrations held at St. Vladimir Memorial
Church
In
2015, the Eastern American Diocese joined the fullness of the
Russian Orthodox Church in celebrating the
1000th anniversary of the repose of the
Baptizer and Enlightener of Rus’, the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles
Great Prince Vladimir. The jubilee celebrations took place at
St.
Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, which was founded in
conjunction with the 950th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ in
1938.
The magnificent church in the town of Cassville, later renamed
Jackson, was built at the initiative of Archbishop Vitaly
(Maximenko) on property owned by the Russian Mutual Aid Society in
America (ROVA), where many Russian people would gather in the summer
months. Also at the initiative of Archbishop Vitaly, the St.
Vladimir Society was founded to help build the church, and continues
to function to this day.
When construction of the main church was completed, the lower
church, in accordance with Archbishop Vitaly’s final testament,
began actively supporting missionary service in America, and divine
services there were conducted primarily in English. In 2013, during
the celebrations of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’
and the 75th anniversary of the church’s founding, on July 24, the
feast day of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Princess Olga, the
great consecration of the lower church was held. The service was led
by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan
Hilarion of Eastern America & New York.
On
Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th of July, Eastern American
Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan led the All-Night Vigil
and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Olga’s Church. He was
co-served by Archpriest Boris Slootsky (cleric of St. Alexander
Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Priest Serge Ledkovsky
(deputy rector of the Memorial Church), and Protodeacon Nicolas
Mokhoff (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York
City). At the Great Entrance, Bishop Nicholas commemorated all of
the church’s founding fathers, rectors, and benefactors. Upon
completion of the Liturgy, a memorial litiya was served for all of
the departed.
Some of the most renowned names in the Russian Diaspora are linked
with the Memorial Church’s history. From 1948 to 1950, the obedience
of rector here was fulfilled by Hieromonk Anthony (Medvedev; +2000),
future archbishop of Western America & San Francisco. In 1951,
Archpriest Vasily Musin-Pushkin (+1959) was assigned rector. The
interior of the church was frescoed by Archimandrite Cyprian
(Pyzhov; +2001). The iconostasis, which was modeled after the
Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, was designed and built by
Bishop Daniel (Alexandrow; +2010) of Erie, who also pained most of
the icons thereon. Buried here are the Diocese’s founder, Archbishop
Vitaly (Maximenko; +1960), and Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky; +1976).
The
national celebrations began with the All-Night Vigil on Saturday,
July 25, with the triumphal Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sunday,
July 26. For those who would be working at during the celebrations,
an early Liturgy was celebrated by Priest Seraphim Chemodakov,
cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral.
Leading the festal divine services was the First Hierarch of the
Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America &
New York, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada,
Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (dean
of New Jersey), Archpriest Serge Lukianov (diocesan secretary),
Archpriest Andre Papkov (dean of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in
Chicago, IL), Archpriest Liubo Milosevich (rector of Holy Trinity
Church in Vineland, NJ), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy
Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Fr. Serge Ledkovsky,
Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov) and Protodeacon Vadim Gan (clerics of
the Synodal Cathedral), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul
Drozdowski (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral), Deacons
Anatoly Revitskyy (cleric of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in
Philadelphia, PA), Mark Bohush (OCA cleric), and Dionysius Lvov
(Synodal cleric). The Liturgy was sung by a mixed choir under the
direction Deacon Alexander Petrovsky.
During
the reading of the Hours, Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Reader
Gabriel Monforte a subdeacon, and during the Liturgy ordained him to
the diaconate. During the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded Fr.
Serge Ledkovsky the right to wear the gold cross.
Praying at the Liturgy was a multitude of the faithful from New
Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Upon completion of the service,
Fr. Valery Lukianov addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which
he spoke about the life and labors of the Enlightener of Rus’, the
Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, and called on
modern-day Orthodox Christians – who continue the saint’s labors
today – to continue to accomplish the good work of their salvation,
uniting themselves to the Holy Gospel, the source of commandments
and revelations, and to read it meticulously every day. Inspiring
the faithful, Fr. Valery quoted the words of one pious writer: "How
does the Gospel comfort us? In that it is a different world, a
different air, than ours. The strength of the Gospel is in its
mystical and divine nature, in its uninterrupted radiance of a
certain white light. In it, it is as though man swims in the
bodiless rays of another world. It is marvelous that these rays
always call forth spiritual effervescence, a feeling of tender
emotion, and tears." Fr. Valery noted that, "blessed is he who hears
this voice and will, day by day, enter into the holy and salvific
divine world of the Holy Gospel."
The
traditional procession was held after Liturgy, led by Metropolitan
Hilarion, who performed the blessing of the water. Archbishop
Gabriel and Bishop Nicholas joined him to bless the grounds around
the Memorial Church – and the people gathered for the feast – with
holy water. Tents were set up in the open air featuring spiritual
literature and souvenirs, and a luncheon was organized both within
the church hall and outside, accompanied by a concert of folk music.
On
Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July, the feast day of St.
Vladimir, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan led the All-Night Vigil and
celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Memorial Church, co-served by
Fr. Valery Lukianov, Archpriests David Hritcko (rector of St.
Basil’s Church in Simpson, PA), Alexander Golubov (cleric of St.
Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Serge Lukianov,
Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Andrei Sommer
(senior priest of the Synodal Cathedral), George Zelenin (rector of
St. Michael’s Church in Paterson, NJ), Boris Slootsky, Alexandre
Antchoutine (dean of Long Island & the Hudson Valley), Priests
Seraphim Chemodakov and Serge Ledkovsky, Hieromonk Yeliferiy (Skiba;
cleric of "Inexhaustible Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY),
Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church
in Sea Cliff, NY), Deacons Paul Drozdowski, Vladimir Barros (cleric
of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and Alexander
Koranda (OCA cleric). During the service, Bishop Nicholas ordained
Deacon Gabriel Monforte to the priesthood.
In
his sermon upon completion of the Liturgy, His Grace thanked God for
the opportunity to celebrate the patronal feast days of the Memorial
Church, and to hold the national jubilee celebrations. Speaking of
the importance to modern-day Christians of the example set by the
Great Prince Vladimir, Bishop Nicholas noted, "He received the
Orthodox Faith but, following in the footsteps of St. Olga, did not
stop there. The whole Russian land received baptism with St.
Vladimir; he gave them an example of how to transform one’s life, as
Christ our Savior said in today’s Gospel reading:
I am the door: by Me if any
man enter in, he shall be saved (John 10:9). St. Vladimir saw
the open door and entered in. The Lord likewise invites all of us to
enter this door of salvation. He gave us the Faith, gave us an image
of repentance, and now we must put forth the effort to become
children of God." His Grace called on the faithful to reveal the
image of God to those around us, to life according to the Gospel,
and to disseminate the Faith, as the Holy Princess Olga and Price
Vladimir had once done.
Bishop Nicholas congratulated the newly ordained Fr. Gabriel, and
called on him never to forget to pray for and commemorate at
Proskomedia the priests who were present at his ordination, "because
we are all one family, and must all pray for one another." Attached
to the diocesan cathedral, Priest Gabriel Monforte will serve for
the time being in the Mid-American Diocese.
The feast day concluded in a luncheon for the clergy and laity.
PHOTOGRAPHS:
July 23rd-24th: St. Olga's Day
July 25th-26th: Celebration of the Baptism of Rus'
July 27th-28th: St. Vladimir's Day
Media Office of the Eastern
American Diocese
