Centennial Year Church Services
November 14, 2004 - At 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon His Grace, Bishop TIKHON led our parish in the final service of the weekend - a Molieben, or Service of Thanksgiving, on the occasion of the start of our parish's 100th Anniversary Jubilee Year. The Anniversary Year will be concluded on November 13, 2005, with the visitation of His Beatitude HERMAN, Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada.
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Many clergy from surrounding towns in Central New Jersey took part, as the photos show. Above and below, scenes from various locations in our Church as the service progressed. In photo immediately below, the Rev. David F. Garretson, our present Rector, is to the immediate right of His Grace, Bishop TIKHON.
Above left, our choir sings the responses to the service beneath the stained glass window of our Patrons, SS. Peter and Paul. In center of photo below right is our former Pastor, the V. Rev. Sergius S. Kukarsky.
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The photo above left calls to mind the fact that many bishops most likely started their service to God many years earlier in the capacity of acolyte. Below left, Bishop TIKHON blesses those assembled during the singing of "Many Years". Below right, His Grace discusses in a brief homily the significance of the milestone that our Church has achieved, having attained the venerable age of one hundred years.
In the photo above left, parishoners venerate the Cross and greet Bishop TIKHON. Above right, all of the clergy who participated in the Molieben took a moment to pose for a group photo. Immediately below, Vladyka TIKHON departs SS. Peter and Paul Church for the final time of the weekend.
You may click on the photo above right to view an enlargement.
Above, our parishoners and visitors gathered in the Church Hall immediately after the Molieben for a well-attended repast with Bishop TIKHON. Below, some of our parishoners who make events like this happen, busily at work.
Above right, clergy were first served from a variety of foods and desserts. Below left and right, one of the cakes was in the form of an Orthodox Cross while our 100 Year Anniversary logo was embedded in the icing of the other cake. The offering of food and liquid refreshment at SS. Peter and Paul Church's social affairs is such that one could easily gain ten pounds in a year just by attending every event! A nice way to complete the last day before Nativity Fast.
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Above right, Church President (Starosta) James Kornafel summarizes the accomplishment of one hundred years as a parish and raises a toast to the next one hundred years by the Grace of God. Above left, clergy at the table of honor include, left to right, the V. Rev. Paul Shafran, Pastor Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Church in Trenton, the Rev. David F. Garretson, Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church in South River, His Grace, TIKHON, Bishop of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, the V. Rev. Sergius S. Kuharsky, Pastor Emeritus of SS. Peter and Paul Church in South River, and the V. Rev. Joseph Lickwar, Pastor of SS. Peter and Paul Church in Jersey City. A fulfilling weekend spiritually and an entertaining weekend socially - an excellent way for our parish to begin the observance of our Church's Centennial Jubilee Year!You may click on the photo above left to view an enlargement.
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Copyright © 2004, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ
