Centennial Year Church Events

July 15-17, 2005 -   The Orthodox Church in America convened her 14th All-America Council during the week July 17-22, 2005 in Toronto, Canada. What follows is an extensive photoreport on the start of the week's activities. This report is divided into four sections: (1) a description of the flight to Toronto; (2) a brief tour of the city of Toronto; (3) a report on the Vesper service conducted on Saturday evening, July 16; and (4) a report on the Divine Liturgy on the morning of July 17 in the presence of the entire Holy Synod of Bishops of the Orthodox Church in America. Accompanying the last two portions will be text describing the history of the All-America Councils with a description of the purpose of the present Council held in Toronto. Travel scheduling rendered impossible the reporting of the week's meetings, however, those with additional photos and/or written observations of the week's activities are welcome to make contributions to this report to make it more complete. Thanks to James Sopchak whose photographic work gave this photoreport greater depth.

For security reasons, those who travel by air are now expected to arrive at an airport one hour before departure, two hours for an international flight. These two hours gave your reporter ample opportunity to photograph life in Newark Airport including the colorful gift shop displays above. Below left, one can see the enormous engine of a Boeing 777 aircraft. The diameter of this engine is equivalent to the fuselage diameter of older Boeing 737 aircraft. This engine was attached to the colorful airplane (below right) which departed fully subscribed to Tel Aviv, Israel. Reflected in the plate glass upper left of this photo are the walkways of the International Arrivals Building - the windows to the heavens!

Above left, the monitor shows that the Northwest Airlines flight to Toronto has just departed. Next up - Continental flight 571 which was the flight that your reporter took. Above right, one sees the full length of the departure runway - 22R - out over the right wing of the aircraft. On to Toronto! Below left, heading south briefly seconds after departure, one sees the New Jersey Turnpike and the former Exxon Bayway Refinery, now an energy generation plant. Below right, the city of Linden was about as far south as our flight was to travel. Visible in this photo are the runway of Linden Airport and some of the petroleum tank farms indigenous to New Jersey.

It wasn't long before our flight had attained its designated flight level of 26,000 feet, leaving the ground and the haze and humidity far below. Above left and right, one sees the beauty of God's Creation courtesy of a window seat on Continental Airlines.

Above we see the area outside of Toronto proper seconds before touchdown at Pearson Airport. Although Toronto is an international metropolis of more than three million people, one doesn't have to go far outside of the city proper to see farmland - and plenty of it. The wing of the Boeing 737-800 was intentionally included in this photograph. For perspective, the vertical "blended winglet" at the end of the right wing is eight feet in height! Its purpose is to reduce aerodynamic drag, thus increasing fuel economy, adding 150 miles to the flight range of the aircraft, and increasing its takeoff capacity by 6,000 additional pounds. Pretty amazing improvements for an additional sixteen feet of sheet metal!

Above is the unofficial symbol of Toronto - the "Space Needle" - a structure approximately 1,800 feet in height and one of the tallest man-made structures in the world. The tower has an observation deck at 1,400 feet in height. Below left, Toronto is an amalgam of the old/classic and the new/sleek. There is much to see for admirers of many different types of architecture. Below right, street traffic coexists with an ethnic parade at high noon on Saturday, July 16.

Above left and right, can you spot the visiting South Riverians among the native Torontonians?

Above left, the ice hockey Hall of Fame. Torontonians talk about their national obsession - ice hockey - even during the hottest dog days of summer. Above right, we see an outdoor cafe. Below left, what better way to see the city on a hot day than the upper deck of a Gray Line bus? Below right, the enclosed Eton Mall is a multi-story shopper's paradise steps from the heart of Toronto and also steps from the Sheraton Centre Hotel, the venue for the 14th All-America Council of the Orthodox Church in America.

A glance at the price of gasoline should have everyone heading north to fill up until one realizes that the price of 86.8 cents is per liter and not per gallon. Let's do the math - there are 3.8 liters per gallon so that the cost of a gallon of gasoline in Canadian dollars is $3.30 Canadian. At the available exchange rate of $1.17 Canadian per $1.00 U.S., the cost of a gallon of gasoline in Canada works out to $2.82 - much more expensive than the cost per gallon of gasoline in New Jersey. Below left is shown the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel where the All-America Council was held. Below right, everyone talks about the weather but does little about it. Another surprise were the heat and humidity. Toronto is in the midst of an historically hot summer. Temperatures and humidity were as bad or worse than New Jersey. Who knew that one could be hot at 30 degrees - Celsius, that is. The thermometer below right shows the temperature well beyond the 30's (C), or over 100 degrees Farenheit! The Humidex - the Canadian equivalent of the temperature/humidity index in our country was regularly 40 degrees (Celsius) or above, that is, 100 degrees or better as measured in the United States.

A wise person once said that "those who fail to plan, plan to fail". Keeping this in mind, the Orthodox Church in America convenes once every triennium to reflect upon her history, consider current issues and problems, and - under the guidance of the Holy Spirit - make plans for the future direction of the Orthodox Church at both the national and local levels. The All-America Council of the Orthodox Church in America is the fourteenth such North American gathering as measured from 1970 - the year in which the American Church was officially granted complete autocephaly (self-governance) from the Mother Church in Russia. The conclave is held once every three years. Three years ago the meeting was held in Orlando, Florida and, in 1999, the gathering took place in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. At the present meeting, nearly 2000 individuals from some 675 parishes throughout North America were expected to participate in the week's activities. The four facets of the gathering - worship, fellowship, learning, and decision making - blended into an overall theme for the week entitled, "Our Church and the Future". Youth and young adults figure prominently in the week's proceedings. Over 500 children, teens, and young adults are expected to contribute to the overall success of the meeting. The OCA has held a total of 25 All-American Councils since the year 1907 with those in the period 1907 - 1970 being referred to as "sobors" (the Russian word for both "Church" and a "gathering" or "council". Prior to 1907, administrative decisions were largely the purvue of the ruling bishop but, at the First All-American Sobor held in Mayfield, Pennsylvania, on March 5-7, 1907, it was Bishop Tikhon (Belavin), later Patriarch of Moscow and All-Russia and now St. Tikhon of North America, who changed the direction of leadership of the American Church to one of participation by both clergy and lay people. Three outstanding priests at this first gathering included Rev. Alexnader Hotovitsky (one of the founders, along with Bishop Tikhon, of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J.), Rev. John Kochurov, and Rev. Alexis Toth. All three priests present at this first council have since been canonized as Saints of the Orthodox Church in America. In 1970, the 14th All-American Sobor became the 1st All-American Council, occurring as it did on October 20-22, 1970 at St. Tikhon's Monastery, several months after official autocephaly was granted on April 10, 1970. This council was simultaneously the last sobor of the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America (the precursor of the Orthodox Church in America) and it was held several months after Saint Herman of Alaska had been canonized as the first American Saint of the Orthodox Church. (Factual data was gleaned from the excellent article by Mary Sernak which appeared in the Spring, 2005, edition of "Alive in Christ" - the magazine of the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania; Volume XXI, No. 1, pp. 38,41).

Your reporter and his photographic assistant James arrived at the lobby of the Sheraton Centre Hotel at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, July 16 - one hour before the Vesper service was held in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel. Above left, Jim stands next to one of the many signs in the lobby which greeted priests, lay delegates, and visitors to the 14th All-America Council. The hour before Vespers at 6:00 p.m. was spent visiting the Exhibition Hall where all manner of items relevant to the Orthodox Faith - books, icons, liturgical vessels, crosses, bells, vestments, books and printed literature, and Website services - were available for review and purchase both by Churches and individuals. Above right is a photo of some of the smaller icons which were on display.

Above left in the Exhibition Hall was a display of the biography of all leaders of the Orthodox Church in America from the start of the American Church in Alaska in 1794. Above right, one sees the Book of Holy Gospels and Altar items on display. Below left are Holy Communion vessels used during the Divine Liturgy. Below right, Bishop's Crosses and Panagias, bearing the icon of the Theotokos, were on display.

Above and below are shown the icons which were on display. Some of the larger and more elaborate icons had a sale value in the thousands of dollars.

Above left, a temporary Iconostasis was erected in the Grand Ballroom of the hotel for all divine services conducted throughout the week. The Iconostasis was transported in discreet segments which were joined together on site. Above right, OCA photographer and Webmaster, John Mindala, photographs His Beatitude HERMAN, Archbishop of Washington and New York, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, and members of the Holy Synod of the OCA at the beginning of Vespers. Below left, a Protodeacon censes the faithful during the service. Below right, Metropolitan HERMAN and members of the Holy Synod stand near a large icon of of All Saints of North America. Despite the large gathering of hierarchs and clergy, the Vesper service, as is traditional, was celebrated in the Sanctuary by a single priest.

Above right, Metropolitan HERMAN blesses the faithful at the conclusion of the Vesper service. Below, elaborate reliquaries bearing the relics of three American Saints - St. Tikhon, St. Herman, and St. Innocent - were available at the left side of the Iconostasis for veneration by the faithful.

Below left, Olga, Robert, and James Kornafel gather with James Sopchak in front of the Iconostasis. Below right, Jim Kornafel depresses the shutter button which enabled two brothers to be photographed in front of the Iconostasis.

The remainder of this photoreport is dedicated to the concelebration of the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning, July 17, by His Beatitude HERMAN and all members of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America. Above, left to right are the flags of the United States, Canada, and Mexico symbolizing the North American background of the participants at the Council. The fourth flag is unidentified.

Above left, the reliquaries of North American Saints were to the left of the Iconostasis while on the right side of the Iconostasis was the large icon of All Saints of North America. In the photo below, as the faithful entered the Grand Ballroom, they venerated the icon of St. Herman of Alaska which was in the center of the ballroom.

Above left, a close view of one of the reliquaries shows greater detail. Note the elaborate engraving in the metal lid of the reliquary. Above right, Rev. David F. Garretson, Rector of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J., venerates the relics of the Saints of North America prior to the start of the Divine Liturgy.

Above - the many "orlets" or circular rugs - one for each member of the Holy Synod, lie vacant before the Divine Liturgy. The orlets - a cicular rug with the image of an eagle flying over a city - is put under the bishop's feet. This symbolizes that the bishop should soar from the earthly to the heavenly like an eagle, and, as an eagle can see clearly over distances, so must a bishop oversee all parts of his diocese. Below left, vested clergy enter the ballroom prior to the greeting of Metropolitan HERMAN and members of the Holy Synod. Approximately twenty vested clergy stood on each side of the center aisle between the Iconostasis and the bishops' elevated platform. Below right, deacons and protodeacons cense awaiting the arrival of Metropolitan HERMAN and members of the Holy Synod.

Above right, Metropolitan HERMAN enters the Grand Ballroom followed by members of the Holy Synod in procession (below).

Below is a photo of Metropolitan HERMAN flanked by the members of the Holy Synod at the start of the Divine Liturgy.

You may click on the photo above to view an enlarged image.

Above right, Metropolitan HERMAN reads the prayers of a bishop at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy. Below left, he blesses the faithful, holding in his hands the dikiri and trikiri - the double and triple candlesticks which symbolize the dual nature of Jesus Christ - divine and human - and the Holy Trinity - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Above right, the members of the Holy Synod are shown entering the Sanctuary during the Little Entrance. Below left, the Book of Holy Gospels is carried to the center of the ballroom by Metropolitan HERMAN's archdeacon. Above right he reads the Gospel passage appointed for the day.

Above left, the mixed choir sang the responses to the Divine Liturgy beautifully and respectfully under the direction of David Drillock, Director of Music at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Above right, priests follow the progress of the Divine Liturgy with their prayer books. The only noted difference in the Divine Liturgy was in the Litanies of Supplication wherein the Queen of England and the Governor General of Canada were prayed for rather than the President of the United States who is prayed for in Divine Liturgies celebrated in the United States of America.

Above right - behind the clergy is shown one of the two "Jumbotron" viewing screens that was erected at either side of the Grand Ballroom so that those further back in the ballroom could readily see the progress of the Divine Liturgy. Here, Metropolitan HERMAN is shown on the screen during the Great Entrance. Below left, cameras in hand are John Mindala (left), photographer for the Orthodox Church in America, and the photographer (right) who records Metropolitan HERMAN'S activities for St. Tikhon's Seminary and St. Tikhon's Monastery.

Above right, Metropolitan HERMAN offers an archpastoral blessing. To the left in the photo is His Eminence DIMITRI, Archbishop of the South. It was Archbishop DIMITRI who ordained Rev. David Garretson to the priesthood. In the photo below are Bishop NIKOLAI (left) and Bishop JOB. Bishop NIKOLAI, of Sitka and Alaska, will be visiting SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J., as he travels to the Lower 48 in the Fall, accompanying the Sitka Icon of the Theotokos.

Above, OCA Photographer John Mindala at work. Below left, video and audio were maintained at this control center located in the upper right portion of the ballroom. The Divine Liturgy was recorded. Both audio and video quality were excellent. Below right, the Berezniak family of SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J., is shown shortly before Holy Communion.

Above left, a view of the large number of faithful at the Divine Liturgy. Above right, the faithful receive Holy Communion from a large number of priests strategically located throughout the ballroom. Below, an Orthodox nun receives Holy Communion.

Below left, a group photo of those from SS. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in South River, N.J., taken at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy. In photo below right - the "First Family" of our parish - (left to right) Fiona Garretson, Rev. David Garretson, Matushka Shari Garretson, and Meredith Garretson. Many Years to all who observed and participated in the 14th All-American Council this week under the guidance of the Holy Spirit!

You may click on the photo above left to view an enlarged image.

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Copyright © 2005, Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, South River, NJ