Blog Archives

Annual Memorial Day Panikhida

5/27/2013

Year after year on the last Monday in May, Americans celebrate Memorial Day. A day dedicated to the fallen men and women of the American Armed Forces. While others mark this day with personal celebrations and parades, Orthodox Christians living in the United States created traditions and celebrate in a different manner.

On the Fourth Sunday after Pascha, and annually the closest Sunday to Memorial Day – the Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints in Garfield NJ processed to the nearby Flagpole and commemorative stone dedicated to the Men and Women who gave their lives for the freedom of others. The parish’s rector Archpriest George Konyev celebrated a Panikhida, for those in uniform and in particular the parishioners of Three Saints Church who perished defending their country.

The Panikhida this year was especially joyous, being that it was still Paschaltide, the clergy and faithful were able to proclaim the Paschal greetings to those who fell asleep in the Lord.

On Monday, May 27, Fr. George and group of Altar servers departed early in the morning to George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus New Jersey, and placed flags at each individual grave marker, dedicated to a veteran. About one hundred departed veterans are buried at the Russian Orthodox Section of the cemetery.

BRIGHT SATURDAY

5/11/2013

On Bright Saturday, May 11, 2013 Divine Liturgy at Three Saints Church was held between clerics of the Patriarchal Parishes in the USA and the Eastern American Diocese of the Russian Church Abroad.

His Eminence Justinian, Archbishop of Naro-Fominsk, celebrated the divine service, co-served by His Grace, Bishop Jerome of Manhattan, and a multitude of clergy.

Prior to the beginning of the service, Archbishop Justinian tonsured three parishioners of the Patriarchal Parishes to the rank of reader: George Konyev (Three Saints Church), Alexander Bacik (St. Elias Church in Battle Creek, MI), and Valeriy Ignatov (St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne, NJ). During the Little Entrance, with the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill, His Eminence bestowed awards on clergy of Patriarchal Parishes:

Archpriest Roman Star (Dean of the Central States)
and Archpriest Timothy Barna (rector of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Redford, MI) were awarded the miter
Archpriest Lawrence Bacik (rector of St. Elias Church), was awarded the jeweled cross;
and Priest Mikhail Kapchits (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Bayonne) was elevated to the rank of archpriest.

After the Prayer behind the Ambo, Archbishop Justinian proclaimed the Prayer at the Breaking of the Artos, after which the Archpastors, clergy, and faithful processed around the church, with their joyous cries of "Christ is Risen!

After the Divine Liturgy, a grand trapeza was held in the Parish Hall under the direction of Parish Protodeacon Daniel Sudol and a multitude of parishoners who lent their assitance to the church to make a joyous Paschal day a success!

THE BRIGHT RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

5/5/2013

On the night of May 4-5, parishioners of the Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints, celebrated the radiant feast of the Resurrection of Christ! During the day on May 4th, the Paschal Baskets were blessed by Parish rector Archpriest George Konyev. The Acts of the Apostles were read before the Holy Shroud prior to the beginning of the Midnight Office. During the singing of the Ninth Ode, "Do Not Lament Me O Mother", the Holy Shroud was returned to the Holy Altar Table where it will remain until the Ascension of Christ. At 12:00 the clergy in the Altar began singing, "Thy Resurrection o Christ our Savior" in which the Paschal Procession commenced. At the principal doors of the Church, with the exclamation of the Festal Troparion, "Christ is Risen from the Dead.." the Matins of Pascha began. During the Matins, the Sermon of St. John Chrysostom was read from the solea. At the end of Matins, eggs were blessed and distributed among the faithful.

Hours later the same day, the Triumphant Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom was served. Communion was distributed to hundreds of faithful who flocked to Three Saints Church.

Photographs Can Be Viewed on the Online Gallery

Holy and Great Friday

5/3/2013

During the afternoon of, Great and Holy Friday, the Great Vespers service was served, and the Holy Shroud was processed to the center of the Church.

Later that evening, the Matins of Great and Holy Saturday was served. The Lamentations were read before the Tomb of Christ. During the singing of the Great Doxology, the Holy Shroud was censed, and during the singing of the solemn, "Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, Have mercy On Us", the Holy Shroud was processed around the Church.

Photographs of Vespers

Photographs of Matins

Holy and Great Thursday

5/2/2013

One of the most solemn services of Holy Week - The of Matins of Great and Holy Friday. Worshippers gathered at the Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints to recount the Lord's betrayal, trial, scourging, death, and burial.
The main aspect of Matins is the Reading of the 12 Passion Gospels. These Gospels chronologically depict the final hours of the life of Jesus Christ.

The Holy Gospels are separated into different parts of Matins. The First Gospel according to St. John tells of Jesus' discourse with the Disciples and ending with the departure into the Garden beyond the torrent of Cedron.

Faithful stand with lighted candles to bear witness to the events in the City of Jerusalem as they are read aloud by the Priest in the center of the Church.
The twelfth and final gospel of St. Mathew tells of the sealing of the tomb of Christ and the setting of the guard.

Holy and Great Wednesday

5/1/2013

On Holy and Great Wednesday, May 1, 2013, the sacrament of Holy Unction was preformed at the Russian Orthodox Church of Three Saints. The service was celebrated by Archpriest George Konyev, Parish Rector, and Hieromonk Stephen (Bushman). A great multitude of worshipers came to church, with the prayers and aspirations to be cleansed of their illnesses and to wash their souls clean, before we commemorate the final days of the life of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.