Feast of Ven. Job of Pochaev
Saturday, October 28, 2023
New Haven, Connecticut

By Archpriest Joshua Mosher

Calling upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, today the delegates of the Special Nominating Assembly of the Diocese of New England overwhelmingly nominated Father Benedict Churchill to be considered by the Holy Synod of Bishops for election as Bishop of New England. His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon said this would be the first agenda item for the Synod meeting in coming days, and that, if all goes as hoped, our diocese could have a new bishop in as little as three months. Father Benedict asked for all the prayers of the whole diocese.

Saturday began with a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy at Holy Transfiguration Church, New Haven. His Beatitude presided, with Diocesan Chancellor Archpriest John Kreta, Archpriest Steven Voytovich of Holy Transfiguration and Dean of the Connecticut Deanery, and numerous clergy of the diocese celebrating. The church was filled with delegates and many others come to worship and pray this historic day. (video)

Metropolitan Tikhon in his sermon observed that this is the feast of Ven. Job of Pochaev, the patron saint of Archbishop Job of blessed memory, who was a beloved Bishop of New England before being transferred to the Diocese of the Midwest. His Beatitude noted that Archbishop Job had painted the Diocesan Icon of the Sign which held a place of honor throughout this and all Diocesan Assemblies. The metropolitan preached on the Lord instructing us in today’s Gospel that a lamp is set on a lamp stand, not hidden. The saints illumine us in this way, and we can add even Archbishop Job to this, he said. As the psalmist writes, “God is glorified in the council of His saints.” At the same time, the glory we behold is not set out just for us to marvel at, but we all are called to strive to be filled with that Light. He concluded with a recollection of Metropolitan Onufry of Kiev, who has said there is no standing still in the spiritual life. We are either drawing near to the Light, to make it our own, or we are falling away into darkness. At the conclusion of the service, he added further remarks, noting that Lord in the second appointed Gospel called on us to take His yoke upon ourselves. “We are considering whether to ask Father Benedict to take this yoke upon himself to serve Christ in leading this diocese,” he said.

During the Liturgy, His Beatitude, on behalf of the Holy Synod, also awarded Fathers Robert Dick and John Eissman with the jeweled cross and elevated Father Steven Hosking to the dignity of Archpriest.

Following a generous brunch provided by the faithful of Holy Transfiguration Church, Metropolitan Tikhon convened the Special Nominating Assembly. He acknowledged it has been a long four-year process. First we gave time to mourn the well-loved and ever-memorable Archbishop Nikon, who reposed in 2019. Then the Church needed considerable time to identify suitable candidates. But now we have a candidate in Father Benedict Churchill, who is originally from this diocese, which is the ideal case, His Beatitude said. He allowed that Father Benedict since has moved, and thus is not so familiar to many now. But Father Benedict has taken much time to meet on several occasions and become better known throughout the diocese.

Metropolitan Tikhon emphasized the nomination was not a foregone conclusion. We only have one candidate to consider, recommended by the Diocesan Search Committee. The Diocesan Council, after an extensive in-person meeting, asked His Beatitude to convene this assembly. “We call on the Holy Spirit to guide us and raise up a spiritual father for this diocese,” he said.

Diocesan Chancellor Father John Kreta formally presented the name of Priest Benedict Churchill for nomination by the Diocese of New England. While singing “The grace of the Holy Spirit has assembled us today,” the delegates voted by secret ballot. His Beatitude announced the result to the assembly, who, once he had been recalled into their midst, greeted Father Benedict Churchill with gladness.

Friday, Oct. 27, was dedicated to an accelerated annual Diocesan Assembly, compressing the customary two days of business into one. By the grace of God and careful preparation and leadership, the agenda was completed with time to spare. The highlight of the day was a guest presentation by Babette Basil, the great-granddaughter of His Eminence, Platon, first Metropolitan of All America and Canada. She shared stories and historic items from his life, which has not been well-understood until now. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn had been fascinated to learn of the trove of family history and arranged to have most of it shipped to him in Russia; tragically, he died before publishing anything on Metropolitan Platon and those documents have been lost. However, Ms. Basil has collected the still-precious remaining documents and items, which represent a personal record of the history of the Church in Russian and America before, during and after the Russian Revolution. After years of fruitless efforts to have them translated and curated, she has at last established an encouraging collaboration with Father John Parker and St. Tikhon’s Seminary. In recognition of this close relationship, she entrusted a pectoral cross of Metropolitan Platon to Father Parker.

Ms. Basil spoke movingly of her great-grandfather’s consistent courageous efforts to save lives. Most dramatically, he confronted a murderous pogrom in Kiev, rebuking them in full vestments, until they repented on their knees. Her grandmother spoke of how all her life, Jews would visit her home to express thanksgiving for Metropolitan Platon, without whom they would have been killed.

Metropolitan Platon wrote a chronicle of the martyrdom under the Bolsheviks of a great number of clergy in moving and brutal detail, how they were tortured and executed, how they sang songs unceasingly before being shot. He himself was to be hanged from the Kremlin if caught, and all his immediate family had wanted posters circulated. Elected as Metropolitan of All America and Canada in 1922, he faced the onslaught of the Living Church, which was a Soviet front organization claiming to be the official successor to the Orthodox Church in America. His cathedral of St. Nicholas in New York City was seized in a lawsuit, but in a few years, the Church under Metropolitan Platon’s leadership won later cases and ended the threat of the Living Church.

The presentation was gratefully received and plans are underway to share more of the life of Metropolitan Platon with the whole Orthodox Church in America.

Earlier in the day, noting this was the Sixtieth Diocesan Assembly, Metropolitan Tikhon said he has presided over ten percent of the assemblies of the diocese. Father Kreta in his Chancellor’s Report gave thanks to God for two years of growth in the diocese after many years of decline. He also rejoiced in filling all but one parish vacancy after years of struggle. A new diaconal and catechist training program promises to raise up new leadership in parishes. Individual parishes are undertaking creative outreach.

Diocesan Youth Rally, the annual summer camp, continues a legacy of excellence and enthusiastic participation. Father Kreta emphasized, “Youth Rally is an essential ministry in our diocese. Kids are up against so much confusion in the world. They need an Orthodox environment to ground them for what they face in schools, from their peers. We want this to grow as much as possible. Many youth workers have been inspired by their experience of youth camp. Youth Rally is one of the most important outreach efforts in our diocese.”

Among the final items considered at the Assembly was a resolution expressing profound gratitude for the love that Metropolitan TIkhon has manifested to the diocese in his years of caring for its people.

The business of the Annual Diocesan Assembly concluded with an opportunity for delegates to ask a variety of questions of Father Benedict. Among his responses, he said, “Whatever God expects me to do, I believe He also gives me the strength to do, as well as providing me with help, which comes through your prayers…. Christ will us a test where he has already provided us the questions, and the answers as well! ‘I was hungry and you fed me….’ I don’t have all the methods or ideas, but I encourage each person to think concretely about how to do that in life.”

Friday’s Assembly finished with Daily Vespers and dinner together in warm fellowship.

This year’s Diocesan Assembly will be different than previous years. We will try to complete the Annual Assembly in one day (Friday, Oct 27) instead of the usual two days. This is so we can call a special nominating assembly on Saturday (Oct 28) following the Divine Liturgy, to nominate a candidate for the office of Bishop of New England for election by the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America.

Please read the “Assembly Registration Letter” from our Chancellor Fr. John Kreta.

A Guide for Delegates to the Diocesan Assembly
Download forms for the Assembly
Draft Minutes of the 59th DA 2022
All Reports

Dear Reverend Fathers, Brothers and Sisters in Christ of the Diocese of New England The blessing of the Lord be upon you! With gratitude to Almighty God, I am writing to you today to inform you of the progress made in identifying a possible candidate for the office of Bishop of New England. As you know, the Diocese of New England has been widowed since the passing from this life to life eternal of the Ever-Memorable Archbishop Nikon in September of 2019. In July of 2020, in my capacity as Locum Tenens of the Diocese of New England, I informed the Diocese of the step-by-step procedures we would take in finding a Bishop for New England. (I have attached that letter here with this email for your review).

As many of our churches are either closed completely or restricted to the priest and a few others to assist him, we invite you to participate in the services of Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Pascha, joining His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and the brotherhood of the Monastery of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk through live-streamed services on our Facebook page and YouTube channel. 

St. Tikhon's Monastery - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTa8AXLw7vPMGH5LFAsqtIQ

Other parishes of NE with streaming services:

Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church, Claremont, NH - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnzXH_M0FJaYWyoKi-6hkow

Holy Ghost Orthodox Church, Bridgeport, CT - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrrRwB0WLkiQMldEA6xSJQ

SS. Peter and Paul Church, Meriden, CT - https://sspeterpaul.org/praying

The report of His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon, from the 55th Assembly of the Diocese of New England is avaliable here.

The report of His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon, from the 54th Assembly of the Diocese of New England is avaliable here.

The Holy Trinity Church community experienced a milestone event on Saturday, September 30, 2017, with the consecration of its new Altar Table by The Most Reverend NIKON, Bishop of Boston, New England, and the Albanian Archdiocese, and assisted by area clergy.

The altar was constructed by faithful Holy Trinity parishioner Jon Matcheson, and assisted by his wife, Mercedes (‘Merci’), as a gift to Holy Trinity in celebration of its Centennial Anniversary on October 9, 2016, was built in memory of Jon’s departed mother, +Mrs Anne Matcheson. The previous unconsecrated altar had been used at Holy Trinity from 1958-2016. The Antimension which was placed on that altar by Metropolitan Theodosius in 1972 contained the relics of Saint Herman of Alaska.

The Rite of Consecration began promptly at 9:30 in the morning, with the reception of the Archbishop by Parish Council President, Mr Timothy Fetzko, who greeted His Eminence and offered the traditional Slavic greeting of rye bread and salt. His Eminence, Archbishop NIKON, received the blessing cross from Holy Trinity Parish Rector, V. Rev. Marc A. Vranes; His Eminence then presented the cross to the visiting clergy for veneration: Archpriest Michael Westerberg, Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, New Haven, CT; Archpriest Michael Korolev, Rector at Saints Peter & Paul Church, Springfield, MA, Archpriest Theophan Whitfield, Saint Nicholas Church, Salem, MA, Rev. John McKitish (Holy Transfiguration, New Haven) and Rev. Steven McGuigan, also from Saints Peter & Paul, Springfield. Deacons who assisted included Protodeacon Paul Nimchek, Deacon Andrey Sukharev, and Deacon Gregory Curran. Altar servers included Jeremiah Blankenbaker from Holy Trinity, and Ivan (Vanya) Sukharev, the son of Deacon Andrey, who was a member at Holy Trinity for several years in the early 2000’s when he was a doctoral student at the nearby University of Connecticut.

Archpriest John Hopko, Saints Cyril & Methodius Church, Terryville, CT, guided all those who were serving by handing His Eminence, Archbishop NIKON, and clergy, the necessary liturgical items in order to complete the Rite of Consecration. Fr John had previously formatted the complete the Rite of Consecration document which was available in printed form with accompanying rubrics, so that those in attendance could follow each liturgical action. It proved to heighten the understanding of those who either were not serving, or did not sing in the choir. The honor of reading the Epistle for the day was given to Mr Jon Matcheson. Mr Fetzko, also the Holy Trinity webmaster and photographer, took several hundred photos.

The four stones used to secure the top of the altar table to its base were secured from Rome, Italy (Dr Robert Vranes), Saint Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral in the City of New York (His Grace, Bishop Iriney Dobrijevic), from the Gravesite of beloved Holy Trinity Parishioners, +Pafnuty and +Konstantyna Juszczak, and the final stone came from Pine Island on Long Island Sound in Groton, CT, and offered by Mr Thomas Shakun, who has spent his entire life, over eight decades, active in the Orthodox Church. Holy Trinity Reader Tikhon (Erik Wallace, Ph.D.) also gifted a shard from modern-day Hippus in Northern Israel which was the site of the Feeding of the Four Thousand by our Lord. Using wax-mastic, Fr John affixed the shard to the stone from Rome.

His Eminence brought relics of Hieromartyr Hilarion Troitsky of Vereya to set inside the newly consecrated holy altar table. A new Antimension, to replace the previous one, contains the relics of Hieromartyr Sergius Floresnky of Rakvere in Estonia.

To learn more about the lives of these two saints, please click here: Altar Consecration Commemorative Booklet

At the conclusion of the Rite of the Altar Consecration, the Divine Liturgy followed which was served for the first time ever on a consecrated Altar Table at Holy Trinity in its 101-year history.

“It is overwhelming and indeed humbling to know, this was the first time the Holy Eucharist was served from a consecrated Holy Altar Table at Holy Trinity,” Fr Marc said. “The historical significance of this day should always be remembered by those from our own community. It is the reception of our Lord’s Body and Blood which not only sustains us, but actually gives us the opportunity for a new Life in Christ each time we eat and drink from the chalice of our Lord. We are all called to enter into a deep, intimate, and personal relationship with our Creator, and each time we receive the Holy Eucharist, this is once more made possible. May the Body and Blood our Christ, served from this Holy Altar Table, be a constant reminder to the new life in Christ, and a foretaste of His Kingdom.”

At the conclusion of Liturgy and the veneration of the Cross, each person in attendance was presented an envelope with the sacred remnants of the Archbishop’s apron (“Stratchitsa”), along with piece of wood from the previous altar, which was prepared by Mr Matcheson for this occasion.

A festive meal was held in the church hall, and was organized by Mrs Sonja Chowanec, Dr Barbara Lacey, and Mrs Kathleen Andrzejewski. A special thanks to all those who provided food. Denise Geeza decorated the church with several beautiful floral arrangements, while Jason Geeza conducted a near-flawless choir.

The accompanying photo gallery displays selected highlights from the Altar Consecration.  The entire set of 200+ high resolution photos area available on Dropbox.  ALL photos may be downloaded used for personal, promotional and non-commercial purposes.  A copyright release form is also contained in the folder, and may be downloaded, which grants usage privileges and captioning requirements.

Link to Dropbox folder:   https://www.dropbox.com/sh/6t28p0b8hdtgme1/AAB7WiVfsAU8wgDE1n4aZzMma?dl=0

Dear Friends of the New England Diocesan Youth Rally:

Christ is risen!

Unfortunately, despite ongoing recruitment efforts, at the present time we are still in tremendous need of adult volunteers willing to serve as Youth Rally staff. 

Youth Rally 2016 is scheduled to take place from Monday, August 8, through to midday on Saturday, August 13. Staff are scheduled to arrive on site on Sunday evening, August 7. 

Specifically, we are in need of active, healthy and committed adult men and women who are able to serve during the week of Youth Rally as cabin staff. Right now, besides the staff members already recruited, we require at least two (2) more laywomen to serve as cabin counselors and two (2) more laymen to serve as cabin counselors.

We will NOT run Youth Rally unless we have adequate and appropriate staffing.  I have absolutely no qualms or reservations about cancelling Youth Rally, if I feel that we cannot run it safely and appropriately. Good, sound, and reliable Orthodox Christian adult staff members make the program possible. 

Staff members must be adults of legal adult age who are Orthodox Christians in “good standing.” “Good standing” means that they will be able to be endorsed, without reservations, by their Orthodox Christian parish priest/father confessor, as being suitable adult persons to be entrusted with the care, supervision and guidance of young people. 

If you know of any person who is willing, able and appropriate to serve as a Youth Rally volunteer staff member, please ask them to contact me at their earliest convenience.

Again, we will NOT run Youth Rally unless we have adequate and appropriate staffing.

[NOTE: Our outreach efforts have including reaching out to the parishes and institutions of our Diocese of New England, to Saint Tikhon’s and Saint Vladimir’s Seminaries, and to the national Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF is the official campus ministry arm of SCOBA). We have also reached out to our Orthodox Christian family members, friends and acquaintances all across the country. In past years, we have been able to build a staff this way. So far, this year, these efforts are not bearing sufficient fruit.] 

In Christ,

Fr. John Hopko

Youth Rally Rector and Director (2004-Present)

To the Very Reverend and Reverend Clergy, Monastics, and Faithful of the Orthodox Church in America: It is the day of Resurrection! Let us be illumined, O ye people! Pascha! The Pascha of the Lord from death to life and from earth to heaven has Christ our God has led us, as we sing a song of victory. (Paschal Canon, Ode I)

Register now for a weekly public continuing education course in Byzantine Music beginning Tuesday, February 3, 2015, on the campus of St. Vladimir’s Seminary.

Beginners Class will meet from 6:45 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Advanced Class will meet from 8:10 p.m. to 9:25 p.m.

Contact Dr. Nicholas Reeves, assistant professor of Liturgical Music at the seminary, at 914–961–8313 x353, or email byzantine@svots.edu.

His Grace Nicholas (Ozone), auxiliary bishop of Brooklyn for the Self-Ruled Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA), will speak at the 32nd Annual Father Alexander Schmemann Memorial Lecture, Friday, January 30, 2015, 7 p.m. on "The Life and Ministry of St. Raphael of Brooklyn."

Very Reverend Jonathan Ivanoff led a Parish Growth Ministry Seminar at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church on Saturday, April 20, 2013, attended by 27 participants from parishes throughout Connecticut. Fr Ivanoff has long been considered a leader in the field of church growth ministry, and his three presentations served to enlighten and uplift. Pastor at Saint John the Theologian Orthodox Church, Long Island, NY, for the past two decades, Fr Jonathan is the Director of Orthodox Natural Church Development. Since 1998, Fr Jonathan has worked with more than 80 parishes in the field of Parish Growth Development.

On Friday, March 15, 2013, the Archpastoral Message of His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, for Great Lent, which begins on Monday, March 18, was released. 

Diocesan Assembly at St. Nicholas Church, Salem, MA

Information concerning the 49th Diocesan Assembly is posted under the tab "Diocesan Assembly" to download as a PDF.

His Eminence's report to the 49th Diocesan Assembly is now on-line under the "Diocesan Assembly" tab.

SYOSSET NY [OCA] ~ Holy Trinity Church, Parma OH, will be the site of the 17th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America, a one-day gathering on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 -- the Feast of Saint John Chrysostom -- at which a new Primate of the Orthodox Church in America will be elected. The Council will open with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, followed by brunch. An electoral plenary session will follow, after which the newly elected Primate will be installed prior to the closing session. Space for observers will be limited. Additional information will be released in the coming weeks as final plans become available.

Newly Departed Professor Veselin Kesich 

August 13 - 18, 2012!

! Application Packets Available !
 

View the video of the DMW trip to Project Mexico.

Holy Resurrection Church announces internet radio station

"Orthodox Natural Church Development: A New Paradigm for Parish Health" will be co-sponsored by the Diocese of New York and New Jersey and the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese on Monday, February 7 at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm EST (you can pick either time but do not have to pick both). Father Jonathan Ivanoff (Director, Commission on Mission and Evangelism of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey) will be the presenter, Fr. James Kordaris, Chairman of the GOA's Department of Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism, will be the moderator, and both warmly invite your participation.
 
For further information about this webinar, visit the special link on the Orthodox Natural Church Development website at:
http://oncd.us/webinar2.html 

Pentecost 2010
Holy Trinity Orthodox Cathedral celebrates its centennial. 

photos added.

 

Follow the travels of Fr. Vladimir & Matushka Susanne Aleandro on the OCMC Kenya Travel Blog. The Aleandro's will be in Kenya from February 17th - March 1st.

St. Tikhon's Seminary opens search for Dean

Today we celebrate the first anniversary of the election of His Beatitude, Metropolitan JONAH.

Eis polla eti Despota!  God grant you many years!

re-visit the photos of the 15th All American Council and the election of our Metropolitan.

Holy Trinity Cathedral celebrates 25 years of service by Fr. Robert Arida.

On Thursday, February 15, the Diocese of New England officially launched its new website.

Jesus Christ taught us to love and serve all people, regardless of their ethnicity or nationality. To understand that, we need to look no further than to the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Every time we celebrate the Divine Liturgy, it is offered "on behalf of all, and for all." As Orthodox Christians we stand against racism and bigotry. All human beings share one common identity as children of God.

"There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatian 3:28)

Christ the Savior (Southbury) received a grantfor the third year to support and expand the Connecticut Bible Lecture Series (CBLS) which they have sponsored for several years. The mission of CBLS is to educate, inspire, and challenge participants of all backgrounds'to hear and understand the Word of God. Twice ayear, Fr. Paul Tarazi (lecturer at St. Vladimir's Seminary, Holy Cross Seminary, and Balamand, Lebanon) presents a day long course on one book of the Bible, equivalent to one of Fr. Paul's seminary classes.

St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre (Clinton) received a grant for the second year to expand the "Clinton Garden for All". The Clinton parish partners with a neighboring parish, Holy Advent, on this project. This year's Grant helped to expdnd the two acre community garden near the Holy Advent parish and increase and improve the irrigation system for the garden. All the produce is donated to the local Food Pantry. Members of St. Alexis are actively involved in the gardening and in managing the plot of land. This has included donations to build needed structures and a water source.

Three Saints (Ansonia) received a grant for second year to support their week-long summer Vacation Church School (VCS). The grant money allowed them to keep the registration fee at a minimum and to provide needed materials for the theme-based activities during the week. The summer program continues to expand in size with participants ranging in age from 5 - 13, mostly Orthodox and some non-Orthodox. The coordinators of the VCS continue to reach out in the local community and invite more non-Orthodox as a way to introduce them to the Orthodox Faith.

The Diocese of New England of the OCA concluded it's 51st Annual Assembly on October 25th. The reports from the Assembly are now available.

Archbishop Nikon's Report to the Annual Assembly

Metropolitan Council Report

Proposed 2015 Diocesan Budget