Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church

saint peter and paul russian orthodox church

With a gold dome, Byzantine-style architecture and the traditional Orthodox triple-barred cross, Saints Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church stands out from the other churches in Pender County.

Established in 1918 by a group of Carpatho-Russian immigrants, the parish eventually assimilated Serbs, Romanians, Irish, French, Macedonians and Americans. Today, the parish continues to reflect a pan-Orthodox faith that embraces Saints and customs from all Orthodox lands.

Location

Located in Gage Park, saint peter and paul russian orthodox church is a short walk from the nearest public transit station. Download the Moovit App or Website to plan your ride, and to find schedules and fares for bus, train and metro.

On the exterior, this sandstone Gothic-Revival structure retains its original features of pier buttresses and corner towers that give it an elevated symmetry. Bells in the towers summon the faithful to service.

The interior is adorned with murals, a traditional feature of Orthodox churches. In the center, a sparkling imported chandelier of 45,000 crystals draws worshipers into the religious space.

The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest in New Jersey. It has been on Grand Street since 1907. Today’s congregants, mostly descendants of Eastern European immigrants, belong to the self-governing body of the Orthodox Church in America.

Services

The Russian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Slavic denominations in America. Its members are descendants of Eastern European immigrants who worship under a self-governing body known as the Orthodox Church in America.

The Church serves the needs of a local community by offering traditional services and programs. These include Sunday school for children, adult education classes and film festival and discussion groups.

There are also annual Ethnic Dinners and Easter and Christmas bake sales. Parishioners work hard to prepare the events and they are always a popular event in the area.

The Church was built in 1907 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The church’s exterior retains the original features of the sandstone Gothic-Revival style building, including its two elongated pier buttresses and corner towers with copper domes.

Social Events

Throughout the years, Saint Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church has hosted social events that have served as a time for the community to gather together. These events are an opportunity to celebrate Orthodox traditions and culture, and a way for parishioners to connect with their family members who live far away.

In addition to the Sunday Divine Liturgy, services are held on a variety of days throughout the week. This makes it easy for everyone to join in the celebrations.

A 100th Anniversary Celebration was held on October 3-4, 2015. The event included a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and a a luncheon after the service. The event also featured a book exhibit sponsored by the parish.

Getting Involved

The Russian Orthodox Church of Saints Peter and Paul, on 28th Street and Kennedy Boulevard, has been a pillar in the community for more than 100 years. It was founded by Carpatho-Russian immigrants from Hungary in 1918.

The congregation has a rich history, with many notable people whose names are remembered to this day. The Ladies Guild, Assumption of the Holy Virgin Sisterhood, Carpatho-Russian American Citizens Club and Bayonne Alpha Chapter of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America are some of the groups that make up this vibrant parish.

One of the most interesting aspects of the church is that it houses a relic from the former Saint Platon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Tenafly, NJ. Its icon screen, or iconostasis, has been on display in this beautiful building for more than a century.

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