On Friday, July 28, when the Holy Church celebrates the memory of the baptizer and enlightener of Rus’, the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, the clergy of the New Jersey Deanery celebrated the patronal feast of St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ.

New Jersey dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov officiated Divine Liturgy in the Memorial Church. Concelebrating with him were:

• Archpriest Vasily Andrejuk (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Howell, NJ)
• Archpriest Luka Novakovic (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
• Archpriest Boris Slootsky (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral)
• Archpriest George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael Church in Wayne, NJ)
• Abbot Eutychius (Dovgan; abbot of St. Nicholas Skete in Freehold, NJ)
• Archpriest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of the Memorial Church), and
• Protodeacon Paul Drozdowski (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral).

The choir sang beautifully under the direction of Julia Kovalev.

Many parishioners of the Memorial Church and of parishes of the state prayed at Liturgy. Virtually all those present communed of Christ’s Holy Mysteries.

Upon conclusion of the service, Fr. Serge delivered a sermon on the 1,035th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ and expressed thanks to the holy Princess Olga and her grandson, St. Vladimir, for their labors in the enlightening of the Russian people, noting the rebirth of their character thanks to Holy Orthodoxy, and urged them to imitate their feat both externally and internally.

In the church hall, the sisterhood arranged a delicious meal for the clergy and parishioners.