Trenton, October 23, 2025
Photo: oca.org
Over the weekend of October 18–19, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon of Washington and All America and Canada of the Orthodox Church in America made an archpastoral visit to St. Vladimir Orthodox Church in Trenton, New Jersey, to preside at the parish’s 110th anniversary celebrations.
Founded in October 1915 by approximately thirty Russian immigrants, St. Vladimir Church has served generations of Orthodox faithful in Trenton and the surrounding area. The first church building was completed in 1917 and consecrated the following year. Over the decades, the parish community expanded its facilities to include a rectory, cemetery, parish hall, and recreation grounds, while also adorning the church with traditional Byzantine iconography by the noted iconographer Pimen Sofronov.
On Saturday evening, the parish rector, Fr. Volodymyr Chaikivskyi, celebrated Great Vespers. At the conclusion of the service, he welcomed Met. Tikhon and His Eminence Archbishop Michael of New York and New Jersey, expressing the community’s joy and gratitude at their presence, reports the OCA.
Photo: oca.org
Before joining parishioners for a meal in the parish hall, Met. Tikhon visited a traveling icon exhibition curated by iconographer Lydia Lynette Hull, which was brought to the parish for the weekend.
The following morning, His Beatitude presided at the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, concelebrated by Abp. Michael, Fr. Volodymyr, and visiting clergy. In his homily, Met. Tikhon reflected on Christ’s Parable of the Sower (Luke 8:5–15), emphasizing the importance of hearing and keeping the word of God. “We should constantly be searching the Scriptures. St. Ambrose says that God still walks in Scripture as if in a garden, calling out for fallen man. If we wish to hear the voice of his calling, we must read the words of the Scripture.”
During the Liturgy, Abp. Michael ordained parishoner Alen Basil Berck to the holy diaconate. At the conclusion of the service, Met. Tikhon presented a Synodal Gramota to the parish in recognition of its 110 years of faithful witness. To commemorate the visit, the parish presented Metropolitan Tikhon with a set of episcopal vestments.
Photo: oca.org
A festive luncheon followed in the parish hall, where parishioners, friends, and guests gathered in a spirit of joy and thanksgiving.
The parish later reflected: “The atmosphere throughout the day was filled with gratitude and joy. Parishioners, friends, and guests gathered in large numbers to rejoice, pray, and honor the legacy of our beloved parish. Following the Divine Liturgy, we continued our celebration with a banquet in the church hall—a time of storytelling, laughter, and shared memories. It was a reminder of the deep bonds that unite us as a parish family.”
Today, the parish looks ahead “with hope and faith, inspired by our patron, St. Vladimir, and strengthened by the prayers of the saints.”
Quoting St. John of Kronstadt, the parish concluded its reflection: “The Church is Heaven on earth, for in it dwells the heavenly God Himself.”
Watch a video presentation on the history of the parish:
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