Saint Andrew's Orthodox Church

On October 21, the Parish held its Annual Meeting. This meeting is held each year to allow the parish insight and participation in the administration of St. Andrew’s, to ensure financial oversight and transparency, and to determine the course of the parish’s activities over the coming year, in concert with the rector.

At this year’s meeting, the auditors Edna Fetkowitz and Greg Andruk made several recommendations for simplifying and improving our counting and banking procedures. It was decided that once our parish’s CD investment matures in April, to not renew it and roll those funds into our savings. The year’s finances were reviewed, and showed signs of improved health since the prior year.

Small increases in pay were approved for our rector and choir director.

A new parish Council was elected for the 2012-2013 administrative year; these names will be forwarded to our Diocesan Hierarch, Bishop Michael, for confirmation.

Reports were heard from the Church School, Sisterhood, President, and Rector. A discussion regarding the parish’s obligation of assessments to the Diocese and OCA was held. Detailed [Draft] Minutes of the meeting’s proceedings are available by request from Fr. John.

On Sunday September 23, Fr. Nikolay Gulin, our former choir director and now an Assistant Priest assigned to the parish in Jersey City, was honored during the Hierarchical Liturgy celebrated there. His Grace, Bishop Michael, bestowed the first degree of priestly awards, the nabedrennik, upon Fr. Nikolay, in honor of his devoted service to the Church. Fr. Nikolay, who has taken on employment as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) to support his ministry, has been commuting to Philadelphia early each Sunday morning to assist in ministering to the Russian-speaking community there. To Fr. Nikolay, we extend our praise and congratulations – “Axios! – He is worthy!” Please keep Father Nikolay and his wife, Matushka Viktoriya, in your prayers.

On Thursday, September 13, we gathered together in the evening to celebrate the Vesperal Liturgy for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Before the icon of the feast, as well as the Holy Cross, we sang the troparion of the feast, and special hymn “Before Thy Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy Holy Resurrection, we glorify!” You can read more about the feast, on the OCA website.

Thank you to those who participated in our annual trip to Calverton National Cemetery, where we prayed over the grave of our much-beloved parishioner Jimmy (Demetrios) Micros, as well as many other departed parishioners who are buried at the cemetery. Fr. John offered brief remembrances of the lives of each. After attending to the graves, our group shared a memorial meal at a nearby restaurant, enjoying fellowship and stories. Thank you especially to Charlie Kaczinski for his generosity in hosting the meal.