2024-09–ONE_rev2

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Orthodox New England September, 2024

O. N. E.

ORTHODOX NEW ENGLAND

Inside this issue:

All Saints’ 110th 2

Blessing of Bikes 4

All Saints of America

from Mission to Parish 6

New Britain Photo

Gallery 7

Southbury Scholarships 8

Duty to God Award 9

Special Diocesan Assembly

Right: His Grace,

Bishop Benedict

presides at the Hierarchical

Divine

Liturgy before the

Special Diocesan

Assembly on June

15.

Fr. Joshua Mosher

His Grace, Bishop Benedict convened

a Special Diocesan Assembly on June

15, at which the Diocesan Council was

granted spending authority to purchase

a residence for our bishop, along

with possible offices, should a suitable

opportunity arise.

The day began with a Hierarchical

Divine Liturgy at Holy Trinity, New

Britain, filling the historic temple with

delegates from across New England.

Following worship and a restorative

brunch, the meeting was called to order.

The assembly agreed to decide

“Assembly” continued on page 10

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All Saints Church, Hartford,

Celebrates 110th Anniversary

Dave Vargas

On the Sunday of All Saints, June 30,

the parish of All Saints celebrated a

Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, with

His Grace, Bishop Benedict presiding,

followed by a celebratory meal

at Elizabeth’s Restaurant in Rocky

Hill.

The history of All Saints traces back

to 1914 when a young missionary

priest named Fr. Constantine

Buketoff established our parish. Fr.

Constantine came from Ss. Cyril and

Methodius (now Holy Trinity) in

New Britain (where he had been assigned

since 1907), becoming the

first pastor at All Saints in 1914. Now

110 years later Father Constantine

Bodien, leads our flock as the

current pastor.

At his arrival before Liturgy, His

Grace, Bishop Benedict received

a traditional welcome when sisters

Hazel and Eloise Pelkey,

together with Cathy Vargas,

Council President, presented

flowers and bread and salt [photo

above].

Serving with Bishop Benedict

were Fathers Constantine Bodien,

John Jillions, David Koles,

and Philip Beiner; Protodeacon

Paul Nimchek and Deacon Peter

Romanovsky; Subdeacons

Nick Medynski and John

Barone; and Altar Server Charlie

Jeltama.

At the conclusion of the Liturgy

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Above: The Little Entrance

during the

Liturgy of the Sunday

of All Saints.

the clergy and faithful had a

celebratory dinner at Elizabeth’s

in Rocky Hill. Approximately

60 attendees

enjoyed fellowship, a delicious

meal, and cake for

dessert.

Father Constantine welcomed

all attendees and

introduced our honored

guests who spoke about the

importance of continuing

God’s work for the next 110

years. Speakers were Cathy

Vargas, Council President

(not shown below), Father

Constantine, Diocesan

Chancellor Archpriest John

Kreta, His Grace Bishop

Benedict, and Connecticut

Dean, Archpriest Stephen

Voytovich.

We would like to express our gratitude

for His Grace, Bishop Benedict’s

blessing, service, and insightful

words. Also thanks to the clergy and

laity for their participating in our

110th Anniversary. A special thanks to

Gail Denisky and Cathy Vargas for

chairing our 110th Anniversary celebration.

May God grant you all many

years!

ONE ☩

Below: [Left to Right]

Father Constantine

Bodien, Parish Rector;

Father John Kreta,

Diocesan Chancellor;

His Grace, Bishop

Benedict; and Father

Steven Voytovich,

Dean of the Connecticut

Deanery.

Page 4


Salisbury’s Annual Blessing of Bikes

Sava Marinkovic

In the early afternoon of Father’s

Day Sunday, the quiet

rustling of leaves gave way to

the roar of engines as a curving

column of motorcyclists arrived

at All Saints of America Orthodox

Church in Salisbury. The

bikers—nearly 60 riders between

44 bikes and trikes—

journeyed from throughout

Connecticut and neighboring

New York to receive the

church’s seventh annual Blessing of

the Bikes.

A prayer opened the event, with bikers

and regular parishioners assembled

in the road alongside the stretch

of wax-shined bikes. Father John Kreta,

the parish’s Priest-in-Charge, intoned

an invitation to prayer in the

traditional Orthodox manner before

all the gathered joined in a spoken

recitation of the Lord’s Prayer.

“It’s a joy to be with everyone and to

share a meal,” said Fr. John of the

group, “but we worry about everyone

on the roads, too.” To that end, blessings

serve riders and their passengers

as both offers of protection and calls

to mindfulness of biking’s perils. Over

each vehicle, Fr. John signed the cross

with a water-saturated brush, saying:

“This motorcycle is blessed with the

sprinkling of this holy water, in the

name of the Father, the Son, and the

Holy Spirit. Amen.”

After every bike was visited and

blessed, ample food and refreshments

were offered—distributed to attendees

alternately sitting, standing, or

lying in the grass to bask untroubled

in the sun of an early-summer’s day.

The turnout, although perhaps a bit

smaller than that of the 2023 event,

comprised many newcomers together

with long-time supporters of the

yearly tradition. “Almost half of the

bikers were visiting for the first

time,” noted Fr. John, optimistic

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about the prospect of the event’s

growth in coming years.

On behalf of those the blessing has

already served in years past, organizer

Jimmy Dunn spoke of the event’s

significance. “It has helped so many

of us,” said Dunn, “and even comforted

those who have lost loved

ones.”

“We’re all trying to help each other

live more spiritually,” continued attendee

Mike, noting that bringing

everyone together annually for the

blessing has strengthened their collective

resolve to do so. Around him,

those seated signaled their affirmation,

testifying how both motorcycling

and adherence to a shared faith

have helped the bikers to overcome

life’s hardships and preserve bonds

with friends and family—those both

near and distant. The warm and convivial

mood that seemed to pour out

from the group made the fact of this

apparent, with the comfort of lifelong

friendships obvious in the easy

conversation that abounded.

Toward the close of the picnic, a call

was made to organize the various

subgroups that would accompany

each other home or to further activities.

Photographs snapped and hands

shaken, some ambled into the church

to reflect or pay their respects. The

rest mounted their motorcycles to

wend their way to other destinations,

the sound of engines once again overtaking

all else.

ONE ☩

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All Saints of America Elevated to

Church from Mission Status

Above: Now-Rector

Fr. John Kreta of All

Saints of America

Church stands with

His Grace, Bishop

Benedict during the

Hierarchical Divine

Liturgy at the parish.

Fr. Joshua Mosher

On July 7, the patronal

feast of All Saints of America,

Salisbury, His Grace,

Bishop Benedict announced

that the parish

had outgrown its status as a

mission and now was elevated

to a full church. This

also means that Fr. John

Kreta, formerly Priest-in-

Charge of the mission, is

now its Rector.

Bishop Benedict made this

announcement while presiding

at the Hierarchical

Divine Liturgy for the

feast. That same afternoon,

Below: The relics of

ten saints of America

were set out for veneration

for the Sunday

of All Saints of

America.

dozens of clergy and faithful

joined His Grace and the parish

for an Akathist Service for All

Saints of America.

Among the participants were

three former mission priests who

had gathered thirty years ago to

celebrate together: Fr. Kreta, Fr.

Vladimir Aleandro (formerly pastor

of Christ the Savior, Southbury),

and Fr. Steven Voytovich

(formerly pastor of St. Alexis,

Clinton, and currently of Holy

Transfiguration, New Haven, who

was also celebrating the 32nd anniversary

of his ordination to the

Holy Priesthood).

ONE ☩

Page 7


His Grace, Bishop

Benedict made his

first archpastoral

visit to Holy Trinity,

New Britain, on

Sunday, June 2.

Bottom Left: Current

and former rectors

Fr. Philip Beiner and

Fr. David Koles served

with His Grace.

Bottom Right:

Christopher Dresko,

parish choir director,

receives a gramota

recognizing his exemplary

activities for

the parish.

Page 8


Scholarship Awards at Christ the Savior

Nicholas

Yuschak, Jr.

Christ the Savior

Orthodox

Church in Southbury

recently

presented awards

to its graduates

and college students.

Pictured

from left to right

are Timothy

Cole, a student of

audio production

and engineering, as well as luthiery

(repair of stringed instruments), at

Factory Underground Tech in Norwalk;

Thea Oleynikov, a recent graduate

of Woodbury Middle School, now

entering Nonnewaug High School;

Kirill Oleynikov, a recent graduate of

Woodbury Middle School, now entering

the Taft School; Johnathan

Daniel Wanzioff, a recent graduate of

Woodbury Middle School, now entering

Nonnewaug High School; and

Arden Stamper, attending the inaugural

class of a new university, the

University of Austin. Joining them,

from rear left to front right, to

present the scholarships, are Father

Moses Locke, Pastor; and Ben Stamper

and Ian McGovern, Co-Stewards

for Education. Not present in this

photo is Alex Richard, a graduate of

Newtown High School who received

his scholarship the following Sunday.

ONE ☩

Right: For the feast of

the Apostles Peter &

Paul, His Grace, Bishop

Benedict presided

at the Hierarchical

Divine Liturgy, awarding

parish rector

Fr. Joshua Mosher the

palitsa. Fr. John Kreta,

Fr. Steven Voytovich,

Fr. John Hopko, and

Dn. Peter Romanovsky

(not pictured)

also participated.

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Fr. John Bacon Receives Scouting Award

Above: Fr. John Bacon

receives the

Council Duty to God

Award. Left to right:

Juan Osorio, Scout

Executive/CEO;

Rick Poirier, Presenter,

Retired Associate

Scout Executive;

James Corcoran, Director

of Development

Below: The design of

the Council Duty to

God medal

On April 24, Fr. John Bacon

received the Council Duty

to God Award from the

Mayflower Council of the

Boy Scouts of America.

This is a new recognition

created this year by the

BSA. Fr. John wrote in response,

“I was thrilled! … I

did not know such a recognition

existed.” Fr. John has

devoted decades of enthusiasm

to Scouting, which he

integrates closely with his

Orthodox Faith and priestly

ministry.

The following is the official description

of the Duty of God award:

“The Scout Oath begins with “On my

honor, I will do my best to do my

Duty to God” and the Scout Law

ends with “A Scout is Reverent”. Between

these two mighty pillars, the

rest of Scouting happens.

“Across the nation and in your council

are individuals who go above and

beyond in their Duty to God. They,

like those we recognize with the National

Duty to God Award for their

national impact, are people impacting

Scouts in their Duty to God in

your council.

“The Council Duty to God

Award was created to recognize

those registered Scouters who have

demonstrated an exemplary history

of transformational leadership in

supporting and promoting the spiritual

foundation of Scouting at the

local Council level. It acknowledges

the unswerving dedication to faith,

fellowship, and service of those

whose character embodies the moral

principles and shared ideals of the

Boy Scouts of America.

“The Council Duty to God Award

presentation should be conducted

with the highest level of honor at a

council event (such as the council’s

Silver Beaver recognition) or a religious

emblem ceremony for the recipient’s

faith. Each recipient should

receive recognition worthy of the

service rendered on Scouting’s

behalf.” ONE ☩

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Right: Chris Dresko

conducts a diocesan

choir while Bishop

Benedict presides at

the Liturgy before the

Special Diocesan Assembly.

Assembly from page 1

the proposal by two thirds majority,

in order to assure future generations

that we rigorously considered the

question and came to broad agreement

before moving forward on

such a large commitment.

The Resolution for the Special Assembly

was then formally presented:

Whereas the 2021 Diocesan

Assembly “Resolved that the

Diocesan Council solicit,

explore, and evaluate practical

proposals for the creation

of a New England

Diocesan Center (with potential

for offices, episcopal

residence, chapel, and other

facilities); and that the

council reported on this at

the Diocesan Assembly in

2022”; and

Whereas the Diocesan

Council after making its report,

has and is continuing

its search for such property;

and

Whereas we now have a

Diocesan Hierarch who has

no permanent residence or

Diocesan office to conduct

Diocesan business; and

Whereas in the process of

identifying a property, of

inspecting it first with the

committee then with the

council, and then of calling a

special Diocesan Assembly

to approve the purchase, so

much time would elapse that

the diocese would lose the

opportunity even to make an

offer; and

Whereas it is in the competency

of a Diocesan Assembly

to authorize the Diocesan

Council to acquire prop-

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Right: Delegates enjoy

the hospitality of

the New Britain

parish before convening

the Assembly.

erty for Diocese (OCA Statues

Art IX, sec 4d),

Be it resolved that this Special

Diocesan Assembly, held

on June 15, 2024 at Holy Trinity

Orthodox Church in New

Britain, CT, authorizes the

Diocesan Council to continue

its search for a property that

would provide a residence for

the Bishop and possibly

Diocesan Offices; and the Assembly

further authorizes the

Diocesan Council to acquire

such property with a purchase

price not to exceed

$650,000; and the Assembly

also authorizes the Diocesan

Bishop and/or the Diocesan

Chancellor to sign the purchase

contract on behalf of

the Diocese.

Father John Kreta, Diocesan Chancellor,

made the initial observation

that the market requires swift action

on any property. We will not have the

freedom to consult a Diocesan Assembly

before any specific likely

property is sold. The current temporary

residence is not adequate to our

bishop’s needs and the lease expiring

in September. The

lease is renewable,

but the diocese

would prefer

a permanent solution.

Further discussion

clarified that

the Diocesan

Council is not

seeking to spend

the maximum

allowed. Rather it

wants to establish

a realistic spending

range for the current market.

The proposal met with sober reflection

on the challenges of committing

as much as $650,000 to this endeavor,

given the constraints of our small

diocese.

In response to the suggestion that

this “Diocesan Center” make use of

existing parish property, Fr. Kreta

affirmed that the Diocesan Council

has been seriously considering the

possibility, beginning with a diocesanwide

inquiry in 2022.

The discussion concluded with the

assurance that the Diocesan Council

has been working hard to be good

stewards of our collective resources,

and the observation that it is important

to trust in God’s providence and

to honor the priorities of our newlyelected

bishop.

The resolution passed with overwhelming

support, and the members

of the Assembly departed for their

parishes. Since June 15, the Diocesan

Council has continued to search for

and consider properties, but, as of

August has not yet used its purchasing

authority.


O.N.E.

Diocese of New England

Orthodox Church in America

Published bi-monthly

His Grace, Bishop Benedict

V. Rev. John Kreta, Chancellor

V. Rev. Joshua Mosher, Editor

Phone: 203–237–4539

frjmosher@sspeterpaul.org

Holy Trinity Russian Orthodox Church

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305 Washington Avenue

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The opinions expressed in articles

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2024-09–ONE_rev2

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