WAYNE, NJ – The faithful of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church celebrated the 60th anniversary of their parish’s founding on November 2 and 3, 2024. The celebration began with Great Vespers on Saturday, followed by a Panikhida for the founders, benefactors, and faithful of the parish who have fallen asleep in the Lord.

The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy, led by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, and concelebrated by the parish’s Rector, Archpriest Stephen Evanina, along with Archpriest John Kluchko, Archpriest Samuel Kedala, Archpriest Volodymyr Zablotskyy, and Deacon Stephan Karlgut, was celebrated on Sunday.

Following the festive Divine Liturgy, His Eminence blessed a new icon of St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, donated in memory of +John Hutnyan. His Eminence presented a Synodal Gramota to Mr. Leonard Shark, Parish Council President, in recognition of the parish’s 60th anniversary. He also presented a Diocesan Gramota to Mr. Michael Geeza for his two decades of faithful service as the choir director of Holy Resurrection Church. The celebration concluded with a luncheon at The Brownstone House in Paterson, NJ.

On August 23, 1964, following several months of prayer and planning, Fr. John Nehrebecki, Dean of the New Jersey Deanery, and the members of the fledgling Holy Resurrection community celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the activity room of the Wayne Community Fire House. Later that year, Fr. Alvian Smirensky was assigned as pastor, and services continued in several temporary facilities until the present church building on French Hill Road was consecrated in 1969.

One year before the completion of the church building, Fr. Paul Kucynda was appointed rector of the parish and served as the spiritual father of the community for nearly fifty-five years. Fr. Stephen Evanina succeeded Fr. Paul Kucynda as the Rector of Holy Resurrection Church in August 2019.

From its inception, the parish has sought to maintain a full liturgical life and a dynamic ministry of Christian education for all age groups to nurture the community. Holding fast to the vision of its earliest members, Holy Resurrection is seeker-sensitive, continues to grow, and is home to both young and old Christians, converts, and “cradle-Orthodox,” seeking to live according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.