Church Architecture

Architecture

Church Events

October 21, 2004 - A reception and lecture by Jeanne Kolva about the work of New Brunswick architect Alexander Merchant were held in the evening at the New Brunswick Free Public Library. Mr. Merchant worked as an architect from 1897 until his death in 1952. The occasion for the exhibit was the discovery of a large number of his architectural drawings which had been unavailable to the public for a number of years after his death. He had designed a number of buildings in the New Brunswick area including some of the city's public school buildings and facilities at Rutgers University's Douglass College. What is important insofar as SS. Peter and Paul Church is concerned is the fact that it was Mr. Merchant (photo below center) who was the architect of our present Church. Shown in the report that follows are a number of original sketches pertaining to the construction our Church.

You may click on the two photos immediately below to view enlargements.

Above left is Mr. Merchant's line drawing, sans icons, of the proposed Iconostasis of SS. Peter and Paul Church. Above right is a photo of the Iconostasis of our Church as it appeared in October, 2004.

The New Brunswick Free Public Library was constructed with a gift from industrialist Andrew Carnegie, whose portrait hangs in the entrance to the library (photo immediately above). The library has both an older section and a newer section in which the exhibit and lecture were held. In the photo above left the entrance to the older portion of the library displays some classic architecture itself. Above right, the library stacks in the older portion of the building appear much the same as they did some forty years ago when your reporter used the library as a student. Photo above center shows that the library is no stranger to stained glass as is seen in the ceiling above the main desk. Photo below left shows that portion of the display devoted to SS. Peter and Paul Church's drawings. To the right of our Church's portion of the exhibit were the drawings of a firehouse in South River which Mr. Merchant had also prepared. Photo below right shows our Church's display in a closer view. Librarian, Mr. Robert Miller, embellished the display with some photos of the exterior and interior of our Church taken from our Church's Website.

Photos above and below show drawings of the Iconostasis (above) and a representative cupola (below) The distracting discoloration of paper that accompanies age has been removed through the magic of digital photography. These drawings thus appear perhaps as Mr. Merchant himself would have known them.

You may click on the last two photos below to view enlargements of the drawings.

The above segment of this photo report completes the description of the display as it occurred on the night of October 28. Librarian Miller invited this reporter back to the library one week after the event to see and photograph those items pertaining to our Church which were not displayed but are in the safekeeping of the library. All of the materials presented below constitute those materials unseen by the general public but important nonetheless to the history of our Church. Many photos are presented in enlarged form as well in deference to architects, historians, model builders, and those who may have studied mechanical drawing in school.

In the following block of seven photos, you may click on photos 1 and 3-6 to view enlargements of the architectural drawings.

The photo above was left unaltered as to its discoloration so that the viewer might see the notation in red at the bottom of the document referring to the delivery of steel for construction of our Church in September, 1916. In the photos both above and below many details of our Church are clearly visible and readily apparent. This reporter was in search of an architectural rendering of the entire Church - much as one today might see an architect's rendering of a proposed building as completed - but none was to be found, at least not in the custody of the New Brunswick Public Library. Many thanks to Mr. Robert Miller for his display of materials pertaining to SS. Peter and Paul Church at the public showing and for his hospitality a second time in making available for the benefit of our Parish those drawings not seen publicly.

In the block of six photos below, you may click on photos 1-3 and 5-6 to view enlargements of the drawings.

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00000 Upcoming Events Category: Recent Events Last updated: 2026-07-26 20:32:38 Confession schedule can be found in the bulletin OR by clicking here: Monthly Calendar. For those who are hesitant to worship in person, Fr. John is available to meet with you, either at home or in church, to participate in the Sacraments of Holy Confession and Communion. Please email or call Fr. John to set up an appointment. Coffee Hour Request: There is a need of volunteers for this service ministry. Please see Deborah Silowka to find out how you can help. Join us for Prosphora (Holy Bread) Baking in the church hall on Saturday, August 8, beginning at 10am. This is a spiritually rewarding undertaking, as you will be preparing the very bread that will become the Body of Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great honor - come! On Sunday, August 9, there will be a Special Collection during Liturgy to offer support for a new roof and repainting the dome of our sister parish, Annunciaation Church in Brick. This temple, dedicated in 1994, is where the Lord, His Saints and His Mother, the Theotokos, worship with our brothers and sisters at every service. Please be generous and hearty thanks for your consideration of this request. Looking Ahead.... The Men's Club with host a Parish Picnic at 7 Acres Park on Saturday, September 12th, in honor of their 50th anniversary as a club. All parishioners are welcome to attend; Details to follow. A Parish Cornhole Tournament, hosted by the Senior R Club, will be held on Sunday, September 27th; details to follow. We continue to collect food to help keep the South River Food Bank stocked. Please leave your donations of non-perishable items on the table in the hall narthex. Come outr and support the Annual Parish Fall Festival on Saturday, October 24th. Co-chairpeople Tanya Davis and Deborah Silowka can use your help, as we share our Slavic culture with all our friends and neighbors. If you have a few hours to spare, see Tanya or Deb and lend a hand..no volunteer will be turned away! FOOD CARD PROGRAM : Food cards are available for various supermarket chains after Divine Liturgy, and do not cost any more than the face value of the card. The church receives a percentage as a free fundraiser! See Judy Znaiden in church or at jznaiden@optonline.net. MEETING DATES: Church School: Classes meet Today after Liturgy Choir Rehearsal: Tuesday, June 16th@7:00PM (Church) Men's Club: Thurs. June 18th@ 7:00 (Hall) Senior R Club: Sun. June 21st at Deerson home Altar Society: Mon. ??? @6:30 (Hall) Parish Council: Mon. September 21st @7:30PM (Hall) 00001 Recent Weekly Bulletin Category: Recent Events Last updated: 2022-11-06 14:23:34 March 13, 2022 more information >	Saturday, August 8 6:00 Confessions 7:00 Vespers Sunday, August 9 St. Herman of Alaska 9:00 Divine Liturgy Thursday, August 13 St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Saturday, August 15 DORMITION OF THE THEOTOKOS 6:00 Confessions 7:00 Vespers Sunday, August 16 Icon Not-Made-By-Hands 9:00 Divine Liturgy Monthly Calendar > Holy Confession The sacrament of reconciliation through which the faithful confess their sins to a priest and receive absolution. Also called the sacrament of repentance or penance, confession restores the baptismal purity lost through sin and reconciles the penitent with God and the Church. The penitent stands before an icon of Christ while confessing to the priest, who acts as a witness and minister of God's forgiveness. The priest then covers the penitent's head with his epitrachelion (stole) and pronounces the prayer of absolution. Vespers The evening prayer service of the Orthodox Church, traditionally celebrated at sunset. Vespers includes psalms, hymns, scripture readings, and incense. On Saturday evenings, Great Vespers is often combined with the Sunday Divine Liturgy. The service marks the end of the liturgical day and prepares the faithful for rest and reflection. St. Herman of Alaska The Russian monk who brought Orthodoxy to Alaska and was the first Orthodox saint canonized in America. Celebrated on December 13th, Herman arrived in Alaska in 1794 and spent over 40 years ministering to native Alaskans. He defended them against exploitation and established schools and orphanages on Spruce Island. Divine Liturgy The central worship service of the Orthodox Church, celebrating the Eucharist (Holy Communion). Usually celebrated on Sundays and feast days, the Divine Liturgy consists of the Liturgy of the Word (scripture readings) and Liturgy of the Faithful (Eucharistic prayer and communion). The most common forms are the Liturgies of St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil the Great. St. Tikhon of Zadonsk The 18th-century bishop known for his spiritual writings and pastoral care. Celebrated on August 13th, Tikhon retired early from episcopal duties to focus on prayer and writing. His works on Christian living influenced many, including St. Theophan the Recluse. He represents the combination of episcopal responsibility with monastic spirituality and theological reflection. Dormition of the Theotokos The "falling asleep" and assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Preceded by a two-week fast, this feast on August 15th celebrates Mary's death and her bodily assumption. Orthodox theology teaches that Mary experienced death but was immediately raised and taken to heaven, where she intercedes for all Christians. Icon Not-Made-By-Hands The miraculous image of Christ that appeared on cloth, also called the Mandylion. Celebrated on August 16th, this icon was sent by Christ himself to King Abgar of Edessa. According to tradition, Christ pressed a cloth to his face, leaving his image imprinted. This acheiropoietos (not-made-by-hands) icon represents Christ's divine nature and the power of his image.	Fr. David's Last Liturgy 06/29/2026 Father David's Retirement Banq... 05/17/2026 Holy Week and Pascha 04/01/2026 Catachumens - Chrismation/Bapt... 12/20/2025

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