About Orthodoxy
The Orthodox Church is the original Christian Church founded by Jesus and continued by his Apostles. It is the same Church described in the Bible as the Body of Christ and the Bride of Christ (1 Corinthians 12 : 27; Ephe ... more info >

Come and See!
We warmly invite you to come and visit our church, located at 76 Whitehead Avenue, South River, New Jersey! ... more info >

SS. Peter and Paul Church Greetings!

Welcome Father John Jovel, his wife, Matushka Sophia, and their children, Raphael, Bendict, Silouan, Vladimir and Anna, who have joined our parish as our new acting rector on July 1st. It is a joy to have them with us and we pray that God will grant them continued good health and long life for many years —Mnogaya Lyeta!

For Those New to Orthodoxy (or Just Our Website)

Welcome!

We are an Orthodox Christian parish located in South River, New Jersey.

We are a part of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) and are under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey.

We are a parish that is open to all, and we welcome everyone to come and experience the beauty of Orthodox Christianity with us.

Location

You can find us at 76 Whitehead Ave, South River, NJ 08882.

Schedule

We celebrate the Divine Liturgy every Sunday at 9:00 AM, followed by Coffee Hour (a social event for parishioners and guests alike). All are welcome to attend!

Want to see a full line-up of services for this month? Visit our Calendar page.
Need a quick, mobile-friendly view of all our upcoming events? Visit our Upcoming Events page.

Where can I learn more?

To learn more about Orthodoxy itself, visit our Orthodoxy page.
To learn more about our church's history, visit our History page.
Where else can I find you? You can like and follow us on Facebook.

Bright Monday with Vladika Michael 2022

Pascha John 1:1 2022 Languages of the Parish

Bright Monday 2022

What is the Orthodox Church of America?

The Orthodox Church in America (abbreviated to OCA) is the local, autocephalous (self-governing) Eastern Orthodox Church in America.

To learn more, visit:

Website: www.oca.org
Telegram: orthodoxchurchamerica
X (Twitter): ocaorg
Facebook: orthodoxchurchinamerica
Instagram: orthodoxchurchamerica

What is the Diocese of New York and New Jersey?

The Diocese of New York and New Jersey is a regional territorial diocese of the OCA, presently headed by His Eminence, Archbishop Michael.

As an OCA church operating in New Jersey, we fall under their jurisdiction.

To learn more, visit their website.

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Video "An Introduction to Orthodoxy"

For those looking for a new Parish home, or just looking for an introduction to the Orthodox Christian faith, parishioner Zachary Held has created a short documentary film, narrated by Fr. David.

Thanks to Zachary for his efforts!

If you have trouble viewing the video, the film can be seen on Zach's youtube channel by clicking here: "An Introduction to Orthodoxy"

CHRIST IS RISEN!

Some Announcements, Dear Brothers and Sisters

May 19 2026 Announcement: New Clothes Donation Bin

We've just received our brand-new clothes donation bin, and it is up and ready for use!

This bin is intended as another means of giving back to those in need.

We encourage everyone to donate gently used clothing.

As a handy rule of thumb, if you haven't used it for at least a couple of years, it probably belongs in the bin.

Lenten Memorial Soul Saturdays

As Orthodox, it is natural for us to pray for the departed as it is for those who are still alive.

We are taught that the departed are no longer able to rectify their lives as they could on earth; hence, their only hope is for us to pray for them and to do good deeds in their name in order to cover any unrepentant sins that they have brought into the next life.

As an act of love and mercy, The Church has set aside four Saturdays this year, called Memorial (Soul) Saturdays to publicly commemorate all her departed children:

February 14th (Pre-Lent)
Great Lent
- March 7th
- March 14th
- March 21st
May 30 (Eve of Pentecost)
October 24th (Demetrius Sunday)

A form was included in the bulletin, and is also available at the Candle Desk.

Please write their FIRST names only, and drop it off at the church or rectory.

Our bright and joyous faith teaches us that someday, you will again see them in a renewed form.

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Latest News	Calendar	Recent Photos
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

Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church / South River, NJ / 732-257-0102