Sunday, New Greek Orthodox Church Welcomes Worshipers

The rare ceremony of Thyrannixia, or opening of the doors, will take place at the new Ss. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church on Laurel Avenue in Roseland on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 8:30 a.m. His Eminence Metropolitan Evangelos, the Spiritual Leader of the Greek Orthodox Church for New Jersey, Greater Philadelphia, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, will preside at the Church Blessing Service.

The occasion marks the culmination of a more than six-year-long effort to unite New Jersey’s oldest Greek Orthodox congregation, St. Nicholas of Newark, with Ss. Constantine and Helen of Orange. 

But it is also a beginning, as the combined congregation, which officially formed in 2005, worships together for the first time in a church which thus far has cost $16 million to erect.

The church is designed to meet the needs of more than 500 parishioners who were once city dwellers, but over the last several decades have resettled mostly in suburban towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. The resettlement led to dwindling attendance at services over the years, a trend which is expected to be reversed with the new Roseland location.

Accompanying His Eminence at Sunday’s ceremony will be pastor of the new church complex, Rev. Seraphim Poulos.

“This has historical significance for our church,” explained Poulos this week. “What lies ahead will depend on our young families who now have a new spiritual home, closer to their home.”

There are a total of 23 Greek Orthodox Churches in New Jersey. Six years ago, St. Nicholas Church of Newark and Sts. Constantine and Helen from Orange joined together to accommodate the dwindling attendance at both churches that resulted from parishioners moving to the suburbs. After years of planning and setbacks, including over two years of negotiations with the Roseland and Livingston Planning an Zoning Boards, the opening of the new church becomes the final and most significant step in the unification.

The new complex consists of the church, as well as administrative offices and an educational building named after James Sumas and Dr. Spyros Gevas, two generous donors to the project. There is also a social hall with a kitchen and a gymnasium. Work continues on the social hall and gym while the church, offices and classrooms are near completion.

“Addressing the needs of our parishioners will add strength to our church for a lasting future,” said Jim Dalianis, head of the church's communications committee. “It’s up to the younger group to continue as they become an important part of this ongoing project.”

Among the hundreds of parishioners expected to attend services on Sunday will be Vicky Glock, past president of the Greek school's Parent Teacher Organization and current vice president of Philoptochos (Friends of the Poor), a charity group that supports Autism Awareness, Ronald McDonald House, and the Food Bank, as well as other outside charities.

“I work at in Caldwell, live in Bloomfield and have been a proud member of Sts. Constantine and Helen in Orange and this church for more than 45 years,” said Glock, a mother of three grown daughters. “It is a very active church. All of my kids took classes for seven years to read and write Greek. The church helps us to truly enjoy our culture.”

Following the blessing of the doors at 8:30 a.m., Orthros will be at 9 a.m., and the Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. For more information on Ss. Nicholas, Constantine and Helen, visit the website.