The Third Sunday of Lent is that of the Veneration of the Cross. The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt.10:38). For in the Cross of Christ Crucified lies both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” for those being saved (1 Cor.1:24).

Marriage of Nicholas and Samantha. May God grant them many blessed years!

A live theatrical production about the life of St Nicholas the Wonderworker

Many Blessed Years!

The Bright Resurrection of Our Lord!
Christ is Risen!
Indeed He is Risen!

Our famous annual cookie walk was a huge success! Thank you to all who attended and helped to set up this wonderful church fundraiser!

Hope to see you again next year!

Celebration of the church New Year. The first day of the Church New Year is also called the beginning of the Indiction. The term Indiction comes from a Latin word meaning, “to impose.” It was originally applied to the imposition of taxes in Egypt. 

Read more at: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/09/01/501-church-new-year

This Sunday the parish also celebrated the 30th wedding anniversary of Dan & Maria

After the Ascension of the Lord, the Mother of God remained in the care of the Apostle John the Theologian, and during his journeys She lived at the home of his parents, near the Mount of Olives. She was a source of consolation and edification both for the Apostles and for all the believers. 

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/08/15/102302-the-dormition-of-our-most-holy-lady-the-mother-of-god-and-ever-v

The parish also presented wedding icons to the newly wed couple, Alexander & Anne

The joyous and beautiful wedding of Alexander & Anne Torrisi

May God grant them many blessed years!

....In a carefully detailed narrative the Gospel relates how Christ, six days before His own death, and with particular mindfulness of the people “standing by, that they may believe that thou didst send me” (John 11:42), went to His dead friend Lazarus at Bethany outside of Jerusalem. He was aware of the approaching death of Lazarus but deliberately delayed His coming, saying to His disciples at the news of His friend’s death: “For your sake I am glad that I was not there, so that you may believe” (John 11:14).

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/04/24/19-the-raising-of-lazarus-lazarus-saturday

Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, was born of the Most Holy Virgin Mary in the city of Bethlehem during the reign of the emperor Augustus (Octavian). Caesar Augustus decreed that a universal census be made throughout his Empire, which then also included Palestinian Israel. The Jews were accustomed to be counted in the city from where their family came. The Most Holy Virgin and the Righteous Joseph, since they were descended from the house and lineage of King David, had to go to Bethlehem to be counted and taxed.

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/12/25/103638-the-nativity-of-our-lord-god-and-savior-jesus-christ

Sunday Liturgy With The Most Reverend Michael, Archbishop of New York and the Diocese of New York & New Jersey

Also, congratulations and many blessed years to Proto-Deacon Paul on his 25th Anniversary of Ordination to the Diaconate

Saturday evening Vespers service with the Most Reverend Michael, Archbishop of New York and the diocese of New York & New Jersey

Although Saint Irene performed many miracles during her life, let us mention only one. On great Feasts it was her habit to keep vigil in the monastery courtyard under the starry skies. Once, a nun who was unable to sleep left her cell and went into the courtyard. There she saw Abbess Irene levitating a few feet above the ground, completely absorbed in prayer. The astonished nun also noticed that two cypress trees had bowed their heads to the ground, as if in homage. When she finished praying, Irene blessed the trees and they returned to their upright position.

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2020/07/28/102119-saint-irene-chrysovolantou

On Wednesday of the sixth week of Pascha, we celebrate the Leavetaking of the Feast. While most Feasts have their Leavetaking on the eighth day, Pascha, the Feast of Feasts, has its Leavetaking on the thirty-ninth day. The fortieth day is the Feast of the Lord’s Ascension, which marks the end of the Lord’s physical presence on earth. He does not abandon us, however. He has promised to be with us always, even until the end of the age (MT 20:28). As we sing in the Kontakion for Ascension, “Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God, not being parted from those who love Thee, but remaining with them and crying: I am with you and no one will be against you.” There is a similar thought expressed in the Troparion for the Dormition: “In falling asleep, you did not forsake the world, O Theotokos.”

Diocese of New York and New Jersey - Diocesan Directives on the Gradual Re-Opening of Diocesan Churches
Issued May 8, 2020 ~ FOR DISTRIBUTION

https://www.nynjoca.org/files/2020/covid-19/Diocesan-Directives-on-the-Gradual-Re-Opening-of-Diocesan-Churches-2020-05-08-For-Distribution.pdf

On Sunday, November 4th, at 12:00p.m. we will host a special dinner (Turkey) of thanksgiving. This is to celebrate two achievements that have taken place in these past months.  The installation of the new church flooring and the renovation of the upstairs parish hall.  For the first time, we will be using the upper hall.  All parishioners, former parishioners and  friends of the parish are invited!  There is no charge.  Please simply reply no later than 6:00p.m. Sunday October 28th with your name and number of people attending.  There is also a sign-up sheet on the vestibule stand in the church. For more information contact Ekaterine Margiani (908-240-7701) or Fr. James (908-685-1452). You may leave information on the phone or e-mail - frjames@ssppoc.org.  Please join us!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-Ti9QhXDbM8VvGFnO2Bokg?view_as=subscriber

"On the Necessity of Guarding our Thoughts - the First Step in Spiritual Action and of Spiritual Defense."  The Holy Saints teach us that our contribution to our salvation is to a large extent dependent upon the thoughts we hold to.  The modern day Elder, St. Paisios of Athos (+1994) remarks that "the entire spiritual life depends on our thoughts."  There are all kinds of thoughts, simple and composite; good and bad, from God and from the demons, as well as from our own conjuring.  We will examine the positive and negative charcter of thoughts and what the Fathers recommend us to rightly think.

Now the comforting Spirit has been poured out on all flesh, beginning with the choir of the apostles.  He has spread His grace, communicating it to all the faithful, He gives proof of His mighty descent by distributing the fiery tongues to the disciples for the praise and glory of God.  So now that our hearts have been spiritually enlightened, strengthened in faith by the Holy Spirit, let us pray that our souls may be saved!

Rejoice, O Virgin Theotokos, full of grace! / From you shone the Sun of Righteousness, Christ our God. / Enlightening those who sat in darkness! / Rejoice, and be glad, O righteous elder; / You accepted in your arms the Redeemer of our souls, / Who grants us the Resurrection.  https://oca.org/saints/lives/2017/02/02/100407-the-meeting-of-our-lord-and-savior-jesus-christ-in-the-temple

The Youth of Ss. Peter and Paul created the attached 'Faithbook'.  This is our newest social media platform.  Check it out!

The receiving of the Holy Gifts at a Sunday Divine Liturgy at Ss. Peter & Paul Church.  When we partake of the Holy Gifts we are united to them and become more grafted onto the Mystical Body of Christ, which is His Church. While we approach for Holy Communion, the people sing this hymn: “Receive the Body of Christ, taste the Fountain of Immortality.”  The priest says to the person receiving the Holy Gifts: “The Precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is given unto the servant of God (name) for the remission of sins and to life everlasting.”

The Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts is an evening service. It is the solemn lenten Vespers with the administration of Holy Communion added to it. There is no consecration of the eucharistic gifts at the presanctified liturgy. Holy Communion is given from the eucharistic gifts sanctified on the previous Sunday at the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, unless, of course, the feast of the Annunciation should intervene; hence its name of “presanctified.”
(Thanks to Nick Kita for the pictures)

Sunday of Orthodoxy in Manville Procession from Holy Ghost to Saints Peter and Paul to St. George's Orthodox Church.

As part of the 100th Anniversary, a number of Gramotas were presented to a number of our parishioners as well as to Mr. George Filippakis, the iconographer who labored over 40 years in adorning the Church with Byzantine iconography and  to Proto-Deacon Paul Sokol on the 20th anniversary of his ordination to the deaconate.

Take me out to the ball park, take me out to the game, buy me some cotton candy and ice cream.....SS Peter and Paul Youth Group attended a baseball game at Somerset Patriots.  Young and Old alike had a great time.

In the Church’s annual liturgical cycle, Pentecost is “the last and great day.” It is the celebration by the Church of the coming of the Holy Spirit as the end—the achievement and fulfillment—of the entire history of salvation. For the same reason, however, it is also the celebration of the beginning: it is the “birthday” of the Church as the presence among us of the Holy Spirit, of the new life in Christ, of grace, knowledge, adoption to God and holiness.

Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those who hate him flee from before his face!  
Christ is risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life. (Troparion).
This is the day which the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

On Bright Monday the Church commemorates the Sweet-Kissing (Glykophilousa) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos.  Like the Iveron Icon (March 31), the Sweet-Kissing Icon was also saved from the iconoclasts by a pious woman in the ninth century. It also traveled miraculously upon the sea, arriving at Mt. Athos, the “Garden of the Theotokos,” where it was honored by the monks.

Palm Sunday: The Feast Of The Entrance Of Our Lord Jesus Christ Into Jerusalem - On the Sunday before the Feast of Great and Holy Pascha and at the beginning of Holy Week, the Orthodox Church celebrates one of its most joyous feasts of the year. Palm Sunday is the commemoration of the Entrance of our Lord into Jerusalem following His glorious miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. Having anticipated His arrival and having heard of the miracle, the people when out to meet the Lord and welcomed Him with displays of honor and shouts of praise. On this day, we receive and worship Christ in this same manner, acknowledging Him as our King and Lord.

Holy Unction-Unction of the Sick

Christ came to the world to “bear the infirmities” of men. One of the signs of his divine messiahship was to heal the sick. The power of healing remains in the Church since Christ himself remains in the Church through the Holy Spirit.  The sacrament of the unction of the sick is the Church’s specific prayer for healing. If the faith of the believers is strong enough, and if it is the will of God, there is every reason to believe that the Lord can heal those who are diseased.  http://oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/worship/the-sacraments/holy-unction

The Third Sunday of Lent is that of the Veneration of the Cross. The cross stands in the midst of the church in the middle of the lenten season not merely to remind men of Christ’s redemption and to keep before them the goal of their efforts, but also to be venerated as that reality by which man must live to be saved. “He who does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Mt.10:38). For in the Cross of Christ Crucified lies both “the power of God and the wisdom of God” for those being saved (1 Cor.1:24).

On Sunday evening, March 1, 2015 — the first Sunday of Great Lent — Orthodox Christians will gather in churches around the world to commemorate the restoration of icons to their proper use in the Church on March 11, 843 AD, thereby ending the 100-plus year iconoclast controversy.  The spiritual theme of the day is first of all the victory of the True Faith.  “This is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith” [1 John 5:4].  Secondly, the icons of the saints bear witness that man, “created in the image and likeness of God” [Genesis 1:26], becomes holy and godlike through the purification of himself as God’s living image.

Coffee hour became Mardi Gras.  Look at how the church hall turned into a Mardi Gras event.

Scout Sunday is always observed on the Sunday before February 8, Scouting Anniversary Day [1910]. BSA programs have traditionally considered reverence for and belief in God to be cornerstones for developing young men and women in character, citizenship and fitness.

Our Yolka Youth cast celebrated with Pizza and Cupcakes after Liturgy today for a great job in the OCN News Network presentation.

Children of Ss Peter and Paul Orthodox Church present Yolka 2015

Theophany is the Feast which reveals the Most Holy Trinity to the world through the Baptism of the Lord (Mt.3:13-17; Mark 1:9-11; Luke 3:21-22). God the Father spoke from Heaven about the Son, the Son was baptized by the St John the Forerunner, and the Holy Spirit descended upon the Son in the form of a dove. From ancient times this Feast was called the Day of Illumination and the Feast of Lights, since God is Light and has appeared to illumine “those who sat in darkness,” and “in the region of the shadow of death” (Mt.4:16), and to save the fallen race of mankind by grace.

For centuries upon centuries, parents, grandparents and godparents have related the following to Orthodox children about St. Basil and the Vasilopita. One year, during a time of terrible famine, the emperor levied a sinfully excessive tax upon the people of Caesarea. The tax was such a heavy burden upon the already impoverished people that to avoid debtors' prison each family had to relinquish its few remaining coins and pieces of jewelry, including precious family heirlooms. Learning of this injustice upon his flock, St. Basil the Great, the archbishop of Caesarea, took up his bishop's staff and the book of the holy Gospels and came to his people's defense by fearlessly calling the emperor to repentance. By God's grace, the emperor did repent! He canceled the tax and instructed his tax collectors to turn over to St. Basil all of the chests containing the coins and jewelry which had been paid as taxes by the people of Caesarea. But now St. Basil was faced with the daunting and impossible task of returning these thousands of coins and pieces of jewelry to their rightful owners. After praying for a long time before the icons of our Master Christ and His All-Holy Mother, St. Basil had all the treasures baked into one huge pita. He then called all the townspeople to prayer at the cathedral, and, after Divine Liturgy, he blessed and cut the pita, giving a piece to each person. Miraculously, each owner received in his piece of Vasilopita his own valuables. They all joyfully returned home, giving thanks to God who had delivered them from abject poverty and to their good and holy bishop St. Basil the Great! In remembrance of that miracle wrought by God as a result of St. Basil's love and defense of his people, Orthodox Christians have observed the tradition of the Vasilopita each year on January 1st-- the date on which St. Basil reposed in the Lord in the year 379.

The Nativity of Christ has long been counted as one of the Twelve Great Feasts. It is one of the greatest, most joyful and wondrous events in the history of the world. The angel said to the shepherds, “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, Who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly hosts, glorifying God and saying: Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” Those who heard these things were astonished at what the shepherds told them concerning the Child. And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen” (Luke 2:10-20).

Pictures from St. Spyridon Akathist service 

Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church on Washington Avenue began celebrating its 99th anniversary of service on Sunday with a church service and international food festival.

Manville, NJ -  Every Sunday morning for the past 99 years, a Divine Liturgy is celebrated at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church in Manville, with church bells ringing, a choir singing and the faithful gathering in prayer.  Services are also held on many days throughout the week with the same joyful solemnity of the Orthodox Christian faith.  On Sunday, November 8th, Ss. Peter and Paul invites the community to join in their 99th Anniversary and International Food Festival.

1st year Blessing of Marriage of John Richard Webber and Alex Ptichka.

May god grant them many years

Pictures from Blessing of Iconographers

Pictures from Nativity of the Theotokos

Pictures from the Church New Year

Departure Blessing for Reader Symeon and Theodora

Pictures from the Blessing of Students and Teachers 2014

The feast of the Dormition or Falling-asleep of the Theotokos is celebrated on the fifteenth of August, preceded by a two-week fast. This feast, which is also sometimes called the Assumption, commemorates the death, resurrection and glorification of Christ’s mother. It proclaims that Mary has been “assumed” by God into the heavenly kingdom of Christ in the fullness of her spiritual and bodily existence.

As with the nativity of the Virgin and the feast of her entrance to the temple, there are no biblical or historical sources for this feast. The Tradition of the Church is that Mary died as all people die, not “voluntarily” as her Son, but by the necessity of her mortal human nature which is indivisibly bound up with the corruption of this world.

The Orthodox Church teaches that Mary is without personal sins. In the Gospel of the feast, however, in the liturgical services and in the Dormition icon, the Church proclaims as well that Mary truly needed to be saved by Christ as all human persons are saved from the trials, sufferings and death of this world; and that having truly died, she was raised up by her Son as the Mother of Life and participates already in the eternal life of paradise which is prepared and promised to all who “hear the word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:27-28)

You can read the full description at oca.org

Pictures from St Tikhon's Summer Camp 2014

Photos include Saturday Vespers, Sunday Divine Liturgy, Procession around the Church and Celebrations.

Thank you to all those who contributed to the Parish Picnic.

Congratulations to the graduating students of 2014

Pictures from Pentecost Cemetery Memorial Service

Pictures from Pentecost kneeling vespers 

Pictures from Pentecost Vigil 

Pictures from Memorial Saturday

Pictures from Pascha 2014

Pictures from Holy Friday Compile with Procession 

Pictures from Holy Friday service 

Pictures from the 12 Passion Gospels 

Two events shape the liturgy of Great and Holy Thursday: the Last Supper of Christ with His disciples, and the betrayal of Judas. The meaning of both is in love. The Last Supper is the ultimate revelation of God’s redeeming love for man, of love as the very essence of salvation. And the betrayal of Judas reveals that sin, death and self-destruction are also due to love, but to deviated and distorted love, love directed at that which does not deserve love. Here is the mystery of this unique day, and its liturgy, where light and darkness, joy and sorrow are so strangely mixed, challenges us with the choice on which depends the eternal destiny of each one of us. “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come... having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end...” (John 13:1). To understand the meaning of the Last Supper we must see it as the very end of the great movement of Divine Love which began with the creation of the world and is now to be consummated in the death and resurrection of Christ.

More can be read at oca.org

Lenten Basket Project and making of palms and pussy willows

Pictures from the Service Cannon of St. Andrew

Pictures from Annunciation to Theotokos

Sunday of Orthodoxy in Manville Procession from St. George's Orthodox Church to Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Church to Holy Ghost Church 

Pictures from Pre-Sanctified Liturgy with Blessing of boiled wheat.  

Pictures from Cheesefare and Forgiveness Sunday

Pictures from Meatfare Sunday 

Picture from Feast day of Meeting of our Lord in the Temple and Scout Sunday

Saints Peter and Paul Yolka 2014

Pictures from Blessing of Water and for the feast of Theophany

Pictures from the Divine Liturgy celebrating the Circumcision of Our Lord

Pictures from Vespers with St Basil's bread

Pictures from Christmas Caroling at the Church Hall

Pictures from Vigil and Divine Liturgy services of the Nativity of our Lord. 

Pictures from the Royal Hours held for the Eve of the Nativity. 

Many Blessed Years to Iwonna on her Entrance into Holy Orthodoxy

Pictures from the Cookie Walk held in the church hall.

Photos from Divine Liturgy on St Nicholas feast day

Pictures from Divine Liturgy of Enterance of the Most Holy Theotokos Feast Day.

Pictures from the Saints Peter and Paul youth pumpkin picking outing at Norz Hill farm.

Thank you for joining us for our 98th Anniversary Open house and International Food Festival. Here are the Photos from our Akathist service, Annointing with Holy Oil(for well-being, peace, healing and all other needs), Childrens Choir, International Food Festival Church Tours and Iconography.

Join us as we celebrate 98 years of Orthodox Christianity in Manville, New Jersey!  All are welcome!  Sunday, October 13, 2013

Pictures from Elevation of the Cross

Photos from the Church Picnic

Today Zachary Sokol was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout at our St. George Gazebo.

Today Golden Apples were blessed in front of the Icon of St. Irene of Chrysovolantou

Photos from the Blessing of things Mobile.

Photos of the Youth of Saints Peter and Paul Parish at Saint Tikhon's Summer Camp held on July 9th to July 15th.

Photos from Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. Special guest Archpriest Gary Breton from Orthodox Christian Church of the Annunciation in Brick, NJ.

Photos from the Cemetery memorial Service with Dedication of Tree Planting in Memory of Jerry Yadlowsky

Pentecost and the Prayers for Kneeling

Photos from Bright Monday procession 

Photos from Palm Sunday and Blessing of Outside icon of Saints Peter and Paul

Added 40 more photos from Palm Sunday

Photos from Deanery Vespers in Manville with Bishop Michael

Visit of  Father Peter and parishioners of  St. Grigol Khanzteli, the Georgian church in Manville

Photos from March 2013 Blood drive

Pictures of our Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of Saints Peter and Paul and Names day of Nicholas Torrisi

Photos from Liturgy with Father Paul Shafran and Icon of St. Nina

Photos from December 16, 2012 Cookie walk held in the lower parish hall.

On Sunday, November 11th. The Choir presented a concert on liturgical music in the Church followed by a reception in the parish hall.

Photos from His Grace, Bishop Michael visit to our parish on Saturday, September 29th for the Vigil and Divine Liturgy. After the Divine Liturgy the blessing of the St. George Gazebo took place, followed by a festal meal in the lower hall.

On the entrance wall into the nave of the church a new icon now adorns the upper hall.  This icon is that of the “Holy Napkin” the icon of our Saviour, “Not-Made-By-Hands.”  A full description of the icon may be found on the feast day calendar for August 16th. (See OCA  website: www.oca.org – calendar). The Icon was painted by our resident iconographer, Austin Kachek and is a memorial gift from the family, friends and parishioners of (+Mary Holovach, Oct. 18, 2009).  May her memory be eternal!

Photos from the Church Picnic 

After the Divine Liturgy, a "blessing of things mobile" took place in the parking lot. Autos, bikes, baby strollers, and boogie boards were also blessed. It is normal for us to bless things that we use - for transportation and even recreation. The blessing is for their safe usage as well as a reminder that whatever we do, wherever we are at, be it work or play, we should do the will of the Lord and remember His Holy Name.

Photos from Our Parish Patronal Feast Day Celebrated Friday, June 29th.

Our Parish Students graduating this spring from High School are the Following, Zachary Sokol, Nicholas Stone and Alexander Torrisi. 

Photos from the Marriage of Peter Parsells and Heather Graver

On Sunday, May 27th, His Grace, Bishop Peter of Cleveland, of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad served Hierarchial Divine Liturgy at Saints Peter and Paul church in Manville, nj

Photos from Bright Monday

Photo's from Blessing of the Scouts 

Photos from our Cookie Walk held on December 11, 2011

Photo's From the Celebration of Litugry of St. James

Photo's held for Choir Appreciation

Special thanks go out to all that helped out with this project.

Orthodox Youth day 

Pictures of Blessing of Automobiles and things that move

Our Parish Patronal Feast Day Celebrated Wednesday, June 29th.