A Joyful Event
for the Orthodox Christians of New York

On Saturday, October 4, 2014, His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America and New York officiated at Divine Liturgy and consecration of a new church in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY, dedicated to St John the Baptist.

The new church is located in premises once belonging to a local Methodist church. Today, the building is adorned with a splendid cupola and Russian cross. Over the course of several years, this parish literally wandered from one rented space to another in Brooklyn. The joy of Protopriest Alexander Belya and his parishioners was palpable, for after a long search, a worthy space was found for St John the Baptist Parish.

In a very short period of time, the new premises were remodeled by Kadar Elit Construction under the direction of its principal, Mikhail Kadar. Benefactors and parishioners enthusiastically aided the effort. On Friday evening, contractors were still working on the interior, and the next morning, the church hosted a multitude of clergymen and worshipers.

The First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was joined by Fr Alexander, Dean of the First Deanery of the Eastern American Diocese, his son Archimandrite Alexander (Belya), Dean of the Seventh Deanery in Florida; Protopriest Andrei Sommer, Senior Priest of the Synodal Cathedral of Our Lady “of the Sign” in New York; Protopriest Peter Kunitsky and Priest Konstantin Gavrilkin of the Church of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia in Brooklyn; Hieromonk Photius (Oulanov) of Intercession of the Holy Virgin Church in Glen Cove, NY; Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhov and Deacon Dionysy Lvov of the Synodal Cathedral and the parish’s own Deacon Peter Utkin.

After divine services, Vladyka Hilarion awarded Mr Kadara and Parish Warden Ivan Belya the highest award of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia, the Synodal Order of the Kursk-Root Icon of the Mother of God. Mr Belya personally found this location and prepared it for divine services. Diocesan decrees of blessing were granted to Vadim and Olga Fedorov, Mikhail Gechko, Inna Stoyan and Andrei and Marina Andreev.
The church is located at 2016 Voorhies Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11235.