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 >

Babka Orders Are Now Being Taken

The deadline to place an order is October 18.

Click to learn more.

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

News Feed

Babka Orders Are Now Being Taken (Deadline: October 18) - 10/02/2026

May 19 2026 Announcement: New Clothes Donation Bin - 05/19/2026

Lenten Memorial Soul Saturdays - 02/12/2026

Upcoming Events

News Feed

August 30, 2026 - 08/30/2026

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Latest News	Calendar	Recent Photos
00000 Upcoming Events Category: Recent Events Last updated: 2026-08-30 13:36:46 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. Looking Ahead.... The Men's Club with host a Parish Picnic at 7 Acres Park on Saturday, September 12th at 1:30PM, in honor of their 50th anniversary as a club. All parishioners are welcome to attend. There is NO CHARGE for this event! Volleyball, Cornhole (not a tournament), Horseshoes, Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Sausages, Beer, Desserts, Smores? Please help us celebrate our 50th with us. The First Church School Class of the 2026-27 academic year will be held on Sunday, September 13th. A Welcome-to-the-Parish Housewarming Shower for The Jovels will be held on Sunday, September 13, at 1:00PM, in the hall. This special afternoon will be an opportunity to better meet and greet Fr. John, Matushka Sophia and their children and spend time getting to know them in a relaxed and casual setting. As they settle into the rectory and start making beautiful memories, the family has put together a registry/wish list of some items they still need. Parishioners are invited to look at the list, but there is absolutely NO OBLIGATION to buy anything. If you so desire, you may also consider joining with other parishioners, friends and/or family members to purchase a larger item from the registry. Again, NO GIFT is necessary to attend; your presence and warm welcome are what will make this gathering of joy, laughter, and fellowship special. RSVP to Allison Steffaro by Thurs., Sept. 10, if you are coming. Let's make the family feel at home in our parsih community! (NOTE:* The registry website link is* www.withjoy.com) 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. The Altar Society is sponsoring an Atlantic City Bus Trip to Resorts Casino and Hotel on Tues, September 29th. Boarding will begin at 8:30am in the parking lot on Whitehead Ave.; departure will be at 9:00 am sharp.Cost is $40, which includes $18 back in slot play and a bag lunch. Try your luck, shop the outlets, or enjoy a walk on the beach without making the long drive. For reservations, see Sonja Neumayer during coffee hour or phone Elaine Mazzei (732-254-5815) Come out 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, Sept 1st@7:00PM (Church) Men's Club: Thurs. Sept 17th@ 7:00 (Hall) Senior R Club: Sun. June 21st at Deerson home Altar Society: Mon. Sept. 28 @6:30 (Hall) Parish Council: Mon. September 21st @7:30PM (Hall)	Saturday, October 17 6:00 Confessions 7:00 Vespers Sunday, October 18 Apostle Luke 9:00 Divine Liturgy Friday, October 23 St. James, Brother of the Lord Saturday, October 24 Icon, Joy of All Who Sorrow 6:00 Confessions 7:00 Vespers Sunday, October 25 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. Apostle Luke The physician and evangelist who wrote the Gospel of Luke and Acts of the Apostles. Celebrated on October 18th, Luke was a companion of Paul and is patron of doctors and artists. His Gospel emphasizes Christ's compassion for the poor and outcast. He's traditionally credited with painting the first icon of the Theotokos. 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. James, Brother of the Lord The first Bishop of Jerusalem and author of the Epistle of James, called 'the Just' for his righteousness. Celebrated on October 23rd, James was a 'brother' (relative) of Jesus who became leader of the Jerusalem church after Christ's ascension. He was martyred by being thrown from the Temple. He represents Jewish Christianity and the transition from Judaism to the Church. Icon, Joy of All Who Sorrow A miraculous icon of the Theotokos known for comforting the afflicted and healing the sick. Celebrated on November 6th, this icon shows the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels distributing aid to various people in distress. Many miracles have been attributed to prayer before this icon, especially healing from illness and comfort in grief.	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