On Saturday, September 26, the new school year began for students and teachers at the Russian Parish School at St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ. In accordance with tradition, the new year began with a moleben in the cathedral, served by school principal and cathedral dean Archpriest Serge Lukianov. Praying at the moleben were the school’s teachers and instructors, students and their parents.

The Parish School in Howell (then Lakewood) was founded in 1941, in accordance with the time-honored church traditions of the Russian Church Abroad. Today, 70 students are enrolled in its lower and upper classes, taught by 11 teachers, including two of the cathedral’s clerics – Fr. Serge Lukianov, who himself graduated the school and is now its principal, and Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, who graduated from Russian School in Australia.

Upon completion of the moleben, Fr. Serge greeted the students with the start of the school year and addressed them with a word of instruction: "Today we celebrate a great holiday, and today we are victors – we want to defeat evil. We are here in church, where there is no evil – God lives here, and we want to be with God. When we walk down the street with our friends, for example, we can encounter evil. But we all have a great defense – the cross that each of us wears around his neck. We are not strong enough on our own, and that is why we need this cross. This cross is our victory, and with it we fear no evil.

"In American school, where you all go, we are not allowed to talk about God," continued Fr. Serge. "But here, will we will talk about God, we will learn to pray, to fast, and to bear our cross. And, most importantly, you must not forget that even if you do not speak Russian, we still invite you to Russian School, because what is important is not language, but our Faith. We must preserve our Orthodoxy, and then we will be able to stand up to evil, which is something that I wish for you with my whole heart."

Fr. Serge acquainted the children with the history of the church’s two patronal icons: the Tikhvin Icon of the Mother of God, which once belonged to the Empress Alexandra Feodorovna, and the icon of the Holy Right-Believing Great Prince Alexander Nevsky.

Fr. Serge called on the students to bear their cross and to live in harmony and joy, and he called on the parents and grandparents to also learn more about the Orthodox Faith, in order to eventually become exemplary Orthodox families.

After the moleben and word of instruction, the students and teachers proceeded to the main church hall, where the teachers taught their first classes, while the school administration led a preliminary meeting of the parents’ association.

This year, the Russian Parish School is teaching eight grades, which it hopes to expand to nine next year. As is customary, students will continue to be acquainted with Russian culture. To help in this endeavor, two new dance teachers have joined the faculty.

"Parish schools also play an important missionary role in the spreading of Orthodoxy among local people, who convert to the Orthodox Faith and become a part of our Church family," reminds school administrator Matushka Lubov Lukianov. "That is why there are two programs for those studying at our school: a Russian-language program and a parallel English-language program for English-speaking students, which is always growing. This year, we have enrolled and welcome several children who only speak English.

"The importance of preserving our Faith for the next generation abroad was recognized by the founders of Church life on the American East Coast. Our Parish School follows their example," continues Matushka Lubov. "It is required of current students and their parents to take part in shared prayer, in the divine services, and in the life of our school. The clergy and teachers are doing their utmost for parents to recognize the importance of Church life for themselves and for their children."