In 2015, the Eastern American Diocese joined the fullness of the Russian Orthodox Church in celebrating the1000th anniversary of the repose of the Baptizer and Enlightener of Rus’, the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir. The jubilee celebrations took place at St. Vladimir Memorial Church in Jackson, NJ, which was founded in conjunction with the 950th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ in 1938.

The magnificent church in the town of Cassville, later renamed Jackson, was built at the initiative of Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko) on property owned by the Russian Mutual Aid Society in America (ROVA), where many Russian people would gather in the summer months. Also at the initiative of Archbishop Vitaly, the St. Vladimir Society was founded to help build the church, and continues to function to this day.

When construction of the main church was completed, the lower church, in accordance with Archbishop Vitaly’s final testament, began actively supporting missionary service in America, and divine services there were conducted primarily in English. In 2013, during the celebrations of the 1025th anniversary of the Baptism of Rus’ and the 75th anniversary of the church’s founding, on July 24, the feast day of the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Princess Olga, the great consecration of the lower church was held. The service was led by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York.

On Thursday the 23rd and Friday the 24th of July, Eastern American Diocesan vicar Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan led the All-Night Vigil and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in St. Olga’s Church. He was co-served by Archpriest Boris Slootsky (cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral in Howell, NJ), Priest Serge Ledkovsky (deputy rector of the Memorial Church), and Protodeacon Nicolas Mokhoff (cleric of the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City). At the Great Entrance, Bishop Nicholas commemorated all of the church’s founding fathers, rectors, and benefactors. Upon completion of the Liturgy, a memorial litiya was served for all of the departed.

Some of the most renowned names in the Russian Diaspora are linked with the Memorial Church’s history. From 1948 to 1950, the obedience of rector here was fulfilled by Hieromonk Anthony (Medvedev; +2000), future archbishop of Western America & San Francisco. In 1951, Archpriest Vasily Musin-Pushkin (+1959) was assigned rector. The interior of the church was frescoed by Archimandrite Cyprian (Pyzhov; +2001). The iconostasis, which was modeled after the Dormition Cathedral in the Moscow Kremlin, was designed and built by Bishop Daniel (Alexandrow; +2010) of Erie, who also pained most of the icons thereon. Buried here are the Diocese’s founder, Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko; +1960), and Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky; +1976).

The national celebrations began with the All-Night Vigil on Saturday, July 25, with the triumphal Divine Liturgy celebrated on Sunday, July 26. For those who would be working at during the celebrations, an early Liturgy was celebrated by Priest Seraphim Chemodakov, cleric of St. Alexander Nevsky Diocesan Cathedral.

Leading the festal divine services was the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, Metropolitan Hilarion of Eastern America & New York, co-served by Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan, Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov (dean of New Jersey), Archpriest Serge Lukianov (diocesan secretary), Archpriest Andre Papkov (dean of Holy Virgin Protection Cathedral in Chicago, IL), Archpriest Liubo Milosevich (rector of Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ), Priest Leonid Goferman (rector of Holy Virgin Protection Church in New Brunswick, NJ), Fr. Serge Ledkovsky, Hieromonk Tikhon (Gayfudinov) and Protodeacon Vadim Gan (clerics of the Synodal Cathedral), Protodeacon Leonid Roschko and Deacon Paul Drozdowski (clerics of St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral), Deacons Anatoly Revitskyy (cleric of Joy of All Who Sorrow Church in Philadelphia, PA), Mark Bohush (OCA cleric), and Dionysius Lvov (Synodal cleric). The Liturgy was sung by a mixed choir under the direction Deacon Alexander Petrovsky.

During the reading of the Hours, Metropolitan Hilarion ordained Reader Gabriel Monforte a subdeacon, and during the Liturgy ordained him to the diaconate. During the Little Entrance, His Eminence awarded Fr. Serge Ledkovsky the right to wear the gold cross.

Praying at the Liturgy was a multitude of the faithful from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Upon completion of the service, Fr. Valery Lukianov addressed the faithful with a sermon, in which he spoke about the life and labors of the Enlightener of Rus’, the Holy Equal-of-the-Apostles Great Prince Vladimir, and called on modern-day Orthodox Christians – who continue the saint’s labors today – to continue to accomplish the good work of their salvation, uniting themselves to the Holy Gospel, the source of commandments and revelations, and to read it meticulously every day. Inspiring the faithful, Fr. Valery quoted the words of one pious writer: "How does the Gospel comfort us? In that it is a different world, a different air, than ours. The strength of the Gospel is in its mystical and divine nature, in its uninterrupted radiance of a certain white light. In it, it is as though man swims in the bodiless rays of another world. It is marvelous that these rays always call forth spiritual effervescence, a feeling of tender emotion, and tears." Fr. Valery noted that, "blessed is he who hears this voice and will, day by day, enter into the holy and salvific divine world of the Holy Gospel."

The traditional procession was held after Liturgy, led by Metropolitan Hilarion, who performed the blessing of the water. Archbishop Gabriel and Bishop Nicholas joined him to bless the grounds around the Memorial Church – and the people gathered for the feast – with holy water. Tents were set up in the open air featuring spiritual literature and souvenirs, and a luncheon was organized both within the church hall and outside, accompanied by a concert of folk music.

On Monday the 27th and Tuesday the 28th of July, the feast day of St. Vladimir, Bishop Nicholas of Manhattan led the All-Night Vigil and celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Memorial Church, co-served by Fr. Valery Lukianov, Archpriests David Hritcko (rector of St. Basil’s Church in Simpson, PA), Alexander Golubov (cleric of St. Nicholas Patriarchal Cathedral in New York City), Serge Lukianov, Serafim Gan (chancellor of the Synod of Bishops), Andrei Sommer (senior priest of the Synodal Cathedral), George Zelenin (rector of St. Michael’s Church in Paterson, NJ), Boris Slootsky, Alexandre Antchoutine (dean of Long Island & the Hudson Valley), Priests Seraphim Chemodakov and Serge Ledkovsky, Hieromonk Yeliferiy (Skiba; cleric of "Inexhaustible Chalice" Church in Brooklyn, NY), Protodeacon Eugene Kallaur (cleric of St. Seraphim Memorial Church in Sea Cliff, NY), Deacons Paul Drozdowski, Vladimir Barros (cleric of Holy Virgin Intercession Church in Glen Cove, NY), and Alexander Koranda (OCA cleric). During the service, Bishop Nicholas ordained Deacon Gabriel Monforte to the priesthood.

In his sermon upon completion of the Liturgy, His Grace thanked God for the opportunity to celebrate the patronal feast days of the Memorial Church, and to hold the national jubilee celebrations. Speaking of the importance to modern-day Christians of the example set by the Great Prince Vladimir, Bishop Nicholas noted, "He received the Orthodox Faith but, following in the footsteps of St. Olga, did not stop there. The whole Russian land received baptism with St. Vladimir; he gave them an example of how to transform one’s life, as Christ our Savior said in today’s Gospel reading: I am the door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved (John 10:9). St. Vladimir saw the open door and entered in. The Lord likewise invites all of us to enter this door of salvation. He gave us the Faith, gave us an image of repentance, and now we must put forth the effort to become children of God." His Grace called on the faithful to reveal the image of God to those around us, to life according to the Gospel, and to disseminate the Faith, as the Holy Princess Olga and Price Vladimir had once done.

Bishop Nicholas congratulated the newly ordained Fr. Gabriel, and called on him never to forget to pray for and commemorate at Proskomedia the priests who were present at his ordination, "because we are all one family, and must all pray for one another." Attached to the diocesan cathedral, Priest Gabriel Monforte will serve for the time being in the Mid-American Diocese.

The feast day concluded in a luncheon for the clergy and laity.