This year, in honor of the 50th anniversary of the blessed repose of Archbishop Nikon (Rklitsky; +1976) of Washington & Florida, the Eastern American Diocesan Media Office will be sharing more materials from this life of this eminent archpastor of the Russian Church Abroad, presented in the original old orthography, along with translations into the English, available for the first time.
On the day of Pentecost we offer the following article by Archbishop Nikon about Holy Trinity Church in Vineland, NJ. A collection of earlier translations is available here.
Vineland – "land of the grapevine." At one time, through the application of advanced horticultural techniques, high-quality grape varieties were cultivated in this region, and facilities were established to produce grape-based products. It was from the grapevine that the town of Vineland derived its name. Subsequently, these production facilities relocated elsewhere, and the grapevines were supplanted by more profitable agricultural ventures – specifically, peach orchards and poultry farms. Today, the area is home to a large community of Russian poultry farmers and an established parish, which has erected a new stone church dedicated to the Holy Trinity.
After crossing the magnificent bridge spanning the Delaware River – leaving behind the stifling heat of New York and Philadelphia – we emerge onto a marvelous paved road that leads us out into the vast, cool, and refreshing expanse of green fields. Peach orchards, with their slender rows of verdant trees, give way to golden fields of ripening wheat. Small towns lie nestled beneath the shade of leafy trees, whose dense foliage offers shelter from the scorching rays of the blazing sun. Thirty miles flash by in no time, and we soon find ourselves approaching the Russian Orthodox church. Its tall blue dome, adorned with stars, is surmounted by an eight-pointed cross; the church itself stands atop a gentle rise, resembling a white celestial cloud… A resonant bell calls the parishioners to the All-Night Vigil on the eve of the Feast of Pentecost.
Inside the church stands a stately iconostasis – the work of P.M. Sofronov, a master of traditional iconography – alongside a remarkable Crucifix painted by the same artist. This church shines with both interior splendor and purity; today, moreover, thanks to the labors of devoted female parishioners, it is adorned with greenery and flowers, symbolizing the fullness of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The rector of this church is the venerable, white-haired Archpriest Fr. Dimitri Kutenko, who possesses the gift of tears and spiritual tenderness. Last year, he celebrated the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood, and he is soon turning 90. The church warden is a humble and God-fearing representative of the old emigration: A.A. Tkach. The members of the church committee labor with diligence and harmony; M.L. Sveshnikova assists the priest in the capacity of acting psalmist.
The following day, after the conclusion of the divine service, a pilgrim – already gray-haired – approached me; bowing low, he said: "Allow me to introduce myself: I am an atheist – or rather, a former atheist; in this church, I found faith." This is the highest praise a church can receive, for "every good tree bringeth forth good fruit " (Matt. 7:17); or, as it is stated in the same passage: "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"
Prior to His Passion, the Lord Jesus Christ repeatedly uttered these words: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser." And now, in this region – once left desolate and devoid of grapevines – a spiritual vineyard has been planted: our holy church, in which ancient life is rooted, and where flows an inexhaustible fount of spiritual gladness and joy.
The All-Night Vigil began at eight o’clock in the evening. Two choirs sang: one – a local choir – skillfully performed the written musical settings, while the other – comprising several singers who had recently arrived from Europe – sang the stichera. They had learned this style of singing in Soviet Russia, during the persecution of the Church by the godless, and had learned to pour their very souls into the heavenly words of our prayers.
"We have seen the true light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the true Faith, we worship the indivisible Trinity; for He hath saved us," – reads one such sticheron.
And here is the original text of another: "I hymn Thee, the Saviour of the world, in Thy courts; and bending my knees, I worship Thine invincible power. In the evening, in the morning, at noon-day, and at every time, I bless Thee, O Lord,"– they continued to sing.
With even greater tenderness, on the following day, they sang the antiphons of Liturgy: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaimeth the work of His hands."
"Yes, all around me was beauty and the glory of God; and I alone, in my sinfulness, failed to perceive this glory of God," says Merkul – who would later become Dostoevsky’s Elder Zosima. "The Holy Spirit is omnipresent – (Who art everywhere present and fillest all things) – as we noted in our sermon on this day; yet there is but one realm where entry may be barred to the Holy Spirit: our own sinful human soul. "O Heavenly King, Comforter, Spirit of Truth, come and abide in us, and cleanse us of all impurity" – thus did the entire congregation solemnly chant this joyful prayer to the Trinity, a prayer of repentance and purification.
In addition to the rector, we were also joined in concelebration by a priest who had just arrived from Europe: Priest Fr. Nicholas Rachkovsky. He had forged his faith upon the anvil of fiery trials in Soviet Russia, and through his pastoral hands had passed thousands of Displaced Persons in the transit camp at the Funkkaserne in Germany. He knows full well the meaning of the words: "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matt. 11:28); at the festive meal following the service, he earnestly appealed to all the parishioners of this church – and, through them, to all Russians in America – to lend their vigorous support to the cause of transporting Orthodox Displaced Persons from Europe. On the very day of the feast, following the solemn Liturgy, we celebrated the Vespers of Pentecost and recited these wondrous prayers:
“…Look down from Thy holy heights, O Lord, upon Thy people, who stand here and await rich mercy of Thee. Visit us with Thy goodness, deliver us from the oppression of the devil; make our life steadfast by Thy holy and sacred laws.…” On this day, we commemorate the founding of Christ’s Church on earth, as well as Her renewal and strengthening through the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
After the divine service, there followed – naturally – a warm and hospitable meal prepared by the sisterhood; during this gathering, it was decided that the entire parish, led by its rector, would travel to ROVA Farms on July 24 for the St. Vladimir’s Day celebrations, and that the consecration of the new church would take place here on August 7.
June 21, 1949
Note (1975):
Holy Trinity Parish in Vineland was founded by Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko; +1960). The first Liturgy was celebrated by Hieromonk Cyprian in the home of the M.K. and N.L. Kuzmin family in 1946. On October 5, 1947, the cornerstone of the stone church in honor of the Holy Trinity was laid, and Archpriest Dimitri Kutenko was appointed rector of the parish. The first warden was P.A. Chabalov, and the builder of the church and other church buildings was K.P. Korf. The consecration of the church was performed by Bishop Nikon on August 7, 1949. In 1950, Archpriest N. Martsishevsky was appointed rector of the church in place of Archpriest Kutenko, who had retired. A. A. Tkach had served as church warden for about 20 years, and M.K. Kuzmin was currently elected to this position. The church sisterhood is headed by N.K. Zhernova, the choir director is S. R. Gritsenkov, and the duties of the psalm-reader are performed by V.S. Pavlenko. On September 17/30, 1973, a second priest, a young Bachelor of Theology, St. Pavlenko, was ordained and soon appointed rector of the church after the retirement of Fr. N. Martsishevsky due to his illness.
