Diocesan Life
Fall 2018
Celebrating Father Paul and Matushka Mary Shafran - 70 Years of Faithful Marriage and Church Ministry On October 28, 2017, the parish of St. Vladimir Orthodox Church, Trenton, NJ, together with other friends, family, and clergy honored Father Paul and Matushka Mary Shafran for their 70 years of church marriage and church ministry, 68 of which have been in Trenton. Their actual wedding date was November 27, 1947, at Matushka’s home parish in Warren, OH, and Father Paul was ordained to the Holy Priesthood by the hand of Archbishop Nikon on December 28, 1947, at the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin Protection, New York City. The festive day commenced with a Divine Liturgy, followed by a testimonial banquet. (His Eminence Michael, Archbishop of New York and the NY/NJ Diocese, proposed the celebration
Fr. Paul and Matushka Mary with their daughters, Paula and Nina more than a year ago and had planned to attend, but presided that day at the funeral of +Archpriest Stephen Mack.)
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Archpriest Joseph Lickwar, Chancellor of the NY/NJ Diocese, presided at the Liturgy, joined by Father Paul, Father Volodymyr Chiakivskyi (Rector in Trenton), and several clergy from within and outside the diocese. At the Liturgy’s conclusion, Father Joseph presented two gramotas on behalf of the OCA’s Holy Synod, commending the couple’s faithful witness together as priest and matushka, parents, grandparents – “examples of Christian
service, charity, and love,” and recognizing Father Paul’s anniversary of ordination. Father Joseph also read two letters from Archbishop Michael, similarly praising the couple’s service to Christ and the Church in many capacities, and extolling Father Paul for his personal commitment “to the growth of each of your sheep . . . and to the expansion of the parishes you have served, as well as the entire Orthodox Church in our land.” The celebration continued at the catered banquet, where Father Daniel Skvir, Rector at Holy Transfiguration Chapel, Princeton University, served as Master of Ceremonies. “Longevity is a gift of God,” he noted, and citing the fifth commandment, “today we honor a very special father and mother.” Father Joseph advised the visiting seminarians in particular that “in this Diocese, we show respect for tradition and for our senior clergy, and today we honor a model couple who set a record in our culture today.” Father Daniel observed that Father Paul himself has historically treated senior priests with respect, and in the altar, likewise respects younger clergy, treating “all as equals, regardless of rank.” He doesn’t “flaunt his clergy awards, though he deservedly earned many.” Father Chad Hatfield, President of St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, echoed this sentiment in commenting on serving with Father Paul today for the first time. “It was not as if a senior priest was standing in our midst; it was simply as a brother,” he remarked, calling Father “the gold standard of the conduct of a priest.” Father Chad commended Father Paul for blending “the theological with that which is practical” throughout his ministry and, he added, “you loved your people.” These traits, he said, are the “mark of a great priest.” Father Chad then surprised Father and Matushka by announcing the Seminary’s establishment of the “The V. Rev. Paul and Matushka Mary Endowment” to provide funds “to benefit all aspects of student life” at the Seminary. Father Volodymyr, who was happy to see the hall filled to capacity, called the celebration a “feast for the whole parish.” He commended Father Paul for dedicating his life to the service of the Lord Jesus Christ, His Church, and to the growth of the parish, as a good shepherd of deep faith, to whom
