Diocesan Life 50 Years at Princeton Spring/ Summer 2015
On the campus of Princeton University the start of the 2014-2015 academic year was specially marked by the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Orthodox Chapel of the Transfiguration. This milestone was highlighted with Vespers and the Divine Liturgy served by His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon and Diocesan Hierarch Bishop Michael the weekend of September 20-21. The Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross, designated as National College Student Sunday in all Orthodox churches in the United States, is considered the birthday of the Princeton OCF and Chapel, founded in 1964 to serve the University and local community. The services included Bishop Michael’s tonsure of Theogenes (Adedoyin) Teriba as Reader; he is a graduate student originally from Nigeria, presently earning his doctorate in the History of Architecture department. After the Liturgy, Bishop Michael presented Diocesan Gramotas to four members of the congregation for their long standing devoted service, and Metropolitan Tikhon presented a Synodal Gramota to the Chapel community as a whole.
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College of New Jersey, and Princeton Theological Seminary. The Chapel is truly Pan-Orthodox and includes members of a plethora of nationalities and jurisdictions. Weddings, Baptisms and Chrismations are regularly celebrated, along with typical parish social functions. Transfiguration Chapel’s initial chaplain was Father Constantine Buketoff, appointed upon retirement from his parish in Brooklyn. In the summer of 1965 Professor John Turkevich was ordained as Chaplain, serving through 1988. Father John, the eldest son of Metropolitan Leonty, was the Higgins Professor of Chemistry at Princeton, a renowned educator and scientist. An eminent lecturer at the national level, Father John was also known for his succinct and thought-provoking three minute sermons. An award was established in Father John’s memory to perpetuate his dedication to higher levels of scholarship and devotion to the Orthodox faith. This year, at the banquet following the Liturgy, Metropolitan Tikhon presented eight Turkevich awards. Over the years, dozens of deserving Orthodox students have been recipients, thanks to the generous donations of alumni and members of the Chapel community. Similarly, the Chapel has supported member participation in OCF and OCMC sponsored missionary trips over the years.
In 1989 Father Daniel Skvir, Princeton ’66 and one of the founders of the Chapel, succeeded The Chapel is Father Turkevich. Protodeacon Michael Sochka has considered a Diocesan assisted him for the past fifteen years (even though “institution” rather he is a Yalie!). Other initial OCF members in the than a parish, as services are conducted only during early 60’s include Timothy Ware (now Metropolitan the academic year, starting the first Sunday after Kalllistos), Michael Danchak, Michael Warhol, Fr. Labor Day and continuing every Sunday through Anatole Lyovin and Fr. Arthur Liolin. (Another Pentecost. In addition to Sunday Liturgy, services active presence from the beginning has been Tamara are held on Wednesdays during Great Lent, Holy Turkevich Skvir, presently leader of the talented Week and Pascha, Christmas, and Epiphany Eve. Chapel choir.) Before the founding of the Chapel, OCF meetings take place regularly on campus and OCF members would attend services in other include special lectures, Bible study, social events, Orthodox churches, frequently journeying down and community service endeavors. Special mini- to Trenton where they were warmly welcomed by retreats have been sponsored on campus as well as Father Paul Shafran, who remains after a half century trips to several monasteries. a close and special friend and benefactor of the Chapel, often joining to con-celebrate the Liturgy. The congregation, ever-changing due to its Prior to the Chapel’s founding, occasional services academic nature, includes undergraduates, graduate were conducted on campus by visiting priests from students, faculty and staff, and a large number of local the area. residents, some but not all with ties to the University. The town and local area include numerous other For the first eleven years, Father Turkevich was academic institutions which contribute members to frequently joined at the altar by Fr. Georges Florovsky, the congregation: the Institute for Advanced Study, Westminster Choir College, Rider University, The Continued on page 23
