The Consecration of the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord Cathedral

by Barbara Helena Krawczuk

One of the oldest churches on the East Coast was consecrated after its complete restoration and renovation. On Saturday, May 3, 2014, His Grace Michael, Bishop of New York and New Jersey, attended the 6 p.m. Vespers service. After Vespers, the rector of the Cathedral, Archpriest Wiaczeslaw Krawczuk, served a Panikhida for all of the founders and all of those who had participated in Church life. Hundreds of names were mentioned throughout the Panikhida.

On May 4, 2014, at 9 a.m., His Grace Bishop Michael began to consecrate the church with the assistance of Fr. Krawczuk; Archpriest Joseph Lickwar, Chancellor of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey; Archpriest Daniel Skvir, rector of the Holy Transfiguration Chapel in Princeton, NJ; Fr. Igor Yakunin from Transfiguration Cathedral, Brooklyn; and Protodeacon Paul Sokol from Saints Peter and Paul Church in Manville, NJ. His Grace led a procession around the church while blessing the exterior and the interior of the church with Holy Water. Inside, Holy Chrism was put on the walls at each of the cardinal points: north, east, south, and west. His Grace also consecrated a new Antimins with the relics of the new Holy Martyr Ignatius Bazyluk. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated in English and in Slavonic.

Sunday, May 4 was also the day of the Myrrhbearing Women, the patron saints of our Sisterhood. After the Gospel, His Grace, Bishop Michael in his sermon compared the Sisterhood’s actions to the Myrrhbearing Women, who with unconditional love give their time and talents to Christ. At the end of the service, the Bishop presented awards to the Church Council, and the contractors who renovated the church. Ann Kandratino, the President of the Sisterhood, was awarded with a gramota honoring all her work in the Sisterhood. Also each Sisterhood member received a special icon. His Grace Bishop Michael thanked everyone for all of the donations and for all of the wonderful work they have accomplished. Fr. Wiaczeslaw thanked His Grace Bishop Michael, all the clergy and servers who participated in the consecration. He also thanked the choir and all the loyal parishioners who attended the service.

Matushka Tamara Skvir, the granddaughter of former rector Archpriest Constantine and Matushka Melissa Buketoff, shared with us her precious memories. Matushka Buketoff founded our Sisterhood over 80 years ago and her spirit lives on in the Sisterhood.

After the service, many people attended the banquet at Princess Manor to celebrate the consecration of the church. During the banquet festivities, a presentation, “We Love Our Church” was given by the students of our Church School. Following hours of dancing thanks to music by DJ Igor Sidoruk, everyone retired home with fond memories.