60 Years of Love and Service to Christ and the Church

1/26/56

My dear, dear Serge,

I was very happy when I got the news of your forthcoming marriage. May God bless you and your future wife, and may also this new life – which you are beginning now – lead you even further, to a more complete, more total service of Christ and of his Church. [He explains that he can’t come for various reasons and then concludes:] But I will be with you in prayers (I always mention your name at the Divine service) and I hope that once married – you will bring to N.Y. some day the young and the happy Mrs. Kuharsky... With a very sincere love, Fr. Alexander Schmemann

On Sunday May 22, Archbishop Michael, Diocesan clergy, family, friends, and former parishioners gathered with Fr. Serge and Faith at SS. Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ to celebrate the 60 th Anniversary of all that Fr. Alexander had wished for them: love and service to Christ and his Church. After a Molieben, Archbishop Michael spoke about Fr. Serge’s distinguished legacy of having served at Holy Trinity Church, New Britain, CT; St. Theodosius Cathedral, Cleveland, OH; and SS. Peter and Paul Church, South River, NJ. (from which he retired in 1998). Fr. Serge was able to be present at the 100 th Anniversaries of all three parishes. His Eminence spoke about the integrity of his ministry, his involvement in the greater life of the Church, and his grace in retirement, having prepared and encouraged his successor, Fr. David Garretson. He noted as well the creative talents and support of Matushka Faith, particularly in the areas of religious education.

He presented Fr. Serge and Faith with awards of recognition from Metropolitan Tikhon and the Holy Synod and our Diocese.

Other speakers included: Fr. John Shimchick, who had been an altar server when Fr. Serge was in New Britain; Fr. Paul Shafran, Fr. David Garretson (who noted that in anticipation of his ordination, Fr. Serge sent him the cross which he himself had worn when ordained); Parish Warden, James Kornafel;

granddaughter, Katarina Kuharsky; and Serge Kuharsky, their youngest son, who shared personal reminiscences and read reflections from his brothers, Andrew and Paul, and sister, Gallia, who were unable to attend.

In considering the celebration, Fr. Serge and Faith acknowledged that, “We were overwhelmed by the awards and honors presented by Archbishop Michael and by the number of clergy, friends and former parishioners who came to celebrate with us and the love and care shown by all.”

A delicious reception was prepared by the SS. Peter and Paul community.

Video interviews with Fr. Serge and Faith are available as part of our Diocesan oral history series: Gift and Grace: Stories of Orthodox Clergy and Their Wives at: http://nynjoca.org/interviews.html