Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Howell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral |
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 Location in Monmouth County, New Jersey
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| 40°06′54″N 74°12′59″W / 40.1151°N 74.2163°W | |
| Location | 220 Alexander Ave. Howell Township, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Russian Orthodox Church |
| History | |
| Founded | 1936 |
| Dedication | Alexander Nevsky |
| Consecrated | October 18, 1997 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Nikolaus Karsanov |
| Style | Byzantine Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1989 |
| Completed | 1994 (31 years ago) |
| Specifications | |
| Number of domes | Five |
| Materials | Brick |
The Saint Alexander Nevsky Russian Orthodox Cathedral is a beautiful church located in Howell Township, New Jersey, United States. It belongs to the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR). This cathedral is an important place for its community, serving as a spiritual home and a center for learning.
Contents
History of the Cathedral
How the Church Started
The Saint Alexander Nevsky Church began in 1936. Archbishop Vitaly (Maximenko) helped establish it. A kind person named Yulia Martinovna Plavskaya donated the land. The first small chapel was blessed in May 1936. It was dedicated to the memory of a famous historical figure, St. Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263). Over time, this first church building was made bigger three times.
Building the New Cathedral
As the community grew, a new, larger church was needed. In 1987, work began to clear the land for the new building. On September 12, 1989, the first stone was laid. This day is also the Feast Day of St. Alexander Nevsky. During this special event, holy items (relics) of St. Herman of Alaska were placed in the foundation.
The impressive new building was finished in 1997. Nikolaus Karsanov was the architect who designed it. Protopresbyter Valery Lukianov was the engineer. The money for building the cathedral came from many generous donations.
Cathedral Blessing and New Role
The new cathedral had a "Great Blessing" ceremony on October 18, 1997. Seven bishops, led by Metropolitan Vitaly Ustinov, and 36 priests and deacons took part. About 800 people came to celebrate this big event. The older church building was then rededicated. It became a church for Our Lady of Tikhvin.
In 2014, Metropolitan Hilarion (Kapral) announced something important. On September 12, 2014, the cathedral officially became the main church for the Russian Orthodox Eparchy of Eastern America and New York. It also became the administrative center for the Diocese. This means it's a very important place for the Russian Orthodox Church in the region.
Life at the Cathedral
Community and School
Today, the cathedral serves about 300 members. It helps them with their spiritual needs. The church also has a school. Over 90 boys and girls attend this school. They learn about religion, the Russian language, and Russian history. The school meets every Saturday.
Music and Support
The cathedral has a choir that sings beautifully. Andrew Burbelo is the director of the choir. There is also a group called the "sisterhood." They help take care of the church and its needs. A church council helps manage the community and its activities.
About the Cathedral's Design
The inside of the cathedral is decorated with beautiful paintings called frescoes. These paintings are done in the Byzantine style. Father Andrew Erastov and his students created these amazing artworks. They worked on the iconography project from 1995 until 2001.
See also
In Spanish: Catedral de Alejandro Nevski (Howell) para niños
