 |
The history of All Saints traces back to 1914 when a young missionary priest named Fr. Constantine Buketoff established our parish. He was the first pastor and also responsible for establishing parishes in Terryville (1908), Meriden (1911), Norwich (1915), Willimantic (1916) and Springfield (1916). Also playing a major role in the formation of the new parish was the SS. Peter and Paul Brotherhood. The first church building was located at 484 Broad Street, in very close proximity to the Connecticut State Capitol. The 1920s were a very turbulent time for Russian Orthodox parishes throughout the country as rival factions fought for control of church property. The situation was also very tense in Hartford until 1931 when the Connecticut Supreme Court finally resolved the issue by ruling that All Saints belonged to the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of America, the predecessor to the Orthodox Church in America (OCA). Amidst the uncertainties, however, came some very positive notes. A chapter of the National FROC was formed at All Saints in 1933 and before the decade ended an Altar Sisterhood was organized. The R Club chapter was dedicated to serving the church and providing channels for social activities and charitable works and continues until this day under the new national name of the Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America (FOCA).
The sisterhood over the years would diminish for awhile with shrinking membership, but was revived at the time of the relocation of the parish and continues to assist with fund-raising events, social activities and charitable projects such as collections of food for the hungry. These are but two of the organizations and formal groups that give added life to the parish. Others include the Church Council, Church School and PTO, Choir and Altar Servers. A Russian American National Center also was formed and at one time occupied its own building Renewed stability would come to our parish in 1931 with the appointment of Fr. Nicholas Wasilieff as pastor. Born and educated in Moscow, Fr. Wasilieff would serve All Saints for 27 years. All Saints celebrated two major milestones in the 1930s with large celebrations in 1934 and 1939. His Grace Right Reverend Tikhon, bishop of North America and Canada, pontificated at the parish’s 20th anniversary in 1934 that was attended by Connecticut Governor Wilbur Cross. Later that decade in 1939 Metropolitan Theophilus concelebrated at the 25th Anniversary event. The dinner was held at the Foot Guard Hall. The 1950s were another interesting era in our history. Realizing that its future rested in appealing to the younger generation, the church council in 1952 petitioned Metropolitan Leonty to assign an American born priest to assist Fr. Wasilieff and Fr. Michael Margitich joined All Saints as assistant pastor.
It also became apparent during this decade that our church edifice on Broad Street was too small and inefficient to adequately serve the needs of the parish. To remedy the situation the parish voted unanimously in 1955 to build a new church. In 1956 the present four-acre site on 205 Scarborough Street was purchased for $25,000. However it would be another eight years before the new All Saints Church would become a reality.
Fr. Wasilieff left the parish in 1958 and Fr. Michael Dirga was assigned to lead the parish later that year. Fr. Dirga wasted little time in initiating a fund-raising campaign. All members of the parish were requested to subscribe to a $500 donation that would be paid over a three-year period. To help launch the campaign Metropolitan Leonty visited the parish on June 26, 1959 to bless the grounds.
All Saints also received regional acclaim during this period through the efforts of its choir director Boris Evtuschenko who also directed the All New England Russian Choir. He presented concerts throughout the area that were well attended by Orthodox and non-Orthodox alike. The rich tradition of Church music continues to this day and the choir continues to be uplifting as it leads parishioners in beautiful prayerful responses and hymns at all services. The choir is currently led by Michael Stenko, lead director; assisted by John Holobinko, Clinton Hibdon and Michael Danchak.
The vision of Fr. Dirga and the parishioners who assisted him, comprising a building committee headed by Nicholas Koladis, brought a positive response from all parishioners who generously gave to the building fund. Their names today grace a plaque in the vestibule of the Church. They voted on plans for the new church in early 1963. Ground-breaking occurred later on June 8. The ultimate conclusion for the All Saints Building project came on June 14, 1964, the parish’s 50th anniversary, when Archbishop (later Metropolitan) Ireney officiated at the consecration. Hundreds of parishioners and visitors from other Orthodox churches throughout the Northeast attended the dedication and reception that followed at the Hartford Statler Hilton.
The total cost of the church including construction, property and furnishings was $447,000. The edifice with its three distinctive towers was designed in the Byzantine tradition by Peter P. Petrofsky of Bridgeport. The church, which seats 500 people, is 103 feet long and 66 wide at its transepts. There are chapels in both the north and south transepts that are named Chapel of Memorials and Chapel of Sorrows respectively. Parishioners donated funds to purchase stained glass windows which depict some of the holy days of our Church.
Icons for the iconostasis, which was enlarged for the move from Scarborough, were painted by Ivan Diky and are the examples of the work of Andrew Rublev, a follower of the Novogorod School, who painted in the 14th century. The icons include our Lord and Holy Mother, St. Alexis, St. Nikon, Archangels Michael and Gabriel, St. Stephen, St. John the Baptist and our patron icon, that of All Saints. A large rectory was built during this time adjacent to the Church by Uremko Builders, one of whose partners was parishioner Paul Uremko. The rectory was dedicated Jan. 2, 1966.
Fr. Dirga left All Saints in 1971 and was succeeded by Fr. William Tarenko and then by Fr. Donat Augusta in 1975. On June 5, 1977, just 13 years after it consecration, our parish had a special mortgage celebration that was officiated by Bishop Dimitri, Bishop of Hartford and Connecticut. In 1970, our national Church was granted her autocephalous status by the Russian Patriarchate and the Church became the Orthodox Church in America. A very significant date in parish history occurred on Jan. 29, 1983 when Bishop (now Archbishop of Chicago) Job was consecrated in All Saints before an overflow audience of worshippers. Among those present at the consecration of the first OCA bishop ever in New England were Metropolitan Theodosius, and Bishops Herman (now Metropolitan), Dimitri, Mark, Kyril and Nathaniel.
It was during the 1980s that the current glass atriums at the rear of the building were added to ease entry into the Church, especially during inclement weather. In 1989 the parish celebrated its 75th Jubilee with a Hierarchal Divine Liturgy July 25, celebrated by His Grace Bishop Job joined by Fr. Don and Fr. Basil Grisel, who served at the Church, substituting in Father’s absence, and others. An anniversary dinner dance at the Treadway Inn, Cromwell, brought together guests from churches throughout the state to celebrate the anniversary. The committee making initial plans for the celebration included William and Melenia Matychak, Alex Klishewitz and Tom Denisky.
In the early 1990s, the Church also undertook a major reconstruction project of the front steps of the Church, as well as other projects. A new stone sign outside the Church was dedicated Dec. 6, 1992. It was also during this time that Bingo, a social and fund-raising event was discontinued, and new efforts at parish stewardship were adopted. The mid 1990s saw another change in our church spiritual leadership with the resignation of Fr. Augusta in 1995 and the arrival of Fr. William DuBovik, who continues to serve as our pastor. The parish welcomed its new pastor, Fr. William, and his family at a dinner Sept. 24, 1995. Also serving at the Church is Fr. Joseph Irvin, who is also a supply priest for the Connecticut Deanery.
With the Millennium approaching, the parish undertook Project 2000. This involved the addition of the frescoe above the altar that was completed by noted Russian iconographer Victor Kazanin. The frescoe includes icons of the Ascension of our Lord; and of Our Lady of the Sign in which the Theotokos holds the child Jesus. A new handicap entrance was also constructed that allows parishioners with walking difficulties access to the church via a ramp, and a handicapped access bathroom was added to the main floor of the Church edifice.
Another effort instituted under Project 2000 was the regilding and restoration of the domes and cupolas, returned to their golden look. “Approaching the Church this morning, the domes appeared as candles flickering among the trees,” His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius commented as he visited the Church March 29, 1998, for a Hierarchal Liturgy and to bless the new iconography and domes, during one of his visits to All Saints. A dinner celebrating the event was held in the Church auditorium. Donations by Paul and Olga Opalak, the Russian American National Center, Altar Sisterhood, and FOCA as well as from other individual parishioners combined to make Project 2000 a reality, along with the dedicated work of parishioners and two Church Councils, led by Council presidents, Dr. Chet Andrzejewski and Alan Schulz.
The Church was not finished with attention to iconography as individuals and families began donating feast day icons to the Church which are venerated on feast days and otherwise adorn the walls of the Church. During this time efforts were made to revive a library to help persons learn more about Orthodoxy. Other additions to the Church - from robes to candle stands - were also made to enhance the liturgical life at All Saints.
Another special day marking a milestone in the life of the parish came in 1999, the Church celebrated its 85th anniversary with a Molieben and a banquet held at Angellino’s in Wethersfield. In a message to the parish on the anniversary, Metropolitan Theodosius wrote, “Together with you, I give thanks for the many men and women, ‘the founders, benefactors and beautifiers’ who now and in the past have built and cared for your parish in so many different ways.”
Three years later the Church would turn its attention to yet another significant date, and planning for the 90th which we now celebrate was begun. A committee headed by George Pawlush was formed; members included Fr. William, Michael Stenko, Joan Holobinko, Chris Evans, John, Andrea and Alexis Lichatz, and Cathy Vargas, assisted by other parishioners. A Hierarchal Divine Liturgy for the 90th was celebrated by His Beatitude Metropolitan Herman, who was assisted by other clergy. A banquet was held at the Avon Old Farms Inn. During the year, special services were held in conjunction with the anniversary and in thanks to those past and present who contributed and continue to contribute to the parish.
Milestones and special days were not limited to Church anniversaries and events too numerous to mention continue to be held with special lunches, suppers, Lenten meals, feast day brunches, etc. In 2003, the Church’s Russian Tea Room and Bazaar saw its 30th year of growth in popularity throughout the region. The event - a testimony of fellowship and teamwork – has become a major fund-raising and outreach event for the parish attended by more and more people who come for its delicious food, crafts, gifts, Church tours and more. So many volunteers are associated with this effort and other projects through the years that to try and name everyone would be nearly impossible as well as risking omissions. Most importantly all the names of persons laboring on behalf of the Church are known to God.
Efforts at outreach also extended to the electronic age with the Church establishing a website www.allsaintshartford.org, expanding its advertising in regional newspapers, linking up to the internet, mail campaigns, open houses, lectures and the like.
The love and dedication of All Saints parishioners over our 90-year history has been integral to maintaining our Orthodox tradition in Central Connecticut. All Saints is a testimony to our past and stands as a prelude to our future.
(History compiled and written by George Pawlush and Fr. William DuBovik)
|
Orthodoxy in America
