About Our Church

The Saints Peter and Paul Parish was established in 1907 by immigrants from the Austro-Hungarian and Russian Empires as a parish of the North American Ecclesiastical Mission under the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in Russia. On October 15, 1907.

The temporary “House Church” at 64 Grand Street became inadequate and negotiations began with the Collegiate Reformed Church of New York City, which held the deed to the vacant First Reformed Church of Jersey City at 111-113 Grand Street. The sale price was $35,000 and the purchase was made February 4, 1909.

Three bells were purchased for $1,705 in November 1920 from the Meneely & Company of West Troy, N.Y. The bells weighed 1,050 lbs. (A), 550 lbs. (C#) and 350 lbs. (E).

With the blessing and encouragement of Father Michael Dziama the R (Russian) Club was formed. It had a membership of 130. They retained the highest membership for two consecutive years. The national conventions of 1941 and 1942 gave a special award to the chapter. The chapter held this first place for six consecutive years.

A section of Graceland Memorial Park at Kenilworth, New Jersey, consisting of 3,264 graves with perpetual care, was purchased for $88,000 on October 14, 1964. The three church bells were electrified for $3,500.

Mitred Protopresbyter Daniel Hubiak, the former Chancellor of the Orthodox Church in America, was appointed rector of the parish in 1987. He established a charitable ministry collecting clothing and sending these to the Soviet Union.

Very Rev. Joseph Lickwar was appointed as the parish rector on December 1, 1991.  The Parish loaned $175,000 to the Holy Annunciation Church, Brick, NJ. for the building of a new church.  A new iron fence and gates were erected around the church for $10,000.

Giving the Past a Future was a six-year restoration project, which included negotiations with the New Jersey Historic Trust for grants to assist in acquiring a historic architect and a historic construction company. The parish was awarded three matching grants totaling $586,736.

His Eminence, Archbishop Michael, was consecrated bishop of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey on May 8th at our parish with an attendance of 800.