The Holy Orthodox Faith was planted in Kodiak Alaska by a group of 8 monks in 1794, with the building of Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in the midst of missionary outreach to the Aleut native population. Just about 100 years later immigration of Orthodox and Uniate faithful was occurring on the East coast of the United States. Fr. Alexis Toth was assisting a number of parish communities in returning to Orthodoxy from the Unia. Among the parishes he led in this manner was the Protection of the Theotokos Church in Minneapolis, and Holy Resurrection Church in Wilkes-Barre, PA. He was also present as the faithful in Bridgeport decided to make this move in August of 1894. He died in 1909.
In May of 1994 two related events were occurring. Fr. Alexis was canonized a saint at St. Tikhon's Monastery in South Canaan, PA. During the same month a group of 10 Orthodox faithful met with Fr. Basil Grisel from the CT Deanery, in an upper room of the local Stop and Shop store during a rainstorm, to explore the formation of a mission on the Clinton shoreline. They were welcomed by The Rev. Martin Gibbs of the Congregational Church community in Clinton to begin meeting there for Vespers and a meeting. Following a meeting in June, the small community met with Archpriest Michael Westerberg, New England Diocesan Chancellor, and Archpriest Nicholas Timpko, Dean of CT Deanery in August to discuss moving formally to mission station status.
A picnic was held at the Madison Surf Club later in August that outlined the steps that needed to occur for a mission to be established. The three essential elements were: 25 financially committed members, a permanent location to be approved by the Diocesan Council, and names for the potential mission to be submitted to the Metropolitan. About seventeen souls had gathered to commit to establishing this mission. A majority of this group was currently attending Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, and Fr. Michael Westerberg had given his blessing for these parishioners to explore the potential for the mission. Parishioners of other local communities that lived locally stepped forward, and a number of these sister parishes were very generous in supporting the mission. Holy Ghost Church in Bridgeport offered some liturgical items and vestments, Three Saints in Ansonia also donated some liturgical items, as did St. Nicholas Church in Norwich.
The community met again on September 21t at the Congregational Church. In creating a more formal community David Sizemore became the secretary, and Fr. Steven Voytovich a deanery priest originally from Holy Protection Cathedral, in Minneapolis MN, where St. Alexis first ministered in this country, joined the group in September 1994 to offer spiritual guidance when Fr. Basil could no longer continue. As directed by the diocesan clergy, a geographical name was requested. Helen Ackles offered "CIinton Orthodox Mission" which was unanimously accepted by all present. Following the presentation of a chart of the state showing where current Orthodox parishes were and how the Clinton Mission would fill an area not currently served, this mission was given a formal blessing to form by Metropolitan THEODOSIUS at the 32nd Diocesan Assembly, held in Kingston, Massachusetts, October 28-29, 1994. A letter was drafted to First Selectman James McCusker, Jr., seeking assistance in locating a suitable space to rent. During the ten years St. Alexis has been a parish community, Fr. Steven worked as a chaplain in hospital settings, where he completed training to conduct Clinical Pastoral Education, assisting in paving the way for other Orthodox Christians to engage in institutional chaplaincy.
The liturgical life of the mission was a priority even without actual rental space. On January 21, 1995, homes of the mission faithful were blessed. The evening ended with Vespers and a potluck supper at the home of Raymond and Christine Boyd. House-blessings have continued to be an annual celebration including the potluck supper, even though it takes now several days to complete them.
After several unsuccessful attempts to secure a semipermanent meeting space, Victor Kuziak had located a potential space at a condominium office building in Clinton near the Westbrook border. On February 25, 1995 this rental space was secured at 10 Bluff Avenue, unit 1-1-1, from Michael Salafia. The rented unit ironically had not been previously used since the building was constructed. Victor and Marina Leonidas co-signed the deposit as we did not yet have funding through the mission.
Services began with Forgiveness Sunday Vespers on March 5, 1995. Our first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on Sunday, March 26th.In April of the same year we began celebrating a regular Saturday and Sunday schedule of services on the 8th and 9th, and regularly participating in the Ecumenical Council including securing a week in the rotation of serving dinner at the Soup Kitchen.
Efforts were also made in selecting the name for the mission. Of the nine names submitted, the four most favored names were: St. Innocent, Enlightener of the Aleuts, St. Jacob of Alaska, St. Herman of Alaska, St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre. During the Divine Liturgy on 04/09/95, four names placed on altar during Liturgy, then placed in the chalice with young people choosing two among them. Alexis Boyd selected St. Alexis; St. Herman was also chosen. Metropolitan THEODOSIUS selected St. Alexis from among all the names submitted. In May 1995 we were blessed with the name of St. Alexis of Wilkes-Barre Orthodox Mission in time to celebrate our patronal feast day for the first time on the date of May 7th as proclaimed by the Holy Synod as St. Alexis' Feast Day!
Archpriest Nicholas Timpko was invited again in June 1995 for the election of officers. Alex Martins was elected President, Irene Forssen Vice President, Christine Boyd, Secretary, and Maureen Skuby, Treasurer. Later in June we closed the mission to travel to All-Saints of North America Mission in Salisbury, as became tradition between the three missions in CT. Fr. Steven was sent to the All-American Council by St. Alexis Mission in July. By September 19, the mission station was elevated to mission status, Fr. Steven was formally attached, and finances were to be run through the deanery checking account. By the 32nd Diocesan Assembly the Clinton Mission pledged stewardship to the diocese and the OCA. We participated in the Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service in November 1995 for the first time, and also hosted a Diocesan Council meeting. We also participated in the Clinton Bluefish Festival in August 1995 and 1996 both to contribute to the community and to inform the community of the presence of a new church community.
We blessed the waters of Long Island Sound for the first time on the Sunday following the Epiphany Feast in 1996, and hosted our first Great Lenten Retreat. In February of 1996 we began as a regular weekly rotation member for the soup kitchen. Work was undertaken to develop Bylaws and our Mission Statement utilizing an MBA Thesis written by Tim Skuby, a parishioner of the Mission, that included developing a five-year mission plan. A sign was also constructed and began to be placed on Route 1 on Sunday mornings. Bylaws and our Mission Statement were completed and reviewed in early June prior to being sent to the Metropolitan for review. Metropolitan THEODOSIUS made his first formal visit to St. Alexis Mission on Saturday and Sunday, June 8 and 9. Dn. John Hopko, the Metropolitan's Secretary and Fr. Steven's classmate, accompanied the Metropolitan. A meal was held at Boyd's home on Saturday evening, and Leon's Restaurant catered lunch on Sunday to Bluff Avenue. Later in June plans were underway to lease the unit adjacent to our current unit to ease our increasing space needs.
After a great deal of searching around the shoreline area for a permanent location, in April of 1997 we received a favorable response to our request to lease toward purchase of a property owned by Theodore and Jean Konstantino, parents of Paul Konstantino and his wife Shari. They bought it originally for $125,000, and St. Alexis leased the bank property where the church was built. Later, Mr. and Mrs. Konstantino sold the property to St. Alexis for $90,000, allowing $60,000 in equity to be added into the building process. This property is located at 108 East Main Street, next to a historic house built in 1710 on 110 East Main Street, also part of the property. Planning began in earnest to build a church on this site for a permanent home for St. Alexis Mission. Alex Martins undertook most of the preliminary drawings which were through parishioner input. Hibbard and Rosal, Architects of Middletown, Connecticut, produced final drawings. The structure was reviewed by Barry Steinberg, a local professional engineer, of Hamden, Connecticut. Meanwhile, after our bylaws were officially approved in March, we held our first annual meeting on November 9th. Official officers were chosen for the first time for the mission: Alexander Martins, President, Edward Hayes, Vice President, Christine Boyd, Secretary, and Shari Konstantino, Treasurer.
On November 22, 1997, the groundbreaking was celebrated for a new church building, along with a capital campaign. The service was celebrated by Metropolitan THEODOSIUS and Deacon John Hopko, along with Fr. Steven. James McCusker, First Selectman, Clinton, CT. was present, as was Archpriest Nicholas Timpko, Dean of the Connecticut Deanery. Fr. Constantine Simones of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Church, in New London came in support as well. Plans had been approved both by our Metropolitan and the Town of Clinton, and building began in earnest. Even though this was to be the mission's major focus for the coming years, outreach activities such as supporting the soup kitchen and participating in the Ecumenical Council did not waver. St. Alexis community has also participated in an annual Ecumenical Thanksgiving Services annually.
Thanks to Michael Kuziak, a parishioner of our community, John Carmelo of Hibbard and Rosa Architects, led a group of faithful handy with hammers in laying the subfloor after the concrete was poured. Questa Building and Design was chosen to construct the church structure following approval of the plans through the Town of Clinton and by Metropolitan THEODOSIUS in the Spring of 1998. It had always been the plan to build a permanent home for the mission, and about $30,000 had been raised by the time preparations were in place to build! The cost to build the church was just under $200,000.
The first official service held in the new church was Forgiveness Sunday Vespers, on February 21, 1999. After the Divine Liturgy at Bluff Avenue, all the sacred articles and belongings were packed up and moved to 108 East Main Street. It should be noted that our first service in the church building was for Peter Yannatos' funeral the week prior to our scheduled official opening and certificate of occupancy. He had wanted to celebrate the new church building with his family and died just prior to its completion. His family came to the funeral, completing his wish.
We were also blessed by a wonderful donation to St. Alexis. Earlier when the mission was being formed, Archpriest Michael Koblosh, then pastor of HolyGhost Church, initiated a donation of service items to the mission, some of which were used in the consecration. Now, in May of 1999, they came forward with a most special donation of the seven-branch candle stand that had stood in the original Holy Ghost Church that St. Alexis had blessed.
Later that year, on October 29-30, St. Alexis Mission hosted the New England Diocesan Assembly in our new church building. Since that time work continued on the interior. Through an introduction by then Archbishop HERMAN at St. Tkihon's, Fr. Steven met Mr. Valery Soldatov. Later Archdeacon Alexei Klimitchev, now Metropolitan HERMAN's deacon and stepson of Mr. Soldatov, introduced Fr. Steven to Ivan Roumiantsev, an iconographer. They worked together to build and paint the icon panels for the iconostas. This was an early coordinated effort between these two artists. The woodcarver and iconographer worked together to build the iconostas at St. Tikhon's Monastery, and it was transported and assembled by them and Archdeacon Alexei here in Clinton. The iconostas was installed in April of 2002 just before Holy Week. The rest of the altar furnishings were completed in May 2003.
We were blessed to receive relics of St. Alexis from Metropolitan THEODOSIUS that have been placed in an icon painted by our iconographer. He also brought relics of St. Herman and St. Raphael of Brooklyn when he made a surprise visit to St. Alexis Mission in the Spring of 2002 prior to his retirement. He also recognized Mat. Cindy Voytovich, St. Alexis' Choir Director, for years of service on Diocesan Council with the Order of St. Innocent, Silver Class, and recognized Fr. Steven's priestly service with a Gold Cross.
A great deal of preparation preceded the consecration of the church, including semi-completion of the basement, and additional furnishing of the church. Most of the original altar furnishings, including the altar table constructed by Steven Martins, son of Alex Martins, and finished by parishioners, were donated to Christ the Savior Mission, forming in Fenwick Island, Delaware. by relatives of Olga Kucharski from St. Alexis. On May 7th, 2004, we celebrated the Feast of St. Alexis, becoming a parish community, through the blessing of now Metropolitan HERMAN, and the consecration of St. Alexis Church on the following day. The celebration was celebrated by Metropolitan HERMAN, retired Metropolitan THEODOSIUS, and Bishop NIKON.
In advance of the consecration, requests were made for stones for the sealing of the top of the altar from parishes founded by St. Alexis. Jane (Varian) Smith sent a stone from the bedrock of the Holy Protection Cathedral that was excavated when their elevator was put in. Archpriest Joseph Martin, current pastor of Holy Resurrection Church, Wilkes-Barre, not only sent a stone, but brought St. Alexis mitre and Gospel, the latter being used during the consecration and Divine Liturgy that he also concelebrated. Fr. Vadim Pismenny, current pastor of Holy Ghost Church sent a third stone. A fourth stone was sought from St. Alexis' homeland. When that did not work out, Fr. Steven went to the Clinton shoreline with parish youth, who together selected the fourth stone.
Additional preparations for the consecration included the preparation of the first cloth to cover the altar table, prepared from material donated by Holy Ghost Church ten years earlier, with a portion of the cloth St. Alexis was wrapped in prior to his canonization sewn in over the reliquary in the form of a cross.
Rose water given by Holy Ghost was used in the water to wash the altar table. We are also grateful for the relics that were placed in the altar that included early martyrs from Palestine and the Nunmartyr Grand Duchess Elizabeth of Russia.
Through God's abundant blessing, and God's love inspiring the faithful past and present to proclaim Christ to the world, this community and temple are a response to all those who have made St. Alexis their spiritual home. This temple is a beginning, not an end, pointing the way toward greater plans and goals for the future. With the dream of establishing a permanent mission on the greater Clinton shoreline being realized, it is our intention to continue moving forward with plans for outreach into the community while we grow as the Body of Christ.
The community of St. Alexis has continued to grow as a family, celebrating annual picnics and social celebrations following the Feasts of the Nativity and Great and Holy Pascha just to share in fellowship. Visitors are warmly welcomed by a community that represents generations of Orthodox faithful as well as those more recently converting.
Many have contributed toward the completion and consecration of this church, the greater Clinton community, the New England Diocese, and the Orthodox Church in America. To those who have fallen asleep in the Lord we pray, Memory Eternal. To those still with us, we pray God grant you Many Years.
With the consecration of the church we today we celebrate the fulfillment of a dream to establish a permanent Orthodox Church on the greater Clinton shoreline. Thanks be to God!
Written and compiled by Fr. Steven Voytovich, D. Min.
