St. Gregory Palamas Church

Glen Gardner, New Jersey

St. Gregory Palamas Church

Founded 1981

Diocese: Diocese of New York and New Jersey

Deanery: New Jersey Deanery

Address

5 Church St
Glen Gardner, New Jersey 08826

Website: stgregoryoca.org

Office: 908-537-1099

Parish Contacts

Acting Rector
463 Dorchester Ln
Perkasie, PA 08540
Home: 814-823-1157
Retired, Attached
Attached Deacon

Lay Leadership

Mrs. Helen Morris
Church School Coordinator

Directions

From north of Glen Gardner (Washington)
From the intersection of Rts 31 and 57 in Washington, follow Rt 31 south approx 3 miles to the second light in Glen Gardner (third light south of Washington).  Turn left at the stop light onto Sanitorium Rd (if you pass Rod’s Hot Dogs on the right, you missed the turn).  After short distance (1 block), make the first right onto Main St.  Follow Main St to Church St on left (straight ahead, Main veers to the right).  The Church is ahead on the left on Church St.

From I-78 (near Clinton)
Take NJ Route 31 north from I-78 approx 5 miles to the fourth stop light which will be Sanitorium Rd on right in Glen Gardner (this light is just after Rod’s Hot Dog stand on the left).  Turn right at light onto Sanitorium Rd.  After a short distance (1 block), make the first right turn onto Main St.  Follow Main St to Church St on left (straight ahead, Main St veers to right).  The Church is ahead on the left on Church St.

Schedule of Services

5:00 PM Vespers.
Saturday Evening

10:00 AM Divine Liturgy.
Sunday Morning

7:00 PM Vespers.
Eves of Great Feasts

9:00 AM Divine Liturgy.
Mornings of Great Feasts

For a complete list of upcoming services, please visit the Monthly Calendar on the parish website.

Parish Background

Saint Gregory Palamas Orthodox Church, originally located between Clinton and Flemington New Jersey on Route 31 was established in 1981 under the leadership of His Grace Bishop Peter and Father Gerard Machado, a Cuban immigrant. The history of St. Gregory Palamas is short. The church was founded in February 1981 because of a perceived need for an Orthodox Church in Hunterdon County, New Jersey which borders Pennsylvania and lies between the two metropolises of Philadelphia and New York are both fifty miles away.

At the onset the church was composed of five families and held its first service on February 8, 1981 in the guest house of a founder. The group was culturally diverse from the beginning. Two families were from Greek Orthodox backgrounds, another two families were from Russian Orthodox backgrounds, and one family was of Cuban heritage. The guest house was outgrown within two months, and we moved to the carriage house on the farm of another founding member where on April 12, 1981 Orthodox Palm Sunday Services were celebrated. On November 4, 1981, parishioners came once again to move the church to a rented more permanent room which was transformed into an Orthodox Chapel at Stanton Place. The Divine Liturgy was served on November 8, 1981.

The foundation of St. Gregory Palamas is based on the notion of an English speaking multi-ethnic religious congregation participating in the American Orthodox Church (OCA). There are many converts from all walks of life and ethnicity. The Russian Orthodox Church in America descended from the Orthodox denominations in Russia and was under their jurisdiction until 1970. In 1970 the Patriarch of Moscow granted the Russian Orthodox Church in America autocephely. Hence the self-governing Orthodox Church in America was established. The goal of the Orthodox Church in America is to become the vehicle in which all other ethnic administrations unite as one Orthodox Church in America.