On Sunday, 21 May 2017, the Feast-day of Saints Constantine and Helen, His Eminence, Archbishop Michael visited Christ the Saviour Church in Paramus NJ to celebrate the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and honor Archpriest John and Matushka Eugenia Nehrebecki on their 65th Wedding Anniversary.

His Eminence concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with Priest Leonid Schmidt, Rector, Archpriest John Nehrebecki, and Deacon David Maliniak of Christ the Saviour Church in Paramus; Archpriest Stephen Vernak, Rector, and Archpriest Daniel Ressatar of Christ the Saviour Church in Harrisburg, PA; Archpriest David Vernak of Saint Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Allison Park, PA; Archpriest Victor Gorodenchuk, Dean of St Stephen’s Cathedral in Philadelphia, PA; and Protodeacon Paul Sokol of Saints Peter and Paul Church in Manville, NJ.

At the Little Entrance, Archbishop Michael awarded the mitre to Father John: “For serving the Church faithfully for over 65 years – Axios! For establishing 10 parishes in the New Jersey Deanery – Axios! For your dedication to Matushka, and raising with her six children, all devoted servants of the Church – Axios!”

Following the dismissal, Archbishop Michael presented both Father John and Matushka Eugenia with a gramota to honor the occasion. Father Leonid Schmidt presented Matushka Eugenia with a hand-carved icon of the Theotokos on behalf of the parishioners of Christ the Saviour.

The Nehrebeckis invited family, friends, parishioners, and area clergy to a banquet at the Brownstone in Paterson, NJ. Their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren presented the highlights of the Nehrebecki Christmas letters from their 65 years of marriage. A full church and a full banquet hall testified to the glory of Christ-centered marriage and sacrificial service to the Church.