On Sunday, July 19, the Orthodox Church of the Holy Cross in Medford, NJ, honored Lynn Siry, one of the original founders of the community, with a special luncheon following the Divine Liturgy.

With her husband, Dennis, and Alex and Stacy Leon, she worked with the Diocesan Hierarch, Archbishop Peter, and Fr. John Nehrebecki, the NJ Dean, in establishing the community in 1973.

Dennis fell asleep in the Lord in 1986, and Lynn decided to remain in the area until recently, when she moved back to her home area of South River, NJ, to be closer to family.

In his congratulatory letter to her, Archbishop Michael wrote:

"Your brothers and sisters in Christ at the Church of the Holy Cross lovingly call you the 'Founding Lady.' Indeed, you have been part of every aspect of the life of the parish, from its founding in 1973 to this very day. Together with your beloved husband, + Dennis of blessed memory, and your courageous fellow founders, you helped plan for and make happen the initial establishment of the parish ... the first Divine Services ... the move from the first place of worship to the new property ... and the building of the beautiful new church. Ever since those early days, and still today, you have welcomed those who over the past six decades have called Holy Cross Church their home."

In an earlier interview, when asked how the parish chose the name "Holy Cross," she replied:

"We were aware that certain saints were especially popular among various Orthodox ethnic groups, and we considered many different ones. Then someone stated: 'It would be nice if we could have an image, name our church after something that would be important, that would have filled the life and concerns of all the saints, and in fact, of every person, and that they would know something of this aspect of their faith and of their lives as it relates to Jesus Christ.'

Then someone else said: 'How about we name it — the Church of the Holy Cross — because everyone knows something about that?'

And I said: 'It was a perfect choice.'"