Our Parish Becomes Orthodox
During the previous year, a Vicar-Bishop for the "Uniat" (the term signifying union with the Church of Rome) Greek Catholic Churches came to this country with the "Papal Bull" – in effect violating the terms of the contract of the union made by Pope Clement VIII which guaranteed Eastern rites and privileges to Uniat parishes. Soon the Roman Catholic bishop of Newark, NJ attempted to have the parish properties transferred to his name. He was assisted in his endeavors by Fathers N. Molchany, pastor of St. Michael's and A. Godobay, the Uniate Apostolic Visitor for Greek Catholic Rusyn churches in the US. The parish, feeling that if they permitted the Roman Catholic bishop to take title to their parochial property, they would again invite the type of turmoil suffered in the past, decided to petition the Russian Orthodox Church authorities to receive it into Orthodoxy. They felt that this was the only way they could ensure that their ancient Eastern traditions and Rite could be preserved. Besides the pastor of the church, John Boruch (then cantor, but later an Orthodox priest) was instrumental in turning the parish in the direction of Orthodoxy.
For the second time, the parishioners decided to break from the Newark Roman Catholic Diocese – this time returning to the Holy Orthodox Church, the church that their ancestors belonged to up to 1596 when Jesuits imposed the Uniat concept upon them. Father Homicsko did not join this movement of the people, and was compelled to leave the parish. Father John T. Krochmalney assumed charge of the parish in February 1909 as the first Orthodox priest.
Fr. Krochmalney left on February 15, 1910 and was succeeded by Father (now Saint) Alexander A. Hotovitsky. The trustees and Fr. Hotovitsky along with the membership of the church, deciding to submit to the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, declared the title of the church as the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church of Saints Peter and Paul of Passaic, New Jersey. Resolution of this meeting was approved by Archbishop Platon on March 6, 1910, and the church became a part of the Aleutian and North American Diocese of the Russian Orthodox Church. Upon election by the congregation and approval of the Archbishop, Father Elias Klopotovsky was appointed rector of the church in 1910. Membership of the parish increased so rapidly that it was found necessary to enlarge the church facilities. Designs and plans were at once perfected and the new edifice was erected at the northeast corner of Third and Monroe Streets at an expenditure of about $100,000.00. The new church was consecrated by Archbishop Platon in 1911.
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