From Julianne Vaughan, February 8, 2000
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 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.
SGP History - Last Update on October
9, 2000 - MMD