Dear in the Lord Brothers and Sisters, Parishioners, Friends and Benefactors and all faithful children of our Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia!

We are writing you with the Blessing of our Synod of Bishops. During the healing days of Great Lent, which, not accidentally, are referred to by our God-bearing Fathers as a spiritual ambulatory, which heals all who carry on spiritual struggles, we prayed to the Lord, that He vouchsafe us to greet Holy Pascha – the Feast of all Feasts – in spiritual joy and in health of soul and body. Today we have arrived at the very day, which the Lord has CreatedЙ the Pascha of the Lord. Christ is Risen! We also ask our Lord, Who has suffered, was buried and is risen, His Holy Mother and the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, that we, the unworthy ones, finally be granted to dwell within the walls of our own Holy Temple, in that church edifice, where we today, offer the Bloodless Sacrifice.

From Pentecost of 2003 we, by the Mercy of God, having moved into our current church building, were afforded the opportunity to begin living a normal parish life, performing the complete cycle of services, and, for the first time in the five years of our existence, carrying on a normal parish missionary and social life. By the Mercy of God, we are growing and blossoming. One may test the veracity of these words by just being at services at our Church.

Holy Pascha of last year brought approximately 6,000 believers for services. The Nativity and Theophany, just passed, brought up to 2,000 of the faithful to services. On a typical Sunday we see about 250 people, with up to 50 communicants, many of whom are children and their young parents. We now have a parish school with a total school population of about 60 children from ages 4 to 14.

But the future of our parish in Brooklyn depends on whether we will own our currently rented church building, or whether we will have to continue in our quest for permanent space, from which, we beseech the Lord to save us. After the passing of half a year, our new Church has begun to resemble a true Orthodox temple and our church hall is nearly fully completed, thanks to the great labors which were carried out, for the most part, by our God-loving parishioners, as well as by yet unchurched, but zealous Russian Orthodox volunteers living in Brooklyn.

Our Church has also been adorned with a simple but lovely iconastasis, holy icons and new candle stands. New vestments of all colors were sewn with love by our loving and pious, untiring Sisterhood. On the day of the Exaltation of the Most Holy and Life-Giving Cross, we placed atop our church a cupola adorned with the Holy Cross, brought over from the Kiev-Caves Lavra.

We currently occupy our church building on the basis of a lease-purchase, which we, by contract, must close on by June, 2004, otherwise, again, we may Тbe out on the street.У By that time, we must raise the sum of $250,000 – the downpayment for the purchase of our Church and Church Hall (the total price for the purchase of the Church building is $1,115,000).

We depend only on the Lord, His Most Pure Mother, the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia and on you, our most kind Benefactors! Do not leave us, sinners, without your co-participation in our fight for tens of thousands of souls. In the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, please help us acquire this wonderful church building – both Church and Hall – where, just yesterday, there was a spiritual wilderness, and today, by God’s Mercy – a full-bodied, quickly-growing parish of our Church Abroad. We ask you not to abandon us at this very critical moment! If you can spread the word about our plight to your relatives, friends and acquaintances, we would be much obliged! You may send your kind donation, earmarked ТPurchase of New Church,У together with your lists of commemoration, to the following address:

Holy New _artyrs and Confessors Russian Orthodox Church
8645 18th Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11214

By the prayers of the Holy New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, may the Lord Grant you salvation, health and success in all of your good endeavors. We thank you, in advance, for your kind response to our humble request!

Christ is Truly Risen !

With Love in Christ,
Archpriest George Kallaur, Rector
Parish Council and Sisterhood