Holy Trinity Orthodox Church of East Meadow is celebrating the 100^th Anniversary of the parish’s founding. Its humble beginnings trace back to when immigrants from Eastern Europe were settling in Nassau County, Long Island. At that time, the closest Orthodox Christian parishes were in New York City. The Paschal Vespers celebrated in the home of Stephen Koshansky on May 5, 1918 was the first Orthodox Christian service celebrated on Long Island. A few years later, the parish was formally organized in 1924, thus making Holy Trinity Church the first Orthodox Christian parish in the Nassau-Suffolk area. The original temple building was completed in 1926, and the current temple building was completed in 1962.

On Sunday, June 23^rd, the Feast of Pentecost will be celebrated with Hours at 8:30 AM and the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy at 9:00 AM. Archbishop Michael of the Diocese of New York and New Jersey will preside at the service along with Holy Trinity’s rector, Father Martin Kraus, and other clergy. Following the Divine Liturgy, there will be Vespers with the kneeling prayers for Pentecost and an outdoor procession (weather permitting). The Feast of Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Church fifty days after Christ’s resurrection (Acts of the Apostles, Chapter 2). Pentecost is also called Trinity Sunday in the Orthodox Church and it is the parish’s patronal feast day.

Following the Divine Liturgy, the celebration will continue with a banquet at Stewart Manor Country Club, 51 Salisbury Avenue in Stewart Manor, Long Island from 2:30 PM to 6:30 PM. Press are invited to cover the Divine Liturgy and Reception. For more information, contact us 516-483-3649 or via email at [email protected].

About Holy Trinity Orthodox Church:

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, founded in 1924, is the first Orthodox Christian parish in the Nassau-Suffolk area. Holy Trinity Church is a parish of the autocephalous Orthodox Church in America. We are a diverse community of Orthodox Christians who come from all walks of life and ethnicities, gathering in the oneness of Faith to worship God in the fullness of the Church’s liturgical life. We welcome all people seeking a community rooted in the oldest Christian Church with an emphasis on Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, liturgical and prayer life, and traditional Christian values. All services are conducted in English. The parish also has a strong commitment to serving others through various charities and philanthropic initiatives. More information can be found on the parish’s website, www.htocem.org, and Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/htocem.

FREQUENTY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: To which Orthodox Church does Holy Trinity belong?

A: Holy Trinity Orthodox Church is a member of the Orthodox Church in America (“OCA”), the oldest Orthodox Christian jurisdiction in the New World. The OCA traces its origins to Kodiak, Alaska and the arrival of eight Orthodox missionaries from the Valaamo Monastery in the northern Karelia region of Russia in 1794. While the Church continued to grow in Alaska, immigrants began arriving in what we call today the lower 48.  Today, the OCA numbers over 700 parishes, missions, communities, monasteries, and institutions throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It is comprised of members of many different ethnicities and backgrounds.

Q: Are Holy Trinity’s parishioners of similar ancestry?

A: Mirroring the composition of the OCA, Holy Trinity’s membership encompasses both Orthodox Christians descended from nations with historical Orthodox Churches, as well as many converts to Orthodoxy (including our rector). Over the past several years, the parish has welcomed many visitors seeking a more ancient form of Christianity and English language services, and many have converted to Orthodoxy. Since the pandemic, the Orthodox Church has grown significantly nationwide because of this influx of converts.

Q: What services are held at Holy Trinity?

A: The Divine Liturgy (Eucharist) is celebrated every Sunday and feast day at 9:30 AM (Hours at 9:00 AM).  Vespers (evening prayer) are served every Saturday and on the eve of feast days at 6:00 PM.  Services are also streamed on https://www.facebook.com/htocem. All services are conducted in English. 

Q: Who is Holy Trinity’s rector?

A: The Very Reverend Archpriest Martin Kraus has been Holy Trinity’s rector since July 2007. Father Martin is a graduate of Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary in Yonkers, NY. He is married to Dennise Kraus and they have five children.

Q: Who are Holy Trinity’s lay leaders?

A: The Parish Council assists Father Martin with the administration of the non-liturgical aspects of the parish. The current members of the Executive Board of the Parish Council are as follows: Mark Sovyrda, President; Kathryn Koshansky, Vice President; Valerie Eagen, Financial Secretary; and George Zabierowski, Secretary. Dr. Nicholas Reeves, a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, has been our Director of Music since September 2003.

Q: What are Holy Trinity’s ministries?

A: We have various ministries which cover many aspects of Church life: Altar Servers (the young men who serve in the altar with the clergy), Church Choir, Readers (tonsured men who chant the readings from the Holy Scriptures during the services), Our Lady of Kazan Sisterhood (fundraising for church maintenance and philanthropy), Church School (children’s religious instruction), Adult Catechism (for those seeking to join the Orthodox Church), Food Pantry (supporting the Long Island Council of Churches pantry in Freeport), CROP Walk (domestic and international hunger relief fundraiser), Health Kits for various charities, Blessed Olga of Alaska Ministry (women’s support group), the annual Christmas toy drive for the NUMC pediatric ward, and Outreach (publicity and evangelization).

Q: What other events are held at Holy Trinity?

A: In addition to weekly services, Feast Days, and associated fellowship, the parish holds two major events annually for the entire Long Island community: the End of Summer Fest (Saturday of Labor Day weekend) and the Free Christmas Concert (first Saturday of December). We also have the following events for parish fellowship: St. Basil’s Bread luncheon (New Year’s Day), Chili Cook-off (last Sunday to eat meat before Great Lent), Maslenitsa (blini brunch on the Sunday before Great Lent), and Oktoberfest luncheon.