Very Reverend Archpriest Serge Lukianov of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Red Bank coaxes a reluctant pigeon to take wing during a blessing of the waters ceremony on the Navesink River Saturday.
More pix below; click on ’em to enlarge…
Fr. Serge leads his small but growing congregation in its first-ever Feast of the Epiphany ceremony held at the foot of Maple Avenue…
…an event that called for him to take a short boat ride…
…under the watchful eyes of men in traditional Cossack finery.
Worshippers in babushkas and fleece hats sang a Troparion…
…before heading back to their church through the parking lot of the City Centre strip mall. Lunch at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on River Road followed.