1962 - 2002
In August of 1962, the Rev. Father F. Constantine Costello made a visit to Hackettstown to investigate the possibility of organizing an Orthodox mission to cover the Northeast New Jersey area.
After several weeks of contacting friends and meeting interested persons he decided that an Orthodox parish was definitely needed for a steadily growing area. He then decided to make Hackettstown his permanent residence.
He first searched for a home, which would be in a good location, and large enough, to hold meetings, and finally choose an eight room house with a large basement and three acres of land located on Asbury Road in near by Hackettstown, NJ. Next a livelihood had to be thought of to support him and his family. Father Costello realized that it would take many a year before he would be able to receive support from a mission church and so he opened a family oriented business on Main Street, in Hackettstown, NJ, which gave eleven years of financial support to his family. It had indeed been a family venture with Mrs. Costello managing the shop, directing the choir at the church and being a mother to her two children and to the entire parish. Their sons Michael and Steven have also done more than their fair share of working in the family business and serving the church as Altar Servers! They also functioned as Readers and Ushers from time to time, as needed!
The first clergyman to offer assistance to the new mission was the Rev. August J. Kling, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Main Street, Hackettstown, NJ. A meeting to organize the mission was held in a meeting room of the Presbyterian Church with twelve persons in attendance. It was understood from the start that this would be an all-English speaking parish serving the faithful from all jurisdictions. The first members were from Russian, Ukrainian, Syrian, Italian and Irish ancestries and the church continues today as a parish embracing Americans from many national backgrounds united in love for the Orthodox Faith, and the beautiful Byzantine liturgical services and music.
The first meeting was called on the feast day of the Exaltation of the Most Holy Cross - and thus came forth the name for Holy Cross Church.
On October 6, 1962 the Antimins containing the Relics of Saints, which is necessary for the celebration of Divine Liturgy, was issued to the pastor by Bishop Dosethius, who was the then Acting Exarch at St. Nicholas Cathedral, in New York City, New York.
For the first Six Sundays - services were held at the Presbyterian Chapel on Main Street in Hackettstown, NJ. After this period services were held for the next Five Years at the former Danville Presbyterian Church in Great Meadows, NJ. Due to the antiquated condition of that building which lacked plumbing, water, and a poor electrical system and not a very good heating system, it was decided to discontinue doing services in that old and venerable structure. Top
Thanks to the generous assistance of a parishioner, Donald Tillou, the basement of Father Costello's rectory was converted into a chapel with meeting rooms. Mr. Tillou did all the carpentry work and the materials and other labor were supplied by the pastor. Those chapel facilities were used right up to the time of the building the new church.
Land for the new church was purchased in 1968 for $10,000 with the first $100.00 down payment donated by Mr. Frank Stramaglia, Jr. With great difficulty the 2 1/2 acre property was paid off with the proceeds from several successful fund raising projects including an airplane trip to Italy.
In October of 1972 The Mitered Right. Rev. George Burdikoff, pastor of St. John's Church, Singac, NJ, was the Chief Celebrant at the groundbreaking ceremonies at the church site. He was assisted by Rev. Igor Burdikoff and Father Costello. In that same year a thirty year mortgage was obtained from the Orange Savings Bank, Hackettstown, NJ. A contract to build the shell of the church was awarded to Mr. Charles Tillou, a local contractor
In the year 1981 - due to declining health Father Constantine Costello had to retire. He was succeeded by an interim Pastor - Rev. Priest Michael Lesko. Father Michael faithfully served Holy Cross Church from 198l - 1982.
The present Pastor - Archpriest John C. Kassatkin began serving Holy Cross Parish on the Sunday of the Samaritan Women , in the year 1982, and continues in that obedience! Shortly after being assigned as Pastor - Father John Kassatkin requested Donald Tillou to build an Iconostas! Donald Tillou built and excellent and beautiful knotty pine Iconastas - in memory of his recently departed son - James Everett Tillou, who perished in an automobile accident! Icons were ordered from the Moscow Patriarchate's Master Craft Artisan Shop in Sofrinov, Russia. On Sunday the 25th of October 1986 - The Most Reverend Clement, Bishop of Serpukhov (Administrator of the Patriarchal Parishes) Blessed the Icons and the newly built Iconostas!
In the year 1992 - a Thirtieth Anniversary of the parish was celebrated, with a Grand Banquet held in the Gingerbread Castle in Hamburg, NJ. At that Banquet - triumphantly the paid off mortgage was burnt!