Divine Services offered.
All Services; Sunday and Feastdays
Orthros - 8:30 am, Divine Liturgy 9:30am
Lent- Compline, Salutations, Pre Sanctified Liturgy
Confession

 

OUR BEGINNINGS

The seeds for our parish were sown over 25 years ago by a small group of Greek Orthodox from the South Jersey area who perceived a need for a church to serve the metropolitan area in its New Jersey suburbs. As more and more Greek-Americans moved into the area, spirit and enthusiasm for this idea grew.

 

HISTORY OF SAINT BARBARA

On November 30, 1972, a Greek Orthodox Church was born in Ocean County, New Jersey. The need for a Church was expressed at a meeting of fifty men and women and immediately action was taken to make the concept a reality. On January 7, 1973, Father Demetrios Constantelos, who served as the interim priest, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at the Church Chapel, on Washing ton Street, Toms River, which was the temporary house of worship until August, 1982. On February 24, 1974, ten acres of land were purchased on Church Road

On February 24, 1974, ten acres of land were purchased on Church Road in Toms River, as the permanent site for the Church Complex. In September 1974, the first full time priest, Reverend James Moulketis, was assigned to the Parish.

In February of 1977, Father Dean Martin was assigned to be the parish priest. Also in February 1977, site plan approval was granted by the Dover Township Planning Board for Phase I, which was the construction of the Community Center.

In May, 1978, the Greek Orthodox Church of Ocean County was given a Saint name, which was elected by its parishioners and named in honor of Saint Barbara, the great Martyr.

On September 14, 1981, construction begin for the Community Center which was completed in eleven months. The first Divine Liturgy was celebrated on the Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, Sunday, August 15, 1982.

In November, 1985, final approvals were given by the Dover Township Planning Board for Phase II, the construction of the new Church Edifice.

 

OUR PATRON SAINT

Saint Barbara was a young woman of great intelligence and beauty. Her father was a pagan who did not approve of the new Christian faith which was rapidly spreading across the Roman Empire during the beginning of the third century. Saint Barbara was kept in seclusion most of her young life. Her father, Dioscuros, was a fanatic idol worshipper and refused to allow any person to speak to his daughter about the Christian Faith. Saint Barbara, however, did learn about Christ and His teachings and was baptized by a pious monk from her village. Dioscuros was disturbed by his daughter's actions and immediately notified the Roman authorities about her Christian ideas.

During the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximiamianus 235 A.D. many Christians were tortured and killed for refusing to accept the idols of the Roman authorities Saint Barbara was ordered to deny Christ, but she refused and left her home to go into the mountains to seek refuge from persecutions. Her father was enraged by her actions and together with Roman soldiers pursued her into the mountains. Saint Barbara was captured by the soldiers and beheaded by her own father. As Dioscuros left the mountain where he had slain his daughter, tradition tells us that he was struck by lightning and killed.

It is interesting to note that considering Saint Barbara's martydom, she is considered by the Church to be the Patron Saint of artillerymen in the Armed Forces and of all those engaged in hazardous occupations.