The entire extended family of our local church community would like to welcome you to Mother of God Orthodox Church located in Princeton, New Jersey. Mother of God Orthodox Church was founded in 1998 in Rocky Hill, New Jersey by a dedicated group of lay people, including Dr. Albert J. Raboteau and Jacqueline and Nicholas DeLarato. V. Reverend Father Paul Kucynda, the OCA priest in charge of OCA missions for the Diocese of New York and New Jersey, celebrated the first Divine Liturgy for the community in Rocky Hill. Archbishop Peter assigned Father John Cassar to serve the liturgical services of the mission, which he did for nearly 17 years. Because of steady growth, the church moved to a larger worship space at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Princeton, NJ on March 23, 2003. When St. Joseph's Seminary was no longer available to us, we began worshiping at Princeton Day School (PDS) on May 22, 2011. In March of 2015, Father Peter A. Baktis became the rector of MOG. On January 29, 2016, we moved into our permanent worship space at 904 Cherry Hill Road in Princeton, NJ. Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow, is a local parish of the Orthodox Church in America; which by virtue of the Holy Spirit and continuing in the teaching and experience of the Apostles is a visible and historical continuation of the early church of Christ. We see ourselves as a community of believers called into unity by the Holy Trinity to become "saints" (1Cor. 1:2); to be the "Body of Christ" (1Cor. 12:27) and to manifest the Kingdom of God here and now.

St. Paul’s reference to the church as the "Body of Christ" reveals to us the very nature of the church. That is to say, the church is not just another human institution. Nor is it simply a collection of people who believe in Jesus. The church, by virtue of the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, forever remains to be the very presence of Christ. Thus, with faith, love, humility and God’s grace -- we at Mother of God -- fervently seek with fear and trembling, to actualize this great and holy vocation of being the "Body of Christ."

Presently, Mother of God, Joy of All Who Sorrow’s community consists of approximately 40 parishioners. With a significant number of converts entering our parish each year, we are a community dedicated to growth in Christ. Our hope is that every person who is a member of our community will know what it means to be a member of a true Christian extended family; to know first hand, by our personal witness, what it means to be brothers and sisters in Our Lord Jesus Christ -- "God’s own special people" (1Peter 2:9).

We welcome all who seek to know Christ in His Word and in His Church. 

Patron

Mother of God,
 Joy of All Who Sorrow

(Commemorated October 24)