Blessing of Navesink waters begins centennial St. Nicholas Church to host 100th anniversary kickoff Jan. 19 RED BANK- On Jan. 19, the small 98- year-old Russian Orthodox Church of St. Nicholas on Pearl Streetwill have the honor of hosting the first event inaugurating the city's centennial celebrations. According to the old-style Julian calendar, on Jan. 19 the Orthodox world will celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. At the request of Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna, the parish will have the opportunity to perform the sacred blessing of the waters of the Navesink River for the first time in Red Bank's history. "The blessing of thewaterswill be aworthy and honorable way to mark the beginning of centennial celebrations, and a great way to show diversity and solidarity within our community," said Menna. As is the custom in Orthodox churches, a special service is conducted on the Epiphany, during which Orthodox priests perform the blessing of the water. It is customary for there to be a procession to the nearest body of water where the priest not only blesses holy water for ritual use, but the lake, river or ocean as well. On Jan. 19 at 1 p.m., the parishioners of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church will have a procession from their church on Pearl Street, down Maple Avenue to the Navesink River. The procession will be lead by its rector, the Rev. Serge Lukianov, who will lower a cross into the river and bless the waters of theNavesink, according to ancient Russian tradition. After the blessing of the waters, the children of the parish will release several dozen doves, to symbolize the Holy Spirit, which, according to church tradition, descended upon Jesus in the form of a dove during his baptism. The Rev. Lukianov is the new rector of St. Nicholas. He was recently assigned to lead the congregation. The small church, which was founded in 1910, is in need of many repairs and the parishwas in need of a newdirection for the future. With the arrival of the new rector and new parishioners, the parish has been reborn over the last three months into a small, but very active Russian community in Red Bank. The parishioners of St.Nicholas Church, along with the mayor, extend a warm invitation to all the citizens of Red Bank to join them for this historic occasion.