DYKER HTS. AND BOERUM HILL — The Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Zain was feted last week at a sold-out event at the Dyker Beach Golf Course for his 30 years as a priest, 27 of these leading a historic cathedral in Boerum Hill. Fr. Zain, who arrived in 1997 at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Cathedral on State Street and then elevated to archpriest in 2005, was in 2011 appointed the Vicar-General of the archdiocese — one of the two highest positions a priest can hold in the archdiocese and one in which he continues to serve.
St. Nicholas Cathedral originated as a Syrian mission community in 1895 under the auspices of the Russian Orthodox Church and its primate of the Russian Church in North America. The primate, Tikhon, appointed a vicar bishop named Raphael to lead the Syrian mission, whose first location was in Manhattan. The growing congregation moved to a church on Pacific St. in Brooklyn in 1902 and then in 1920 years later to its present location, a former Episcopal church. The cathedral holds the reliquary of its founder, Raphael of Brooklyn, who was canonized as a saint in 2000. St. Raphael’s feast day is Nov. 4.
The architecture of the Pacific Street Church (now occupied by a Spanish-language congregation) was distinctive for its onion-dome towers, found throughout Europe and especially in Russia.
The Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Zain. Photo by Wayne Daren Schneiderman
SUNSET PARK — “As a resident of Marine Park, one of the great surprises I found biking around Industry City and visiting Japan Village was to discover Bush Terminal Park. I continue to be amazed at the serene hideaways that the city offers in some of the busiest places — and, still, with an iconic view.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — ‘A miracle that no one was killed …’ That’s what neighbors are saying about the collapse of the Hotel St. George marquee. Shown in this photograph are workmen beginning the removal and repair of the historic, old neon sign at the corner, referencing a relic of Brooklyn Heights’ past: the St. George Hotel.
ATLANTIC AVENUE — Exhausted shopper with cluster of bags and goods from mall at Boerum Place stops to look at huge construction site across the street. “Is that REALLY going to be a jail??” Her male companion is reassuring, “Nothing like Rikers … this is 21st Century.”
BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — Overheard in line at one of most popular pastry outlets on Montague Street: “Hope I can get them into a camp …” A mother with two pre-schoolers in tow was showing a friend the Dodge Y flyer for Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 18.
