With inspiring images of religious venues throughout the city, Leon Yost has titled his 2004 Jersey City calendar "Sacred Spaces." The calendar is $12.99, and the proceeds benefit the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy nonprofit group.
On the cover of the calendar is a stained glass window image of an angel from St. Nicholas Catholic Church at 122 Ferry St. The angel is royally-robed and playing the harp. The window was crafted by the famed Meyer Studios of Munich, Germany and New York almost a century ago. The back cover features an image of a stained-glass window of St. Nicholas at St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church at 231 Pacific Ave.
The richly colored window was crafted around 1920 by A.L. Brink in New York City. Each month displays a different image with in-depth historical background, managing to highlight the history in Jersey City.
"This was one of my favorite projects to do. It’s always surprising where you will find beauty in the city," Yost said.
Just two years ago, Yost, an award-winning photographer and Jersey City historian, launched his first official calendar of his hometown. From simple beginnings of traditional snapshots of historic roads and landmark buildings, Yost evolved his calendar’s concept to focus solely on religious places. The venues include: St. Nicholas Catholic Church, St. Anthony of Padua Church, Grace Lutheran Church, Temple Beth-El, Second Reformed Church of Hudson City, Evangelismos Greek Orthodox Church, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Cotton Temple Church of God in Christ, Sacred Heart Church, Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses/Stanley Theatre, Islamic Center of Jersey City, Shree Siddhidham Mandir Hindu Temple, St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, and St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church.
"The idea came about after walking through town and being amazed at the beautiful churches right around the corner," Yost said during a recent interview.
The calendar can be purchased the Jersey City Museum at 350 Montgomery St. For information on the calendar call (201) 432-3272 or visit www.jerseycitymuseum.org or www.jerseycitylandmarks.org. The calendar was also made possible by contributions from The Provident Bank, Goldman Sachs, Fidelity Investments, Merrill Lynch, The Jersey City Public School District, Hudson County Office of Cultural and Heritage Affairs, Don Smartt and Diana Vitrano, Mack-Cali, Trustcompany Bank and Artbuilders, in addition to the city of Jersey City. q