The Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Mission celebrated the Parish Patronal Feast, the Slava, on Saturday June 14, 2025. Parishioners and friends of the Mission filled the chapel on Morgantown Avenue in Fairmont, West Virginia.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated as it has been since 1999 in the small and heart-warming chapel. Space for the chapel has been provided by Wayne and Joyce Kirby in their building since the Mission’s beginning. The Mission is part of the Pittsburgh Deanery of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Washington-New York and Eastern America. His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America is the Diocesan Bishop, Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rade Merick is Episcopal Deputy. Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Stevo Rocknage is the Dean.  Protopresbyter Sasa Nedic is Administrator for the Mission parish.

 During the Mission Slava celebration in 2024, Carlos, Edith and Cameron Godbey accepted to be the hosts, the Kumovi, for the 2025 Slava. The Godbey’s were baptized at the Mission and have been faithful supporters for many years. Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic served the Divine Liturgy for the Slava at the request of Father Nedic as he was in Serbia. The St. George Choir from Carmichaels, Pennsylvania provided the responses. Sonia Janson directed the choir. She has sung at every Slava since the Mission’s inception. The choir included Diocesan Council Financial Secretary Andrea Janson, Protinica Rachel Nedic and Milosh “Serb” Krewasky.

Attendees in addition to the faithful and local friends of the Mission included parishioners from St. George Church in Carmichaels and from St. Elijah Church in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Stan Brozik, President of the St. George Church Board in Carmichaels was in attendance with his wife Karen and accepted to be the host – Kum, for the 2026 Slava. Mr. Brozik has attended every Slava since the Mission’s beginning.

Following the Divine Liturgy and the Blessing of the Memorial Wheat and Festal Bread – Slavski Kolach, the attendees went to nearby Murial’s Restaurant for the Slava luncheon. Mission President Vanessa Lasobek greeted and thanked the attendees at the dinner. She recognized and thanked Wayne and Joyce Kirby for providing the space for the Mission chapel through the years. President Lasobek noted the absence of Mission founding member Michael Danko who was unable to attend due to a recent surgery. President Lasobek presented an icon of the Transfiguration to the Godbeys in appreciation. Edith Godbey spoke of the warm and loving atmosphere of the Mission that was very important to their family. Edith and Cameron experienced great joy and were very honored to be present.

The Mission is small but abounds in Christian love. The parish benefits from faithful parishioners and friends. Father Sasa serves an Akathist on Wednesdays,  the Divine Liturgy on alternating Saturdays and other services periodically. Educational classes are held on Wednesday evenings following the Akathist service. Attendees are eager to learn and are devoted to the classes. Through the years several attendees have become Orthodox Christians.

God has blessed the Mission since 1999. Many people have visited the parish through the years. The Mission has benefitted the community of Fairmont in addition to the individuals and families attending the services. Thank God for the continued existence of the Mission. May the Mission be a welcoming place of Divine worship, learning and  God’s love for years to come. This Slava was a day of great joy.

Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic