HOLY RESURRECTION SERBIAN CHURCH
CELEBRATES 100 YEARS
Steubenville, OH – The weekend of Saturday 29 through October 1, 2006 marked the 100th anniversary of the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Resurrection in Steubenville, Ohio. The long weekend began on Friday with a stroll down memory lane at the Serbian-American Cultural Center where many artifacts and photos were available from the long history of the Serbian people of this parish. A large map of the former Yugoslavia gave parishioners a visual of the different areas that their ancestors originated from.
On Saturday the parish Men’s Club prepared a reception at the Serbian Picnic grounds which was followed by Vespers later that afternoon at the Serbian Visoki Dechani Church. His Eminence Metropolitan of the Midwestern Metropolitanate attended the evening Vespers service served by former pastor V. Rev. Stavrophor Dr. Nedeljko Grgurevich. Singing responses were the Petar Krstich Choir and, from the cantors’ stand, former pastor Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Vasilije Sokolovic, parish native son Protopresbyter Stevo Rocknage and Pittsburgh’s Fr. Rajko Kosic. Dinner and a rich cultural program followed which, among other things, included performances from the choir and the Holy Resurrection Tamburitzans as well the first showing a DVD showcasing the history of the parish.
On Sunday the Holy Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and church slava celebration marked the highpoint of the weekend. Presiding was His Eminence Metropolitan Christopher and His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan. Concelebrating were former pastors Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Dr. Nedeljko Grgurevich and Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Vasilije Sokolovic, native son Protopresbyter Stevo Rocknage, Carmichael Pennsylvania’s Protopresbyter Dr. Rodney Torbic, Lorain’s Fr. Milorad Orlic, host pastor Prota Rade Merick and Deacon Dragoslav Kosic.
During the Liturgy His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan surprised and humbled Holy Resurrection’s pastor Fr. Rade Merick by granting him the right to wear the pectoral cross, the highest honor given to a married priest in the Serbian Orthodox Church. An inspiring homily was given by His Grace Bishop Dr. Mitrophan. Near the end of the Liturgy the triple church slava Litija procession with the reading of four gospels and the blessing the church’s four walls took place to the pealing of the church’s original 1906 bell from the old church in Mingo Junction, with prayers for all departed members and clergy, and the cutting of the slavski kolac.
The grand banquet followed the liturgy at the Cultural Center. The centennial weekend was a wonderful parish reunion as many former parishioners traveled from all over the country to attend. It allowed parishioners to meet old friends, to reminisce, and to enjoy warm fellowship. Finally, it served as a worthy entry into the parish’s second century of service to God and His people.