The History of Our Parish

The St. Nicholas Parish of Steelton is more than one hundred years old. We are deeply indebted to our early settlers who left their homeland to come to America and start a new life. It was not easy for them, but today, we enjoy the fruits of the labor of these pioneers.

The first settlers arrived in Steelton about 1897, but it wasnt until 1900 that the immigration began on a large scale. Most of the early settlers came from Banija, Vrgin Most and Glina. About thirty settlers came from Banat and a few from other provinces.

Many of these early settlers could not read; none spoke English. Of course, this created a hardship on them. Their social life, out of necessity, was confined to their own circle. However, when they came to America they brought along with them their deep and abiding love for their Serbian Orthodox Church and a burning desire for the Sacraments. This love made them determined to preserve their Faith.

In 1902, the first group organized was the Fraternal Lodge St. Nicholas. The organization of this group gave the early settlers a reason for gathering and became the central point for further organization of the Serbs in Steelton.

Through the efforts of Branko Pekich, a NARODNI ZBOR was called in the fall of 1902, when it was decided to organize a parish and set up a building committee for the purpose of erecting a church dedicated to Orthodoxy. The building committee was composed of Adam Skomac, Chairman; Branko Pekich, Secretary; Lazo Smoilovic, Treasurer; and Djuro Samardjija and Vaso Lacanski, members at large. The Serbian immigrants made do with the barest of necessities in order to give as much as they could so their dream of worshipping in their own church would come true. To an Orthodox Serb, it is unthinkable that one should not be baptized, die without receiving the last rites or not be married by a priest. Being unable to celebrate the religious aspect of their Patron Saints Day (Krsna Slava) was a source of sorrow to them. All of these factors make you realize how anxious they were to see their church erected and have a spiritual father among them.

The funds for the purchase of the building site were donated by St. Nicholas Lodge. Early 1903 saw the dream being realized. The cornerstone laying services were conducted by the Serbian Priest, Father Ilija Komadina from McKeesport. The church was a frame building and the free manual labor by the future parishioners of St. Nicholas held down construction costs to $3,200.00. By the fall of 1903, the church was completed. This was the third Serbian Orthodox Church organized and erected in the United States. Kum at the dedication of the Church was Mile Gledic, a Steelton resident and former native of Bovic, Yugoslavia.

The Serbian Church in America at the time was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Church, and the completed building was consecrated by the Russian Bishop Tikhon. Until the new Church was completed, Liturgy was celebrated by Russian Father Valdimir Kalnev who was later replaced by Father Filip Sredanovic.

The first Serbian Church Choir in the United States was organized in Steelton in 1905, due to the efforts of Dmitar Kjaganich and Dusan Kojicich. Formal organization of the choir in 1906 was the result of the efforts of Djuro Milosavljevic, Vojin Kutjevac and Peter Kosovan. The Choir assumed the name of Branko Radichevich. It ceased to exist as a formal organization in 1912.

In 1915, the first Serbian Orthodox Church five-day parochial school in America was established. The first and only full-time teacher was Miss Tinka Bakic (later Mrs. Sunajko). English was taught by Rev. Robinson, a Methodist minister from Harrisburg. Students studied both church and ethnic history. The school existed for two years, but through lack of an adequate building and an insufficient student body, it was permanently closed in 1917.

Minutes of the early years noted that halls had to be rented for general assemblies, lodge meetings, social events, etc., while the committee meetings were held either at the priests home or at the Voja Jovanovich Bookstore, which was the first Serbian bookstore in America. It was finally decided to build a hall on church property north of and adjacent to the church and in July 1927, actual construction of the hall began. Improvements also were made on the church when it was raised 36 inches from its original level and moved back to align it with the hall and faced with brick.

The Kolo Srpskih Sestara of the St. Nicholas Church was organized on October 13, 1929; the realization of a dream of Marica Brkovich, who together with Ruzica Trbovich, Katherine Sunajko, Smilja Akimovich and Helen Borota dedicated themselves to their dream becoming a reality. The chief concern of the Kolo was the welfare of the church and its people. To this day they continue to give their spiritual and moral support unceasingly to the church. The Church Choir reorganized in 1933, and the same year the choir joined the Serbian Singing Federation and assumed the name of Djuro Yaksich which was later changed to MARINKOVICH. The first choir director was Vlado Konstantinovich and in 1934, Stevan Cordas, a member of the parish, became the choral director and continues to serve in this capacity. Our church community is justly proud of their choir and is indebted to it for their faithfulness in singing the responses for the Divine Liturgy every Sunday.

The Serbian-American Civic and Educational Club was organized in 1933. All proceeds derived from activities of the club are donated to the church treasury and the church is indebted to them for their loyal support.

In Steelton, at one time or another, there were a total of 6 separate lodges. Over time, the lodges consolidated, and by 1934 there were only 3 lodges left, so they united into one lodge called Yugoslavia. In 1963, the name was changed to the present designation of American Serb Lodge. The lodge adopted Vidovdan as its Patron Saint.

On November 27, 1938, reconsecrating of the newly renovated church was performed by Bishop Damaskin Grandanicki.

A testimonial banquet in 1946, sponsored by a united committee of all Serbian organizations in Steelton, was held to honor all parishioners who served in the Armed Forces in World War II. A hard bound book was published containing pictures or names of the 142 men and women who served their country.

The 49th anniversary or the S t. Nicholas Church was celebrated on November 14, 1948. The parish was honored by the presence of Bishop Nikolai Velemirovich, exiled Serbian bishop of Zicha and Ochrid, and a well-known philosopher, theologian and writer.

In 1953, a church school was organized to fill the need for religious education on a regular basis. It has continued without interruption since that time.

In 1955, the Church Building Fund was established as the old church and properties were outdated and inadequate to serve the needs of a prosperous congregation. The following members were elected to the committee and served continually from 1955: Charles Bojanic, Chairman; John A. Cico, Treasurer; George Filepas, Secretary and Nicholas Lipa, member.

On August 2, 1956, forty women gathered together in the church auditorium and under the guidance of Rev. Dr. Kristivoj Kotur, organized the Mothers Club of the St. Nicholas Church. The Mothers Club promotes the welfare of the children of our church and helps the church do everything possible so our youth get the proper religious education. The church is grateful to the Mothers Club for assuming the complete financial responsibility of the Church School.

The Architect and Design Committee was established in December 1965, for the purpose of planning the new church center. Members of the Committee: James Matich, Chairman; Ex-Officio members Charles Bojanic; Very Rev. Archpriest Mladen D. Trbuhovich; members George Lubic, George Filepas, Leroy Tepisch, Sr., Dorothy Cico, Olga Klipa, Robert Mrgich, Sandra Belic and Daniel Radanovic. The first meeting was held on December 29, 1965, and the committee proceeded to contact architects. After a lengthy and thorough evaluation, on March 1, 1966, George Volnovich was chosen as the architect and patterned the Church in the Serbian Orthodox form or Byzantine style.

A tract of land known as the Bush Mill Farm warranted on April 11, 1973, and a parcel thereof consisting of 48.5 acres located west of Eisenhower Boulevard, later known as Bishops Farm, was purchased in April 1966 for $42,000.00.

The consecration and groundbreaking of the land for our new church was celebrated on October 23, 1966, with His Grace Bishop Dr. Firmilian Ocokoljich officiating.

Construction of the new church center began on the Feast of the Transferring of the Holy Relics of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker on May 22, 1967. Bishop Dr. Sava Vukovich, Bishop of Eastern America and Canada celebrated this service.

The farewell Divine Liturgy at the old St. Nicholas Church in Steelton was conducted on Saturday morning, April 27, 1968. The consecration of our new St. Nicholas Church on Sunday morning, April 28, 1968, was concelebrated by three bishops: Dr. Sava Vukovich, Dr. Firmilian Ocokoljich and Dr. Gregory Udicki. The Kum and Kuma of the new church were Charles and Olga Bojanic.

The consecration of our new imported Italian marble and mosaic iconostas donated by the Iolo Srpskih Sestara and blessing of our stained glass windows donated by individuals and organizations was celebrated on October 12, 1969.

On Sunday, September 16, 1973, our church celebrated its 70th anniversary with the burning of the mortgage.

On May 21-22, 1988, the church celebrated its 85th anniversary. The honored Kumovi for this occasion were ALL of our pioneers seventy years old and over- all 107 of them. We were greatly blessed to have so many of our pioneers with us at that time. Another first for our community is the pictorial church directory which was published in conjunction with the 85th anniversary. This serves as a visible record of the members of the church at that time. We must be ever mindful of the legacy left us by our pioneers and the strength of succeeding generations in preserving this legacy. Each generation, with this same intensity, will strengthen the Serbian Orthodox Church; increase it and with Gods help, keep it in peace.

No history of our church would be complete without paying our respects to the clergy that have so ably ministered to the spiritual needs of our church community. They are the Reverend Fathers Kalnev, Filip Sredanovich, Alexander Stojkovich, Jokov Hadzl Odzic, Dusan Bogich, Iguman Teofilo Stefanovich, Nestor Vuklcevich, Milan Jugovich, Djordje Popovich, Dusan Trbuhovich, Danilo Kozomora, Pavle Velkov, Petar Dobrvoski Sava Vojnovich, Alesandar Trkulja, Djordje Petrovich, Archimandrite Nikodim Janjusevich, Marko Komnenovich, Obrad Popovich, Konstantin Selecki, Iguman Nikodim Stojakovich, Petar Hajdukovich, Kristivoj Kotur, Pavle Pznanov, Mladen Trbuhovich, Frank Mesaros, Peter Paunovich, Alexander Micich, Michael Semenko and our present pastor, Father Srboljub Jockovich.