Visiting clergy, parishioners and friends of the St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels, Pennsylvania gathered on November 2, 2024, with His Grace Bishop Irinej of Washington-New York and Eastern America and Protopresbyter Sasa Nedic to celebrate the parish’s Seventieth Anniversary.

The joyous celebration began with the reading of the Third Hour by Thomas Wesdock immediately followed by the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Concelebrating with His Grace Bishop Irinej were parish priest, Protopresbyter Sasa Nedic, Protopresbyter-Stavrophores Rodney Torbic and Djokan Majstorovic, Protopresbyter Dejan Barac, Presbyters Mark Resanovich, Stefan Djuric and Nebojsa Varagic, assisted by Deacons Daniel August and Mark Matijevich. Reader John Buffalini also assisted in the altar, read the Epistle and chanted the troparia.

In His homily, His Grace Bishop Irinej noted the appropriateness of this being a Memorial Saturday, as living and departed members of the parish were together in the Divine Liturgy. His Grace said that life continues in the Resurrected Christ for believers. His Grace gave examples of St. George the Great Martyr being alive in Christ. The Bishop shared his words and prayers of love for this parish family.

Janice Smargie directed the guest choir from St. Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church of Monroelville, PA singing the inspiring responses. Janice is a daughter of St. George Church where here parents, Pete and Dorothy, were pillars of the parish.

During the Divine Liturgy living and departed members of the parish were remembered including founders, benefactors, beautifiers, clergy, board officers, choir and Kolo members.  Recent victims that tragically recently lost their lives in Novi Sad were included in the offered prayers.

As the Divine Liturgy concluded, a Memorial Service – pomen was served and “Memory Eternal” was sung for those having departed this life from the parish and the victims from Novi Sad. In His homily, His Grace said the far-reaching nature of the parish was actualized in these prayers.

Father Sasa Nedic welcomed all and expressed his joy at the presence of His Grace, visiting clergy and all in attendance. Following the Divine Liturgy, all present were invited to Dolfi’s Restaurant in nearby Masontown for the festal dinner.

Speakers at the festal dinner included His Grace Bishop Irinej, Father Sasa,

previous St. George Church parish priests Father Rodney Torbic and Father Djokan Majstorovic, Church Board President Stan Brozik and Kolo and Choir President Sonia Janson.

His Grace awarded Episcopal Grammata for exemplary long-standing service to five members of the parish. Deacon Daniel August read the Grammata awarded to Stan Brozik, Milosh “Serb” Krewasky, Sonia Janson, Millicent “Mitzie” Hunchuck and Djelosh Milosevich.

Attendees of the Carmichaels’ celebration came from Pittsburgh Deanery parishes in Aliquippa, Midland, Pittsburgh and Monroeville. The Holy Trinity Mission from Fairmont, West Virginian had a significant number of supporters in attendance. Father Djokan and Protinica Mirjana Majstorovic came from St. John the Baptist Serbian Orthodox Church in Paterson, New Jersey. Susan Zorman Donovan, a former parishioner, came from Arizona to be present.

The Diocesan Council and Administrative Board were well-represented with Treasurer John Buffalini and Financial Secretary Andrea Janson, as both had active roles in the celebration. Tony Rosky from the United Mine Workers is a regular attendee at parish anniversary celebrations. Brice and Linda Rush, leaders in the King Coal Association, thoroughly enjoyed their first time at the church.

Patricia Cekoric a long-time supporter of St. George Church and the Mission in Fairmont, knows well the road from Aliquippa. Fairmont, West Virginia native, St. Vladimir Seminary graduate Mark Zivkovich and a son of the parish, had much to remember when he came to the celebration. Niko and Rose Ilic from Fairmont, West Virginia consistently attend every parish anniversary celebration.

Father Mark Resanovich, Wayne Kirby and Dr. Scott Newton were among those in attendance celebrating the parish anniversary and having a common background of education in the Antiochian House of Studies.

Father Sasa and Protinica Rachel Nedic have settled into the parish and made it their home. Father Sasa in his remarks at the dinner clearly expressed the holiness of St. George Church and the value of making greater use of the church. He remembered his father and parishioners recently departed this life.  Father Sasa cited the powerful experience with God, being in the quiet, dark church and lighting candles, that caused the darkness to dissipate.

The St. George Church continues to exist and thrive very near the Monongahela River in Greene County, Pennsylvania. The coal-burning power plant next to the church, gratefully, is no more. The St. George Church Cemetery witnesses to the many departed this life having poured their love into St. George Church.

His Grace Bishop Irinej spoke of future anniversary celebrations of the parish

and the anticipated presence of all in attendance. St. George Church is a special place filled with Christ’s love and hospitality. God has taken loving care of the parish for seventy years. The Seventieth Anniversary was an occasion to abundantly thank God and the many parishioners and friends of the parish living and departed this life.

Protopresbyter-Stavrophor Rodney Torbic