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Close-knit parishioners at McKeesport's St. Sava revel in Serbian roots
Wednesday, May 23, 2001 By Linda Wilson Fuoco, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
Refurbished chandeliers with gold leaves and crystal beads cast a radiant glow throughout the church, highlighting the 100-year-old icon screen. New light fixtures illuminate the dramatic oil-painted murals depicting the religious history of the Serbian people. Installed in the vestibule is a new Tree of Life with names of individuals and families inscribed on the leaves.
Renovations were done as part of the yearlong celebration of the 100th anniversary of St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church of McKeesport-Duquesne. The Rt. Rev. Bishop Mitrofan of the Serbian Orthodox Eastern American Diocese blessed the renovated church interior April 1.
"We started working on the 100th anniversary celebration three years ago," said the Rev. Stevan Rocknage, pastor for nearly 14 years.
The parish is close-knit, with 280 families. Lifelong friendships and ties are formed there, and family involvement is a big ingredient.
"I was recruited into the choir when I was 14," said Dottie Ikach, a member all of her life. The 24 members of the choir range in age from teen-agers to octogenarians, she said. Her brother, Charles Hutsko, is co-director of the choir, and his wife, Paula, sings as well.
JoAnne Rocknage, the pastor's wife, sings in the choir, as do two of their children -- Christopher, 21, and daughter Mileva, 19. Their youngest son, Dushan, 13, serves on the altar.
In Orthodox churches, choirs always sing a cappella, because there is no instrumental music in the Orthodox faith.
Most St. Sava parishioners are Serbian, though other ethnic groups are represented, including Croatians. Despite the strong Serbian roots, all are welcome, Rocknage said. "We have converts and we have mixed marriages."
Serbian and Russian immigrants came together to start the parish but couldn't agree on a name. Russians wanted the church named after one of their saints while Serbs wanted the honor to go to one of theirs.
"In typical American fashion, they went to court," Rocknage said. "The judge gave the decision to the Serbs, perhaps because they were in the majority."
St. Sava, who died in 1236, is known as The Enlightener of the Serbian People, because he created the first independent Church of Serbia.
The new parish purchased a Protestant church on Hazel Street in McKeesport. Early in 1901, Father Elijah Komadina became the first Serbian priest to serve the parish.
The present church was built in 1950 at 901 Hartman Street, McKeesport. The reddish-brown brick structure was highlighted in Architectural Digest because it blends traditional Orthodox architecture with Americanized elements.
In the mid-1950s, the church commissioned Yugoslavian-born artist Alexander Dzigurski to paint the huge murals that line the walls of the church. They include elements of history as well as religion, including one large panel depicting the 1389 Battle of Kosovo.
Lazar III, the last ruler of Serbia, had a vision the night before the battle, Rocknage said, explaining the Orthodox version of history. Lazar said Saint Elijah offered him an earthly kingdom for victory -- or a heavenly crown. Lazar chose the heavenly crown, and the Turks massacred the Serbs. The defeat brought the Serbian kingdom to an end, and its people lived under the Ottoman Empire for the next 500 years.
Another panel of the mural depicts the burial of St. Sava. The Turks in 1596 burned the body of St. Sava and scattered the ashes hoping to break the spirit of the Serbian people, Rocknage said.
The McKeesport parish kicked off the 100th anniversary celebration Jan. 27, the feast day of St. Sava. Upcoming events include a picnic, spaghetti dinner and participation in McKeesport's International Village celebration in August.
Five hundred copies of the 100th Anniversary Cookbook sold out in less than three months, so a second printing was issued.
The climax of the centennial celebration will be Oct. 12-14, with a full itinerary of events to be listed on the church Web site: http://www.stsavachurch.org.
Six Orthodox bishops and representatives from the Serbian Central Church Council will travel to McKeesport for the weekend activities.
Rocknage said plans are under way to organize a November service with two other Mon Valley churches that are celebrating their 100th anniversaries this year -- Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church in West Mifflin and St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church in McKeesport.
Cookbooks containing standard and ethnic recipes can be ordered for $15 plus $2 for postage and handling. Checks payable to the Centennial Committee of St. Sava Church can be mailed to 901 Hartman St., McKeesport 15132.
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