St. George
Serbian Orthodox Church
Carmichaels, PA
St. Sava Celebrated in Carmichaels, Pa.
January 31, 2010
Stella Shlosky said it was the best St. Sava program. Stella, with
her sister Mildred "Mickey" Zorman sitting at her side, said their father
came here in 1901 and here they are still celebrating St. Sava one hundred
and eight years later.
Stella asked "Where would we be without our St. Sava?" Scholars
Dr. Ivko and Dr. Rade Dimitric both addressed the penetrating question. The
Dimitric’s are university level mathematicians and are serious about God’s
Holy Church.
Waynesburg University New Testament instructor Aaron Carson
joined the Dimitric Brothers in reading poems in tribute to St. Sava. Dr.
Ivko Dimitric also read the Gospel reading proper for St. Sava.
Parish Nurse Practitioner Millicent Mitzie Hunchuck read
St. Nicholai ‘s account of the life of St. Sava from The Prologue of Ohrid.
Serbian Orthodox parish churches everywhere take time each year to
honor and remember St. Sava. The St. George Serbian Orthodox Church in
Carmichaels has been celebrating and remembering St. Sava for more than
fifty-five years.
Most parishioners of St. George Church were born in America but
the annual tribute and commemoration of St. Sava has continued each year for
more than fifty five years ago.
The pioneers and founders of St. George Church were strong in
their commitment to St. Sava. This commitment continues into the future.
Mitzie Hunchuck, teaches the young children at St. George Church
and was eager for this St. Sava Day to arrive. She shared with her young
students poems in honor of St. Sava.
Like her mother before her, Sonia Janson, the St. George Choir and
Kolo President is a part of each St. Sava program. Sonia led the responses
at the Divine Liturgy and greeted the parishioners in behalf of the
organizations she represents.
Melva Hunchuck, Kolo Vice-President, is a constant hard-working
presence at every St. Sava celebration contributing her efforts in food
preparation. In addition to the traditional readings and recitation of
poems, a period of discussion occurred regarding St. Sava’s influence on
the lives of the Serbian people.
Each St. Sava Day begins with the Divine Liturgy with responses
by the St. George Choir. The Blessing of the Kolach and Koljivo follow
afterwards. Prayers are for living and departed church school teachers and
students and for Executive Board members and all parishioners.
January 31, 2010 was a day at St. George Church to think very
carefully about St. Sava. Serbian Orthodox Christians take their identity
from St. Sava and learn and worship God in ways that have been influenced by
St. Sava.
Serbian Orthodox Christians are continually inspired by St. Sava’s
commitment to prayer, to Christian education and to peaceful relationships.