Aliquippa has been a melting pot of different nationalities
since its beginning, with Russians settling here and in the surrounding area
around 1905. These early Russian inhabitants of Aliquippa (then Woodlawn)
did not have their own church in which to worship and sought guidance from
nearby Russian churches.
After several conferences held in the homes of Andrew
Kachala, Nicholas Velgos, John Choma and others, the group grew large and
strong enough to organize. Before the parish was formally organized, church
services were held by Rev. Theodore Penzenik at the Serbian Orthodox Church
on Hopewell Avenue.
After the services on March 25, 1917, a meeting was held and
Rev. Penzenik became the first pastor of the new congregation. Officers and
Committee elected at the meeting include George Vojnik, President; Andrew
Kachala, Vice-President; Vasil Koban, Secretary; Daniel Scherba, Assistant
Secretary; John Polovcak, Treasurer; Paul Stefanovski, Assistant Treasurer;
and the committee, John Dovzicki, Theodore Dranchuk, Demitri Chomyk and Alex
Yedinak.
The original incorporators of the church were Rev. Theodore
Penzenik, Andrew Kachala, John Choma, Damian Scherba, Vasil Zelesnik,
Michael Kost, John Dufala, Michael Stanko, Peter Chopyak, Stephen Senchak,
Vasil Gajdos, Nicholas Velgos, Daniel Scherba, John Dovzicki and John Babiak.
In addition to the incorporators other known founders of the
church include Theodore Kurilak, Savko Kikiv, Demetri Homyk, Alexander
Hcomjakov, Vasil Halagan, Michael Milovich, Vasil Mesko, Andrew Rak, John
Kowalik, Maxim Korpos, Paul Stefanovski, Peter Koval, Michael Popovich, Sam
Babiak, Theodore Mihovich, Theodore Hurchak and Alex Yedinak.
Church Services were conducted at the home of Michael Stanko
on Sixth Avenue during 1917 until sufficient funds were raised for the
purchase of property for the church with a house at 228 Sheffield Avenue.
Services were held regularly in the house until the church building was
erected and dedicated on St. Nicholas Day, December 19, 1921.
The church continued to grow to about 300 families. As
Aliquippa and the steel industry declined, so did the membership of the
church. In 1991, after all available funds were depleted, the church was
closed.
In 1997, after vandalism to the church, it was decided to
have the church building destroyed in order to prevent future desecration. The church building was then used as a
training exercise building for the local fire department. All that remains
of the church is the foundation and memories.
Pastors
| The Reverend Theodore Penzenik |
1917-1918 |
| The Reverend Andrew Didik |
1918-1919 |
| The Reverend Nicholas Lomakin |
1919-1920 |
| The Reverend Michael Kostuk |
1920 |
| The Reverend Paul Pianovich |
| The Reverend Matthew Stijacic |
1920-1921 |
| The Very Reverend Jaroslav Sichinsky |
1921 |
| The Reverend John Hordishinsky |
1922 |
| The Reverend J. Lucyk |
1923 |
| The Reverend Gregory Shutak |
1924 |
| The Reverend Zitinsky |
1926-1928 |
| The Reverend Matthew Jarenia |
1928-1929 |
| The Reverend Serafim Oblivaceff |
| The Reverend Peter Tkach |
| The Reverend Joseph Antonoff |
1929-1933 |
| The Reverend Matthew Stepahin |
1933-1936 |
| The Reverend Theodore Midgal |
| The Reverend George Popoff |
1936-1937 |
| The Reverend Peter P. Karaffa |
1937-1966 |
| The Reverend John Sidor |
1967-? |
| The Reverend Joseph Nakajima |
? |
| The Reverend Vitaly Sahaydakowsky |
? |
| The Reverend Michael Dudas |
?-1991 |
The Rev. John Sidor:
The Rev. John Sidor was born in Czechoslovakia. He was graduated from
the University of Theology in Preshow, Czechoslovakia in 1960 and was
ordained in Preshow in 1962. He served a church in Czechoslovakia prior
to his arrival in the United States in May 1965. Father Sidor has served
pastorates in Newark, NJ; Berwick, PA; and Rockford, IL before assuming
his duties at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church.
Father Sidor's wife, the former Irene Bonga, is a graduate of the
Pedagogical University in Preshow and taught physics and math on the
high school level in Czechoslovakia.
The Rev. Vitaly Sahaydakowsky:
Father Vitaly was born in Russia around 1901. In 1945 he departed
Russia and settled in Toronto, Canada. During his time as priest of St.
Nicholas Orthodox Church, he would commute from Toronto to Aliquippa.
Father Vitaly has written a book about life in the Soviet Union and
incidents that have occurred there. The title of the book is "Truth
Will Be Victorious".
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