[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 148 (Wednesday, October 31, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST ORTHODOX CHURCH CELEBRATES 90 YEARS

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                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 31, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call the attention of the 
House of Representatives to the 90th anniversary of the dedication of 
St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church of Nanticoke, Pennsylvania, which 
is being celebrated over several days culminating on Nov. 4 with a 
Divine Liturgy followed by a banquet and celebration.
  When the church was built, the Hanover Section of Nanticoke was still 
known as the village of Rhone, and immigrants from areas of Russia that 
are now part of Slovakia and Poland would walk many miles to Wilkes-
Barre or to Newport Township to attend church after working long hours 
each week in the anthracite coal mines of the Nanticoke area.
  To unify these groups of Carpatho-Russian settlers in a church closer 
to home, several families organized to build their own local church to 
serve their spiritual needs. These founders had family names such as 
Vancisin (Wanchisen), Cunder (Sunder), Bobak, Ducar, Motika, Pendle, 
Handoga, Sagan, Brenish, Chromoho, Hrinko, Mititka, Franchak, 
Sarochinsky, Gula, Franko and Huha.
  Construction began in the summer of 1911 and the church was dedicated 
on October 29 of that year with Father Kieko from Russia performing the 
first services.
  This year, several members of the church hierarchy will join the 
pastor, the Very Rev. Stephen Karaffa, and the parishioners in 
Nanticoke for the Divine Liturgy commemorating the dedication and 
sacrifices of those founding members. Among those on hand will be 
Metropolitan Theodosius, the primate of the Russian Orthodox Church in 
America and Archbishop Herman from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and 
Eastern Pennsylvania.
  As part of the 90th anniversary celebration, Susan Shiposki, a St. 
John's parishioner, has designed and created two new icons for the 
church: ``The Mother of God'' and ``Christ the Teacher.'' Mrs. Shiposki 
is a noted iconographer who has created several works for the church. 
Her first icon was created four years ago in honor of her parents' 50th 
wedding anniversary.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to call to the attention of the House of 
Representatives the 90 years of dedication, faith and good works of the 
people of St. John's Church, and I wish them all the best.

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