Carpatho-Rusyns are one of the major ethnic groups of Pennsylvania. From the time they settled the state’s small towns and cities in the late 1870s until the present time, Carpatho-Rusyns have left an indelible mark on the state, and their story should be told. This blog is about a project that will do just that. Read more

Saturday, January 31, 2015

NEPA: The Keystone of Carpatho-Rusyn American History (2): Churches, Schools, etc.

The presentation continues with a look at these Rusyn milestones achieved in northeastern Pennsylvania.

[Arrived here first? Jump back to the beginning of the presentation]

Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”
  • Churches
  • Schools
  • Choirs
  • Bands
  • Monastery
  • Cemeteries
Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”: Churches

Shenandoah (1884);
the first Greek Catholic priest in the U.S. serving Carpatho-Rusyn immigrants, the Galician Ukrainian Father Ivan Voljans'kyj (at left) who helped establish the Shenandoah parish and most of the other parishes over the next four years
Freeland (1886)
Kingston (1887)
Wilkes-Barre (1888)
Olyphant (1888)
Mayfield (1891), Mount Carmel (1891)
First Rusyn Orthodox Churches in Pennsylvania

Father (now Saint) Alexis Toth - first Rusyn priest to become Orthodox, came to Wilkes-Barre in 1893 and ministered extensively in NEPA
Wilkes-Barre (1893/1900)
Scranton (1897)
Old Forge (founded 1891, became Orthodox 1896)
Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”: Schools

Freeland
Olyphant
Mount Carmel
Saint Clair
Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”: Choirs

Hazleton (St. John parish)
Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”: Bands

Shamokin
Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”: Orthodox Monastery

St. Tikhon of Zadonsk Monastery, South Canaan (1905)

Carpatho-Rusyn “Firsts”:Cemeteries


St. Michael Cemetery, Shenandoah
St. Mary Cemetery, Kingston (Courtdale)
Transfiguration Cemetery, Shamokin
St. Mary Cemetery, Mahanoy City
Continue to Part 3: Fraternals, Newspapers, Businesses

Original material is © by the author, Richard D. Custer; all rights reserved.

1 comment:

  1. Hi Rich - thank you for all of your work on bringing our history to life! I know this is an old post but do you happen to know the source of or details related to the picture from Hazleton? I ran across it tonight and it caught my eye tonight as I think I have pictures from the same location (different context). The gentleman in the middle with the mustache - I believe I may have an earlier photo of him with some children in a field and one of the children is my grandfather. He caught my eye - as well as the steps and the siding of the building. The photo I have is from my father who is long passed - as is all of his family. I have no one to confirm details. But if this is St Joe’s in Hazleton it would make me want to get that identified and to the historical society or something. I would estimate the photo I have is 1915-1920 based on the age of my grandfather in the photo. My family settled in Hazleton and were long time members of St Joe’s.

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