church Background

church Background

Parishioners of St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, 2053 North Road, Warren, marked the 75 anniversary on Nov. 2 with evening vespers. On Nov. 3, Bishop Gregory, ruling Hierarch of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese of the U.S.A., celebrated the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy and was assisted by the Rev. Kenneth M. Bachofsky, pastor, and visiting Orthodox clergy. Liturgical responses were by St. Nicholas Church choir directed by Nathan Bachofsky. A banquet was in fellowship hall, where Bishop Gregory spoke. The observance also marked the 25th anniversary of the consecration of the new church and complex.

The beginning: The church was formed in 1938 to serve the worship and spiritual needs of Orthodox Christians in the Warren area. It was located on Vine Street in Warren. Church founders can trace their ethnic ties to parts of Eastern Europe once called the Austro-Hungarian Empire and now modern-day Slovakia and Ukraine. They also were people who came from West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania, where they labored in the mines. The first parishioners of St. Nicholas Church found jobs in the steel mills and factories in the greater Warren area.

New church: A new church was built in late 1980s and consecrated in June 1988 on North Road. The reason behind the move was that the church needed more space. A bell tower features the bell from the oariginal church. There is a meditation garden.

Membership: The church has a membership of about 155.

70th anniversary: The event showcased the church’s renovated sanctuary and installation of icon murals on the nave walls and altar. Iconographer was Dennis Bell of Painesville, a native of Warren.

Outreach: The church provides a free community dinner on the last Tuesday of the month, January through November, at the American Legion Post, Route 303, Windham. At the American Legion Post in Newton Falls, the church hosts a free Thanksgiving Day dinner. It sponsors a summer giveaway of book bags with school supplies.

Fundraisers: The church sponsors a pirogi, halupki (stuffed cabbage) and haluski (cabbage and dumplings) sale Thursdays, October through May. A sit-down lunch is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and takeout from 11 a.m. to 5. Orders should be placed Wednesday mornings by calling the church at 330-372-6240.