Serbian Orthodox Church

Information Service of
the Serbian Orthodox Church
April 7, 2006

CHOIR CONCERT BENEFITS MONASTERY MARCHA

The Serb Wings Choir from St.Nicholas Serbian Orthodox Church in Steelton, Pennsylvania came to St.George Serbian Orthodox Church in Carmichaels to sing for Vespers on Saturday April 1 and at the Divine Liturgy on Sunday April 2, 2006. Following the Divine Liturgy and dinner prepared by the Circle of Serbian Sisters, Serb Wings sang a selection of church songs proper for the time of Great Lent. Nina Radanovich directs Serb Wings.

Additional members include Milan Radanovich, Christopher and Evgenia Radonovich, Jane Svitchan and Kate Nation. This is the second time Serb Wings came to St.George Church, having made the long journey a few years ago. Executive Board President Stan Brozik welcomed the singers. Dr.Ivko Dimitric, Executive Board Vice President spoke of the power and influence church music has in making us better people. Sonia Janson, Choir and Kolo President, thank Serb Wings for coming again and asked the choir to return in the future to sing for a Sunday evening Lenten Vespers.

Members of Serb Wings are active Serbian Orthodox Christian witnessing to Jesus Christ in their travels. They are busy young people taking the Church seriously and making the Church an important part of their lives. Funds raised by Serb Wings go to benefit Monastery Marcha in Richfield, Ohio, the women's monastery of the Eastern America Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

MONASTERY MARCHA was established as a women's monastery in 1975 by then Diocesan Bishop His Grace Bishop Dr. SAVA. In 1974 Mother Evpraksija and Mother Anna had arrived there. The site had been the Episcopal Headquarters of the Eastern American and Canadian Diocese which subsequently moved to Edgeworth, Pennsylvania. In 2001 the new monastery church was constructed with the Archpastoral Blessings of His Grace Bishop Dr. MITROPHAN. His Holiness Patriarch PAVLE with several concelebrating hierarchs and a large number of clergy were present for the consecration of the new church. Monastery Marcha celebrates July 13/26, the Synaxis of the Holy Archangel Gabriel as the monastery Slava. Mother Anna (Radetic) was the first American-born Serbian Orthodox nun. Sister Georgiana (Zaremba) and Sister Antonia (Spanja) were the next two American born women to enter the monastic life at Monastery Marcha. Sister Anastasia became the third American born woman to enter monastic life through Monastery Marcha. Father Seraphim (Steve) entered monastic life at Monastery Marcha and is currently active caring for the grounds and making candles. Father Simeon (Grozdanovich) initiated the making of candles and cared for the grounds during the initial years of the monastery's existence.

V. Rev. Rodney Torbic