McKeesport, Pennsylvania, November 9, 2026
Photo: St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church - McKeesport, PA
The third oldest Serbian Orthodox church in America and the oldest east of the Mississippi celebrated a major milestone over the weekend.
St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, founded in 1901 by Serbian and Russian Orthodox faithful and currently led by Archpriest Stevan Rocknage, commemorated its 125th anniversary, with celebrations led by His Grace Bishop Irinej of Eastern America, the parish reports.
St. Bogoljub Gaković. Photo: stsavapa.org
The original church building was consecrated by St. Tikhon, the future Patriarch of Moscow during his ministry in North America. From January 1933 to June 1934, the parish was served by St. Bogoljub Gaković, who later returned to Yugoslavia and was martyred by the Nazis in 1941.
The celebratory weekend began with Great Vespers on Friday night, followed by a social gathering at a local restaurant.
The main celebration was held on Saturday, with a Hierarchical Divine Liturgy led by Bishop Irinej, who was joined by Metropolitan Savas of Pittsburg of the Greek Archdiocese, and a host of clergy from various jurisdictions.
The Liturgy was followed by an anniversary banquet. The parish also held an anniversary picnic following the Sunday Divine Liturgy.
“We give thanks for a magnificent and memorable 125th anniversary, shared in the company of family and friends,” the church writes.
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The parish’s original church building on Hazel Street in McKeesport. Photo: stsavapa.org St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, traces its roots to the dawn of the 20th century. After a decade of traveling to a Russian Orthodox church in Wood Run for Holy Liturgy and the Sacraments, a group of Serbian and Russian immigrants jointly purchased a Protestant church building in 1900 for $5,000.
While the interior was being converted to meet Orthodox liturgical requirements, the two groups disagreed over which saint the parish should honor. The Serbs, who were in the majority, dedicated the church to St. Sava, Equal to the Apostles and Enlightener of the Serbian People.
In 1902, Fr. Elijah Komadina became the first of twenty priests to serve the parish. After decades of frequent turnover, Father Milan G. Popovich was elected pastor in October 1934 and served until his retirement in 1971. Affectionately known as “Popo,” he was the driving force behind the construction of the present church.
Since 1988, the parish has been led by the V. Rev. Stavrofor Stevan Rocknage, a former Professor of Psychology and Therapist who has worked to bring the faithful closer to Christ, re-energize the youth, and enlighten the community through education classes and Parish Renewal Days. The parish continues to grow alongside its surrounding region while embracing its Serbian heritage.
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