Parish History

Holy Resurrection was originally founded in Mingo Junction, Ohio by Serbian Orthodox Christians who began to arrive in the Upper Ohio Valley in the 1890’s. These immigrants came chiefly from what was then the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and what are now the areas of Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, and belonged to the Serbian jurisdiction of the ancient and world-wide Orthodox Christian Church. Organizing in 1906, they formed a congregation and purchased a church building in Mingo Junction from the Methodist Church. They adapted this building for Orthodox worship and it was consecrated in honor of the Resurrection of Christ with great joy in November of that year. 

In 1941, the original church was sold in response to the expanding steel mill. During this period, Steubenville became the central location for parishioners, and several lots were obtained in Steubenville including a former funeral home which was used as the parish home and chapel until the end of World War II. As the war ended, plans progressed for the building of a new church, settling on the design of Visoki Decani in Kosovo, one of the most ancient Serbian monasteries. The building was completed, and consecrated on June 6th of 1948, where St. Nikolai Velimirovich presided, the great Serbian bishop canonized in 2003. 

In 1957 a new parish home and church kitchen facility was built next to the church, and in 1967 the Church’s Steubenville facilities were completed with the building of a spacious two-story structure to house the church school classes, offices and a parish library. Additionally in 1949 over 20 acres were purchased on King’s Creek in neighboring Weirton, West Virginia to be used as the parish picnic grounds. The Serbian Orthodox Picnic Grounds on King’s Creek is now recognized as the finest facility of its type in the area. The location hosts our annual Church Picnic, held near the end of July, which attracts well over a thousand people and is an annual parish reunion for present and former members from all over the country. 

Our Priest and Church Board

   VREV. Stavrophor Rajko Kosic was born April 19, 1968 in Donji Vakuf, Bosnia. He lived on a farm with his parents and 5 older brothers. At the age of 14 1/2 he went to Dalmatia, Croatia to attend Krka Monastery where he studied for five years. It was there that he met a professor who would become Bishop Mitrophan. 

   After his time at the monastery, he entered the army for a mandatory one year service. He had 80 men reporting to him in an artillery unit. 

   Bishop Mitrophan encouraged him to continue his studies in the United States at St. Sava Monastery in Libertyville, Illinois. It was there that he met his wife, Vera at a dance. After dating for three years, they married. 

   After studying for four years at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox School of Theology,  he worked construction for a year before moving to Pittsburgh to be the Deacon and Secretary for Bishop Mitrophan. He served with the Bishop for 6 years. At that time, he was ordained the Priest of St. Mary’s Serbian Orthodox Church in Clairton, PA. While at St. Mary’s, he continued to work for the Bishop. 

   When there was an opening at the Cathedral in Pittsburgh, Holy Trinity, he was transferred there as their Priest. He remained there over twenty years, until he came to Holy Resurrection Serbian Orthodox Church in October of 2020. 

   Very Reverend Stavrophor Rajko and Protinica Vera have two children, Stevan and Milica. They live in the Pittsburgh suburb of Mt. Lebanon. 

   We are all looking forward to the time when we can all meet Father Rajko in person and welcome him appropriately to Holy Resurrection.

Our Church Board:

Linda Bain, Marsha Sternart, Sandy Connell, John Martich, Gary Stanich, Mark Zatezalo

Harold Strohmeyer, James Price, Michael Tindor

      Linda Bain, Marcia Sternart