St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Cathedral, Milwaukee, WI

BRIEF HISTORY OF ST. SAVA CATHEDRAL There were few Serbian immigrants in the city of Milwaukee before the beginning of the 20th century, but by 1912 there were about two and a half thousand Serbian souls here. A great number of Serbs settled in towns surrounding Milwaukee and this number accordingly was much greater. The first institutions established by the Serbian immigrants were the fraternal benevolent Lodges. Four such lodges existed before the founding of the church congregation. A great need was felt for a church. The following people took the initiative to found a church congregation here: Rade Ostojic, Aleksa Klisanac, Mile Rausevic, Nikola Kordic, Obren Zdrale and Marko Novakovic. They called for an assembly of Serbians to take place on February 8, 1912 in the shop of Rade Ostojic, where the founding of the Serbian Orthodox Church took place. Seven days later they presented a petition to the city and county authorities for permission to found the church. In addition to those who signed this petition, the following people participated in the initial founding of the congregation: Nikola Latinovich, Iso Agbaba, Trivo Bjelajac, Mile Drobac, Vaso Miljus, Luka Stojsavljevic, Milan Jovanovic, Dahcar Zoric, Petar Zoric, Rade and Mile Maricic, Nikola Ciganovic, Simo Bukvic and Dane Medich. That same year, the house at 724 S. 3rd St. was purchased and transformed into a house of worship. The house was registered in the name of Rade Ostojic who acted as a temporary president. The house was purchased for $3,500.00. A down payment of $500.00 was made and the remainder was paid off monthly on a land contract. The first Divine Liturgy was served on Christmas Day, January 7th, 1913. First Executive Board On March 21st of the following year, the first election assembly was held and the first executive board of the church congregation was elected. Vaso Dragojlovich was elected the first president, Simo Ozegovich vicepresident, Mihailo Javorina secretary, Trivo Bjelajac treasurer, Jovo Goronja president of the auditing committee and Uros Sijan and Alex Klisanac as members of the auditing committee. The first elected church board was made of reputable and distinguished men. They succeeded in placing the congregation on a solid foundation. Early Parish Priests There were 12 parish priests at the Church of St. Sava during the first period: Dusan Bogich 1912, Ilija Kapidjich 1912, Arhimandrite Hadji Joanikije Markovich-Decanac 1913, 1915, Milan Jugovich 1914, Pavle Veljkov 1916, Janicije Kukuljevich 1917 and 1918, Prota Milan Mrvicin 1919, and 1924-and again in 1931, and 1936, Prota Filip Sredanovich 1925 and 1926, priest Marko Komnenich 1927-1931, at various times during Fr. Komnenich's absence Fr. Matija Stijacich served, Prota George Petrovich from 1936 to 1942. Very Rev. & Protinica Brkich In November of 1942, Prota Milan Brkich was elected as parish priest. With his arrival at the St. Sava Church in Milwaukee there began a new era, filled with enthusiasm and excitement. The new pastor found good men and good Serbs in Milwaukee. This young, energetic visionary surrounded himself with men of good will, those who were constructive and well meaning, and with them he marched without fear or apprehension to create that which was aspired to for many years. Earlier parish priests also put forth great efforts to preserve and improve the spiritual life of the congregation. Archimandrite Hadji Joanikije Markovich-Decanac was experienced and already in his old age. He worked in this young parish in the year of 1915 to acquire the things necessary for church life. He instituted the record books, which still exist today and are of immeasurable historical value. It was not easy to preserve and uphold a newly founded congregation from which even as early as 1912, ninety seven men from Milwaukee returned to the old country to participate in the Balkan Wars, and in 1915, two-hundred and sixty-four volunteers returned to take part in the World War I on the front at Salonika. Joanikije Kukuljevich and Marko Komnenich put forth great efforts to uphold the faith and loyalty to the church. Proto Milan Mrvicin deserves much credit for founding the school and caring for the spiritual and cultural education of both children and adults. Prota George Petrovich-Kordunas also is deserving of great credit for his care for the Serbian youth, especially the choir.(Photo at right: First Choir of St.Sava Serbian Orthodox Church with Reverend Milan Mrvicin as Pastor) Laying Solid Foundations for the Future Prota Milan Brkic, who was elected parish priest on Oct. 11, 1942, laid the solid foundations from which everything that we have today would rise. The land on 27th street which was bought in 1938 was sold, for according to the opinion of Fr. Milan it could not satisfy the needs of the congregation. Fourteen acres were bought at 51st street and West Oklahoma Avenue. In 1946, a decision was made to build American Serb Memorial Hall. The hall was constructed with all of the interior furnishings and was completed and opened July l, 1950. The hall is dedicated to the Milwaukee Serbs, members of the church congregation who have their lives in defense of their homeland, America. The hall was consecrated by the late Bishop Nikolai Velimirovich and the kum was Robert Bob Susnar. At this time many new immigrants began to arrive in Milwaukee from displaced person camps in Germany. This new immigration by its very nature brought in new potential power to the spiritual community in Milwaukee to enhance its progress. In its first year of operation Serb Hall was incredibly successful. Mike Potter was elected manager of the hall and when it became apparent that the mortgage on the hall would be paid off in two to three years, a special assembly of the church congregation was called in 1951 where it was decided to begin the preparations for the building of a new church. It was decided that each parishioner should contribute $100.00 into the building fund. Building Committee On August 25, 1955 it was decided to begin building the new cathedral church of St. Sava in the Serbo-Byzantine style. The following day, August 26, 1956 saw the celebration of the first Serbian Day and the first shovel of dirt was taken at that time. The land was consecrated by Bishop Dionisije of the American-Canadian Diocese. Construction of the Church, Sunday School and Parish Home On October of 1956 work began on the construction of the church, school and parish home. The school was finished by the end of the year and was consecrated March 3, 1957. The kum for the consecration was the church sexton and very active worker, Jovo Devich. Work had gone along very well to the end of the year at which time the period of the spiritual life at the old church was brought to an end. At a meeting on February 4, 1958, the president of the congregation, George Stojsavljevich, announced that the construction of the new church, school and parish house was complete. At this meeting the building committee was dissolved because it had finished its work, and at a meeting held March 3rd a committee for the dedication booklet was held and Peter Pavlovich elected to its presidency. Workers were in a frenzy to complete the preparations for the consecration which was supposed to take place in combination with the 3rd Serbian Days celebration to be held August 30th and 31st. The reputable church member Milan Prijic was elected to be kum of the consecration. 1960s In February of 1961 a special assembly was called to decide the question of an assistant priest. Prota Radovan Milkovich was elected and confirmed as the assistant priest. After a short time he left the Milwaukee parish, having been elected as pastor in Lorain, Ohio. At the semi-annual assembly it was decided to raise a pavilion between the church and Serb Hall and to buy a piece of property in Franklin. The Patriarchal delegation with Metropolitan Damaskin at its head was cordially received in Milwaukee. On November 18, 1961. The Metropolitan served the Divine Liturgy and at that time ordained the graduate theological student Dragoljub Malich to the rank of Deacon. Fr. Malich was accepted as an assistant priest. He assumed the duties of director of the school. By an official act of Bishop Dionisije dated January 8th, 1963 archimandrite Firmilian, the deputy to Bishop Dionisije was appointed the educational head of the Diocese. At its special meeting of July 27, 1963, the Holy Epsicopal Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church elected V. Rev. Archimandrite Firmilian Ocokoljich as Bishop of the Midwest American Diocese. Preparation for his consecration took place at vespers on July 31, 1963, in the St. Sava Cathedral in Milwaukee. Vespers were served by Bishop designate Firmilian with 4 priests and a deacon. The local choir sang responses. The church was filled with people. The next day, August 1, Divine Liturgy was served. Celebrating Liturgy were their Graces Bishops of Branicevo Chrysostom and Eastern America and Canada Stefan, with 25 priests and a deacon. During the Liturgy the consecration of Bishop designate His Grace Rt. Rev. Firmilian took place. In November of 1964, because of reasons of health, Prota Milan Brkich was relieved of duties in this parish. A farewell banquet was held on November 29, and Rev. Sava Vujkov came as his replacement. This was to be a temporary exchange of parishes. Fr. Vujkov came to Milwaukee and Prota Brkich went to Arizona. Fr. Vujkov served here for 4 years, after which he transferred to our sister Russian Orthodox Parish of Sts. Cyril and Methodious here in Milwaukee. Fr. Milan Markovina was elected through a concourse, and assumed duties on June 15, 1969. In this same year the 750th Anniversary of the Serbian Orthodox Church was celebrated in our parish with Dr. Bozidar Furich and Vojvoda Momcilo Djujich as honored speakers. 1970s In February of 1971 a contract was signed with Sirio Tonelli Arts Studios for renovation of the Iconostas in the Cathedral. At the semi-annual meeting of July 10, 1971, architects showed the plans for the new Cultural Center of St. Sava. and the blessing of the cornerstone took place on June 4, 1972. The main speaker at the cornerstone blessing was Congressman Clement Zablocki. The consecration of the Cultural Center took place on September 1st and 2nd, 1973. In 1975 the board at that time had its hands full. The Serb Hall had to be renovated and the cathedral grounds had to be landscaped. More assistance was needed for the school. Preparations were being made for the celebration of the American Bi-Cenntenial. A new assistant priest was being sought. The congregation was obliged to extend financial help to the diocese for its court expenses. In August of this year Gary Monafo was ordained to the rank of deacon. After his ordination he traveled to Belgrade to continue his studies at the Theological Faculty. At the regular meeting of September 9th, Rev. George Kechanin was elected assistant priest. In 1976 the American Supreme court recognized all of the decisions of the Holy Synod of the Serbian Orthodox Church in connection with the case involving leaders of the schism and the defrocking of Bishop Dionisije. It reversed all the decisions of the courts in the state of Illinois and ordered that the decisions of the American Supreme Court be carried out. Because of the exceptional success of the celebration of America's Bi-cenntenial, Bishop of the Midwest American Diocese Dr. Firmilian was pleased to award an Episcopal Gramata to the pastor and the president of the congregation. In receiving the Gramata both the pastor and the president stated that the Gramatas do not belong only to them but also the the Stevan Sijacki Choir and the Serbian Sisters Circle for they put forth much effort to assure the success of this celebration as well as the success of the Vidovdan banquet and celebration in honor of Crown Prince Alexander. In 1977 Fr. George Kechanin went to another parish and Fr. Peter Jovanovich came in his place and stayed just under a year, from March 1977 to February of 1978. 1980s In 1980 the three new church bells in the cathedral were blessed by His Grace Bishop Lavrentija of Western Europe. The church congregation raised and blessed the headstone at the grave of Proto Milan Brkich in Libertyville, expressing its thanks for all the good that Proto Milan had done for the parishioners in Milwaukee. The blessing took place on November 29. This is only a token of the love and respect Proto Brkich deserved. Final payment was made to the bank on the Cultural Center mortgage on October 8,1983. It was decided that there should be a celebration with the burning of the mortgage on November 13th and that at the same time we should mark the 25th anniversary of the consecration of St Sava Cathedral. It was decided that this celebration should also mark the decoration of our deserving pastor Prota Milan Markovina, whom the highest body of the Serbian Orthodox Church the Holy Episcopal Synod, decorated with the right to wear the pectoral cross. This triple celebration was a very meaningful day in the history of our church congregation. At that time, the interior of our church was not yet completely decorated. It should be mentioned that in addition to individual donations for the interior decoration of the church, the Circle of Serbian Sisters have paid $209,850.00 for the installation of mosiacs, the Loyal Order of St. Sava paid $31,888.00 and Stevan Sijacki Choir paid $19,600.00, the local committee of Serbian Chetniks recently paid $5,000.00 and the Serbian Benevolent Society Jedinstvo #99, of the Serb National Federation also gave $5,000.00. On March 7, 1985 a committee was organized for collecting donations for the National Cathedral of St. Sava in Belgrade at Vracar and to date more than $300,000.00 have been sent for that cause. Our church school congregation not only assumed first place in the entire Serbian Orthodox Church by doing this, but it manifested its high spiritual awareness and love for its patron teacher and enlighter St. Sava. In Sept. 1987, Fr. Janko Trbovich was accepted as assistant pastor. After paying the mortgage on the Cultural Center, preparations were made for further expansion to Serb Hall and with this new Serb Hall, the congregation entered into a new phase of its growth and progress. How our future will be, rests in the hands of those who will lead us. It will depend on our unity, our understanding of that which is most important, which is best for the general interest of the St. Sava Cathedral Congregation which has grown and became what it is only because of the unselfish sacrifices of our old pioneers and all of the many workers of later generations.Our great Heirarch Bishop Nikolaj gave us a prayerful instruction which we should always have in mind and with which we will complete this historical resume of our congregation: St. Sava Help Us All To Live In Unity!