RESEARCHER TELLS STORY OF AREA RUSSIANS
By Bro. Joe Welschmeyer.

(Editor's note: The following was written by Bro. Joe Welschmeyer who is doing research on the people from Russia and the Ukrain who settled in the Mineral Area. He hopes to hear from people who are related or have information on this group. He may be contacted by writing him at 7700 S. 43rd St., Omaha, Neb. 68147.)

Around 1900 workers from Eastern Europe arrived in the Desloge area of St. Francois County, seeking employment in the lead and zinc mines of the region. Among these Slavic peoples were a group of immigrants from what is now known as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, a republic of the Soviet Union. In 1986 these people would refer to themselves as Ukrainians. However, in 1900 there was no separate national designation for these peoples and they were classified as Russians, or Little Russians.

The research so far shows that both Russians and Ukrainians were known to have been among the immigrants at Desloge. As there is nothing written on these people in local history, one is left with no choice except to start at their descendants and hope to gather some information.

What is known is that around 1887, Piotr Pvokos from the Ukraine settled at the mining community of Desloge. By 1903 he was joined with others including families. Some thirteen of these families had come from "Drohobyycz" County of the Western Ukraine. This was an area that was controlled by the Austro-Hungarian Empire in Vienna, Austria. Inhabitants of the Western Ukraine were allowed by their government to emigrate to the Americas. However, those inhabitants of the Eastern Ukraine were under the Czarzist government in St. Petersburg, Russia, and these were not permitted to emigrate to America.

These Ukrainians from the Western Ukraine who settled in St. Francois County had been recruited at some point to come to Southeastern Missouri to work in the mines. These first immigrants organized a Brotherhood which was a society or benevolent organization to care for the immigrants temporal and spiritual needs. Through this Brotherhood, a movement was started in 1905 to organize a Greek-Catholic (Ruthenian-Rite) parish.

Several Greek-Catholic priests ministered to the parish before the Vatican authorities named Bishop Stephan Ortynski in 1907. In March 1908 a division occurred at the Desloge parish. Some of the members declared that they were not Catholic, but were Eastern Orthodox. They were among the trustees of the parish who voted not to recognize the Roman Catholic archbishop of St. Louis, nor the Greek-Catholic bishop of Philadelphia, Pa., but rather the Russian Orthodox Archbishop Platon of New York City.

The result of this division of parishioners was an injunction issued by Judge Killian of Perryville, giving the Catholics possession of the parish. When an Orthodox priest, Fr. John Gratzon, took control of the rectory and the church vessels and vestments, the Archbishop of the St. Louis Archdioces brought the case to civil court for the return of the properties. The case was known as Glennon et al vs. Gratzon et al. The case was decided in favor of the Archbishop of St. Louis.

The result of the court case was the building of a separate Orthodox parish church. This brick building stood on Tyler St. facing the city park and was built in 1910. This church was under the patronage of "Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary" (went by other names at times). As this parish was under the jurisdiction of the Russian Orthodox Archbishop, its parishioners became designated as being "Russians." Before the court case the original parish had 500 members; afterwards some 266 individuals identified themselves as being Orthodox.

After the court case the original Greek-Catholic church burned. This building stood on Monroe St. aside the railroad, it was replaced with a brick church near Walnut and Third St., north of the city park. It was built prior to 1914, but was not dedicated until 1924. (There is an incident with the bell having been stolen from the first church, and at least one source believed the church had been burned by arson).

On July 13, 1917 mob action incited what became known as the "Lead Belt Mining Riot of 1917." The mob treatment of foreign workers forced these people to leave the area. Some returned only after the Missouri National Guard restored order to the area communities. The majority chose to find homes and employment in areas such as south St. Louis and in Detroit, Michigan.

Those Russian and Ukrainians who remained in the area faced another crisis after the depression years. In 1933 several of the lead mines were closed, thus again reducing the membership of both the Greek-Catholic and Russian Orthodox parishes.

Rev. Michael Lukasky was the pastor during its last years of the Greek-Catholic (Ukrainian) parish. From an original 500 members in 1905 the membership had continually declined. In 1925 the parish instruction class enrolled some 57 students. There was a lodge hall with a stage where plays were given in the Ukrainian language. By 1941 membership had dwindled and the hall was torn down. In 1944 the roof of the brick church was damaged by a tornado. Fr. Lukasky and his family lived in the rectory where he maintained a small chapel, for in his older years it was difficult for him to lead the Divine Liturgy in the church itself. He died on September 1, 1947 and was buried in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery in Flat River. At that time the church was closed. On May 21, 1957 the brick church was destroyed by a tornado.

The membership of the Russian Orthodox parish dwindled too through the years. Since 1932 it has been served by the Russian Orthodox priest in St. Louis, Mo. On September 23, 1973 the parish celebrated its 65th anniversary while Rt. Rev. John Tertichny was mission pastor. On June 24, 1979, Bishop Boris of Chicago made his archpastoral visit to the parish as diocesan bishop. The membership of 47 (some not local) are served on occasion by a priest from the St. Louis Deanery of the Orthodox Church in America. (Since 1970 the title of the jurisdiction was renamed the Orthodox Church in America when it was granted self-government by the Patriarch of Moscow).

Published in THE DAILY JOURNAL, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO,
Wed. Feb. 26, 1986, pages 1 & 2.

REV. M. LUKASKY DIED IN DESLOGE

Rev. Michael Lukasky, who had served as pastor of the Greek Catholic Church in Desloge the past twenty-five years, passed away at his home there on Monday, September 1, 1947, ending a lingering illness. He was 87 years of age.

Rev. Lukasky, who was of Ukranian ancestry, was born in a small province in Europe, as was his wife, Mary Stelmaschuk Lukasky. They came to America about forty years ago. He had several brothers and sisters, but the family had not heard from them since the recent World War.

He is survived by his wife and one daughter (Sophia) Mrs. James L. Blunt, Jr., and two grandchildren, Nancy Sue and Mark Noel Blunt of Desloge.

Funeral services will be held this morning at 8:30 o'clock, at the church he served so long, and will be conducted by the Rev. Denyo of St. Louis. Interment will be in the Roman Catholic Cemetery, with Boyer Service.

Published by THE LEAD BELT NEWS, Flat River, St. Francois Co. MO, Fri. Sept. 5, 1947.

THE NATIVITY OF THE VIRGIN MARY ORTHODOX CHURCH , DESLOGE, MISSOURI

The parish prospered and grew to a membership of approximately 500 Orthodox members, and during the 1920’s there were dozens of baptisms and weddings each year.  The Church at that time was not heated except by the candles used during services, and its high tin ceiling made for some cold winter services.  Many families recall long trek to the Church services and functions, faithfully making the trips either on foot or horse and buggy.  It is a graciously designed red brick structure, topped with a cupola, painted white, and several “three-bar” crosses, the traditional design of Russian Orthodox Churches.

About 1933 a major decline in employment was caused by the closing of several lead mines.  Many of the members out of work turned to farming and others migrated to the St. Louis area, consequently founding several other Orthodox parishes in their new neighborhoods.  Membership in the Desloge parish suffered a great reduction which has not yet been regained.  For more than 40 years the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Church did not have a resident priest and was serviced by clergy from the St. Louis area periodically.  In spite of these conditions, the parishioners faithfully maintained the church building, grounds, and cemetery, and the Church is much like it was at its founding.  During the 1980’s a slightly increased membership again felt the desire for a full-time rector and Church life.  Since 1986 the parish has had a resident priest and full schedule of services, sharing fellowship, and witnessing to the community which it has been part of for most of its history.

The Church is adjacent to the very attractive Desloge City Park, nestled in the trees, easily accessible, and welcomes visitors at any time.  Those interested can call 314-431-4284.  The parish is a part of the Diocese of Midwest, of the Orthodox Church in America.

*It is one of only two in Missouri, the other being in St. Louis, Missouri.

*A Greek Orthodox Church had been located across the Desloge Park from the Russian.  It was destroyed during a tornado in 1957.  Its members joined the regular Catholic Church in Desloge and Flat River.

THE LITTLE CHURCH BY THE TENNIS COURTS
~~ St. Mary's celebrates a centennial ~~

It's known as the church by the tennis courts in Desloge,
but it's been there much longer than the courts. The church at
400 Tyler Street was founded in 1908

By D.HICKMAN - Daily Journal Staff Writer
Oct 12, 2008

DESLOGE  -  When Nancy Steck rises to read the liturgy for worship at her church this morning and every Sunday morning, she remembers little girls in pretty pink dresses.  Decades ago, she was one of them.

"There were 11 of us, 9 girls and 2 boys in my family," she explained. "We girls would dress up in pink dresses and walk to church. We were here for Vespers on Saturday night, Sunday morning church and Vespers at night."

Mary Market's family of 8 brothers and sisters rode on a train from Bonne Terre to Desloge to come to church.

Roy Lukachick's family of 10 siblings sometimes walked to church with their parents "all the way from Hurryville, several miles away".

They went to The Nativity of the Holy Virgin Mary Orthodox Church in Desloge. Then, as many as 500 parishioners were part of the congregation,  most of them of Russian descent from Galicia and Austria-Hungary.

"At Christmas, we would sing the Russian carols," said Ms. Steck. "At Easter we would decorate the tomb of Jesus. These are the beautiful things you remember."

Now, these three and about nine others are among the little church's only members.

Rich Heritage

The people who established St. Mary's Parish had come to America in search of jobs and religious freedom. Since they were miners, the lead mines of Missouri drew them here.

The church is part of the Orthodox Church of America, based in New York. There are only eight such churches in Missouri. According to the Orthodox Church of America Web site, by 1906 there was a Uniate Church in Desloge. Such churches are a community of eastern Christians who are in union with the Roman Catholic church, but retain their own language and customs.

In 1908, Fr. John Gratson arrived to start up an Orthodox parish. The National Lead Company donated the land for the Church, the rectory, and the nearby cemetery. The current church was built that same year at 400 Tyler Street at a cost of $5,000.

According to St. Mary's history, the first couple in the parish to be married were Wasyl Sosiak and Mary Posipanko.

By 1916, the membership had grown to 320, with 53 children in the Church school, which met daily when public schools weren't in season.

When anti-immigrant sentiment came to a head in July 1917,  miners rioted and drove out a significant portion of the foreign-born miners, many of whom were St. Mary's parishioners. By 1918, the membership count was 75, and it never went up again. For 50 years, there was no priest to serve the dwindling congregation. In 1986, Fr. Joseph Fester arrived, and during his nine years as rector he revitalized the life of the congregation and refurbished the interior of the church.

To look inside, with its beautiful, ornate icons on every wall and 14 pictures of saints that line the way to the altar, it's hard to imagine there's room for a crowd of worshipers. But, as was their church's custom, they stood throughout the service. Twelve pews were installed just a few years ago.

Every icon in the church reflects the church's heritage as it
was begun by a group of European immigrants of Russian descent.

"Some of us can't stand that long anymore," said Mr. Lukachick.

There was no heat for many years. Now, two gas heaters keep worshipers warm. Electric lights came a few years earlier. Before that, the crowd had worshiped by candlelight. A chandelier of candles hangs at the center of the sanctuary. There are candles throughout that the parishioners light in memory of the dead and in prayer for the living.

The pine floors are original to the church, as is the pressed tin ceiling. There are three-bar crosses throughout the church and a cupola, painted white, with another cross on top of the building. The three-bar cross is the traditional design of Russian Orthodox Churches.

The altar is at the center of the front of the church behind a closed gate. Only the priest is allowed behind the gate during worship.

It's hard to imagine 500 worshipers in the Nativity of the Virgin Mary Orthodox
Church, but that's how many were part of the parish in the 1920s.
Now, only a handful of them take part in services every Sunday.
A priest comes once a month.

Words from the Bible are read now in English. They used to be read in Russian. A book of the Gospel accounts of the life of Christ written in Russian is reverently placed on a table.

"That's why a lot of the people left the church," said Mrs. Market. "They could not understand what was read."

Mr. Lukachick admits, he didn't understand it, either, but his family sometimes quoted it.

"We were '˜Hillbilly Russian,'' he said with a chuckle.

Nancy Steck said though they didn't know the language, they knew of the words' importance.

"The faith was instilled in us, even if we couldn't understand the words," she said. "It means everything to us. You gain a lot of strength from it."

They sing without instruments, making music from the words of The Psalms and the Beatitudes from the Bible. They sing the Prokeimenon and the Kontakia. They sing Antiphons, words rich in the history of their faith.

Ms. Steck reads the Bible verses and leads the congregation in singing on three Sundays each month. Rev. Michael Abranas is the pastor. Greg Market is the deacon.

"We're known as the church beside the tennis courts," said Ms. Steck.

Uncertain future

Most of the descendants of the first families of the church have moved away. Others have joined other churches. All but three of the 12 members who attend regularly now are elderly. But they don't foresee a time when the little church will close its doors forever.

"We ring the bell every Sunday," said Mr. Lukachick, as he pulled the rope just inside the church's front door to sound the bell just once. "It used to be two of us who would go up in the tower and ring two bells. We couldn't do that now."

Mary Zieba married Daniel Lukachick on May 11, 1913 at St. Mary's Church.
Their grandson, Mike Lukachick says she arrived in America in
April and married a month later. He was 26. She was 16. Submitted photo

Once, the congregation used to take part in the Desloge Labor Day Picnic, selling baked goods. Now, the trio of friends say they do well to keep the services going every week.

The last wedding in the church was when Susan and Phillip Moser renewed their vows a couple of years ago. The last funeral was for Ed Harter over a year ago. Nobody remembers the last baptism.

"We are going to hang on as long as we can," said Ms. Steck softly. "Our parents would be proud of us. We put our heart and soul into this."

She said priests and others who have visited the church have been surprised by how well they've been able to keep it up.

The church marked its 100th birthday with services and fellowship on Sept. 28. It seemed a little like old times when about 150 family and friends came to worship.

Parishioners at St. Mary's welcome family, guests and former members
at the 100th anniversary celebration on Sept. 28. There were about
150 people in attendance at the church. Submitted photo

At the end of their printed program for the anniversary are written two phrases: "Minohaya Lyeta” God grant you many years; "Vechnaya Pamyat” Memory eternal to all the departed loves ones.

"Our doors are always open on Sundays," said Nancy Steck. "Our priest comes on the fourth Sunday of each month. But every Sunday at 10 a.m., we have the liturgy. We'll do that for as long as we can keep it going."