HISTORY OF OUR PARISH
“…and on this rock I will build My church.” (Matt 16:18)
More than 2,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit descended upon the
Twelve Apostles gathered in the Upper Room. Birth was given to
the New Testament Church at that very moment. By late
afternoon, some 3,000 souls believed in Christ and were
baptized; hence, the first Christian Community was born. From
Jerusalem, the Christian Faith spread to lands near and far --
Judea , Samaria, Antioch, Asia Minor, Roman Empire, …United
States of America … and Sacramento, California. As the Serbian
Orthodox community grew in Sacramento, the faithful had a
strong desire to worship in their local community. On October
12th, 1952, a group of Serbian Orthodox Christians gathered
together to map out plans for a future Church. Officers were
elected, by-laws were written and submitted and to the Eparhija,
and soon after, we received our Charter. The name of our
church was chosen - "Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice" -
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
During the initial years, the parish faced many challenges.
Foremost were a church building and a permanent pastor.
However, our community was blessed because we were able to
hold services at the Episcopal Church on Capitol Avenue. On
August 28th, 1954,
the first Krsna Slava "Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice" was
celebrated. The first Sunday School classes were held in
October, 1954. In September 1954, Reverend Milovan Shundich
was appointed as pastor to the Jackson and Sacramento
parishes; however, financial woes prohibited our newly formed
parish from obtaining a permanent priest. Also during this time,
our parish incorporated as a non-profit organization under the
laws of the State of California. Reverend Dusan Vavich came to
our parish in September 1957. Through the grace of the Holy
Spirit, the parish grew and bought their first Church located at
3866 65th Street in Sacramento. The Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary was consecrated on October 18, 1959. Most
Reverend Bishop Dionisije, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox
Diocese for the United States and Canada was present.
Fr. Vavich left the parish in 1960 and Rev. Miladin Garic assumed
the duties as parish priest. Our parish enjoyed many years of
spiritual harmony. The period between 1964 and 1975 found us
celebrating the burning of the mortgage of the church,
purchasing and paying off a parish home on Fotos Court, a
triplex next to the church, and a duplex property. On July 17th,
1978, three acres of land in Fair Oaks were purchased. After five
years of careful planning, the building of the Fair Oaks Church,
Social Hall and Parish home began.
Blessing of the Grounds was held on Sunday, October 12th,
1980. A Pontifical Liturgy was held followed by the Ground
Blessing ceremony with His Grace Bishop Gregory officiating.
Kumovi were Lubo Martinovich Danica Ryder. The new hall and
parish home were dedicated on October 18th, 1981. Gordon
Gojkovich was Kum for this occasion. The Cornerstone
Blessing for our new church was held on July 31st, 1983;
Kumovi for this occasion were Mane and Savka Mileusnic. The
Blessing of the Bells and the new Pavilion were also celebrated
shortly thereafter; Kumovi for the Blessing of the Bells were
Gordon Gojkovich, Danica Gojkovich Ryder, John Gojkovich,
Jennie Gojkovich Stossel, Ken Kinnaman, and Gina Gojkovich
Kinnaman; Kumovi for the new Pavilion were Pete and Ceil
Stefanick. Through-out all the ceremonies we were honored by
the presence of His Grace Bishop Gregory and welcomed the
responses of both St. Steven's Cathedral Choir from Alhambra,
CA, as well as our own Pera Ilich Choir under the direction of
Irene Vickers.
Many committed members worked diligently in raising funds to
pay off the mortgage of the Fair Oaks Church. Clearing the debt
allowed us to pursue our dream to adorn the church with
frescoes. Miloje Milinkovic, a talented fresco iconographer,
adorned our beautiful parish with frescoes from the life of our
Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Apostles, and martyred Saints of our
faith. Our Church frescoes were consecrated on October 22,
1986.
Protopresbyter Garic served as our parish priest for 32 years
until his retirement on December 15, 1992. The Reverend
Dobrivoje Milunovic served as our parish priest from December
1992 until August 2002. Our current Parish Priest is
Protopresbyter Dane Popovic, who continues to guide our
spiritual growth.
We are deeply indebted to the founders of our church who had
the vision and perseverance to establish a place of worship for
us. We wish to express our gratitude to all those faithful people
who, through their love and support, have made it possible for
our parish to exist and grow into what it is today.
“…and on this rock I will build My church.” (Matt 16:18)
More than 2,000 years ago, the Holy Spirit descended upon the
Twelve Apostles gathered in the Upper Room. Birth was given to
the New Testament Church at that very moment. By late
afternoon, some 3,000 souls believed in Christ and were
baptized; hence, the first Christian Community was born. From
Jerusalem, the Christian Faith spread to lands near and far --
Judea , Samaria, Antioch, Asia Minor, Roman Empire, …United
States of America … and Sacramento, California. As the Serbian
Orthodox community grew in Sacramento, the faithful had a
strong desire to worship in their local community. On October
12th, 1952, a group of Serbian Orthodox Christians gathered
together to map out plans for a future Church. Officers were
elected, by-laws were written and submitted and to the Eparhija,
and soon after, we received our Charter. The name of our
church was chosen - "Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice" -
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
During the initial years, the parish faced many challenges.
Foremost were a church building and a permanent pastor.
However, our community was blessed because we were able to
hold services at the Episcopal Church on Capitol Avenue. On
August 28th, 1954,
the first Krsna Slava "Uspenije Presvete Bogorodice" was
celebrated. The first Sunday School classes were held in
October, 1954. In September 1954, Reverend Milovan Shundich
was appointed as pastor to the Jackson and Sacramento
parishes; however, financial woes prohibited our newly formed
parish from obtaining a permanent priest. Also during this time,
our parish incorporated as a non-profit organization under the
laws of the State of California. Reverend Dusan Vavich came to
our parish in September 1957. Through the grace of the Holy
Spirit, the parish grew and bought their first Church located at
3866 65th Street in Sacramento. The Assumption of the Blessed
Virgin Mary was consecrated on October 18, 1959. Most
Reverend Bishop Dionisije, Bishop of the Serbian Orthodox
Diocese for the United States and Canada was present.
Fr. Vavich left the parish in 1960 and Rev. Miladin Garic assumed
the duties as parish priest. Our parish enjoyed many years of
spiritual harmony. The period between 1964 and 1975 found us
celebrating the burning of the mortgage of the church,
purchasing and paying off a parish home on Fotos Court, a
triplex next to the church, and a duplex property. On July 17th,
1978, three acres of land in Fair Oaks were purchased. After five
years of careful planning, the building of the Fair Oaks Church,
Social Hall and Parish home began.
Blessing of the Grounds was held on Sunday, October 12th,
1980. A Pontifical Liturgy was held followed by the Ground
Blessing ceremony with His Grace Bishop Gregory officiating.
Kumovi were Lubo Martinovich Danica Ryder. The new hall and
parish home were dedicated on October 18th, 1981. Gordon
Gojkovich was Kum for this occasion. The Cornerstone
Blessing for our new church was held on July 31st, 1983;
Kumovi for this occasion were Mane and Savka Mileusnic. The
Blessing of the Bells and the new Pavilion were also celebrated
shortly thereafter; Kumovi for the Blessing of the Bells were
Gordon Gojkovich, Danica Gojkovich Ryder, John Gojkovich,
Jennie Gojkovich Stossel, Ken Kinnaman, and Gina Gojkovich
Kinnaman; Kumovi for the new Pavilion were Pete and Ceil
Stefanick. Through-out all the ceremonies we were honored by
the presence of His Grace Bishop Gregory and welcomed the
responses of both St. Steven's Cathedral Choir from Alhambra,
CA, as well as our own Pera Ilich Choir under the direction of
Irene Vickers.
Many committed members worked diligently in raising funds to
pay off the mortgage of the Fair Oaks Church. Clearing the debt
allowed us to pursue our dream to adorn the church with
frescoes. Miloje Milinkovic, a talented fresco iconographer,
adorned our beautiful parish with frescoes from the life of our
Lord Jesus Christ, His Holy Apostles, and martyred Saints of our
faith. Our Church frescoes were consecrated on October 22,
1986.
Protopresbyter Garic served as our parish priest for 32 years
until his retirement on December 15, 1992. The Reverend
Dobrivoje Milunovic served as our parish priest from December
1992 until August 2002. Our current Parish Priest is
Protopresbyter Dane Popovic, who continues to guide our
spiritual growth.
We are deeply indebted to the founders of our church who had
the vision and perseverance to establish a place of worship for
us. We wish to express our gratitude to all those faithful people
who, through their love and support, have made it possible for
our parish to exist and grow into what it is today.
NOTE: If anyone has more information about the history of our church (such as stories,
news articles, or photographs) and would like to see it shared on this page, please send
an email to: webmaster (webmaster@sacserbchurch.org)
news articles, or photographs) and would like to see it shared on this page, please send
an email to: webmaster (webmaster@sacserbchurch.org)
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