LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 100th Anniversary of St. Nicho-
las Russian Orthodox Church in Auburn, New York

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
100th Anniversary of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Auburn, New
York, to be celebrated on September 20, 2009; and
WHEREAS, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church was founded on December
1, 1908; prior to that, the spiritual needs of the Auburn faithful were
tended to by Hieromonk Arseny, Abbot of St. Tikhon Monastery; and
WHEREAS, The missionary work and incentive to organize was started by
Very Rev. Alexander Hotovitsky (now St. Alexander, New-Martyr of
Russia), Dean of the New York Cathedral, who came to Auburn on August
26, 1908, at the request of Thomas Garbinsky to perform funeral services
for Mary Zanoviak; and
WHEREAS, On December 4, 1908, land was purchased on the corners of
Cross and Cottage Streets by St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church; reli-
gious services were first held in a small house on the premises that had
been remodeled into a chapel with Father Nicholas Duda appointed
Priest-in-Charge; and
WHEREAS, The first permanent rector of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox
Church was Father Joanniky Keyo (Kivko), who was appointed in March
1909, and permission was granted the following June by Archbishop Platon
to build a church; and
WHEREAS, The cornerstone of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church was
laid on November 25, 1909, and the completed church was dedicated in a
minor form on June 21, 1910, and pontifically consecrated by Bishop
Alexander (Nemolovsky) in 1912; and
WHEREAS, In addition to Thomas Garbinsky as President and Trustee, the
first board of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church included Basil
Kimak, Joseph Pingryn, Gregory Maykovich, Halakton Melnick and George
Brannick; membership in 1910 was 49 families, 34 single adults, 15 chil-
dren ages seven and older and 69 children under age seven; and
WHEREAS, After the return of numerous veterans following World War II,
a program was undertaken to enlarge St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox
Church, which was completed in April 1947, and membership peaked in
1948, with a total of 785 including children; and
WHEREAS, In the past 40 years much work has been done to beautify the
interior of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church; large icons of the
four Evangelists, St. Nicholas, and Christ Enthroned adorn the church
proper, a large icon of the Theotokos adorns the ceiling in the Altar
and life-sized icons of Church Fathers were added in 1987; and
WHEREAS, Early rectors at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church
included Father Dimitrius Kaminsky, Father Andrew Vanyush, Father Antho-
ny Diachenko (1921-1935), and Father Basil Oranovsky; and
WHEREAS, In 1938, Archpriest John Yanchisin was appointed rector, and
he served with distinction as parish priest, and for many years, Dean of
the New York State Deanery, until his passing away in 1962; and
WHEREAS, Following this, rectors to serve St. Nicholas Russian Ortho-
dox Church include Father John Kozak, Father George Cucura, Father
Daniel Geeza, Father Vladimir Soroka, Father Eugene Tarris, Father John
Lickwar and the current rector, Father Stephen Mack; and

WHEREAS, St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church stands on the threshold
of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 100th Anniversary of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox
Church in Auburn, New York, fully confident that this commemoration
reflects the belief in those values which enhance the dignity and
purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Auburn, New York.