St. Nicholas Orthodox Church

305 Gravity Avenue

570-489-3891

Since the nearest Orthodox Church for the people of Olyphant was in either Old Forge or Mayfield, John Chichilla led a group of Russian immigrants, most of who came from Galicia, Austria-Hungary Empire, to found a brotherhood and build a parish church. The following men agreed to help in organizing a parish and in finding new members: Nekita Beckish, Onufer Bubniak, Wasil Dragon, Harry Dzjama, Joseph Fetchina, Wasil Glowatz, Trifon Havirlak, Andrew Hovansky, Benedict Kowalchik, Artemi Krett, Michael Kurilla, Joseph Musho, Harry Pasterchik, Simon Podhisky, Andrew Pronko, Jacob Repella, John Rotko, Theodore Skritnansky, Jacob Smolley, Alex Tomaskevitch, Anthony Witiak, and John Woytovich. Later Constantine Kurilla, who greatly assisted in the construction, joined the parish. The first gathering was held in the home of John Chichilla and a committee was selected to travel to Old Forge and approach Fr Elias Klopotovsky for his assistance. The first religious service was also held in the Chichilla home. The V. Rev Klopotovsky, pastor of St Michael's Church in Old Forge, participated in the service and delivered such an inspiring sermon that those present organized a committee to purchase a piece of land from the Hull Estate for the purpose of building a new church. The lot was purchased for $? at the corner of E Lackawanna and Gravity Ave (then known as Hill St and Gravity Rd) the latter name came from the fact that rails of the Gravity Railroad ran in what is now the street until the railroad was abandoned in the 1890s. Fr Klopotovsky kept Archbishop Tikhon informed of the efforts of the church committee and with the Archbishop's blessing, plans were drawn up, ground was broken in March 1904, and the building project began. St Nicholas would become the third Orthodox Church in Lackawanna County. Pleased with the progress, Fr Klopotovsky requested that Fr John Olshevsky (Mayfield congregation) assist him in providing services for the new congregation. Since more space was needed than provided by the home of either John Chichilla or Joseph Fetchina, accommodations were arranged with the Olyphant School Board to hold services in Washington School, located directly across the street from the newly purchased lot.