About the Church

The first attempt to organize a church in Midland was on November 27, 1927, when the Serbian School Organization was formed which, unquestionably, was the nucleus from which later was organized the first Church School Congregation. Reverend Paul Veljkov, the first priest to reside here, came to Midland in 1930 for a few months. During Ins stay, the Serbian School group was re-organized at a meeting on December 7, 1930, into the first Church School Congregation, taking as its patron, the Martyr St. George. Unfortunately, the bitter depression and the war years had a definite impact on the church history.

In the midst of so many of these hardships, the first Church School Congregation was dissolved and a heavy and painful period of inactivity bridged the gap between the years 1932 and 1943. In 1943, the American Yugoslav Club was instrumental in reviving interest in resuming action to put back into existence a church School Congregation. At its meeting on February 9, 1945, the president of the American Yugoslav Club announced the purchase of three lots on Tenth Street on which was to be built the beautiful church.

Initially, the Circle of Serbian Sisters had purchased the land on which the present National Home now stands with the intention of having the Church built there but they sold that property to the American Yugoslav Club to build its Home with the understanding that the Club would purchase other property for the erection of the Church. Without the efforts of these two line organizations. it might have taken the Midland colony much longer to achieve its dream of having a church in its area. On March 3, 1945, Bishop Dionisije attended the meeting at which the functioning board was named as the first Supervisory Board. A blessing was bestowed for the work of this youngest congregations and parishes in America, whose first president was John Gypalo and its parish administrator, Father Mladan Trbuhovich. On this date, the parish records were dated and the first official work on the erection of the church began.

In 1946, plans were made to bring to the Midland Parish from a refugee camp in Eboli, Italy, the Reverend Milorad Dobrota as its first permanent priest. On January 19, 1947, the first Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the Chapel which was located on the second floor of the American Yugoslav Club. This Chapel was used until the church was built and dedicated. On October 12, 1947, the cornerstone of the current church was blessed and, on June 18 and 19, 1949, the Church was dedicated. At the suggestion of Bishop Nikolaj Velemirovich, the Church was named Lazarica.” Needless to say, these were the days of tile greatest joy and celebration for the During 1946-1948, Joseph Zlatovich served as president of the church board and in appreciation for his devotion, lie was named Honorary President of the church. There were many organizational and functional Boards during the period from 1906 to 1949, but the first Executive Board for the year 1949 was as follows:

President: George Herak; Vice President: Nicholas Borato; Secretary: Mildred Vlaich: Treasurer: Dorothy Vranes, Financial Secretary: Thomas Trbovich; Alternate Members: Mile Roksandich and Milan Vranes; Board of Control: Mildred Roslovic Beaver, Eva Arbutina, Daisy Suznevich, and Alex Vranes; Tutors: Steve Roknich, Dan Roknich, Stephen Trbovich, Mike Raich, and Mile Studen. The American Yugoslav Club, although not a Church organization, has been, along with the Circle of Serbian Sisters, the greatest strength behind the building of our Church. It was organized on January 2, 1935. The Club allows the use of its facilities for Church functions and contributes monetarily. The Circle of Serbian Sisters provide for the needs of the Parish Home and the church and give of themselves in time arid energy in Church-related activities. We also cannot overlook the men and women who give freely of their time to teaching the various classes in our Church School.

From 1988 to date we have had various priests serving our parish, namely, Fr. Milan Sturgis (July 1988-June 1990); ; various substitute priests (June 1994-October 1994). In the 1990’s the following renovations were done to the church and parish house: New roof, interior of the Lyceum and Lyceum kitchen remodeled, painting of church and restoration of icons, new side doors of the Church, renovated parish house, landscaping, and water sealed the Church exterior. The current Executive Board is as follows: President, Nick Sudar; First Vice President, Paul Adams; Second Vice President. Mirko Arbutina; Secretary, Helen Hineman; Treasurer, Diane Zeljak; Financial Secretary, Ken Janke Sr.; Members at Large, Harry Burzenski, George Drakulich ; Auditing Board, Mara Roksandich, Mara Yandrich and Evelyn Dawson;

We are grateful to all the pioneers for their continued endeavor and persistence from 1905 until 1949 to complete the dream of the Midland Parish and to all the parishioners from 1949 to date who have worked so hard to preserve and promote the Serbian Orthodox faith.