St. George Parish History

Orthodox Cross

The History St. George Church

In 1898 the first Serb, Stojan Stjepanovic, came to Kansas City from a village near Ogulin. Soon after his arrival, Stojan sent for his wife, Ana, to join him in the heart of America.

The Serbian community grew steadily as Kansas became the destination for other Serb families immigrating to America from the villages around Plaski, Gospic and Kordun in Austro-Hungary.

The "West Bottoms" circa 1890's

By the end of the nineteenth century, Kansas City was known as "the cattle capital of the world," and was, home to the Big Five Meat Packers, the largest meat packing center in the United States.

Most of the first Serbian immigrants to our area found work in the meat packing houses of the west bottoms.

Early in 1900, the small Serbian community recorded it's first death. After several days in the hospital, Isaac Vujnovich died from injuries he received in an industrial accident.

In good times and bad the small, yet burgeoning, Serb community showed their united Christian Love for one another by taking upon themselves full responsibility for his burial.

Isaac's tragic and untimely death bore out the need for life insurance, which was costly and difficult to obtain, especially for non-English speaking immigrants. Again, the unity of the Serb's would prove to pay off as they started meeting in various homes to explore their options.

From these meetings Milvoje Tepsich and Nikola Potkonjac was appointed to investigate the possibility of forming a fraternal organization and what plans were available. On April 4th, 1904 a special meeting was held and their report was accepted. The Serbian Orthodox Federation Srbobran was selected.

St. George Serbian Orthodox Federation Srbobran

1904 Executive Board

Mane Dokmanovich.............President

Jovo Yanjatovich.................Vice President

Mark Terbovich...................Secretary

Rade Strika.........................Treasurer

Nikola Potkonjac.................Financial Secretary

Jovo Katich.........................President Audit Committee

Peter Bunjevac....................President Sick Committee

Elija Vujnovich....................Marshall

This new organization was named after and dedicate to St. George, because the saint is the Krsna Slava or Patron Saint of the majority of the original families.

The Original Families

Ajdukovic (Aydukovich), Alincic (Allinich), Babic, Boca, Bosnjak, Bozic, Budimlija, Cankovic (Chandler), Damjanovic (Denonovich), Dokmanovic (Docman), Dodik (Dodig), Grba (Gerba or Gurba), Grkovic (Gerkovich), Hajdukovic (Dukovich), Jaksic (Yacich), Jancic, Jovetic (Yovetich or Harmon), Kalinic, Karleusa (Carrles), Katic, Kovacevic (Kovich), Krajnovic, Krneta, Latas, Licina, Ljubobratovic (Lubratovic or Jubratic), Markovic, Milic, Miscevic, Momcilovic (Monchil), Njegovan, Ogrizovic, Pavlica, Petrovic, Plecas (Pleacher), Pocuca (Ponich or Ponick), Potkonjak (Ponak), Risovic (Resovich), Skorupan, Stanar, Stjepanovic (Stepanovich), Stopa, Strika, Sumonja, Supica, Trbojevic (Terbovich), Uzelac, Veselinovic (Vesel), Vujnovic (Vunovich), Vukelic, Vukas, Zuzic.

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In that same year, 1904, a property on James Street was purchased to serve as the first Serbian community hall. (No Photo Available) Today, it would be near the U.P.S. distribution center.

Shortly thereafter, the first Orthodox Christian services in Kansas City were held at the new hall when Fr. Paja Radosavljevich, M.D. was sent from South Chicago as part time priest. From 1904 through 1905, he officiated several Holy Baptisms and weddings. He blessed homes, served the first Slava and the first Divine Liturgy.

Our Parish has been served by over 20 priests since 1904.

Cklick Here to view a complete list of the Priests that have served the St. George Community

St. George Serbian Orthodox Church was chartered on April 18th, 1906.

Building on all that went before, the now firmly rooted Serbian community purchased two houses on North First Street in the "west bottoms" of Kansas City, Kansas. One would serve as the first parish home, the other after remodeling, including adding a bell tower would become our first Church building.

With a Serbian hall, parish home and Church building our community was blessed by the Bishop when he sent the highly ranked Priest-Monk, Archmindrate Joanikije Markovich.

The first Parish Board President was Marko Trbojevic, originally from Jezero, Plaski.

At the time St. George Church was the only Orthodox Church in the Kansas City area and served the spiritual needs of all the Orthodox Faithful.

The first St. George Parish in Kansas. (cr.1906) If You have another photo, please tell us!!!

The St. George church building at 35 North First St.

1918 Serbian National Federation Lodge 43

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They all came to Kansas City prior to the First War. From 1915 to 1917 a group of about 25 young men went back to Serbia to fight for the Freedom of their Motherland. The majority of them have never come back to America. Several other parishioners served in the U.S. Army during the First War 1914-1918.

Our current Chaple built in 1925. { CLICK } to see a large photo.

With a growing community, our current church building was finished in 1925.

During the Second War 1941-45 over 50 Serbian-American men served their Country in the Armed Forces of the United States. Two of them gave their lives for it: Mike Gerkovich and Joe Miscevich.

American Serb, Dewey Stopa, gave his life during the 1950's War in Korea.

From 1949 until 1953 almost 40 Serbian families came from "DP" Displaced Persons camps in Germany and other parts of the World to Kansas City. They were brought by Serbian Orthodox Diocese, Serbian National Defense or by some private affidavits. We have some names of the immigrants but not all. When we complete the list, it is going to be published.

The Social Hall was built after the arrival of "new comers" from the DP camps in Germany. Pictured at right is Bishop Dionisije Consecrating the foundation of our Memorial Social Hall with Fr. Dusan Milakov in 1953.
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