Orthodox church a part of the area's heritage

Posted by Susanne Weible March 03, 2008 09:45AM

Eastern European immigrants brought many things to Jackson when they arrived in the early 1900s.

Some of the Macedonian cooks created the legendary coney island hotdog and sauce.

Another newcomer, Angelo Johns, opened what many considered the city's best restaurant -- the Regent Cafe.

These early settlers also carried over a deep, abiding love of the Eastern Orthodox faith.

For decades they traveled out of town for worship, most often to East Lansing.

It was 1958 when St. Demetrius Orthodox Church was established as a permanent church.

Many of its first members worked in restaurants, business and law. They included Don and Olga Lazaroff, Andrew and Mary Lazaroff, George and Stephana Evanoff, Ted and Evelyn Ykimoff, Peter and Rina James, Nick and Helen Tannis, Angelo and Florence Lambo, and Alex and Ruth Perlos.

The first Orthodox liturgical service in Jackson took place in July 1956 on the third floor of the Moose Lodge, 136 W. Cortland St. Sixty-five people regularly gathered to celebrate Mass.

A short time later, the Russian Orthodox Church deemed it a mission church, with St. Demetrius of Salonica, Yugoslavia, as its patron saint.

In 1958, the small parish landed in a temporary chapel at 1216 Cooper St. Members launched a fundraising effort for a permanent temple with a dance at the American Legion post.

Two years later, they purchased a former one-room schoolhouse from the East Jackson school system at 3043 Seymour Road. More than 45 families of various nationalities made up the congregation.

In 1969, Jackson artist Frank Turson painted the church icons, following strict Byzantine standards.

Toronto artist Niculai Enachi added more iconography in 2006 when the temple was renovated.

Today, 88 people regularly attend the church. Father Dusan Koprivica serves as its priest.

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