St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church

St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church, also known as St. Ioasaph's, was a historic Russian Orthodox church in Muddy, Illinois. It was founded in 1911[3] and completed in 1913.[4]

St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church
St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church is located in Illinois
St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church
St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church is located in the United States
St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church
37°45′56″N 88°31′30″W / 37.7655985°N 88.5249862°W / 37.7655985; -88.5249862
LocationSouth St, Harrisburg, IL
CountryUnited States
DenominationRussian Orthodox
History
Founded1913
Architecture
Groundbreaking1911[1]
Completed1913[2]
Demolished2019
Administration
DioceseAmerican Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese

History

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Carpatho-Rusyn[5] immigrants constructed the church in 1913 to serve the growing mining community of nearby Muddy. The church was built in honor of the recently canonized saint, Joasaph of Belgorod, and funds were provided by Czar Nicholas II.[6] It initially served 60 families.[7][8]

Along with the Holy Protection Church in Royalton (which was built to mimic St. Ioasaphs),[9] St Mary's Orthodox Church in Madison, St. Iosaph's was among the first of several Orthodox churches built to serve immigrant mining communities in southern Illinois. Others included the towns of Benld, Buckner,[10] Grand Tower, and Dowell.[11]

After years of disuse, the church was dismantled in 2019.,[12][13] Several icons were relocated to St. Basil, the Great Orthodox Church in St. Louis. The last service was held at St. Ioasaph's in 2017.[6]

References

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  1. ^ Nicholas Lochmatow. "Commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the glorification of St. Ioasaph, Wonderworker and Bishop of Belgorod".
  2. ^ "News from the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America". 4 January 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  3. ^ STEPHEN RICKERL (2011-09-18). "Orthodox Church Celebrates Life of Saint".
  4. ^ Brian Duneal. "Muddy's Russian Orthodox Church may soon be a memory" (PDF).
  5. ^ "St. Ioasaph Orthodox Church".
  6. ^ a b Isaac Smith. "103-year-old church in Muddy demolished". p. 19 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Story of The Church of St. Iosaph in Muddy, Illinois". Archived from the original on 2008-12-23. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  8. ^ "Worshipers Don't Sleep in this Church". Harrisonburg, Illinois: The Daily Register. Aug 23, 1949. p. 1.
  9. ^ Frances Van Cleve (7 August 1959). "Russian Orthodox Church Unique In Area". Southern Illinoisan. p. 5.
  10. ^ Alliband, Terry (1980). "Expressions: Folkways in Southern Illinois". Siu Historical Documents. THE EASTERN ORTHODOX COMMUNITY IN ROYALTON. Southern Illinois University Carbondale: 8.
  11. ^ FURRY, WILLIAM (6 August 2009). "Shadows of the Motherland Russian Orthodoxy in downstate Illinois". Archived from the original on 2012-02-26. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  12. ^ Cornelia Rees. "THE ST. JOASAPH OF BELGOROD CHURCH—GONE FROM ILLINOIS".
  13. ^ "The last of a bye gone era, Muddy Russian Orthodox Church is no more". Southern Illinois Unearthed.