By Nathalie Taghaboni
Special to the Metro Monthly

Few seem to know it sits there on a small, quiet street off Mahoning Avenue on Youngstown’s West Side. No bigger than a modest sized house, the Holy Ghost Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Church sits as a testimony to the old ways even as it bravely faces the new.

Metro Monthly recently chatted with Rev. Basil Duesenberry about the history of the little church and the changes it has seen over the years. “Holy Ghost goes through what Youngstown goes through,” said Basil. “It began when immigrants from Macedonia and Bulgaria arrived and looked for a way to keep the culture and faith of the old country. It didn’t begin as a church though, but as a gathering place to connect and hold on to traditions. These folks used to walk or take the bus from miles around to come here.”

Over the years the congregation grew as business boomed and more Macedonian and Bulgarian immigrants arrived. By the middle of the last century it was flourishing. Then, as Youngstown suffered economic blows and industries and businesses closed or left the valley, members moved away also. Today, the congregation stands at about 50 members.
Yet Holy Ghost remains on South Richview Avenue tended to faithfully by its flock. It may even have guardian angels. “There are times I would come to tidy up the yard or remove the snow only to find that someone has come by and done it already. I have never been able to find out who is helping us out, but we are grateful,” Basil said with a smile.

Several improvements were made to the church building within the last 10 years or so. Basil explains: “They bought the building and property from the Christian Ministries Association and in 1936 dedicated it as the Holy Ghost Macedono-Bulgarian Orthodox Church. It was incorporated in 1955. The building is almost the same as the original structure, but what you see today, both inside and out has a number of improvements.”

The stained glass windows on both sides are the original ones, with the two front panes being later additions. The exterior was redone to give the building longer life, a new ceiling was put in, the icons at the altar were refurbished, some added. The cupola was designed and built by a church member and forged gratis, by a local company. Being a small congregation, there are no funds for hiring outside workers so all of the work is undertaken by Basil and the parishioners.
The sanctuary at Holy Ghost is simple yet steeped in tradition.

The rear area is forbidden to all but the pastor and those consecrated to enter – and even then only through special doors. The altar holds relics of the patron saint of the Bulgarian Church, Saint John of Rila and Saint Herman of Alaska – the first American Saint. In deference to modern changes, the service is given in English but on occasion some hymns may be sung in Church-Slavonic.

Holy Ghost has been a part of the Orthodox Church in America since 1976. Services are held on Sundays at 10 a.m.