Memories of Holy Dormition Church in Benld

This website is an online compilation of memories about the Holy Dormition Orthodox Church in Benld and its people. It is not an official church website. We encourage you to visit the official online page of the parish at

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The Holy Dormition Orthodox Church has been an active presence in Benld and a spiritual home for its parishioners in the region for over one hundred years. Established in 1907 by a dedicated group of Slavic immigrants mainly from regions of Eastern Europe, the church saw rapid growth in membership and activity in its early years. A rather large number of infant baptisms were recorded annually from 1910 to 1920.

In the middle of this growth period, on July 27, 1915, a catastrophic fire consumed the original wooden church entirely. Through renewed sacrifice, collective labor, and a shared pledge, the beautiful brick edifice that stands today at the corner of 304 North Fourth Street in Benld rose from the ashes.

Many parishioners with large and extended families made Macoupin county their permanent home, which provided stability for the parish through many decades. With growth and stability, the Holy Dormition parish developed a parochial school and an active sisterhood. In the 1930s, Father Nikita Gress — a local Rusyn priest — devoted himself to painting icons and adorning the interior of the church, enriching its beauty for future generations. Ongoing renovations by the faithful have preserved the temple through the decades.

In 2007 — marking its centennial — the church received an Illinois Centennial Parish Award from the Illinois State Historical Society, and an Illinois Senate Recognition certificate for "celebrating a century of the Orthodox Community in Benld." The church is also celebrated as a classic landmark along historic U.S. Route 66. Holy Dormition Church is also featured on the Benld page of the Mythic Mississippi Project of the University of Illinois.

Holy Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Church in Benld has remained steady in its commitment to the ancient, Orthodox expression of the Christian faith. Through its century of parish life, many memories of people and events have been formed, and we invite you to explore some of these memories on the pages of this website. The menu at the top of the page (at top left on mobile devices) is organized according to themes under which you can find many pages to explore and enjoy. This is still a work in progress, and we hope to add more information and memorial pages of parishioners in the future.

 

Recently Added Memorial Pages

• Helen Groziak
• Wasyl Kehart
• George Zebrun
• Harry Arden
• Millie Arden
• Peter Spudich
• Mary Spudich
• David Wasylenko
• Matushka Kovalchuk

 

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Church Address:
304 North Fourth Street
Benld, Illinois 62009