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I received a note from one of my correspondents about the Melkite parish in DuBois, Pennsylvania. I thought it might be of interest to the members of the Forum who have been following this thread. Here is what I was told:

"Back in the mid-1970s, the late Fr. John Osacky (later Archbishop Job of Chicago) was the priest in the little OCA parish in Black Lick, PA. He was a very active priest, who not only revived his moribund parish, but organized Orthodox communities in Indiana, PA, and DuBois.

When the community in DuBois had reached the point where it felt the need for its own church building, Fr. John and a committee of mission members began to look at various properties which might suit their needs. One of the properties they were shown was the former Melkite church in town. It had been shuttered on the market for quite some time.

However, after the realtor showed the property to the committee, the Melkite hierarchy in Massachusetts made it known that they would not sell the redundant church to any Orthodox group. This stipulation was then inserted into the terms of sale. The attitude of the Melkite church regarding their Orthodox brethren was at the time very much along the lines of Aesop's dog in the manger: "We can't use it, but you can't have it either".

Fr. Stephan Meholick, the OCA priest in San Anselmo, CA, can confirm the accuracy of this account. He is originally from DuBois and was close to the late Archbishop Job in those days."

Fr David Straut

Bless, Father David,

While I don't doubt the veracity of your correspondent, I have to admit my great surprise at the account. That would have been in the era of Archbishop Joseph (Tawil), of blessed memory, and would be very out of character for him. The relationship of the exarchate or eparchy ('76 was the year of status change) with our Orthodox brethren at both the presbyteral and episcopal levels was excellent (albeit those relationships would have been almost exclusively with the Antiochians and Greeks at the time).

I'm wracking my brain trying to think if there was anyone involved at the chancery in that timeframe who might have had a very different personal viewpoint and dared to take it upon themselves to express it as official - but, no one comes to mind.

Many years,

Neil

If Father Stephen said it, then I don't doubt a bit. Perhaps there was more to it than Fr Stephen was aware??

It actually worked out well for them; the church is in a flood plain and the protestant church which they purchased is more accommodating, in my opinion.