Diocese: Diocese of the Midwest
Deanery: Cleveland Deanery
Address
110 E Main St
Marblehead, Ohio 43440
Email:
Website: holyassumptionmarblehead.org
Parish Contacts
Lay Leadership
Directions
From State Rt 2
Take Lakeside-Marblehead exit. From west, stay in left lane where ramps converge; from east, move over to left-hand lane of ramp. Ramp makes a sweeping curve to the left and you will be headed north on State Rt 269. At the light, turn right onto State Rt 163, which will take you into Marblehead. As you descend the hill into the village look for a white sign saying “Holy Assumption Orthodox Church - half mile ahead”. The Church is on the right, just after the old stone schoolhouse—look for the “little stone church with the golden domes.” NOTE: Speed limit is 35 mph at village limits (water tower) and 25 mph downtown; strictly enforced.
Schedule of Services
4:00 PM Vespers followed by Confessions (4:45 PM).
Saturday Evening
9:15 AM Third Hour; 9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Sunday Morning
6:00 PM Vespers with Litiya (on the major Feast Days) or Vesperal Liturgy (on certain weekdays). Please check the parish website or bulletin for details.
Eves of Great Feasts
9:30 AM Divine Liturgy.
Mornings of Great Feasts
For a complete list of upcoming services, please visit the Monthly Calendar on the parish website.
Parish Background
Holy Assumption Orthodox Church is a parish of the Orthodox Church in America. Founded in 1898, it is the second oldest Orthodox church in the state of Ohio. It was established by immigrants from the modern European nations of Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
The parish originally met in the old church building of the Marblehead Congregational Church which had been purchased from them. Fr Jason Kappanadze served as its first Supply Priest.
Construction of the current temple began when the founding men of the parish dug, by hand, its foundation. In 1906 the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church instructed Bishop Tikhon to bless the cornerstone, consecrate the temple and conduct the first services in this new church. You can still see today the four main icons in the iconostas, which were donated to the parish by Czar Nicholas II.
Pride in their new church inspired members to new sacrifices and in spite of many hardships and challenges, the parish continued to grow. In 1929, the first formal choir was organized and the youth of the parish formed an “R” Club becoming Chapter #14 of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs. In 1942, the Mothers and Daughters Club was formed. In 1944, the first formal Church School program was established.
The 1940s and 1950s saw many improvements to the temple—two new icons for the altar were completed by M. Rozdilsky, electricity was installed, carpeting laid, pews installed and a new oil furnace was purchased.
In 1953, Fr. Daniel Hubiak was appointed as the first full-time Rector of Holy Assumption. By November 1953, the new rectory was completed and furnished for Fr. Hubiak and his family.
1966 saw the interior of the temple graced with the artistry and Nicholas and Peter Roadway who adorned the walls of the temple with murals depicting the Nativity of the Theotokos, The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Annunciation to the Theotokos, the Sermon on the Mount, and our Lord’s visit to the home of Martha and Mary. In addition, icons of St. Helena, St. Sava of Zvenigorodsk, and of the Protection of the Theotokos were added, along with an icon of the Holy Spirit attended by angels, which was installed over the sanctuary. The ceiling of the nave was decorated with the “sign of victory”—IC XC NIKA at the center, and stars symbolizing the heavens filled the rest of the ceiling.
1969 saw the renovation of the parish hall below the temple.
In 2006, after repairs to the ceiling of the temple were completed, the installation of new iconography both in the altar and in the nave of the temple took place. The icon of the Panagia flanked by two cherubim was placed over the altar, the icon of the Pantocrator was placed in the center of the ceiling of the nave, and the icon of the Holy Napkin was placed over the doors of the vestibule. These icons were written by Fr. Paul Albert of the Antiochian Archdiocese of North America. In addition, the icon of St. Sophia and her three daughters, written by Mr. Dennis Bell, was installed on the eastern wall of the nave.
Today, Holy Assumption continues to bear witness to the Orthodox Faith of the One, Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church as it proclaims the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our parish continues to welcome new members and converts and we play an active role in the community life of the Marblehead Peninsula.
We invite you to join us in this Great Work!