37 “We had Santa Christmas too,” Mizerak adds with a chuckle. As parishioners intermarried, moved away or died, the congregation dwindled. After Father Boruch died in 1969 at age 92, visiting priests came from New York, Camp Lejeune and Pennsylvania to sermonize once a month. Soon, there were not enough members to support a priest. Now only three remain — Mizerak; her sister Mary Bakan, 77; and her son David, 62. In 1998, Mizerak’s family recorded the final service led by a priest. Each week at 10 a.m., they meet in their beloved sanctuary to play a CD of the Divine Liturgy and prayers. “We meet because we hate to not keep the church open,” Mizerak explains. In 2007, the Historic Wilmington Foundation placed Sts. Peters and Paul Russian Orthodox Church on its Watch List of Most Threatened Historic Places. While Mizerak’s family holds the deed to the church, it has no plan in writing for the future of Sts. Peter and Paul. Mizerak wants the building to remain a church. “It’s a historical property. We want to honor our parents,” she explains. “We are working on getting the church placed on the National Register of Historic Places, but it’s a long process. It’s very slow and expensive.” With the exception of needing a new roof, the church is physically sound. The family pays the insurance premiums and for pest control. It also maintains the grounds. Out-of-town visitors leave donations. “But we’re hanging on by a string,” Mizerak confesses. Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church is located at 2384 Front Street in St. Helena. Sunday service is at 10 a.m. Donations made to Sts. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church may be sent to Ann Mizerak at 412 Bickett Street, Burgaw, NC 28425. Ann Mizerak, second row, and Mary Bakan and David Mizerak. Top: An attendance and collection log reveals a dwindling congregation. www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
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