American Slovaks came to the new world with strong faith. Faith saved their lives through their associations, faith reminded them of home through their churches, and faith helped them to preserve their language, customs, and culture for as long as possible. The preservation of temples – churches or orthodox churches – is therefore an important task for memory institutions and vital for understanding the process of emigration.
Kasigarda has already managed to save several interesting artifacts from demolished or abandoned Slovak churches in America, which visitors can admire in their premises – the painting “Christ and the Miners” from the Slovak church in Shenandoah, Pa., or the stained glass from St. Michael’s Church in Munhall, Pa.
Recently, however, we discovered 12 beautiful stained glass windows with the names of the Slovak families who donated the stained glass on the advertising portal. In Kasigarda we decided to save these stained glass windows. We will create the “Altar of Slovak Emigration”, an iconic building in memory and honour of the emigrants – Slovaks who left for the new world and did not forget their faith. The Altar of the Slovak Emigration will consist of 12 roofed pillars anchored in the structure.
The average price of a stained glass window is 5,000 euros, so for stained glass alone, we need about 60,000 euros. We therefore ask for your help. Help us to save this precious heritage of our people! A plaque with the names of the donors will be placed at the Altar of Slovak Emigration. In the name of a good cause, thank you!
Stained glass windows:
1. The Sacred Heart of the Lord Jesus. The gift of Andrea and Ján Amrich.
2. St. John the Baptist. The gift of Michal Šiška and Jan Šiška
3. Heart of Virgin Mary. Gift of Jozef Sebes and Juraj Sebeš
4. St. Michael the Archangel. The gift of Michael Pacig
5. St. John the Baptist. St. John the Baptist Association No. 10 of the First Catholic Slovak Unity in North America
6. St. Andrew. In memory of Brosky family
7. St. Elizabeth. In memory of Michael and Elizabeth Kohut
8. Angel. Donated by the Annunciation Association No. 150 of the Pennsylvania Slovak Catholic Unity
9. The Holy Spirit. The gift of Ján Grivalsky
10. Ten Commandments of God. The gift of Ján Lauf and son Ján
11. The Evangelist Mark. The gift of Matej of Leštinsky
12. Luke the Evangelist. The gift of Nikolaj Ostrofsky
