Holy Ascension Serbian Orthodox Monastery is an Eastern Orthodox Christian monastery located in Youngwood, Pennsylvania. [1] It is under the omophorion of Bishop Irinej of the Serbian Orthodox Eparchy of Eastern America of the Serbian Orthodox Church. [2] [1]
The early Serbian immigrants, like other European newcomers, were part of the workforce of the Pennsylvania Railroad. A few families did settle in the borough of Youngstown [3] that offered new opportunities. With the ensuing wars in Eastern Europe in the first half of the 20th century, the later wave of immigrants decided to establish permanent institutions, such as a church and a monastery. The Holy Ascension Monastery was built in 1912, one of the oldest in North America. It originally cost $262.88 to build, including the parish house for the priest. The church was renovated in the early 1960s. The centenary was celebrated at the church in 2012. [4] [5]