It is devastating to see the destruction of this significant historic monument. I only recently learned about the Catholic Church's decision to demolish this church. It is a blow to Lithuanian-American cultural heritage and the history of Lithuanian immigrant workers that lived and died in the mines to fuel America's growth as a nation. The workers and their families donated so generously to erect this church for their community and families, while earning subsistence wages in the mines. It is also disturbing to see that nothing was done to preserve the art, architectural elements, sculpture or organ. Thank you for making these photos publicly available for all to witness this sad moment.
Can't believe it! I used go to church there with my grandfather when I was child. He passed away years ago. I loved visiting Shenandoah when I was young. I was going to show my a son picture of the church and found this video.
I attended St George's Church as a child with my Babci♡ when we came to visit in the summers of my youth. It was a beautiful Church . I will miss seeing it there when ever I come to visit. This is my Home Town. .I will always remember this beautiful Church. Diane Bilewicz Clark. OHIO
This church meant a lot to me I went to a school really close to it its my first year not being in that school and I miss visiting that chuch for masses during school.
When ever we lose a church in a community, we lose not only a building but the community it served. Churches have always been and will always be not only places to worship but also places for people to gather and be together as a group. Churches serve their congregations as well as their communities in so many different ways. It’s very disheartening to see a building as beautiful and historic as St George’s Lithuanian Church be demolished. It leaves a hole in the community that can never be refilled, like losing a family member or a friend. St George’s had a wonderful and rich history behind it. I’m a truly sorry that it was demolished. Architecture and the art in the building can never be replaced.
Breaks my heart! These are treasures we'll never get back. C aommunities are in ruin because our spiritual walk is in ruin, So sad to these buildings being destroyed. Probably a minimally small, aged congregation that could no longer support the building itself.
I am so very sad to see this beautiful church destroyed. It is the church where my Mother received her first communion and confirmation and was married. The artist who painted the ceiling used the faces of my Mother and her sisters for those of the angels (Zemalis family). I have fond memories of Shenandoah and the time I spent there as a child. Is nothing historical? What a tragedy! I found this video on Mother's day and I am crying. I do thank the photographers for being so sensitive.
How sad and empty this leaves me. I feel so bad for these precious Lithuanian people whose beautiful church this was. I see the Diocese pinched every bit of loveliness that will bring them a buck.
Soooooooooo sad..........my father's family was instumental in the founding of this church. Their name is on one of the bells.....what I would give for a brick, stone, piece of wood. Were there any artifacts saved? Where are the bells ? Beautiful, heartbreaking video. Thank you, Mary Strolis schulz
I am a Lithuanian organist in California and seeing the organ destroyed was very difficult for me. I am sure someone would have taken it and installed somewhere else.
They could have just removed the parts that they said were dangerous. So what's left? An empty lot which is of no use to Shenandoah. Anybody paying property taxes on the lot? I doubt it. VERY SAD.
There are a myriad of reasons why I am no longer Catholic. The fact that the church has ZERO institutional compassion (to the point of it being almost spiteful and cruel) is yet another of those reasons. To coldly tear down something that respects an entire community is case in point.
This is so sad to see a beautiful church gone due to peoples ignorance. What became of the angels that sat atop the church? And the windows and bells etc??
That's unfortunate...usually they try to save as many relics as possible and relocate them. Must not have been practical in this case. :( The destruction of the organ is heartbreaking...there are many enthusiasts out there who probably would have enjoyed a restoration project. Glad to see that gorgeous stained glass window was saved.
@@PreservationEnthusiast We Lithuanians are a hadry people. more attack on our identity then we can count and we dispite our roman catolic religion still celebrate all are pagan celebration even the catedral in the current capital of Lithuania was build on on the site where our pagain temple of thunderstorm. so the Lithuanians will survive.
The music in this video is titled, “The Sad Trio” by Kevin MacLeod. A very fitting song for a sad video showing a very beautiful church being demolished. From what I read In my research of this building the Allentown, PA diocese never did own this church. It was built buy the Lithuanians of Shenandoah, PA and they maintained it, not the diocese. The Arch Diocese of Allentown never paid anything for its upkeep, renovations, basically nothing. How they got to make the decision to demolish it, I’ll never know. It belonged to the Lithuanian community of Shenandoah not the Allentown Diocese. What at very tragic loss to the community it must have been. The organ alone would cost about a million dollars be todays standards. They should have had the sense to at least sell or give it to another church.
This video brings tears to my eyes. To see such a gorgeous house of God destroyed....ugh............. Does anyone know what became of its beautiful interior furnishings, windows, bells, and instruments?? I'd really appreciate knowing that... I'd love to also know more about Saint George's. please let me know
En Lithuanie aussi ?!!...même le buffet d'orgue est éventré, quel massacre ! Pendant que la Russie reconstruit et embellit ses églises, ça c'est un comble ! EU = new USSR ... with flowers, ecology and Champagne !
@jk8429 I Agree with you. I cant believe they destroyed the organ. It could have been saved ! ! I wonder what they did with all the things they did save?
I think it is a shame that the statues and religious art work was not removed and saved. As far as the structure is concerned, I wish they would demolish each and every one of those hideous looking old gothic structures. how on earth people ever got the idea that building dark foreboding looking structures would be a fitting tribute to God, I will ever know.
Um, you DO realise that it was the church that owned the building that was responsible for it's destruction, right? Shameful, in my opinion---the building should have been preserved, even if it were no longer going to be used as a church.
Please. If you demolish this church with these mass on stones, recycle these and build new walls for noise insulation or other houses. These stones are rare.
C'est honteux de démolir une église rien que parce qu'elle se délabre un peu en belgique ont les désacralises sa veut dire arreter de faire des messes dedant et ont en fais un café ou une boite ou une salle mais ont ne les démolit pas!!!! Quel honte...
Rouspi production vhp il ni a plus dargent pour les renover il ni plus beaucoup de chretiens qui von a leglise c qui les renplace ce son des eglise devangil , ou des athees, ou des mosquet il y aura de plus en plus mosquet avec les migrants qui arrives en masses qui sinstal....pourquoi avons nous quitter nos eglise s que nous somme plus croiyans ??????? C vrais quil ni a plus de miracle
Some look spooky and foreboding; most look like evil castles and others look downright satanic, especially in their latter years when the stone begins to darken and the domes and steeples turn a hideous looking green. The churches constructed today are much more cheery and welcoming and are a far better tribute to God and his love.
Are you so short of land over there ? don't you want anything for the next generation to enjoy. Why not use the building for something else? libery, gum, apartments, gallery, theatre, education centre ,restaurant/bar/dance club, even use it as a supermarket. Thats whot thay do in England.
Ca me rend très triste de voir où en ai rendu la société. On démoli les églises..... Que reste t'il? Je vous invite à aller voir un video que j'ai fait. Simplement tapez Église St-Julien Démolie pour voir le vidéo. Merci
Thank goodness the world is cleaning up these disgusting Bronze Age myths. Hopefully soon this will be just an embarrassing page in humanity's history. I really hope we all break free from the horrible evil of christianity.
So wastefull! they should have dismantled it instead of just tearing it down complete with all the ornaments and materials inside. So manny god materials for future cheap and charming building just crushed.
but that's all they could afford. /coal miners bringing their tithes to honor G-D. Where would they find the architectural genius to design it properly?
Um, you DO realise that it was the church that owned the building that was responsible for it's destruction, right? Shameful, in my opinion---the building should have been preserved, even if it were no longer going to be used as a church.
It is devastating to see the destruction of this significant historic monument. I only recently learned about the Catholic Church's decision to demolish this church. It is a blow to Lithuanian-American cultural heritage and the history of Lithuanian immigrant workers that lived and died in the mines to fuel America's growth as a nation. The workers and their families donated so generously to erect this church for their community and families, while earning subsistence wages in the mines. It is also disturbing to see that nothing was done to preserve the art, architectural elements, sculpture or organ. Thank you for making these photos publicly available for all to witness this sad moment.
Can't believe it! I used go to church there with my grandfather when I was child. He passed away years ago. I loved visiting Shenandoah when I was young. I was going to show my a son picture of the church and found this video.
I attended St George's Church as a child with my Babci♡ when we came to visit in the summers of my youth. It was a beautiful Church . I will miss seeing it there when ever I come to visit. This is my Home Town. .I will always remember this beautiful Church. Diane Bilewicz Clark. OHIO
This church meant a lot to me I went to a school really close to it its my first year not being in that school and I miss visiting that chuch for masses during school.
When ever we lose a church in a community, we lose not only a building but the community it served. Churches have always been and will always be not only places to worship but also places for people to gather and be together as a group. Churches serve their congregations as well as their communities in so many different ways. It’s very disheartening to see a building as beautiful and historic as St George’s Lithuanian Church be demolished. It leaves a hole in the community that can never be refilled, like losing a family member or a friend. St George’s had a wonderful and rich history behind it. I’m a truly sorry that it was demolished. Architecture and the art in the building can never be replaced.
Breaks my heart! These are treasures we'll never get back. C
aommunities are in ruin because our spiritual walk is in ruin, So sad to these buildings being destroyed. Probably a minimally small, aged congregation that could no longer support the building itself.
Great job making this video.
5 STARS!
I am so very sad to see this beautiful church destroyed. It is the church where my Mother received her first communion and confirmation and was married. The artist who painted the ceiling used the faces of my Mother and her sisters for those of the angels (Zemalis family). I have fond memories of Shenandoah and the time I spent there as a child. Is nothing historical? What a tragedy! I found this video on Mother's day and I am crying. I do thank the photographers for being so sensitive.
How sad and empty this leaves me. I feel so bad for these precious Lithuanian people whose beautiful church this was. I see the Diocese pinched every bit of loveliness that will bring them a buck.
O.K. Tears, broken hearts, sadness, meanings and everything but what ACTION this community took ? NONE ? you deserve this them
I don't get it. They save the steeples but they don't even bother to save the organ?
Thank you posting this...excellent piece. It was my mothers childhood church back in the 1920s and 30s back when Msgr Karalius was pastor.
This is so...sad. My Babci ♡ lived around the corner and went to this church. We did also when we visited.
Thank you for making this video. I did not know that the church was destroyed. It's very very sad.
Soooooooooo sad..........my father's family was instumental in the founding of this church. Their name is on one of the bells.....what I would give for a brick, stone, piece of wood. Were there any artifacts saved? Where are the bells ? Beautiful, heartbreaking video. Thank you, Mary Strolis schulz
My great grandfather helped build that church. Very sad to learn it’s gone!
great work
Yes 👌
🤮this comment
I am a Lithuanian organist in California and seeing the organ destroyed was very difficult for me. I am sure someone would have taken it and installed somewhere else.
+4676adam1 Actually i m shocked ....a masterpiece gone
@@Gioagla I enjoyed watching the destruction of this church. Great video!
@@PreservationEnthusiast On the day of judgement you will rot in hell
I agree. Would have been a beautifyl3 organ for another church😭
@@PreservationEnthusiast you are not alone! Love this!🖤
Outstanding. But so sad..... Nice work for the pictures and video
OMG this broke my heart..I have tears in my eyes watching this...what is going on in this world anymore??? so sad...
I have tears as well....went there many times visiting our Grandparents and family. Such a beautiful memory. Thank you for making this video! xo
They could have just removed the parts that they said were dangerous. So what's left? An empty lot which is of no use to Shenandoah. Anybody paying property taxes on the lot? I doubt it. VERY SAD.
So terrible. This is where my grandfather and great-uncle were baptized. :(
This was truly a loss. I have only driven into Shenandoah once since the destruction of this church and the town just looks wrong without it.
There are a myriad of reasons why I am no longer Catholic. The fact that the church has ZERO institutional compassion (to the point of it being almost spiteful and cruel) is yet another of those reasons. To coldly tear down something that respects an entire community is case in point.
What ever became of the beautiful windows, furnishings and other great peices of this church??
This is so sad to see a beautiful church gone due to peoples ignorance. What became of the angels that sat atop the church? And the windows and bells etc??
Danny Zadrazil Everything was smashed up and scrapped.
That's unfortunate...usually they try to save as many relics as possible and relocate them. Must not have been practical in this case. :( The destruction of the organ is heartbreaking...there are many enthusiasts out there who probably would have enjoyed a restoration project.
Glad to see that gorgeous stained glass window was saved.
Nicole Clark We must smash up all the stuff from the old religions!
@@PreservationEnthusiast We Lithuanians are a hadry people. more attack on our identity then we can count and we dispite our roman catolic religion still celebrate all are pagan celebration even the catedral in the current capital of Lithuania was build on on the site where our pagain temple of thunderstorm. so the Lithuanians will survive.
@@CaptainDonut0 Religions will still be smashed asunder. They are not good for mankind.
What happened to those 2 beautiful Angels that sat gracefully atop Saint George's Church above the front entrance??
Il n'y à pas de mots pour décrire cela quel honte
The music in this video is titled, “The Sad Trio” by Kevin MacLeod. A very fitting song for a sad video showing a very beautiful church being demolished. From what I read In my research of this building the Allentown, PA diocese never did own this church. It was built buy the Lithuanians of Shenandoah, PA and they maintained it, not the diocese. The Arch Diocese of Allentown never paid anything for its upkeep, renovations, basically nothing. How they got to make the decision to demolish it, I’ll never know. It belonged to the Lithuanian community of Shenandoah not the Allentown Diocese. What at very tragic loss to the community it must have been. The organ alone would cost about a million dollars be todays standards. They should have had the sense to at least sell or give it to another church.
The black on the bell towers was a netting to hold the granite blocks in place and prevent them from falling.
This video brings tears to my eyes. To see such a gorgeous house of God destroyed....ugh............. Does anyone know what became of its beautiful interior furnishings, windows, bells, and instruments?? I'd really appreciate knowing that... I'd love to also know more about Saint George's. please let me know
Sad day indeed
The question I don’t see here is “Why?”.
En Lithuanie aussi ?!!...même le buffet d'orgue est éventré, quel massacre ! Pendant que la Russie reconstruit et embellit ses églises, ça c'est un comble !
EU = new USSR ... with flowers, ecology and Champagne !
@Zumipali2 I agree... I couldn't believe the organ went down with the building!!
thank you evreybody
My screen is blurry and my keyboard is wet. How could the diocese justify this destruction?
@jk8429 I Agree with you. I cant believe they destroyed the organ. It could have been saved ! ! I wonder what they did with all the things they did save?
at least some one save that nice round window
I think it is a shame that the statues and religious art work was not removed and saved. As far as the structure is concerned, I wish they would demolish each and every one of those hideous looking old gothic structures. how on earth people ever got the idea that building dark foreboding looking structures would be a fitting tribute to God, I will ever know.
Um, you DO realise that it was the church that owned the building that was responsible for it's destruction, right? Shameful, in my opinion---the building should have been preserved, even if it were no longer going to be used as a church.
Very sad Video. I'm from Québec, and Lot's of chuches are demolished. Where are we going?
And why did they demolish this jewel?
Why was the church destroyed?
So very painful to watch...the photography is stunning.
did the Church catch fire? I didn't know
at lease that pipe organ could be sold !!!
Please. If you demolish this church with these mass on stones, recycle these and build new walls for noise insulation or other houses. These stones are rare.
OUTRAGEOUS! What about Our Lady of The Angels Cathrdal in LA ? That church is hideous and a clear example of the "Spirit of Vatican II".
They should landmarking all history old church buildings
Sounds like an act of hate. Who was responsible?
THIS IS A VERY BUSTARD ACTION,!!! I HOPE AND WANT TO SEE DESTROY A BISHOP'S HOUSE!!! DAMNED!!!
my dad made that
C'est honteux de démolir une église rien que parce qu'elle se délabre un peu en belgique ont les désacralises sa veut dire arreter de faire des messes dedant et ont en fais un café ou une boite ou une salle mais ont ne les démolit pas!!!! Quel honte...
Rouspi production vhp il ni a plus dargent pour les renover il ni plus beaucoup de chretiens qui von a leglise c qui les renplace ce son des eglise devangil , ou des athees, ou des mosquet il y aura de plus en plus mosquet avec les migrants qui arrives en masses qui sinstal....pourquoi avons nous quitter nos eglise s que nous somme plus croiyans ??????? C vrais quil ni a plus de miracle
Some look spooky and foreboding; most look like evil castles and others look downright satanic, especially in their latter years when the stone begins to darken and the domes and steeples turn a hideous looking green. The churches constructed today are much more cheery and welcoming and are a far better tribute to God and his love.
yes it's true, many are ugly and expensive to maintain, they must be destroyed
yes it's exact
from the outside it's horrible, it's not beautiful, ugly
the one in the video is horrible, it's fine to destroy it, it's a good deed
fallait la détruite elle était moche MDR
Too expensive to maintain, continues to deteriorate, becomes a safety hazard, not good. Destroy before this can happen
Are you so short of land over there ? don't you want anything for the next generation to enjoy. Why not use the building for something else? libery, gum, apartments, gallery, theatre, education centre ,restaurant/bar/dance club, even use it as a supermarket. Thats whot thay do in England.
Ca me rend très triste de voir où en ai rendu la société. On démoli les églises..... Que reste t'il? Je vous invite à aller voir un video que j'ai fait. Simplement tapez Église St-Julien Démolie pour voir le vidéo. Merci
Thank goodness the world is cleaning up these disgusting Bronze Age myths. Hopefully soon this will be just an embarrassing page in humanity's history. I really hope we all break free from the horrible evil of christianity.
There IS evil in the men and women in Christianity and G-D will be their judge -but not in Christ; Our Savior, Redeemer, Lord of Lord, King of Kings.
the problem is ALL religions !
@@skinmaxdestroyer i agree ;-)
@@gambosix6 Religions, All Religions are the problem....mankind with thier dogmas and greed have contaminated everything
So wastefull! they should have dismantled it instead of just tearing it down complete with all the ornaments and materials inside. So manny god materials for future cheap and charming building just crushed.
Eine schöne Kirche und wen sie Renovirt werden wer sie noch schöner gewesen scherde😢
What a hideous amalgamation of stylization, a cheap copy of the grand Gothic cathedrals of Europe.
Blarg Kliggle i
but that's all they could afford. /coal miners bringing their tithes to honor G-D. Where would they find the architectural genius to design it properly?
shame on you
and Jesus wept
Vandalism
Terrible. Shameful.
my grandfather's church was on fire 2 😫😫😫😫😫
Pure evil!!!!!
I love u dad u are awesome p.s I'm his son
Um, you DO realise that it was the church that owned the building that was responsible for it's destruction, right? Shameful, in my opinion---the building should have been preserved, even if it were no longer going to be used as a church.
The Diocese owns everything and can close a Parish on a whim of a Bishop or Arch Bishop. you DO reali(z)e this, right?