Revival of Bells October 2001 Issue

Most of the Orthodox parishes in this country were organized after 1915. These early communities often purchased church buildings from Protestants who were upgrading. These churches were typically oblong with a spire at one end which housed a bell. The Orthodox usually removed the spire, replacing it with a cupola. They were fortunate if the bells were included in the purchase price. Usually the parish had to purchase several bells; or if they were fortunate, they received them as a gift from Russia. Bells are necessary, as they are the "voice" of the church. When the parishes became more prosperous and new church buildings were built, they often could not support the weight of the bells or the vibrations. The bells were replaced by recordings. This was also done by parishes who could no longer find bellringers or who wanted to be more modern. However, this innovation never took hold. The recordings were seldom played and the only evidence that a church had them was the huge control panel unit taking up much needed space in the vestry. When steam engines on the railroad were being phased out, some parishes petitioned and received some of the bells from these engines. They stored them until a new generation recently found them in the inventory and decided to use them. At the present time, there is an interest in bells and the process of bell-ringing. Some parishes are building bell towers unconnected to the church building. If this is not feasible, a campanile or low stand is constructed near the church. This is often patterned after the one near the newly-consecrated church in Krynitsa, Poland. Such a campanile was recently built near St. Michael's Church in Irvona, PA, to house four bronze bells. It was built by Allen Figula, a member of the parish, who carved full figure icons of Christ on the end pillars. The one in Irvona differs from the one in Krynitsa, Poland, as it does not have a roof over the bells. Hopefully, we are seeing a revival of the use of bells in our Orthodox Church. This has always been an integral part of our tradition. There are so many sources of information. Call Allen Figula at 814/672-5597 or Fr. Gregory Lewis 814/672-3846 on information concerning the campanile. Call Blagovest Bells at 415/256-2512 for info on obtaining bronze bells from Russia and instructions on how to ring them.