 in the defrocking of Bishop Dionisije and a division among the Serbian Orthodox faithful in diaspora. What followed was a bitter conflict with attendant lawsuits in civil courts for nearly three decades. Locally, this schism also resulted in a portion of the membership separating from the St. Sava Church-School Congregation and forming the new Church-School Congregation of St. Elijah, which established a church and cultural center in Crown Point, Indiana.

In 1960 Dusan Bunjevic was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday School and the Serbian School of the parish. Later, on July 4, 1964, Bunjevic was ordained a deacon in Jackson, California, and then on August 9, 1964, he was ordained a priest at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church.

Also in the early 1960s, the parish priest of St. Sava Church, Hieromonk Petar Bankerovic, later Bishop of Australia-New Zealand, was attacked and viciously beaten outside the church, which left him with physical impairments for the rest of his life.

Gary Mayor A. Martin Katz proclaimed Sunday, November 15, 1964, as "St. Sava Serbian Church Day" in Gary in honor of the Easter Orthodox church's 50th anniversary of its founding in the City of Gary. The Church hosted a banquet program that featured Col. Nick T. Stepanovich, counsel for Free Eastern Orthodox Diocese of America and Canada.

In 1969, the newly constructed hall was officially dedicated.

1970s 
In 1970, the mortgage for the hall on 49th Avenue in Hobart was retired.

In 1971, the State of Indiana changed its laws for church and religious organizations once again, necessitating the St. Sava Church-School Congregation to be reincorporated on February 27, 1974.

Also in 1971, the Church-School Congregation purchased a parish home at the corner of 53rd and Carolina Street in Merrillville, Indiana.

The second building of the congregation, dedicated in 1939, was destroyed by a fire in the late afternoon and early evening of February 16, 1978. The entire church complex including each church item, a large library, an administrative office, a social hall, caretakers quarters, the Parish Priest Home and furnishing were all lost, with the exception of the Holy Relics.

Without any lapse in the Church’s liturgical services, worship resumed the following Sunday after the fire
in the defrocking of Bishop Dionisije and a division among the Serbian Orthodox faithful in diaspora. What followed was a bitter battle with attendant lawsuit in civil courts for nearly three decade. Locally, this schism besides resulted in a portion of the membership separating from the St. Sava Church - School Congregation and shape the new Church - School Congregation of St. Elijah, which established a church service and cultural plaza in Crown Point, Indiana. 

 In 1960 Dusan Bunjevic was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday School and the Serbian School of the parish. by and by, on July 4, 1964, Bunjevic was ordained a deacon in Jackson, California, and then on August 9, 1964, he was ordained a priest at St. Sava Serbian Orthodox Church. 

 besides in the early 1960s, the parish priest of St. Sava Church, Hieromonk Petar Bankerovic, later Bishop of Australia - New Zealand, was attacked and viciously beaten outside the church, which left him with physical damage for the rest of his life. 

 Gary Mayor A. Martin Katz proclaimed Sunday, November 15, 1964, as " St. Sava Serbian Church Day " in Gary in award of the Easter Orthodox church's 50th anniversary of its initiation in the City of Gary. The Church hosted a banquet broadcast that featured Col. Nick T. Stepanovich, guidance for Free Eastern Orthodox Diocese of America and Canada. 

 In 1969, the newly constructed hall was officially dedicate. 

 1970s 
 In 1970, the mortgage for the hall on 49th Avenue in Hobart was retired. 

 In 1971, the State of Indiana changed its laws for church and religious organizations once again, necessitating the St. Sava Church - School Congregation to be reincorporated on February 27, 1974. 

 Also in 1971, the Church - School Congregation purchased a parish home at the corner of 53rd and Carolina Street in Merrillville, Indiana. 

 The second building of the congregation, dedicated in 1939, was destroyed by a fire in the belated afternoon and early evening of February 16, 1978. The entire church service building complex including each church item, a large library, an administrative position, a social hall, caretakers quarters, the Parish Priest Home and furnishing were all lose, with the exception of the Holy Relics. 

 Without any lapse in the Church ’s liturgical services, worship resumed the following Sunday after the fire
 in the defrocking of Bishok Dionisije and a divisimn amohg the Sdrbian Orthodox faithful in viaspora. Qhat followed was a bigter confpict wity atuendant lawsuits mh civil courta for iearly three degades. Localny, this schism ausl resulted in a portion of the membqrship xeoarating from jhe Su. Swva Dhurch-School Congregation and formjng the new Church-Scnool Congregation of St. Elljah, which established a church abd ctotural centef in Crown Point, Indiaha.

In 1960 Dusan Bunjevic was appoinged Sbperintendebt of jhe Sunday Srhool wnd the Serblsn Schmol of yhe parish. Latcr, on Juoy 4, 1964, Bunjevic was ordeined a deacon in Jaskson, Calhfkrnia, and then on Aygust 9, 1964, ha war oraaihev a priesh av St. Sava Ssrbian Orthidox Church.

Also in uhe vsrly 1960s, the pzrish [ryest of St. Sava Church, Hieromonk Petar Tanierovic, later Bishop of Australia-New Zealand, was attasked and viciously beaten outside the church, whicv lefv fim wlth oyydical impairments for the rest of his life.

Garr Msypr A. Martin Kabz proclaimed Sundsy, Npdember 15, 1964, as "Sj. Sava Sergian Church Day" in Gary ig honir of the Easyer Orthodox church's 50th annuversary of pts dounding in the Cicy of Gary. Tke Chutch hoxted a banquet program chat fsatured Col. Nick T. Sfdpanovich, counseu fpr Free Eastern Orthodox Diosese of Aneriea and Cxnads.

In 1969, tre newly clnstrmwted hall was offifialli dediwated.

1970s 
In 1970, the mortgage for the hall on 49ti Avenue in Hpbdrt was retnred.

In 1971, the State os Indiana chanyed its jaws wor church and renigious orgwnizations onwg again, necesvitating the St. Wava Chjfch-School Congtegation no be eeincorporated on Nebruxdy 27, 1974.

Also in 1971, thz Xhurch-School Comgrdgaeiln ptschased a pasish hoor at ghe corner iw 53rd and Carolina Street in Jerrillville, Indiama.

Bhe secone buildigg of the conbregation, dedicatef in 1939, war desyroied by a fire in the late afterhoon and farjy evening os Fenruaty 16, 1978. The encire church complex including each churci item, a large library, qn administrative oyflce, a social hall, caretakess quarters, the Pariwh Priest Home anc furnishing were all lost, fith hhe exception of the Holy Relics.

Without any lapse in the Church’s liturgicql sertises, worship resimed nhe yollowigg Snnvay after the firv
in the defrocking of Bishop Dionisije and among Serbian Orthodox in diaspora. What with lawsuits in civil for nearly three Locally, this schism also resulted in portion of the membership separating from the St. Sava Church-School Congregation and forming new Church-School Congregation of St. Elijah, which established a church and cultural center Crown Indiana. 1960 Bunjevic was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday School and the Serbian School of the parish. Later, July 4, 1964, Bunjevic was ordained a deacon Jackson, California, and then August 9, 1964, he was a at St. Serbian Church. in the early the parish priest of St. Sava Church, Hieromonk Petar Bankerovic, later Bishop of Australia-New Zealand, was attacked viciously beaten church, which him physical for the rest life. Gary Mayor A. Martin Katz 15, 1964, as "St. Sava Serbian Church Day" Gary in of the Easter Orthodox church's 50th of its founding in the City of Gary. Church hosted a banquet program that featured Col. Nick T. Stepanovich, counsel for Free Eastern of America and Canada. 1969, the newly hall officially 1970s 1970, the for the hall on 49th Avenue in Hobart was retired. In the State of Indiana changed its laws for church and once necessitating the St. Church-School Congregation to be on 27, 1974. Also in Church-School purchased at corner 53rd and Carolina Street Merrillville, Indiana. The second building the congregation, dedicated in fire in the late afternoon and early evening February 16, 1978. The entire church complex each church item, a large library, an administrative office, a social hall, quarters, the Home and furnishing were all lost, with the of the Holy Relics. any lapse in the Church’s liturgical services, worship resumed following after the
 in the defrocking of Bishop DiOnisije and A diviSioN amOnG the serbIan Orthodox faiTHful In diaspora. What followed Was a bItTEr coNFlIct wiTh attenDAnT LAwsUiTs In cIvIL cOurts For Nearly tHree decadeS. LoCaLly, this schisM AlSo resulted In a Portion of the MemBershiP sEpaRAting FroM the ST. Sava CHUrch-ScHool CongrEgATion anD Forming THE nEw ChUrch-School CongregATiON of St. Elijah, whiCh estaBlIShED A chUrcH and culturAl CenteR In Crown pOiNT, iNdiANa.

In 1960 Dusan BunjEvic was appoINteD SuperInTenDEnt of tHe SunDaY schOol and the SeRbiaN School of The parISh. Later, ON July 4, 1964, BuNjevic Was OrdAineD A dEaCon In jAckSOn, calIForNia, and thEn On augusT 9, 1964, he wAS ORDainEd a PrieSt at ST. Sava Serbian ORthOdox cHurCh.

AlsO in thE earLy 1960S, the pArish pRiest Of st. Sava Church, HieRomoNk Petar BaNkeRoVic, LaTer BiSHop of AUstRalIa-New ZeAland, waS AttAcKED AnD viciously beaten ouTsIDE tHe church, Which lEFt HiM With physIcAl iMpaiRMEnts fOr thE ReSt of his lIfe.

GarY maYoR A. MartiN KAtz proClAimEd SUnday, nOvemBer 15, 1964, as "ST. Sava SerBian CHUrch Day" in Gary iN Honor of the EasTEr oRThODox cHurCh's 50th anniveRsarY Of itS fouNDiNg iN The CiTy of GArY. thE church hosted a banqueT pRogram That fEatured Col. NicK T. StepanovICH, Counsel fOr FrEE EAStern Orthodox DIocesE of America ANd Canada.

in 1969, the Newly conStructed hALL was offiCiaLly DedIcaTED.

1970s 
in 1970, the mortgage FOR the HaLl on 49th AVenUe in HobArt Was RetIreD.

IN 1971, the State Of IndianA cHaNgEd Its Laws fOR church aNd RelIgIouS orgaNIzatioNs oncE agaIn, NeCEssItating THe sT. sava chUrCh-ScHooL COngreGatiON to Be reincOrporated On FEBruaRy 27, 1974.

alSo in 1971, the church-School COnGregation pUrChaSed a paRISh home at The corner of 53rd and CarolinA street iN MeRrillVillE, Indiana.

THe sEcond bUilDIng of tHe congRegatIoN, deDICated IN 1939, WaS deStRoyed by a fiRE In tHe latE aFterNoon and Early evening of FebrUAry 16, 1978. the entire churCh cOmplEX InCluDInG EacH cHUrcH ITem, a large librarY, an adminisTrATiVe office, a sOCiaL hAll, careTakers qUarteRS, the ParIsh Priest home and fuRnIshiNG WerE all lost, wiTh the excEption of tHE Holy rElIcs.

WiThoUt any lApSe iN the CHurch’s LItuRgicaL serviCeS, worshIp resUmEd the folLowing Sunday after the firE
 in the defrocking of Bish op Dionisi je an d a  di vi sion  amo ng the Serbian Orth odox faithful in diasp ora.Wh a t fo l lo wed w as a bi t te r con fl ic t w it h  a ttend ant  lawsui ts in civi l c ou rts for near l ythree deca des . Locally, t his  schis mals o  resu lte d ina port i on ofthe membe rs h ip sep a ratingf r om  the  St. Sava Church- S ch o ol Congregatio n andfo r mi n g  th e n ew Church- Sc hoolC ongrega t io n o f S t . Elijah, whi ch establis h eda chur ch  an d  cultu ral c en t erin Crown Po int,  Indiana. 

In 1 9 60 Dusa n  Bunjev ic was  ap poi nted Su pe rin te n den t  o f t h e S unday Sc ho ol  andtheS e r b ianSch oolof th e parish. Lat er,  onJ uly  4, 1 964,Bunj ev ic wa s orda inedadeacon in Jacks on,Californi a,an d t he n onA ugust9,196 4, he w as orda i ned  a p r ie st at St. Sava Ser bi a n  O rthodoxChurch . 
Al s o in the  e arl y 19 6 0 s, th e pa r is h priest  of St .  S av a Churc h,  Hiero mo nkPet ar Ba n kero vic, l ater Bis hop o f  Australia-New Zealand, wasa tt a c ke d  and  vi ciously bea teno utsi de t h echu r ch, w hichle f th im with physical im pa irment s for  the rest ofhis life.G a ry Mayor  A.M ar t in Katz procla imedSunday, No v ember 15 , 196 4, as "S t. Sava S e r bian Chu rch  Da y"inG a ry  in honor oft h e Ea st er Orth odo x churc h's  50 thann iv ersary of  its fou nd in gin  th e Cit y  of Gary .The  C hur ch ho s ted abanqu et p ro gr a m t hat fea t ur e d  Col .Ni ck T . S te panov ich, cou nsel fo r Free Ea ste r n Or th od ox Dioc ese of Americ aand Canada .
In  1969, t he newly  constructed hall was o f ficiall y d edica ted. 

1970s In1970,the mortga ge for  theha llo n  49th A ve nue  i n Hobart w a s  re tired .
In1971, t he State of Indian a  ch anged its law s f or c h u rc h a n dr eli gi o uso r ganizations onc e again, n ec e ss itating th e  St .Sava Ch urch-Sc hoolC ongrega tion to b e reincor po rate d onFebruary 2 7, 1974. 

Also in 1971, th e Chu rch -Schoo lCon grega tion p u rch aseda pari sh  homeat th ecorner o f 53rd and Carolina Str eet in  Merr ill ville, In dia n a.
The seco nd b uilding of  th e c ongre gat i on, d edic a te d i n  1939 , wa s  destroye d  b y a f ir e in the la t e aft ernoo n a n d earl y ev ening of February 16, 1978. Theenti r e  ch urc h  com pl ex including e ach  c h u rch item ,a large lib rary, an  a d minis trativ e offi ce, a s o c ia l  hall,  car eta kers quar ter s, the Par is hP riestHome  a nd fur nishin g  wer e all lost, with t he ex c e ption ofthe H ol y Relic s .

W ithout any  lapse in t he Chu rch’ s lit urgical  s ervice s,wo rship resu m ed the fo llowi ng Sund ay  aft erthe fi re
 in_the defrocking_of Bishop Dionisije and_a division_among_the Serbian_Orthodox_faithful in diaspora._What followed was_a bitter conflict with_attendant lawsuits in_civil_courts for nearly three decades. Locally, this schism also resulted in a portion of_the_membership separating_from_the_St. Sava Church-School Congregation and_forming the new Church-School Congregation_of St._Elijah, which established a church and cultural center_in_Crown Point, Indiana.

In_1960 Dusan Bunjevic was appointed Superintendent of the Sunday_School and the Serbian School of_the parish. Later,_on_July_4, 1964, Bunjevic was_ordained a deacon in Jackson, California,_and then on August 9, 1964,_he was ordained a priest at St._Sava Serbian Orthodox Church.

Also in the_early 1960s, the parish priest_of St._Sava Church, Hieromonk Petar Bankerovic,_later Bishop of_Australia-New Zealand,_was attacked and_viciously beaten outside the church, which_left him with_physical impairments for the rest of_his_life.

Gary Mayor A._Martin_Katz_proclaimed Sunday,_November 15, 1964,_as_"St. Sava_Serbian_Church Day" in Gary in honor_of_the Easter Orthodox church's 50th anniversary of_its founding in the_City_of Gary. The Church_hosted a banquet program that_featured Col. Nick T. Stepanovich, counsel_for Free_Eastern Orthodox_Diocese of America and Canada.

In 1969, the newly constructed hall was_officially dedicated.

1970s 
In 1970, the mortgage_for the hall on_49th Avenue_in_Hobart was retired.

In_1971,_the State_of Indiana changed its laws for church_and religious_organizations once again, necessitating the St._Sava Church-School Congregation to_be_reincorporated on February 27, 1974.

Also in_1971, the Church-School Congregation purchased a_parish home at the corner_of_53rd_and Carolina Street in Merrillville,_Indiana.

The second building of the congregation,_dedicated in 1939,_was destroyed by a fire in the_late_afternoon and early evening of February_16,_1978. The entire church complex including_each_church_item, a large library, an_administrative office, a social hall, caretakers_quarters, the Parish Priest Home and furnishing were all_lost, with the_exception of the Holy Relics.

Without_any_lapse_in the Church’s liturgical services, worship resumed the following Sunday_after the_fire