The Christian Orthodox Church marks the remnants of a once wide spread community that fled from Eastern Europe during the communist revolution in Russia. Situated north of Calhan, CO, on the other side of the valley. Here the few descendants from the early settler still celebrate their heritage. Once a year they have Slavic days. Worship services are still held in the little country church.
Scattered across the area are other reminders of when there were more Slovaks in the area. Empty church, cemeteries in the land and the names in the phone book still resonate. They were mostly, Ukrainians, Serbs and Czech’s. The community reached into the Black Forest to East of Matheson, CO.
Like many small towns on the prairie, the siren song of the city attracts many a youngster leave their home and go seeking in the lights of big city life. The few that remain carry on the life their ancestors started. The horrors of communism that their friends left behind had to face are memories that do not go away. The slaughter of the populace by Lenin and the Bolsheviks is not forgotten. Here they fond a life they could live out in peace for over a century. Yet the communists of Russia have raised their ugliness from time to time to remind them of why they fled. One of the first thing the communists did was to ban churches in the countries under their control.
Around the US were other communities like this. The north side of Denver has a settlement of Slovakians.
Much like other settlers in the US, schools were important. Building schools and educating their children into the new country, their adopted country was important. Farming and ranching the pioneers gained a new life in a new land. A land away from tyranny.
Today, much of what they built is now gone. Only memories and the occasional old picture.
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