Priest marks silver anniversary with South Greensburg church

Having traveled many roads on his voyage of discovery, the Rev. John Nosal of St. Michael's Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church in South Greensburg said that the path that brought him to his church was one of many turns and obstacles.

Now marking his 25th year with the church, Nosal said that he could not be happier in his station and with his parish.

“These people here are just wonderful,” Nosal said. “I think it's nice that I have been here for 25 years. For an Orthodox priest, I am very blessed to have been able to be here for so long.”

Nosal was originally from Garfield, N.J., growing up in a happy environment with parents that he described as an “Ozzie and Harriet” kind of couple.

“I had a nice '50s-early '60s kind of upbringing,” Nosal said.

Reaching early maturity during the unrest and discovery of the late 1960s and early '70s did not go unnoticed by Nosal, who graduated from college and then joined the Marines before moving to California.

“I did just about anything you can think of in California,” Nosal said. “I worked — from health spas to collecting for car payments. I was a journeyman clerk and I worked for Roadway Express.”

Nosal began to explore spiritual awakening, taking part in EST Training for two weekends.

“I began to discover something about myself, and I found out that I didn‘t know everything about life.” Nosal said. “It was then that I really started reading. I read materials from eastern religion to philosophy. I found it all quite engaging and fascinating.”

He came across a story about dedication to a cause and abstinence that truly inspired him.

“I realized that most of us have no clue at all who we are and who God is,” Nosal said.

Nosal then entered into seminary study, graduating in 1983 from the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif.

“My first assignment was as the first assistant at St. George Orthodox Church in Detroit,” Nosal said. “That was quite an experience for a couple years.”

Nosal was then offered his own church, one that was in an obscure location to him.

“The bishop asked me if I was interested in going to Greensburg and I said, ‘Where in the world is Greensburg?'” Nosal said. “We arrived here and have loved it ever since.”

Officially taking up residence with his wife, Julianna, and three children, Nosal made an impression on his parish.

“He is so caring and so nice to everyone,” parishioner Valerie Flizanes said. “He has brought so many people to the faith and baptized so many people. Everyone just loves Father John.

“He listens,” Flizanes said. “He never yells and he listens to what you have to say. Everyone admires and loves him.”

Nosal, who said he entered into a recovery program in 2006 for his ongoing problems with alcohol, said that his acknowledgement of his problem and his steps taken to recover have helped him to become a more accessible leader.

“I think when people learn of my story with recovery that they find me more approachable,” Nosal said. “They realize that I am one person who can truly identify with their problems. They feel that can talk to me.”

As he prepares to celebrate his silver anniversary, Nosal said that he is both blessed and humble in his good fortune at being placed in an area that has been ideal for him and his family.

“Greensburg is heaven to me,” Nosal said. “St. Michael's is a very good place. The people here are very kind, generous, loving and giving and — most important — they are the best cooks in the world.”

The Bishop Thomas will be coming the weekend of Oct. 25-27 for a special service recognizing Nosal's silver anniversary.

Marilyn Forbes is a contributing writer for Trib Total Media.