By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

LOVELAND - Members of St. George Russian Orthodox Church, the only one of its kind in Greater Cincinnati, will receive a visit today from Bishop Peter Loukianoff from Chicago to bless the land of their future home here.

The church, founded in 1948, is using a converted Presbyterian church at 4905 Myrtle Ave., Blue Ash. But it plans to build something that looks more like churches in Russia.

"We want Russians to come to our church and to say this is just like home," said Father Paul Bassett.

While half the church's 100 members are not Russian immigrants, including Bassett himself, the congregation wants to get back to the very traditional roots - even among Orthodox churches - of the church in Russia.

The church's regular 9 a.m. Sunday service is conducted half in English and half in Russian.

"Despite the cultural differences, we're a very harmonious group," Bassett said. "We socialize together and worship together."

The church's blessing ceremony will be at the new site, at the corner of Loveland-Madeira Road and Highridge Drive, at noon. Construction on the $800,000 church is expected to start next spring with an opening planned for April 2006.

Sisters celebrate

Six sisters of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor at the St. Clare Convent, 60 Compton Road, Hartwell, celebrated their jubilee year this weekend.

Sister Mary Andrea Frerrick celebrated 70 years in the order. Three sisters - Joanna Burkhart, Antonita Mettert and Ursula Leaneah - celebrated 60 years. And Sisters Mary Madonna Hoying and Karen Hartman each celebrated 50 years in the order.