Each Sunday I feel as close to Heaven as I can be while still living and breathing. Why? It's the beautiful interplay between the priest and the choir at St. Elijah Serbian Orthodox Church in Aliquippa, PA. It's mainly the same incredible, inspirational 4-part liturgical music I've heard sung since a child at my Grandmother's side each Sunday at St. Sava's Church in Pittsburgh. As young teen-agers, we could hardly wait until we were 16, the age you could join the choir. Then, perhaps it was more for social reasons, but as you get older, you realize its a way to devote your life singing to God, showing Him how grateful you are for all of your many blessings.

We are so lucky to have between 28-35+ singers in the choir loft each Sunday, with a beautiful blending of voices rich, deep and emotional. Some churches have to pay their singers. Our talented Serbian choir sings for the pure joy of giving glory to God.

Perhaps that's why the song, "Almost Heaven, Aliquippa!" is so famous whenever Serbian choirs get together from around the world.

How lucky we all were to have Cissy Rebich catch a small, audible glimpse of this magic and share it with the world. Cissy has been extremely talented from the time she was a young soloist on stage bringing tears to my eyes. She hasn't changed a note. She only gets better like fine wine. Beautiful job, well done, Zivela Cissy!

This piece is very well done! As a member of the Saint Elijah Choir it reflects my feelings toward my church & my heritage. We are truly a family.

A wonderful work, and great way to expose a culture and life many people were not aware of. Being part of a Midwestern America Serbian choir, this work describes the lifestyle and culture of all the Serbian Choirs in the United States right on from an emotonal and heartfelt point of view.