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Church
of SS. Cosmas and Damian
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| Ss. Cosmas & Damian Church is
located on land which was part of the old Connecticut Western
Reserve. Summit County was divided from Trumbull County in 1840, and
was so named because it was the highest point on the Ohio Canal.
Historical records show that the Township of Twinsburg, and eventually the
Village of Twinsburg, took its name from identical twins, Moses and Aaron
Wilcox. Many Catholic families moved to the vicinity of Hudson during construction of the railroad. Priests from St. Vincent's in Akron and the Cathedral in Cleveland served these families. In 1860 Fr. Eugene O' Callahan constructed a small frame chapel in Hudson despite opposition of other townspeople. Through the years, Twinsburg families were served by priests from Hudson and later Bedford, Solon and Northfield. On May 2, 1957, Archbishop Edward F. Hoban purchased approximately 12 acres of the old Western Reserve for the diocese. It wasn't until June, 1963, however, that the parish was officially established. To perpetuate the tradition of twins, Archbishop Hoban named the first Catholic Church in Twinsburg after twin brothers, Ss. Cosmas & Damian. The two brother physicians, in third century Syria, cured many faithful who were gravely ill, more by faith in Jesus Christ than by their natural powers. They were loved and respected by the people for their acts of charity and zeal for the Christian faith, which they took every opportunity to propagate. Both brothers were martyred for their success in winning converts during the reign of Dioclitian around the year 283. They were tortured, bound hand and foot, and thrown into the sea. They are considered patrons of doctors, surgeons, druggists, and barbers. Their holy day is celebrated on September 26th. 
The Rev. Fr. William J. Koehl, former assistant
at St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Willowick, Ohio, was named Founding Pastor
on June 13, 1963. The new parish was to encompass the entire area of
Twinsburg Township, including the Village of Twinsburg, but excluding
Reminderville.The parish site consisted of about 11.151 acres with a one-family brick residence, which became the present rectory. Until the church building was constructed, Mass was held in the old Twinsburg Elementary School and later in Chamberlin High School. After some delay, the parish office, Fr. Koehl's quarters, and a chapel for daily Mass were established in the present-day rectory. 
Two more brothers were important in the history
of our parish - Fr. Koehl, the first pastor, and his brother, Thomas F.
Koehl, who was the architect for the new church building. The
contractor finished the basic construction of the church, and parish
volunteers completed the interior under the direction of Paul Zamiska.
Pews came from the parishes of St. Monica, St. Wenceslas, and St. Paul, as
well as from Notre Dame Academy. They were painted and repaired
before installation. |
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