Turning the pages back... April 23, 1978 (04/20/03)

Turning the pages back...

April 23, 1978

Twenty-five years ago, on April 23, 1978, New York City's Ukrainian Catholics witnessed the realization of a nearly 90 year-old dream, when Archbishop-Metropolitan Joseph Schmondiuk, together with other Ukrainian Catholic hierarchs, blessed the recently completed St. George's Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The new St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, designed by Ukrainian architect Apollonaire Osadca, was built at a cost of $3 million. For Ukrainians in Manhattan, this was the first house of worship they had built and paid for themselves; earlier churches were either borrowed or bought from other congregations.

Ihor Dlaboha of The Ukrainian Weekly reported that, according to police estimates, some 5,000 faithful attended the dedication ceremonies, which began with a procession around the church. Metropolitan Schmondiuk was joined in the blessing ceremony and pontifical divine liturgy by Bishops Basil H. Losten of Stamford, Jaroslav Gabro of Chicago and Neil Savaryn of Edmonton. Approximately 1,000 were able to attend the liturgy in the new church, while the rest listened to the service outside through loudspeakers.

In the course of the liturgy, the Rev. Wolodymyr Gavlich, pastor of the St. George's Parish, read a greeting from Patriarch Josyf Slipyj, in which the leader of the Ukrainian Catholic Church reminded New York Ukrainians that their parish had been a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian pioneer immigrants. "The land on which the old church stands is sacred because it has been blessed by the tears and prayers of the pioneers," wrote Patriarch Josyf. He also reminded the faithful to remain loyal to the "language and heritage of their Church. "

"On this day we pledge our loyalty, allegiance and love of God and our Ukrainian Church," said the Rev. Patrick Pashchak, adding that the Ukrainian Catholic Church is a "suffering Church, which has been tried by persecution and injustices in Ukraine and abroad. ... Our presence here today, this new church, our prayers, our donations, all this declares to one and to all that we shall outlive the ordeal of persecution and suffering, and our Ukrainian Church will be restored to its pristine greatness.,"

"St. George's Church is a mecca for Ukrainian community and religious life," Metropolitan Schmondiuk underscored.

Source: "5,000 Witness Blessing of St. George's Church; Ceremonies Mindful of Contributions of Pioneers," story and photos by Ihor Dlaboha, The Ukrainian Weekly, April 30, 1978.

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