Ukrainian Greek-Catholics begin construction of church in Kyiv (11/15/98)

Ukrainian Greek-Catholics begin construction of church in Kyiv

by Roman Woronowycz
Kyiv Press Bureau

KYIV - After years of waiting, Ukraine's Greek-Catholics will have their first new church and monastery in the capital by the fall of next year. The new house of worship, to be called St. Vasylii (St. Basil), will stand out from the hundreds of other churches in the city of Golden Domes because of its unconventional design, which has brought some controversy to the project.

The monastic Order of St. Basil, which is overseeing the construction and will occupy the new church, has decided to move away from the Eastern religious tradition of domes and cupolas and incorporate a series of small roofs over the church, called "dashky," into the architectural design.

The design by prominent Ukrainian architect Larysa Skoryk integrates traditional Kyivan Rus' architecture with architectural traditions of the churches of western Ukraine. Yet, as the Rev. Teodosii, protohegumen of the Order of St. Basil in Lviv who is responsible for the project, explained, the church design is contemporary and modernistic.

"Each era should develop its own architectural tradition," said the Rev. Teodosii in an interview with The Weekly. "It's about time we create something new."

The design has been subject to some critical commentary from members of the Ukrainian community in the United States, some of whom according to the Rev. Teodosii, would like a more traditional design. "Yes, I know that some people wanted domes," said the Rev. Teodosii. "But why not do something new, interesting? Why must we always have domes? Why must we have another St. Sophia, which is right down the street from us?"

The Rev. Bernard Panczuk of St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New York explained that the church's design looks very modern and doesn't have the appearance of a traditional church. "In general people here had expectations of a more traditional structure," he said.

Today the construction site's most prominent features are a large hole from which the church structure will rise, and the cranes and earth movers doing the work. By September 1999, when construction is completed, the site will be occupied by a church proper, with room for 400 to 500 worshipers, two side halls for community meetings and an adjoining monastery, which will house 12 monks of the Order of St. Basil. The groundbreaking for the complex took place in July of this year. The laying of the cornerstone is scheduled for late November or early December.

The land for the church complex is located on a hilltop bluff in the city center near the Ukrainian Institute of Art and the buildings of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and is located on the same street that once housed the Greek-Catholic center in Kyiv, which then was called Vozdvyzhenska Street.

The site was obtained in 1994. In March of this year, the Basilian Fathers assumed responsibility for the site from the Kyiv-Vyshhorod Exarchate of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church.

Currently there are two Ukrainian Greek-Catholic churches in Kyiv - neither of which can be considered much more than a chapel. Both are named in honor of St. Mykolai (St. Nicholas); one is located in the Podil district; the other at Askold's Tomb.

The Basilian Fathers have begun a fund-raising effort to offset the expected $600,000 cost of construction of St. Vasylii's and are asking for support from the Ukrainian diaspora. The names of all benefactors will be engraved on stone tablets that will be placed in the walls of the hall in the church basement.

The Rev. Teodosii said that to date the Ukrainian diaspora has contributed more than $100,000 toward the project.

The Basilian Fathers request that donations be sent to the Kyiv Monastery Fund, Account No. 24447-000, at the Selfreliance Federal Credit Union, 108 Second Ave., New York, NY 10003.

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