LETTERS TO THE EDITOR (09/01/02)

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Two artists key to Hunter church

Dear Editor:

Your otherwise excellent article citing the 40th anniversary commemoration of St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hunter, N.Y., (August 25) is flawed in one important respect. It fails to credit two of the principal contributors to this excellent achievement - an omission probably due to ignorance on the part of the new leadership at the parish. Be, that as it may, the noted Ukrainian sculptor Mychailo Chereshniowsky and the painter Petro Cholodnyj are not mentioned at all in the article.

Mr. Chereshniowsky built and carved the beautiful iconostasis, altar and candelabra hanging from the ceiling, as well as executed all other carving inside and outside the church. As Mr. Chereshniowsky was my teacher and friend, I was a witness to much of this effort which, by the way, was done at cost by the artist.

Mr. Cholodnyj, perhaps one of the greatest Ukrainian artists of recent times, painted the excellent and unique icons.

The interior of the church is the real gem of this structure - its soul, so to speak - and it has been praised by critics and the literally thousands of visitors who have visited the church and recorded their comments in the visitors' log book.

Mr. Chereshniowsky's carvings in particular, are the most superb examples of this art form that I have ever seen - including those that have managed to survive in Ukraine. He was able to apply and merge the traditional motifs of regional Carpathian folk carving with his own unique vision of form and design, thus helping elevate this style to a new and higher level.

Both artists are no longer with us, and it would seem that they deserve at least an honorable mention.

Orest Pokladok
Jersey City, N.J.

Congratulations on Hunter article

Dear Editor:

Let me congratulate The Weekly on an excellent article about St. John's Ukrainian Catholic Church in Hunter, N.Y. (August 25). I have travelled through Hunter many times, especially to and from the Hunter ski area. Regrettably, I could never find the church open nor, of course, attend a service there. Could you please publish an addendum and list the times when the church is open and at what time do they have the Sunday service?

Dr. Ivan Pelech
Morris Plains, N.J.

Editor's note: Sunday liturgy is celebrated at the church at 10 a.m.

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