Metropolitan Constantine blesses newly renovated cultural center in Parma (11/02/03)

Metropolitan Constantine blesses newly renovated cultural center in Parma

PARMA, Ohio - On Sunday, September 28, hundreds of faithful of St. Vladimir's Ukrainian Orthodox Cathe-dral in Parma, Ohio, gathered together with Metropolitan Constantine, primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A., to bless the cathedral's newly renovated cultural center.

The day began at 9 a.m. with a procession of clergy, altar boys, Sunday School children and faithful carrying banners and walking from the rectory down the middle of the closed street to St. Vladimir's Cathedral, escorting the metropolitan.

Greetings and flowers were presented to Metropolitan Constantine by children from the Sunday school, Ukrainian School and junior chapter of the Ukrainian Orthodox League.

Geofrey Greenleaf, president of the parish board of trustees, presented the traditional Ukrainian greeting of bread and salt. This was followed by the greeting from the clergy of the cathedral, Father John Nakonachny, pastor, and Father John Mironko, assistant pastor. Serving the liturgy along with the pastor and assistant pastor were the Rev. Abbot John Henry, Father Vladimir Ivanov, Father Michael Strapko and Father Deacon Ihor Mahlay. They were assisted by 23 altar servers.

The combined Ukrainian and English choirs, directed by Markian Komichak, sang the responses to the bilingual hierarchal divine liturgy. Metropolitan Constantine delivered sermons in both Ukrainian and English.

Following the liturgy, everyone proceeded to the parish hall for the blessing of the cultural center and a banquet. Also participating in the dedication were the Very Rev. Dennis Kristof, pastor of St. Nicholas Pro-Cathedral in Lakewood and dean of the Ohio Deanery, and clergy from St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Parma.

During the program, representatives from the parish organizations offered greetings and donations to aid in covering the cost of the $500,000 project.

The parish Pyrohy Group, as in the past, was very generous with its donation of $100,000 toward this project. Parishioners also offered their contributions to the cultural center.

Metropolitan Constantine offered congratulations and appreciation to the parish clergy, the board of trustees, the Renovation Committee and all parishioners for completing this extraordinary project, which will be used for many years not only by parishioners, but by many people of the Greater Cleveland area.

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