Ukrainian Catholic church in Connecticut destroyed by explosion; investigation under way (09/19/04)

Ukrainian Catholic church in Connecticut destroyed by explosion; investigation under way

by Andrew Nynka

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - A Ukrainian church in Colchester, Conn., was demolished by an explosion early Friday morning, September 10. Several news reports said the blast shook nearby buildings and tossed debris hundreds of feet, but no injuries were reported.

St. Mary's Ukrainian Catholic Church was "100 percent destroyed" after an explosion there left only a statue of St. Mary standing, surrounded by debris, the church's pastor told The Ukrainian Weekly via telephone. "A few things have been found" in the debris, but otherwise nearly everything has been destroyed, Father Cyril Manolev said.

The pastor confirmed that no one had been hurt in the blast, although he was just waking up in the rectory, some 20 to 30 feet from the church when the explosion rocked him from his sleep. The blast was "louder than anything I've ever heard in my life," Father Manolev said.

The church, located at 178 Linwood Ave., was built in 1955 and the parish serves some 70 families, the pastor said. There were a propane tank and a working kitchen in the basement of the brick building. Father Manolev said there is some speculation that the propane tank could have been the cause of the explosion.

Connecticut State Police Trooper First Class Karen O'Connor told The Ukrainian Weekly that "at approximately 6:45 a.m., witnesses reported to Connecticut State Police Troop K, that an explosion had occurred at St. Mary's Church in the town of Colchester."

Trooper O'Connor also said that the scene of the explosion had been "secured as a crime scene to assist fire services, which is standard protocol." She said that detectives are continuing to collect and preserve evidence at the scene and "the case is active and under investigation." The police official also said on September 14 that there was nothing new to report in the case.

Father Manolev, who has been the pastor at the church for nearly three years, told The Weekly that the parish was preparing for a barbecue that weekend. He said that the parish, whose membership continues to grow, will work to rebuild the church, which stands on approximately two acres of land, but not until after the police conclude their investigation.

The parish, which is a part of the Stamford Eparchy of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, plans to rebuild with the help of donations from people and organizations, Father Manolev said. The church is also planning to host a fund-raising dinner in two weeks and is planning to have a concert in a little under a month.

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