Glory to Jesus Christ!
Glory to Him Forever!
Слава Ісусу Христу!
Слава На Віки!
Holy Ghost Ukrainian Catholic Church
Українська греко-католицька церква Святого Духа
Saint Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church
Українська греко-католицька церква Святого Миколая
Ukrainian- Byzantine Rite of St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma, Ohio
About Us
17 May 2010
Our History
The first Ukrainian
immigrants arrived in Akron, Ohio circa 1900. Over 500 Ukrainians came here
between 1912 and 1914, and more than 2000 between 1916 and 1918. As they
settled down and
raised families, they recognized a need for an organized social and
religious life. As a result, in
March of 1912, the Brotherhood of the Holy Ghost, Branch 295 of the
Ukrainian National
Association, was born, and three years later in May 1915, St. John's
Society, Branch 68 of the
Providence Association, was founded. These two organizations formed the
core for the
establishment of the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic Church. In
October, 1915, the first
meeting was called for that purpose, and it resulted in a consultation with
the Rev. Leo Chapelskyj of Cleveland about organizing a parish in Akron. On
November 14, 1915, a decision to purchase lots on Washington and Abel
Streets was made and by January 2, 1916, it had been agreed to build the
church. Despite the
financial problems
generated by World War I and the depression that followed and the frequent
turnover in pastors
which interfered with the growth of the parish, the parish was able to burn
its mortgage on
September 23, 1945, its thritieth anniversary. At this time, the parish
became strengthened by an
influx of new immigrants from Europe. Because of the increase in the size
of the parish, a decision
to build a new church was made. The New Church Building Committee secured
funds for
this project, and purchased in 1946 eight lots on Brown Street for the
purpose of constructing a new church. In March, 1952, the thirty-three year pastorate of Rev. Taras
Durbak began. With his arrival, the Sisterhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary
was reorganized and renamed the Blessed Virgin Mary Ladies Society,
membership in the Apostleship of Prayer was increased; the Junior Sodality
for girls and the Altar Boys Society were organized; a school for religious
education was started and continues to this day. In 1957, a renewed effort
began to raise funds for the new church. The dream of a new church became a reality when, on Sunday, May 14, 1961, the blessing of the
grounds and breaking ceremonies for the new church took place; the blessing of the cornerstone
took place October 8, 1961. The construction of the church was completed December 31, 1961,
although the first service in the new church took place on Christmas, 1961, and regular
services started on March 11, 1962.
Dedication of the new church took place on September 3, 1962, with the Most
Rev. Archbishop- Metropolitan Ambrose Senyshyn, OSBM, many clergy, and
faithful participating. On August 22, 1971, a Mortgage
Burning Banquet was held following a Thanksgiving Moleben service. The interior
decoration continued in 1975 by Mr. J.M. Baransky of Yonkers, New York.
First the sanctuary was painted and decorated with gold leaf and coated with clear sealer and decorated with a rich
Byzantine tapestry design using a combination of three colors. An icon depicting the Pentecost
was applied to the ceiling with icons of cherubim at the sides. There was also a gold-leaf
frame placed around each window. After the sanctuary was completed, Mr. Baransky
installed the iconostas, which is made of dark wood with a gilded trimming.
The iconostas is carved and gold plated with Royal and Deacon Doors, having
icons of various sizes depicting the life of Our Lord, the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the four Evangelists, St. Nicholas, St. Josaphat, St. Stephen, and the
Archangel Michael. Physical changes in the
appearance of the church were only part of the continuing development of the parish. In 1971, an
English Divine Liturgy was added to the Ukrainian one with church functions being bilingual. Rev.
T. Durbak was appointed Administrator of St. Nicholas Church in Canton, Ohio on September
21, 1975. On September 8,1985, the Very Reverend Canon Archpriest Durbak
retired and Rev. Wolodymyr Woloszczuk, the first in our parish to become a priest
and who had been ordained by His Beatitude Patriarch and Cardinal Joseph Slipyj
on November 15, 1981, in Rome, started his pastorate at Holy Ghost Parish. One set of altar linens was embroidered by Tekla Dumansky, Stefania
Fenkanyn, Maria Iwanyszczuk, Anna Kurylo, Katya Martyniuk-Bissell, Anna Motrowich,
Anastasia Mykytyn, and Paraskevia Wolansky. Through the years monetary
contributions were made to Ukrainian communities in need in the United
States and outside the country, such as the Ukrainian Refugees in Europe,
Seminaries, the Missionary Fund, the World Congress of Free Ukrainians,
the Renovation of St. Basil Sisters Motherhouse in Rome, the faithful in
Poland and for religious education in Ukraine.
The parish had achieved a sense of continuity by the celebration of religious events and secular holidays annually. The Easter Dinner (Sviatchene) was organized by the parish each year, with the women of the parish donating Easter bread, and Mrs. Mary Chlysta donating beets; the Parochial Picnic in which music, raffles, food and drink were available was open to the general public; the Bazaar-Halloween dinner in which a buffet dinner was served with Halloween treats for children in costume; a Thanksgiving Dinner; and St. Nicholas's visit to children of all ages in the parish. Brother Michael Ukrainiec, a member of our parish, was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on August 6, 1983, at the Monks of Mount Tabor in California. He celebrated his first Divine Liturgy in Akron on October 9, 1983. The Pilgrim Icon of Our Lady of Pochaiv was escorted by the Knights of Columbus to our church in 1989. The Knights were venerating the miraculous icon of the Mother of God in 1989. Clergy of Byzantine Rite and Latin Rite churches, headed by Bishop Gilbert Sheldon, participated in Moleben services to honor the visit. In late 1983, His Holiness Pope John Paul II created a new diocese with its See in Parma, which is called The Ukrainian Catholic Diocese of St. Josaphat is Parma. His Holiness appointed Bishop Robert M. Moskal as the first bishop of the new diocese. On January 25, 1987, Bishop Kyr Robert Moskal made his first Canonical Visitation to our parish and urged spiritual renewal as the basic preparation for the Millenium of our church by praying for priestly vocations, encouraging frequent Holy Communion, Christian education, and catechism for children and adults. One of the most significant celebrations for our parish was the celebration in 1988 of the Millenium of Christianity in Ukraine. The celebration included a pontifical Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Kyr Robert Moskal and concelebrated with various clergy. The banquet, held at Guy's Party Center, included a performance by The Millenium Choir of Parma under the direction of Maestro Sadowsky; Igor Krawciw-Darian, an international opera singer, with Dozia Kristlaty, his accompanist; Victor Wlashyn, as Master of Ceremonies; and George Kulczyckyj, PhD, Professor of History, Youngstown State University, as guest speaker. Remarks were delivered by His Excellency Bishop Robert Moskal and Orest Stecyk, M. D. Special guests included the Honorable Congressman Thomas Sawyer, Honorable Mayors Don Plusquellic of Akron and Sam Purses of Canton, and the President of Akron City Council, David Bryant, who delivered greetings on behalf of the City Council. The entire celebration was videotaped by Halamay Color Lab and photographed by Michael Ukrainiec. Professor / Architect Osyp Martyniuk was responsible for the architectural work on the millenium stone placed on church grounds. As in any congregation of individuals, the parishioners have shared many joys and sorrows through births, marriages, and deaths. Approximately ninety parishioners had served in the United States Armed Forces during World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Two parishioners, Michael Senuta and Nicholas Venger, died in Word War II; PFC Jerry Beley of the United States Marines died in Vietnam in 1967.