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The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in New York 100 Years of Faith and Service
The Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Volodymyr in New York has been an important spiritual,
cultural, and community center of Ukrainian life in America for a century. Its history is not only
the story of one church, but also reflects the determination of Ukrainians to preserve their faith,
language, culture, and national identity.
The Cathedral will celebrate its 100th anniversary on October 25, 2026, with a Hierarchical
Divine Liturgy at 10:30 AM celebrated by Metropolitan Antony and Archbishop Daniel. Following
the liturgy, the parish will host a festive luncheon to commemorate this historic milestone. All
parishioners, friends, and members of the Ukrainian community are warmly invited to join in this
celebration of faith, heritage, and a century of service.
As members of the Ukrainian community may be interested in learning more about the history
of our parish, we present the following historical overview.
Founding and Early History
In the early 20th century, Ukrainian immigrants in America sought to establish their own church
communities where they could preserve their traditions and spiritual heritage. On August 27,
1926, a small group of 38 Ukrainians gathered at 257 East 10th Street in New York and voted to
establish a new parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and create a parish governing board.
The board included M. Samborskyi, chairman; P. Redchuk, financial secretary; M. Pankiv,
secretary; I. Redchuk, treasurer; and Colonel V. Kedrovsky, who oversaw the legal formation of
the new parish.
On Sunday, October 3, 1926, Rev. Andriy Ivanyshyn celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in a rented
church at 334 East 14th Street in New York.
From its earliest days, the parish served not only as a place of worship but also as a center for
Ukrainian education. In 1926, the Ukrainian Heritage School was established, where children of
parishioners learned the Ukrainian language, history, and culture. Despite the challenges they
faced, the founders of the parish demonstrated remarkable dedication, organization, and
devotion to their Church.
In its early decades, the parish faced many challenges connected with the growth of the
Ukrainian Orthodox movement in America and the effort to secure canonical recognition for the
Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The support of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the United States was
especially important, as it provided spiritual guidance to Ukrainian Orthodox communities
during the early years of their development.
An important role in the growth of the parish was played by its pastor, Protopresbyter Rev. Lev
Wesolowsky, who led the community from 1935 to 1968. During his tenure, the Brotherhood of
St. Volodymyr became more active, the Sisterhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary was established,
Ukrainian schools resumed their activities, and a church choir was organized. The parish
became a place where religious life was closely connected with cultural and community
activities.
After World War II
After World War II, the Parish of St. Volodymyr played an important role in assisting Ukrainian
displaced persons. Through the efforts of the pastor and parishioners, hundreds of Ukrainians
from displaced persons camps in Europe received assistance in immigrating to the United
States, finding housing, and securing employment.
During this period, the cultural life of the community expanded significantly. Under the direction
of Professor Vasyl Zavitnevych, the church choir became one of the leading performers of
Ukrainian sacred music in America. The parish supported a school, a theater group, and youth
organizations.
In 1946, the parish purchased 120 acres of land in New Jersey that became known as the
“Ukrainian Village.” Through the dedication of parishioners, the property developed into an
important center of Ukrainian community life, hosting cultural events, picnics, youth camps, and
celebrations. Soon after the establishment of the Ukrainian Village, Archbishop Mstyslav
(Skrypnyk), who later became the head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA, initiated
efforts that resulted in the construction of St. Andrew Memorial Church and the establishment
of St. Andrew’s Cemetery in nearby South Bound Brook, NJ.
In 1955, the parish built a wooden chapel on the grounds for summer liturgies and for the
blessing of water on the Feast of Epiphany during the winter. After several years of disuse,
worship services at the chapel were restored in 2020, and the chapel, with its carved iconostasis
and embroidered icons, once again became a place of prayer and gathering for Ukrainians in the
open air. The large parish hall on the grounds of the Ukrainian Village was recently
renovated through the efforts of the Union of Ukrainian Youth (CYM) branch in South Bound
Brook, NJ and is now used for weekly meetings of CYM youth, continuing the site's long
tradition of serving the Ukrainian community.
Relocation to West 82nd Street
Meanwhile, as the parish community on 14th Street continued to grow, the building became too
small for the expanding congregation. In 1957, the parish purchased the former Shaaray Tefila
synagogue building on West 82nd Street in Manhattan. The move to the Upper West Side was
controversial among some parishioners and led to a dispute within the community. The matter eventually resulted in court proceedings, after which the parish divided into two communities:
the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr on West 82nd Street and All Saints Church on East 11th Street.
On May 15, 1960, the newly renovated building on West 82nd Street was consecrated and
elevated to the status of the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr. On that same day, Archbishop Mstyslav
was installed as the first hierarch of the Cathedral. Its distinctive interior, stained-glass windows,
and iconostasis created by Ukrainian artists Petro Kholodnyi Sr. and Serhii Lytvynenko
established a unique Ukrainian Orthodox atmosphere in the heart of New York City. The circular
stained-glass rose window above the altar, which remained from the former synagogue, was the
largest in America when it was installed in 1937.
The Cathedral of St. Volodymyr was one of the founding parishes of the Ukrainian National
Federal Credit Union, which was established in 1965 as the “Ukrainian Orthodox Credit Union.”
From the modest beginnings of nine founders establishing an institution with $3,500 in assets,
the credit union has grown into a modern financial institution serving nearly 6,500 members
with assets exceeding $150 million. The credit union continues to support the Cathedral of St.
Volodymyr by sponsoring its events.
Recent Activity
Over the following decades, the Cathedral became a place for important religious and
community events. It hosted special liturgical services, meetings with church hierarchs,
concerts, cultural programs, and commemorative gatherings of the Ukrainian community. The
Cathedral welcomed prominent figures from Ukrainian religious, political, and cultural life.
A special part of the Cathedral’s history is its continuing service to Ukraine. During the Maidan
events of 2013–2014, parishioners offered both prayerful and material support to the Ukrainian
people. Following the beginning of Russian aggression, the community actively supported
humanitarian efforts for Ukraine, raising funds for soldiers, the wounded, orphans, and other
humanitarian needs.
On March 9, 2022, shortly after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Cathedral of St.
Volodymyr hosted an interfaith prayer service for Ukraine. The service was led by Metropolitan
Antoniy, Archbishop Daniel, and Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of
America. The prayer service became a powerful expression of spiritual unity and international
support for Ukraine.
Representatives of various Christian denominations, the Jewish community, the diplomatic
corps, and civic organizations participated in the event. Speakers included New York State
Governor Kathy Hochul, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, and Ukraine’s
Permanent Representative to the United Nations Serhiy Kyslytsya. The presence of numerous
religious and civic leaders demonstrated the Cathedral’s role as a place of prayer, solidarity, and support for Ukraine within the global community. The parish continues to collect funds to
provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.
Today
Today, the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr continues its mission under the spiritual leadership of
Rev. Volodymyr Muzychka. Regular liturgical services are held here, along with celebrations of
St. Volodymyr’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, St. Nicholas Day, Christmas, Easter, and other important
occasions. The Cathedral choir, under the direction of Choir Director Nataliya Vashchenko and
Cantor Bohdan Sikora, continues the tradition of Ukrainian church singing, and the parish
remains a place where Ukrainians of different generations come together. The Parish Board of
Trustees, under the presidency of Andrew Fessak, oversees the daily administration and proper
maintenance of parish life, ensuring the continued operation of the Cathedral and its service to
the community.
The history of the Cathedral of St. Volodymyr is a story of faith, dedication, and sacrifice by
many generations of Ukrainians. Through the efforts of its founders, clergy, parishioners, and
benefactors, the Cathedral has become not only a church in New York City, but also an
important part of Ukrainian history in America — a place where spiritual traditions are preserved
and the Ukrainian spirit continues to live.
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