ABOUT US
In March of 1950 a group of Ukrainian new immigrants in the Detroit area resolved to establish a parish under the Protection of the Virgin Mary, the Protectress of the dispossessed. The founders of the parish were Ivan Lukianchuk, Michael Boyko, PeterTrepet, Paul Palanytsia, Michael Kos, Eng. Liampychkyj, Dmytro Lisowsky, Ivan Kytasty, Mykola Liskiwskyi, Peter Fylonenko, Hryhorij Kytasty, Serghij Fursa, Wasyl Kotovych, Wasyl Kitsul, Ivan Scherbij.
The parish became a cathedral under the spiritual guidance of Bishop Volodymyr who fell asleep in the Lord in 1967 - to this day, his bishop's staff stands by the iconostasis. For 20 years, the parish was located on 29th Street and Michigan Avenue in Detroit. In 1970, after many years of fundraising and planning, the parish family moved to the current location in Southfield, Michigan. A very active group of parishioners were involved with the site selection and building of the new parish complex, they were: Mytro Jarosh, Mykola Szwed, Mykola Oleksienko, Ivan Romanchuk, Leonid Kowal, Ivan Zholobetsky and others. The Southfield location was scouted by the parish council, Father Mykola Lytwakiwsky.
and President of the Parish Council Ivan Zholobetsky (along with his daughter Alexandra Misiong) and then the fundraising began in earnest. A building committee was formed and consisted of Vitalij Brylko, Roman Sepell, Peter Kytasty and Serge Omelchenko all engineers or businessmen. The architect responsible for the design of the church and hall was Alexander Nazaretz. The project was further coordinated by subsequent parish council presidents Mykola Samokyshyn and Fedir Fedorenko. In 1985, the building and mounting of the new iconostasis was completed. Mykola Liskiwskyi designed and built the iconostas and the icons from the studio of Boris Makarenko (Yonkers, NY) were installed with the framework.
In 1972 Father Nestor Stolarchuk came to our parish as an energetic pastor and during his 15 years of work many aspects of our parish life flourished - Lesia Ukrainka School of Religious and Ukrainian Studies, Ukrainian Orthodox League as well as the scouting organization of ODUM. Once Fr. Nestor retired, Fr. Mykola Newmerzyckyj served our parish for 13 years until his health required him to serve a smaller parish. Fr. Pawlo Bodnarchuk has been with the parish for over 20 years now and brings with him a great love for his faith and Ukraine.
Many events have occurred during the course of these 60 years - many of the founders and parish activists have left this earthly life and we who remain must care for our Church and preserve our Ukrainian identity . Our mission and responsibility is to safeguard our next generations allowing them to grow and thrive within the framework of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA and to understand the Mother Church in Ukraine. We are obliged to give these children the opportunity to learn Ukrainian, the traditions of Ukraine and our Orthodox faith. We must treasure and appreciate each parishioner - for every individual is unique and irreplaceable. Let us also appreciate and respect our spiritual leaders and the hierarchs of the UOC of the USA and Ukraine.
