Quote:Basilian Fathers

In Horodok, near Lviv, Ukraine, on July 20,1617, monasteries were organized into one common community under the direction of a Superior General. For the first time, the term “Ukrainian Order of St. Basil the Great” or “Basilian Order” was used to describe this community of monks serving the Ukrainian Community.

The Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat (O.S.B.M.) was officially established August 20, 1631. The Basilian Order has served St Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church since 1937.

In 1944, the Basilian Fathers moved from the Fraser Street Church to a newly purchased church on Princess and Pender [in Canada]. The new church was opened May 7, 1944 and is named under the Patroness of the “Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary”, commonly known as St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church. [...]  The assistants during this time were Father George Zydan, O.S.B.M., Father Sylvester Kollar, O.S.B.M., Father Theodosius Greb, O.S.B.M.,Father Christopher Kondratiuk, O.S.B.M., Father Peter Kotowich, O.S.B.M., Father Lawrence Dzygolyk, O.S.B.M., Father Josaphat Tymochko, O.S.B.M.,Father Stephen Wincentailo, O.S.B.M., Father Peter Hewko, O.S.B.M., Father Josaphat Jean, O.S.B.M., Father Eugene Kushko, O.S.B.M., Father Damien Weleschuk, O.S.B.M., and Father Benjamin Baranyk, O.S.B.M. [/url]www.stmarysbc.com/basilian-fathers/

Quote:Parish: Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Location: Skaro, Alberta

History of the Parish: EXALTATION of the HOLY CROSS Parish – Церква Воздвиження Чесного Хреста
Location S.E. 1-57-20-4. Ukrainian settlements in the region were organized in 1898. The first church was built in 1911; the second in 1945-1950 (72’x30’, brick, bell tower, cost $46,190.92). The church was consecrated on August 11, 1963 by the late Bishop Neil Savaryn and with the assistance of Fathers: Ivanec, Dmytruk, Hurko and N. Swirsky, OSBM. The whole church property, cemetery included, has 20 acres.

The 40 acres of land assigned by the county for the church and the cemetery was blessed by Fr. Paul Tymkevych on August 6 th, 1898. Nobody would have ever dreamed that the Russian Orthodox Church would divide the community into two groups. The county refused to divide the land, so the Ukrainian Greek Catholics would have their piece of land. Mr. Ivan Kit, a leader in the Ukrainian Catholic community, together with IUrko Onushko appealed to the government, stating their right to be partners in the land. They hired a lawyer and the Ukrainian Catholics won half of the property (north portion was given to the Orthodox and southern portion to the Ukrainian Catholics. By 1911 there was a building fund with the first donors. We must remember that at the same time in Star there was a similar confrontation and that after many good and honest efforts the Ukrainian Catholic side lost their appeal in the courts. Many of the people were forced to pay the court expenses in hundreds of dollars. Today we admire the parishioners of Skaro for their courage and pride in looking to the future. The good parishioners survived all the obstacles and with dedication achieved their goals.

The following Basilian Fathers provided the services: Fr. Athanasius Filipiw and Fr. John Tymochko (1904-1910); Fr. Anthony Strotsky (1911-1916); Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky and Fr. Basil Ladyka (1917-1919); Fr. Sozont Dydyk (very often), Fr. Matthew Hura, Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky, Fr. Basil Ladyka, Fr. Porphyrius Bodnar, Fr. John Teodoroych, Fr. George Zydan and Fr. Sophron Diakowich (1920-1929); Fr. Naucratius Kryzanowsky, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Paul Olinsky (1930); Fr. Nicon Horechko, Fr. Paul Olinsky, Fr. Sophron Diakowich, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Josaphat Tymochko (1931); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Nicon Horechko, Fr. Basil Kamenetsky and Fr. George Zydan (1932); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Nicon Horechko and Fr. Neil Savaryn (1933); Fr. Theodozy Dobko, Fr. Mark Romanowych, Fr. Matthew Sianchuk (most of the time) (1934-1935); Fr. Lazarus Palenkach, Fr. Paul Hewko, Fr. Sebastian Shewchuk, Fr. Damascene Popovych, Fr. Athanasius Chimy and Fr. Nicholas Kohut (1936-1938); Fr. Nicholas Kohut and Fr. Ignatius Lesiuk (1939); Fr. Athanasius Chimy, Fr. Lawrence Dzygolyk, Fr. Nicholas Kohut, Fr. Christopher Kondratiuk, Fr. Markian Pasichnyk and Fr. Neil Savaryn (1940); Fr. Christopher Kondratiuk (1941-1942); Fr. Ambrose Wynnyk and Fr. George Zydan (1943); Fr. Epiphany Paschak (1944); Fr. Gregory Chmilar and Fr. Andrew Truch (1945-1946); Fr. Hilarion Adams, Fr. Eugene Bilyk, Fr. Sergio Fedyniak, Fr. Marian Horishny, Fr. Damascene Popovych and Fr. Volodymyr Shewchuk (1947-1948).