Glory to Jesus Christ! Now and forever!
I am Father Abraham Miller, pastor of Our
Lady of Zarvanycia Ukrainian Greek Catholic Mission Parish,
and with me are representatives of our parish community.
Forty-eight years ago Father Michael
Chykhovsky, a priest from B.C., founded our mission and
placed it under the patronage of Our Lady of Zarvanycia.
Zarvanycia is a town in Ukraine that for centuries has been
home to a miraculous Icon of the Mother of God. Even
today it is a place of pilgrimage for Eastern Europe.
We have celbrated the Divine Liturgy in the side chapel here
in the Cathedral all those years, first once a month, then
in the 90's twice a month, and for the last two years every
Sunday.
Over the years our parish population has
grown... to the point where on many Sundays we do not fit in
the side chapel.
It has been the wish of Bishop Richard
Seminack, our Ordinary in Chicago, that a permanent parish
be established here in Seattle, with a priority of acquiring
a church building of our own. On October 19th of this
year we bought a church on south Beacon Hill. We call
it "the Blue Church." It is older and in need of
repairs, and my parishioners have generously shared their
time, talents, and treasures in fixing up the building.
The repairs are still underway, but we are expecting to
celebrate our first Divine Liturgy in our "new" church on
Christmas day.
So today my parishioners and I have come to
say "Farewell!" and to say "Thank you," Father Michael and
the Cathedral Parish community. Thank you for your
years of welcoming hospitality, loving concern, patient
endurance (when our services went into "extra innings"), and
moral support. For these 48 years the Cathedral has
been our home, and we have felt very much part of your
family. It is difficult to leave because of the warmth
and acceptance we have experienced from you. In fact,
there are some in our community who see no reason why we
need to leave... However, in order for us to grow, both
spiritually and as a community, we realize this day had to
come. It is a little scary going out on our own, but
we are confident that with the grace of God always leading
us on, and through the intercession and protection of the
Mother of God, we will bring this work which has been
started to perfection.
In gratitude for your years of welcome and
support, we wish to give you an image of Our Lady of
Zarvanycia, brought from Zarvanycia, and ask that you please
continue to remember us in your prayers.
Again, thank you! and may God continue
to bless you with peace, health, and happiness for many
years. Ad multos annos!